User editable help items

• US 20030101165A1
• Filed: 12/24/2002
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Exobrain Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Exobrain Incorporated
• Inventors: Warren, Peter
• Application Number:
  US10/327,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20030101165A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/34 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/904 Browsing; Visualisation therefor for navigating the web G06F16/954; browsing optimisation for the web G06F16/957

Abstract

A method for a computer system to allow user editing of a help item that is associated with an element in an uninterrupted user session. The method has the steps of receiving a help item edit command from a user wherein the help item edit command has an association with the element and receiving a help item level selection command which also has an association with the element. In response to the help item level selection command, the system then sets the help level for which to apply the help item edit command. Then, in response to receiving the help edit command, the system saves a user-edited help item that is based on the help item edit command and is in association to the set help level. Both the help item edit command and the set help level are associated to the element so that when the element is activated, the user-edit help item may be subsequently retrieved.

Claims

1. A method of editing a help item by a user wherein the help item is associated with an element, the method comprising;

receiving a help item edit command from the user, wherein the command is associated with the element;

in response to help item edit command;

saving a user-edited help item based on the help item edit command,

receiving a subsequent activation command for the element; and

displaying the user-edited help item.

2. The method of claim 1 where the step of saving the user-edited help item creates as a new help item.

3. The method of claim 1 where the step of saving the user-edited help item edits an existing help item.

4. The method of claim 1 performed in an uninterrupted user session.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the help edit command comprises a text entry.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of saving the user-edited help item comprises creating and saving a new help item.

7. A computer storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

8. An apparatus configured to perform the method of claim 4.

9. A method for a computer system to allow user editing of a help item that is associated with an element in an uninterrupted user session, the method comprising the steps of;

receiving a help item edit command from a user wherein the help item edit command has an association with the element;

receiving a help item level selection command, which has an association with the element;

in response to the help item level selection command;

setting the help level for which to apply the help item edit command; and

in response to receiving the help item edit command;

saving a user-edited help item based on the help item edit command in association to the set help level for the associated element for subsequent retrieval.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein step of setting the help level further comprises the step of setting the default help level for the element.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein help item selection command is from the user.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the subsequent retrieval is to be requested by the user.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the subsequent retrieval is to be requested by another user.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of saving the user-edited help item creates a new help item.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of saving the user-edited help item edits an existing help item.

16. A computer storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 9.

17. An apparatus configured to perform the method of claim 9.

18. A method for a computer system to allow user editing of a help item associated with an element, the method comprising;

providing the user access to a plurality of help edit commands;

accessing the help edit commands by the user;

associating a user selected help edit command to the element;

creating a user-edited help item based on the user selected help edit commands associated with the element; and

saving the user-edited help item for subsequent viewing upon activation of the element.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of saving the user-edited help item creates a new help item.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of saving the user-edited help item edits an existing help item.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of:

associating the user selected help edit command to a help level.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of associating the user selected help edit command to a help level comprises the step of:

receiving a help item level selection command.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of receiving a help item level selection command comprises receiving the help item level selection command from the user.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of receiving a help item level selection command comprises receiving the help item level selection command from the system.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of receiving a help item level selection command comprises receiving the help item level selection command from another user.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the subsequent viewing is requested by another user.

27. The method of claim 18 wherein the subsequent viewing is requested by the user.

28. A computer storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 22.

29. An apparatus configured to perform the method of claim 18.

30. A method for a computer system to allow user editing of a help item that is associated with an element in an uninterrupted user session, the method comprising the steps of;

receiving a help item edit command from a user wherein the help item edit command has an association with the element, wherein the help item edit command has an access rights setting;

receiving a help item level selection command, which has an association with the element;

in response to the help item level selection command;

setting the help level for which to apply the help item edit command; and

in response to receiving the help item edit command;

saving a user-edited help item based on the help item edit command in association to the set help level for the associated element for subsequent retrieval; and

setting the access rights of the user-edited help item based on the access rights setting.