Interactive user message system and method

• US 20050166148A1
• Filed: 01/28/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Garding, Phillip D.
• Application Number:
  US10/766,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20050166148A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/708
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to an interactive user interface system and method. The interactive user interface system receives messages components in response to an event, such as an error, warning, or prompt, and provides one or more menu items or help links corresponding to respective message components in connection with addressing the event. Users can select a menu item or help link to receive or be directed toward helpful information or a remedy for the event. Furthermore, the interface system provides for capturing message components and other interface data so that it can easily be copied or transferred.

Claims

1. An interactive user messaging system comprising:

a receiver component that receives message components corresponding to events; and

an assist component that provides one or more menu items corresponding to the respective message components in connection with addressing the events.

2. The system of claim 1, the message component comprising a context component that describes errors related to a user command

3. The system of claim 2, the message component comprising a rationale component that provides a reason for the error.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising an advanced help component for providing technical information about events.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the technical information is a stack trace.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a message distribution component for capturing message text.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the message text is copied to a clipboard for further use by other applications.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the message text is copied to the body of a new email message.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a feedback component that provides a message corresponding to an event to a developer or company database.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a command component that receives a command instruction from a user.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the command informs a client that a user desires to issue a particular command.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a format component for receiving information regarding graphical objects and associated functionality that are to be available to a user.

13. An interactive user message display system comprising:

a means for receiving one or more messages corresponding with operation events; and

a means for associating help links with the one or more messages.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising means for copying message text from the display system for use with other systems or applications.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the help links are links to web pages containing specific information related to the message.

16. A method for providing users with help associated with computer system events comprising:

receiving a message component;

generating a list of one or more messages retrieved from the message component; and

generating menu items associated with each message in the list of messages.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the list of messages is a hierarchical linked list.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the menu items are help links to web pages comprising information related to a particular message.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the menu items generate a query for a database.

20. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for carrying out the method of claim 16.

21. A method of interacting with program users comprising:

presenting a user interface dialog box including one or more messages associated with an event and a menu of items associated with the messages;

receiving a menu item selection; and

providing help corresponding to the selected item.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the messages are displayed hierarchically from the least specific to the most detailed.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein providing help include linking a user to web pages with help information.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein providing help includes retrieving information from a database.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein providing help includes providing a pointer to a corrective mechanism.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein providing help includes correcting an error.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein providing help includes generating a stack trace.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising capturing the message text.

29. The method claim 28, further comprising opening a new email and copying the captured message text to the body of the email.

30. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for carrying out the method of claim 21.