Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-30
2003-07-01
Sax, Steven (Department: 2174)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06587122
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to help facilities on a data processing system; and more particularly, it relates to a method of providing instruction syntax help information as instructions are entered.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention generally relates to data entry systems of the type employing a keyboard or other data entry user interface and a display screen such as a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) or similar display for displaying data entered by the user. More particularly, the invention is directed to a screen help technique to assist the user in the correct entry of data. A typical data entry system in which the technique according to the invention can be advantageously used ranges from small, self-contained microcomputer systems generally referred to as personal computers to mainframe systems having a plurality of terminals.
Conventionally, a data entry system is designed to display a “screen” or “menu” having a plurality of data entry labels or categories with blanks immediately adjacent each data entry label or category. It is in these blanks where the user is required to enter the corresponding data. The blanks may be delineated by an underline or some other demarcation to show the user where the data is going by category. The blanks have a predefined length in terms of the number of characters that can be accepted by the system for the corresponding categories, and the underlining or other demarcation would also serve the purpose of showing the length as well as the location of the data required Such “screens” or “menus” can be generated by a screen generator which is a computer program written specifically for that purpose. Those skilled in the art will also know that a screen generator program can be written from scratch very simply by using BASIC or other suitable computer programming languages. A characteristic of the “screens” or “menus” which are produced for data entry purposes is that the cursor which is displayed on the screen can only be placed in one of the designated blanks and no where else on the screen. Thus, data entry is limited to predefined areas on the screen, and these areas themselves provide the interface with the data entry program which is requesting the data. In other words, the user is relieved of the burden of telling the data entry program what category of data is being entered since the data entry program will recognize the category by the location on the screen in which the data is entered.
Obviously, the data entry system just described is a very good one in that it is simple and easy to use. In those cases where the type of data is routine such as would be encountered in motor vehicle statistics and employee records, it takes very little time for a user to become proficient in making data entries. In those cases where the user is just learning the system, help can be provided by a manual. It is also known to provide a special “help” key or command for the user to call up a “help” screen or menu if she is uncertain about the entry of certain data. Typically, such a menu obstructs all or at least part of the data entry screen and provides a set of instructions or explanations which merely repeat those which would be found in the manual. This procedure has the advantage of allowing the user quick reference to instructions or explanations without having to fumble through the manual.
There are certain situations, however, where the data entry is not routine. For example, if the user does not regularly use the data entry system, it may take the user some time to remember the data entry procedure and the quality and quantity of data required by the system. Obviously, the display of a full or partial screen menu of “help” instructions or explanations will save some time for the user by avoiding the time spent leafing through a manual. But the user will still have to study the information presented and make some judgements to apply those instructions or explanations to their requirements. In another example, the data entry system may be used for purposes of configuring a control program for a particular application. An example of such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,478, filed Sep. 13, 1983, by Lawrence Keith Stephens and Robert B. Hayes for “Monitoring and Alarm System for Custom Applications.” Especially in this type of situation, the data entered is unique to the particular application and, although the data entry screen is designed to promote ease of data entry, the user may at times need better quality help than is provided by manuals or help screens.
As computer technology has progressed, particularly with the advent of the personal computer, data processing has reached every level of society and user. Most of the software used with personal computers is highly interactive in that the actions taken by the system are dependent upon the actions taken by the operator of the computer system. Examples of such application programs are various text processing programs and spread sheets. The commercial acceptability of any application program is largely dependent on how “user friendly” that program appears to the user. There are a variety of means of helping the user interact with a program, but one of the more important means is some sort of help facility which the user can call upon for assistance.
In the prior art, help information is usually provided in a window on the same screen from which the help is requested. The information in these windows is usually hard coded into the application itself. This type of help facility is basically a condensed version of the operating guide for the application software. This type of help facility is used in a manner similar to the operating guide, except that it is automated. The user may be forced to navigate through one or more panels in text lists in pursuit of an answer to her problem. More information is generally provided than is required.
An improvement in summoning help is “contextual help” which is dependent on the context of the help request. Several types are known in the art. The least context driven is called application contextual; “help” is a selectable action on a menu bar to be chosen by the user if she requires help with a particular application.
Panel contextual help is more context driven than application contextual. Help request areas are present in each panel to summon help information related to the particular panel. Sometimes the displayed help information will carry a heading referring to the panel which helps correlate the help information and the panel last used by the user.
The most selective means of providing contextual help is to provide help based on the current cursor position in the window in the active application. This method is called cursor focus contextual. However, when help is displayed in conjunction with the position of the pointer, it is generally displayed in a dedicated area far from the pointer position and is not very natural to access for the user. Further, while cursor focus contextual methods exist, the prior art fails to provide help information on those areas on the screen where cursor focus cannot be established. For example, certain system controls, graphics, read-only text, etc. in certain applications, cannot receive the cursor focus. Often, help is very badly needed in these areas.
In sophisticated computer programs, a specialized type of help information concerns the changing status of the various components of the system, either hardware or software. A graphical user interface is a particularly useful means of presenting this type of information, yet until a user becomes familiar with icons associated with the various states of the system additional help may be required. As status information continually changes, some means for dynamic updating must be provided.
Another problem with most help systems is that they force the system into a help mode in which actions on the application cannot be taken. This leads to a frustrating situation, particularly for a novice user, in which the user must repeatedly a
Gerasimow Alexander M.
Rockwell Automation Technologies Inc.
Sax Steven
Walbrun William R.
LandOfFree
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