Method and apparatus for providing help information in multiple formats

• US 20040255057A1
• Filed: 06/16/2003
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Opheim, Greg, Wilson, Sean, Sigtermans, Walt
• Granted Patent: US 7,299,415 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

A system and method that provides help information pertaining a process entity, such as a process device, in a number of different formats presents a first display template that enables a user to request the help information in a first format such as a DDHelp format and presents a second template in response to selection of the first template by the user wherein the second template includes the help information in the first format. The system and method then present a third graphical template that enables a user to request the help information in a second format, such as a WinHelp format and present a fourth template in response to selection of the third template by the user wherein the fourth template includes the help information in the second format.

Claims

1. A method of providing help information about a process entity, the method comprising:

presenting a first template enabling a first input requesting the help information in a first format;

receiving the first input;

presenting a second template in response to the first input, wherein the second template contains the help information in the first format;

presenting a third template enabling a second input requesting the help information in a second format;

receiving the second input; and

presenting a fourth template in response to the second input, wherein the fourth template contains the help information in a second format.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising checking if the help information exists in a second format;

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the third template is a part of the second template.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first format is a device description help (DDHelp) format.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second format is a Windows help (WinHelp) format.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the fourth template provides the help information in a graphic format.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the fourth template provides the help information in an audio format.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second template and the fourth template provide information regarding various parameters of the process entity.

9. A method of providing help information about a process entity, the method comprising:

presenting a first template enabling a first input requesting the help information in a first format;

receiving the first input;

presenting a second template in response to the first input, wherein the second template contains (a) the help information in the first format and (b) a selection entity to receive a second input requesting the help information in a second format;

receiving the second input via the selection entity; and

presenting further template in response to the second input, wherein the further template includes the help information in the second format.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first format is a device description help (DDHelp) format and the second format is a Windows help (WinHelp) format.

11. An information system for providing help information about a plurality of process entity used in a process plant, the information system comprising:

a processing unit;

a computer readable memory;

help information;

stored on the computer readable memory

a display;

an input device adapted to receive an input signal; and

a software routine stored on the computer readable memory and adapted to be executed on the processing unit to;

present a first template adapted to enable a first input requesting the help information in a first format,

receive the first input,

present a second template in response to the first input, wherein the second template includes (a) the help information in the first format and (b) a selection entity adapted to receive a second input requesting the help information in a second format,

receive the second input via the selection entity, and

present a further template in response to the second input, wherein the further template includes the help information in the second format.

12. The information system of claim 11, wherein the software routine is further adapted to check if the help information exists in the second format.

13. The information system of claim 11, wherein the first format is a device description help (DDHelp) format and the second format is a Windows help (WinHelp) format.

14. The information system of claim 11, wherein the software routine is further adapted to present the first template, the second template, and the further template in a graphical user interface (GUI) format.

15. A computer device for use in a process plant containing a plurality of devices, the computer device comprising a computer program embodied on at least one computer readable memory and adapted to be executed on a processing device, the computer program comprising:

first software to present a first template enabling a first input requesting the help information in a first format;

second software to receive the first input;

third software to present a second template in response to the first input, wherein the second template contains the help information in the first format;

fourth software to present a third template enabling a second input requesting the help information in a second format;

fifth software to receive the second input; and

sixth software to present a fourth template in response to the second input, wherein the fourth template contains the help information in a second format.

16. The computer program of claim 15, wherein the first format is a device description help (DDHelp) format and the second format is a Windows help (WinHelp) format.

17. A method of providing help information about a process entity, the method comprising:

storing the help information in a first format and in a second format;

presenting a first template to enable a first input requesting the help information;

receiving the first input;

presenting a second template in response to the first input to receive a second input specifying a format of the help information;

receiving the second input; and

presenting a third template in response to the second input, wherein the third template includes the help information in one of the first and second formats as specified by the second input.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising checking if the help information exists in the first format and/or in the second format.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the first format is a device description help (DDHelp) format.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the second format is a Windows help (WinHelp) format.