Enhanced user assistance

• US 20060117001A1
• Filed: 12/01/2004
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Jung, Edward K.Y., Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US11/000,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20060117001A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90324 using system suggestions

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and system distinct from an item that provides user assistance for the item.

Claims

1. An apparatus distinct from an item, the apparatus comprising:

a) an electronic device including a first user interface associatable with the item and a second user interface; and

b) instructions that when implemented in the electronic device cause the electronic device to;

(i) receive a query related to the item through the first user interface; and

(ii) provide an assistance correlating to the query through the second user interface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first user interface includes an element of the electronic device in a first state and the second user interface includes the element of the electronic device in a second state.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first user interface includes an element of the electronic device in a first mode and the second user interface includes the element of the electronic device in a second mode.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first user interface associatable with an item includes a first user interface physically associatable with the item.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first user interface associatable with an item includes a first user interface removably associatable with an item.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first user interface associatable with an item includes a first user interface removably associatable with an aspect of the item.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first user interface associatable with an item includes a first user interface associatable with an aspect of the item.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first user interface associatable with an item includes a button associatable with an item.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the button associatable with an item includes a tangible button associatable with an item.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the button associatable with an item includes a virtual button associatable with an item.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the virtual button associatable with an item includes a virtual button displayable on a display surface associatable with an item.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first user interface includes a first user interface wirelessly couplable with the electronic device.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first user interface includes a first user interface electrically couplable with the electronic device.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second user interface includes a second user interface associatable with the item.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second user interface associatable with the item includes a second user interface removably associatable with the item.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second user interface removably associatable with the item includes a second user interface removably and physically associatable with the item.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second user interface includes a second user interface associatable with an aspect of the item.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second user interface includes the first user interface.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second user interface includes a visual display.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the visual display includes a visual display surface.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the visual display includes a light emitter.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second user interface includes a second user interface wirelessly couplable with the electronic device.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second user interface includes a second user interface electrically couplable with the electronic device.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic device further includes a context sensor operable to sense a context of the item.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein, the instructions further include an instruction to (iii) receive a context of the item from the context sensor;

and wherein the instruction to (ii) provide an assistance correlating to the query includes provide an assistance correlating to the query and the context of the item.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the context sensor includes a sensor operable to sense a context extrinsic to the item.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the context sensor includes a sensor operable to sense an environment extrinsic to the item.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the context sensor includes a sensor operable to sense a context intrinsic to the item.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the item includes a vehicle.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the item includes an appliance.

31. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the item includes a manufacturing apparatus.

32. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the item includes a control system.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic device further includes a computing device operably coupled to the first user interface and the second user interface.

34. A method providing assistance for an item, the method comprising:

a) receiving a query related to the item through a first user interface of an electronic device associated with the item, wherein the item is distinct from the electronic device; and

b) providing an assistance correlating to the query through a second user interface of the electronic device.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the first user interface includes an element in a first state and the second user interface includes the element in a second state.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the first user interface includes an element of the electronic device in a first mode and the second user interface includes the element of the electronic device in a second mode.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the first user interface associated with the item includes a first user interface removably associated with the item.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the receiving a query related to an item through a first user interface operably coupled to an electronic device and associated with the item includes receiving a selection of an aspect of an item through a first user interface operably coupled to an electronic device and associated with the item.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the receiving a selection of an aspect of an item through a first user interface operably coupled to an electronic device and associated with the item includes receiving a selection of an aspect of an item through a first user interface operably coupled to an electronic device and removably and physically associated with the aspect of the item.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein the receiving a query related to an item includes receiving a selection correlating to an assistance request related to the item.

41. The method of claim 34, wherein the receiving a query related to an item through a first user interface includes detecting a touch through a first user interface.

42. The method of claim 34, wherein the receiving a query related to an item through a first user interface includes detecting a sound through the first user interface.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the detecting a sound through the first user interface includes detecting a spoken word through the first user interface.

44. The method of claim 34, wherein the item includes a vehicle and the receiving a query includes receiving a query related to an aspect of the vehicle.

45. The method of claim 34, wherein the item includes an appliance and the receiving a query includes receiving a query related to an aspect of the appliance.

46. The method of claim 34, wherein the item includes a manufacturing apparatus and the receiving a query includes receiving a query related to the manufacturing apparatus.

47. The method of claim 34, wherein the item includes a control system and the receiving a query includes receiving a query related to the control system.

48. The method of claim 34, wherein the second user interface associated with the item includes a second user interface removably associated with the item.

49. The method of claim 34, wherein the providing an assistance correlating to the query through a second user interface operably coupled to the electronic device includes providing an assistance correlating to the query through a second user interface operably coupled to the electronic device and associated with the item.

50. The method of claim 34, wherein the providing an assistance correlating to the query includes providing a user assistance correlating to the query.

51. The method of claim 34, wherein the providing an assistance correlating to the query includes visually providing an assistance correlating to the query.

52. The method of claim 34, wherein the providing an assistance correlating to the query includes audibly providing an assistance correlating to the query.

