Systems and methods for providing menu availability help information to computer users
First Claim
1. A method of automatically providing assistance to a system user comprising the steps of:
- displaying a menu comprising a plurality of menu items;
detecting a user request for information regarding an unselectable menu item of the plurality of menu items;
determining information regarding the unselectable menu item in response to the detection of the user request; and
displaying a message containing the information regarding the unselectable menu item in response to the user request.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for automatically providing assistance to a user of a system controlled through menus. Features and aspects hereof include detecting user input requesting information regarding an unselectable (or grayed-out) menu item presently displayed. The user input may comprise hovering the cursor over the unselectable item, right clicking the unselectable item, clicking another menu item on the same menu requesting the information, or other indicia of the user'"'"'s request for reasons and/or remedies for the unselectable item. A message containing an explanation of the reason for unavailability of the grayed-out menu item and/or possible remedies therefore is displayed. In a particular embodiment, the system comprises a management system and a peripheral device such as a storage system or a network appliance. In another embodiment, the system may provide similar user interface features in an application program operable on a user'"'"'s computer.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of automatically providing assistance to a system user comprising the steps of:
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displaying a menu comprising a plurality of menu items;
detecting a user request for information regarding an unselectable menu item of the plurality of menu items;
determining information regarding the unselectable menu item in response to the detection of the user request; and
displaying a message containing the information regarding the unselectable menu item in response to the user request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system comprising:
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a display for presenting graphical user interfaces to a user;
a pointing device for receiving user input;
a managing task coupled to the display and to the pointing device and including GUI features for presenting a menu comprising a plurality of menu items wherein at least one menu item of the plurality of menu items is an unselectable menu item; and
a managed task communicatively coupled to the managing task for providing information regarding the plurality of menu items, wherein the information includes information regarding the unselectable menu item, and wherein the managing task is adapted to present the information regarding the unselectable menu item in response to user input from the pointing device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification