Computer-based documentation and instruction

Details Computer-based documentation and instruction Computer-based documentation and instruction

1999-01-25

2004-04-20

Nguyen, Cao (Kevin) (Department: 2173)

Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system

Display driving control circuitry

Controlling the condition of display elements

C345S215000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06724401

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND
This invention relates to computer-based documentation and instruction.
A typical computer system as shown in
FIG. 1
includes a computer
11
having a central processing unit
12
, an input/output unit
13
and a memory
14
containing various programs used by the computer
11
such as an operating system
15
and one or more application programs
16
. An end-user of the computer system communicates with the computer
11
by means of various input devices (keyboard
17
, mouse
18
) which transfer information to the computer
11
via input/output unit
13
. The computer
11
replies to this input data, among other ways, by providing responsive output to the end-user, for example, by displaying appropriate text and images on the screen of a display monitor
19
.
The operating system
15
may include a graphical user interface (“GUI”) by which the operating system and any applications it may be running (e.g., a word-processing program) can communicate with a user of the computer system. A commonly used GUI implementation employs a desktop metaphor in which the screen of the monitor is regarded as a virtual desktop. The desktop is an essentially two-dimensional working template area supporting various graphical objects, including one or more display regions. As shown in
FIG. 2
, information generated by application programs or the operating system can be displayed on the desktop
21
within display regions
23
(e.g., windows, dialog boxes, pop-up menus, pull-down menus, drop-down lists, icons). The user can interact with the operating system, and any applications it may be running, by manipulating the cursor
24
appropriately within the display regions and by entering information with the keyboard or other input device.
To use an application program effectively, a user must know not only how to interact with the application itself, but depending on the nature of the application, the user also must possess a body of substantive knowledge relating to the subject matter to which the application pertains. For example, if the application is a software development environment, the user must be familiar with computer programming concepts and programming languages to use the application effectively.
Most computer applications provide an online help/documentation facility which aids in the use of the application. A typical online help system such as shown in
FIG. 3A
is accessed through a GUI in which screens of textual and graphical information are displayed to the user in a help window
30
. The user can then read the screens of help text to get a better understanding of the application and its various features.
The user invokes the help system with a key sequence (e.g., pressing the Fl key on the keyboard) or by clicking the mouse on an appropriate graphical icon or menu item. In response, the help system may display a table of contents
31
listing the available help topics and subtopics which can be accessed and viewed by the user as desired. The user can browse through the table of contents
31
and click a help topic of interest to cause its corresponding body of information to be displayed in a help window. In the help window
30
shown in
FIG. 3A
, the user has clicked the “Programming with Microsoft Word” topic
31
to cause the corresponding help screen
32
to be displayed in window
30
as shown in FIG.
3
B.
The “Programming with Microsoft Word” topic
31
shown in
FIG. 3B
includes several subtopics
33
, each represented by a separate “link.” When the user clicks the mouse on one of these links—for example, the “Error Messages” link
34
—the text for the corresponding help topic is displayed automatically in the help window
30
, as shown in FIG.
3
C. In this example, the “Error Messages” topic
35
includes several links to further subtopics relating to specific types of error messages. As shown in
FIG. 3D
, when the user clicks one of these links, for example, the “Out of memory (stack space)” link
25
, a new help window
36
is spawned to display the corresponding help information (“Freeing up memory”) for the selected topic. The help information displayed in window
36
includes yet another link
37
for another subtopic, “active window,” which when clicked by the user causes corresponding help text to appear in a pop-up dialog box
38
. Virtually any level of such nested help displays is possible. The quantity and types of display regions (windows, dialog boxes, etc.) used to display help information is largely a matter of design choice based on the preferences of the help system developer.
A help system may provide “context-sensitive” help information, meaning that the help system automatically displays help information specifically relevant to the application's current task, rather than simply displaying all available help topics and forcing the user to identify and call-up the appropriate help topic manually. A context-sensitive help system decides which help information to display based on factors such as the current state of the application (e.g., the particular function being invoked by the user) and the current cursor position.
The information provided by most online help systems relates to the mechanics of using features of an application. In
FIG. 4
, for example, the text
42
corresponding to the chosen help topic
41
, “Cancel printing,” describes how to control the print feature provided by the application
40
(Microsoft Word).
A help system also may provide substantive information on how to make use of the application to achieve a desired goal. In
Fig. 5A
, for example, the online help system provides two types of substantive information: reference material
51
for the WordBasic programming language and practical explanations
52
of how to use WordBasic to write useful programs. The reference material
51
includes textual annotations describing the syntax and meaning of various WordBasic statements, such as the AddAddln statement, the help text for which is shown in FIG.
5
B. The practical explanations
52
can include static examples of program code which the user can study to gain a better understanding of the WordBasic programming language.
FIG. 5C
shows an example of program code that makes use of the GetCurValues WordBasic statement.
Online help systems typically are “built” (i.e., processed into a form that facilitates run-time operation) by compiling several different help source files containing help information that has been composed by technical writers. In general, these help source files are maintained as a separate body of information apart from the application to which the help system corresponds. Consequently, when the application developers change or update the functionality of the application, the technical writers must make corresponding changes to the help source files to ensure that the online help system accurately describes the operation of the application.
SUMMARY
In one aspect, user instruction on a computer system involves performing an interactive example or instructional demonstration and providing, in synchronization with the interactive example, explanatory information corresponding to the example. The explanatory information presented explains what most recently occurred in the interactive example and is updated automatically to correspond with the current state of the interactive example. The explanatory information may be presented concurrently or simultaneously with output from the interactive example. A user of the computer system is enabled to control the performance of the interactive example or the presentation of explanatory information.
Presentation of the explanatory information can include displaying multiple windows on a screen of the computer system, the explanatory information being displayed in one window and the output from the interactive example being displayed in another window. In response to a change in state of the interactive example, the explanatory information provided may be altered accordingly.
A user of the computer system also may be provided with access to onl

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