System and method for progressive levels of user assistance information
First Claim
1. A method of displaying help levels on a computer system, said method comprising:
- detecting a user positioning a selector icon over an object using a pointing device, wherein the object corresponds to a particular function;
displaying a top level help window in response to the detection, wherein the top level help window includes high level help text corresponding to the function and one or more intermediate level graphical controls;
receiving an intermediate selection from the user, wherein the intermediate selection corresponds to one of the intermediate level graphical controls; and
displaying an intermediate level help window in response to receiving the intermediate selection, wherein the intermediate level help window includes intermediate level help text corresponding to the function and one or more detail level graphical controls.
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Abstract
A system and method for progressive levels of user assistance information is presented. A user positions a selector icon over an object which invokes processing to seamlessly display a top level help window corresponding the object. The top level help window includes a title of the corresponding object. The user selects the top level help window to invoke processing to seamlessly display an intermediate level help window. The intermediate level help window includes a description of the corresponding object as well as detail level graphical controls. The user selects one of the detail level graphical controls to invoke processing to seamlessly display a detail level help window. The detail level help window may include instructions regarding the use of the corresponding icon'"'"'s function or the detail level help window may include text regarding why a user uses the particular icon'"'"'s function. The user seamlessly navigates through various help windows until the user sufficiently understands the particular icon'"'"'s function.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of displaying help levels on a computer system, said method comprising:
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detecting a user positioning a selector icon over an object using a pointing device, wherein the object corresponds to a particular function;
displaying a top level help window in response to the detection, wherein the top level help window includes high level help text corresponding to the function and one or more intermediate level graphical controls;
receiving an intermediate selection from the user, wherein the intermediate selection corresponds to one of the intermediate level graphical controls; and
displaying an intermediate level help window in response to receiving the intermediate selection, wherein the intermediate level help window includes intermediate level help text corresponding to the function and one or more detail level graphical controls. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An information handling system comprising:
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one or more processors;
a pointing device controlled by the processors;
a display device accessible by the processors;
a memory accessible by the processors;
one or more nonvolatile storage devices accessible by the processors; and
a help level handling tool to perform sequential help level requests, the help level handling tool including;
means for detecting a user positioning a selector icon over an object using the pointing device, wherein the object corresponds to a particular function;
means for retrieving a top level help window from one of the nonvolatile storage devices in response to the detection;
means for displaying the top level help window on the display device, wherein the top level help window includes high level help text corresponding to the function and one or more intermediate level graphical controls;
means for receiving an intermediate selection from the user, wherein the intermediate selection corresponds to one of the intermediate level graphical controls; and
means for retrieving an intermediate level help window from one of the nonvolatile storage devices, the intermediate level help window corresponding to the intermediate selection;
means for displaying the intermediate level help window on the display in response to the intermediate selection, the intermediate level help window including intermediate level help text corresponding to the function and one or more detail level graphical controls. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer program product stored on a computer operable media for performing sequential help level requests, said computer program product comprising:
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means for detecting a user positioning a selector icon over an object using a pointing device, wherein the object corresponds to a particular function;
means for displaying a top level help window in response to the detection, wherein the top level help window includes high level help text corresponding to the function and one or more intermediate level graphical controls;
means for receiving an intermediate selection from the user, wherein the intermediate selection corresponds to one of the intermediate level graphical controls; and
means for displaying an intermediate level help window in response to receiving the intermediate selection, wherein the intermediate level help window includes intermediate level help text corresponding to the function and one or more detail level graphical controls. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification