System and method for developing custom operator-specific software-applications

• US 20030132970A1
• Filed: 01/11/2002
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Lehmeier, Michelle R., Sobol, Robert E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,981,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/789
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for customizing a software application interface. A method for modifying a software application contains the following steps: identifying the operator; acquiring an operator profile; setting a threshold value; monitoring the operator'"'"'s use of the software; and modifying a functional interface when the threshold is exceeded.

Claims

1. A method for modifying a software application, comprising:

identifying the operator of the software application;

acquiring an operator profile responsive to the identified operator;

setting a threshold value;

configuring a functional interface responsive to the operator profile;

monitoring the operator'"'"'s use of the software; and

modifying the functional interface when the threshold is exceeded.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein setting a threshold comprises determining the number of times that a novice operator initiates a particular function offered by the software application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein setting a threshold comprises determining the number of times that a novice operator initiates a particular interface dialogue offered by the software application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein setting a threshold comprises collecting a plurality of parameters associated with the operator profile to generate a skill score.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the operator'"'"'s use of the software comprises maintaining a log of operator functional selections.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring a functional interface responsive to the operator profile includes modifying at least one interface associated with the software.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the functional interface when the threshold is exceeded comprises moving functional selections to a higher-level interface within the software.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the operator profile prior to responding to an operator request to terminate the software application.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein maintaining a log of operator functional selections comprises updating the operator profile.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein modifying the at least one interface comprises adjusting the availability of a function.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the modification comprises the addition of a functional push-button to the higher-level interface.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein monitoring the operator'"'"'s use of the software comprises comparing the sum of each log entry with an associated threshold value.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the modification comprises removing an unused functional selection from the interface.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the modification comprises adding a previously withheld function to the interface.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the modification comprises moving an interface activated by a pop-up menu selection to a dialogue window.

16. A computer based software modification system, comprising:

means for receiving information reflective of the identity of an operator of a software application;

means for receiving information responsive to the operator'"'"'s use of the software application;

means for determining a threshold value; and

means for automatically modifying an interface associated with the software application responsive to when a software usage parameter exceeds the threshold.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for receiving information responsive to the operator'"'"'s use comprises communicating with a history log containing a sum reflective of the instances that the operator has selected an associated function.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the determining means comprises analyzing the opinions of representative users of the software application regarding familiarity with the operation of an interface.

19. An interactive software based system, comprising:

a user operable input device;

a user interface coupled to the input device, the user interface operable to receive at least one identifier associated with an operator of a software application, the user interface programmed to receive an operator profile associated with the operator;

a usage monitor coupled to an output of the user interface, the usage monitor programmed to record instances of operator function selections;

a usage logic coupled to the output of the usage monitor, the usage logic programmed to compare at least one selection threshold with an associated function selection sum, the usage logic programmed to generate an output signal indicative of a condition where the associated function selection sum exceeds the associated selection threshold; and

an interface product manipulator programmed to modify a software application interface that contains associated functional controls.

20. A computer-readable medium, comprising:

logic for identifying an operator of an associated software application;

logic for obtaining information reflective of the operator'"'"'s use of the software application over a current and previous operating sessions;

logic for updating the information reflective of the operator'"'"'s use;

logic for comparing the operator'"'"'s use with at least one threshold; and

logic for automatically manipulating a software application interface responsive to a condition when the operator'"'"'s use of a functional control exceeds the at least threshold.