53. The method of claim 34, wherein the providing an assistance correlating to the query includes providing a spoken assistance correlating to the query.

54. The method of claim 34, wherein the providing an assistance correlating to the query includes tactilely providing an assistance correlating to the query.

55. The method of claim 34, wherein the providing an assistance includes providing a guided response assistance.

56. The method of claim 34, wherein the providing an assistance includes providing an interactive tutorial assistance.

57. The method of claim 34, wherein the providing an assistance includes providing an assistance correlating with a physical aspect of the item.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the providing an assistance correlating with the physical aspect of the device includes blinking a light emitter associatable with the physical aspect.

59. The method of claim 34, wherein the providing an assistance includes providing a guidance correlating with a process associated with the item.

60. The method of claim 34, wherein the providing an assistance includes providing a description of the item.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the providing a description of an item includes providing a description of an aspect of the item.

62. The method of claim 34, wherein the providing an assistance includes providing an assistance showing how the device operates.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the providing an assistance showing how the device operates includes providing an assistance showing how an aspect of the item operates.

64. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

c) searching an assistance file for an assistance correlating with the query.

65. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

c) sensing a context of the item.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the providing an assistance correlating to the query includes providing an assistance correlating to the query and the sensed context of the item.

67. The method of claim 65, wherein sensing a context of the item includes sensing a context extrinsic to the item.

68. The method of claim 65, wherein sensing a context of the item includes sensing an environment extrinsic to the item.

69. The method of claim 65, wherein sensing a context of the item includes sensing a context intrinsic to the item.

70. A computer-readable medium product for providing assistance with an item, the computer-readable medium product having computer-executable instructions operable to:

a) receive a query related to the item through a first user interface of an electronic device associatable with the item, wherein the item is distinct from the electronic device; and

b) provide an assistance correlating to the query through a second user interface of the electronic device.

71. The computer-readable medium of claim 70, wherein the computer-readable medium product includes a computer storage medium product.

72. The computer storage medium product of claim 71, wherein the computer storage medium product is carried by a computer-readable carrier.

73. The computer-readable medium of claim 70, wherein the computer-readable medium product includes a communications medium product.

74. An apparatus for providing assistance with an item, the apparatus comprising:

a) first means associatable with the item for receiving a query related to the item, wherein the first means is distinct from the item; and

b) second means associatable with the item for providing an assistance correlating to the query, wherein the second means is distinct from the item.

75. The apparatus of claim 74, further comprising:

c) third means for searching an assistance file for an assistance correlating to the query, wherein the third means is distinct from the item.

76. An apparatus distinct from an item, the apparatus comprising:

a) a query module operable to receive a query related to the item through a first user interface associatable with the item; and

b) an assistance module operable to provide an assistance correlating to the query through a second user interface.

77. An apparatus distinct from an item, the apparatus comprising:

a) a smart device including a receiver associatable with an aspect of an item and operable to receive a selection of the aspect, and an indicator operable to broadcast a tutorial; and

b) a plurality of tutorials that include information related to the item.

78. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the smart device further includes a tutorial selector operable to receive the selection of the aspect.

79. The apparatus of claim 78, wherein the tutorial selector further includes operability to select a tutorial correlating with the selection of the aspect from the plurality of tutorials.

80. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the information related to the aspect of the item includes an explanation of the aspect of the item.

81. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the information related to the aspect of the item includes a guided explanation related to the aspect of the item.

82. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the receiver associatable with an aspect of an item includes a receiver surface associatable with an aspect of an item.

83. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the receiver further includes a receiver operable to receive a selection of a tutorial from the plurality of tutorials.

84. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the indicator includes an indicator associatable with the aspect of the item.

85. A method for providing assistance with an item, the method comprising:

a) activating a help mode in an electronic device distinct from the item;

b) receiving a selection of an aspect of an item through a receiver portion of the electronic device associatable with the aspect; and

c) broadcasting a tutorial that includes information related to the selected aspect of the item through an indicator portion of the electronic device.

86. A method for providing assistance with an item, the method comprising:

a) receiving a query related to an aspect of an item distinct from an electronic device through a first user interface operably coupled to the electronic device and removably associated with the aspect of the item; and

b) providing an assistance correlating to the query through a second user interface operably coupled to the electronic device that is removably associated with the item.

87. An apparatus distinct from an item, the apparatus comprising;

a) a computing device;

b) a first user interface associatable with the item;

c) a second user interface;

d) an assistance file having a content related to the item; and

e) an assistance manager that includes instructions when implemented in the computing device cause the computing device to;

(i) receive a query related to the aspect of the item through the first user interface;

(ii) search the assistance file for an assistance correlating to the query; and

(iii) provide the assistance correlating to the query through the second user interface.

88. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the first user interface associatable with an item includes a first user interface removably associatable with the item.

89. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the first user interface includes a first user interface wirelessly couplable with the computing device.

90. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the first user interface includes a first user interface electrically couplable with the computing device.

91. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the second user interface includes a second user interface wirelessly couplable with the computing device.

92. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the second user interface includes a second user interface electrically couplable with the computing device.