Systems and methods for providing dedicated help services in a graphical user interface-based computer application

• US 20030098876A1
• Filed: 11/29/2001
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Makinen, Bruce A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,920,612 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/705
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing help services in a graphical user interface-based computer application are provided. One embodiment is a method for providing help services in a graphical user interface-based computer application. Briefly described, one such method comprises the steps of: providing a first display portion for providing standard application services and a second display portion for providing dedicated help services based on the standard application services provided in the first display portion; determining a user interaction via the first display portion; based on the user interaction, providing a standard application service associated with the computer application in the first display portion; and based on the standard application service provided in the first display portion, providing dedicated help services in the second display portion.

Claims

1. A method for providing help services in a graphical user interface-based computer application, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first display portion for providing standard application services and a second display portion for providing dedicated help services based on the standard application services provided in the first display portion;

determining a user interaction via the first display portion;

based on the user interaction, providing a standard application service associated with a computer application in the first display portion; and

based on the standard application service provided in the first display portion, providing dedicated help services in the second display portion.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of initiating the computer application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining a user interaction via the first display portion is via a cursor manipulated by a mouse.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the dedicated help services provided in the second display portion are displayed using hypertext markup language (HTML).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer application enables a user to interact with a model of a printed circuit board having at least one component soldered to the printed circuit board via at least one pin.

6. A computer program embodied in a computer-readable medium, the computer program comprising logic configured to:

provide a first display portion for providing standard application services and a second display portion for providing dedicated help services based on the standard application services provided in the first display portion;

determine a user interaction via the first display portion;

based on the user interaction, provide a standard application service associated with the computer application in the first display portion; and

based on the standard application service provided in the first display portion, provide dedicated help services in the second display portion.

7. The computer program of claim 6, wherein the logic is further configured to determine the user interaction via a cursor manipulated by a mouse.

8. The computer program of claim 6, wherein the dedicated help services provided in the second display portion are displayed using hypertext markup language (HTML).

9. The computer program of claim 6, wherein the standard application services provided in the first display portion enable a user to interact with a model of a printed circuit board having at least one component soldered to the printed circuit board via at least one pin.

10. The computer program of claim 6, wherein the standard application services provided in the first display portion enable a user to control an automatic x-ray inspection system configured to detect manufacturing defects in printed circuit boards.

11. A system for providing a computer application, the system comprising:

logic configured to;

provide a first display portion for providing standard application services and a second display portion for providing dedicated help services based on the standard application services provided in the first display portion;

determine a user interaction via the first display portion;

based on the user interaction, provide a standard application service associated with the computer application in the first display portion; and

based on the standard application service provided in the first display portion of the graphical user interface, provide dedicated help services in the second display portion;

a processing device configured to implement the logic; and

a display device configured to support a graphical user interface.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the logic is further configured to determine the user interaction via a cursor manipulated by a mouse.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the dedicated help services provided in the second display portion are displayed using hypertext markup language (HTML).

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the standard application services provided in the first display portion enable a user to interact with a model of a printed circuit board having at least one component soldered to the printed circuit board via at least one pin.

15. A system for providing a computer application, the system comprising:

a means for providing a graphical user interface associated with the computer application, the graphical user interface comprising a first portion for providing standard application services and a second portion for providing dedicated help services based on the standard application services provided in the first portion of the graphical user interface;

a means for determining a user interaction via the first portion of the graphical user interface;

a means for providing, based on the user interaction, a standard application service associated with the computer application in the first portion of the graphical user interface; and

a means for providing, based on the standard application service provided in the first portion of the graphical user interface, dedicated help services in the second portion of the graphical user interface.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the standard application services provided in the first portion of the graphical user interface enable a user to interact with a model of a printed circuit board having at least one component soldered to the printed circuit board via at least one pin.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the standard application services provided in the first portion of the graphical user interface enable a user to control an automatic x-ray inspection system configured to detect manufacturing defects in printed circuit boards.