Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-18
2002-01-15
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06339436
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to computer applications and more particularly to application help files.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Almost all computer applications have electronic help texts which users may access to obtain information on how to use the application. Some of these help texts are displayed integrally with the application, meaning that the help text is displayed as part of the application. Other help texts are provided as a completely separate file from the application. However, these help texts are conventionally fixed, i.e., the user cannot add or subtract from it. Such conventional help texts are typically written to address general use of the application and cannot be customized to the needs of specific users. Thus, conventional help texts are inadequate in situations such as when one user wishes to teach another user how to perform a specific maneuver in the application which is not addressed in the conventional help text.
FIG. 1
illustrates an example where User One
102
has an accounting application
106
and wishes to teach User Two
104
how to perform a complex accounting calculation with this application
106
which is tailored to the accounting procedures of their employer. The performance of this calculation is not addressed in the conventional help text
108
which accompanies the application
106
. User One
102
cannot add or subtract from the conventional help text
108
. Thus, the conventional help text
108
is inadequate for the task of teaching the performance of the calculation. In addition, if User One
102
is to provide a custom help text
110
for the calculation, he/she must provide it as a completely separate file. But as a separate text file, it cannot be displayed integrally with the application
106
. The use of the custom help text
110
is thus cumbersome for User Two
104
.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a method and system of providing a user-defined dynamic help text which is displayed integrally with the application. The present invention addresses such a need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method for providing user-defined dynamic help text which is displayed integrally with the application. The method includes utilizing a monitoring program to monitor a plurality of events for the application; determining if a current event of the plurality of events is a spy event; if the current event of the plurality of events is a spy event, then displaying a help text corresponding to the current event of the plurality of events. In the preferred embodiment, the method also determines if the current event of the plurality of events is a user event if the current event is not a spy event. If the current event is a user event, then the help text corresponding to the current event of the plurality of events is updated according to a user text update. The method of the present invention uses a monitoring program which allows users to create customized help texts for any application. In the preferred embodiment, the monitoring program of the present invention uses spy threads and thus is non-intrusive to the application. In the preferred embodiment, because the monitoring program is a separate application which runs in synchronization with the application, the present invention may be used with any application.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5428729 (1995-06-01), Chang et al.
patent: 5432940 (1995-07-01), Potts et al.
patent: 5546521 (1996-08-01), Martinez
patent: 5602982 (1997-02-01), Judd et al.
patent: 5751914 (1998-05-01), Coley et al.
patent: 6133917 (2000-10-01), Feigner et al.
Amro Hatim Yousef
Dodson John Paul
Bayerl Raymond J.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Sawyer Law Group LLP
Thai Cuong T.
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