Dynamic help user interface control with secured customization

• US 20070220428A1
• Filed: 03/17/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kureshy, Arif, Alam, Muhammad, Syck, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 8,099,664 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/708
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method and system is disclosed for generating a help interface to present static help content and customized help content for an application. Help content data is accessed to define the static help content and a control command to support incorporation of the customized help content. The control command is implemented to determine a configuration of the application, and a user context is determined based on a user characteristic and the application configuration. The customized help content is then resolved based on the control command and the user context. In some cases, a help system may include a help viewer module or program in communication with a computer-readable memory storing the help content data. The help viewer may then render the help interface based on the static help content and customized help content resolved from the control command, the application configuration, and other aspects of the user context in which it is presented.

Claims

1. A method of generating a help interface to present static help content and customized help content for an application, the method comprising the steps of:

accessing help content data defining the static help content and a control command to support incorporation of the customized help content;

implementing the control command to determine a configuration of the application;

determining a user context based on a user characteristic and the application configuration; and

,

resolving the customized help content based on the control command and the user context.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessing step comprises the step of accessing a help content file having the help content data stored therein.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the help content file is a CHM file.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the control command comprises an ActiveX control.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the implementing step comprises the step of attempting to detect a process space of the application.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the application configuration is indicative of whether the process space is detected.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the user characteristic comprises a user profile that determines the user context.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the user profile comprises an indication of a security level or access privileges.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user characteristic is indicative of whether a component of the application is loaded in a process space of the application.

10. A help system for an application having a configuration for implementation on a computing system accessed by a user having a user characteristic, the help system comprising:

a computer-readable memory to store help data defining static help content and a control command for customized help content;

a help viewer in communication with the computer-readable memory and adapted to be implemented by the computing system to generate a help user interface;

wherein the help viewer is responsive to execution of the control command to determine the customized help content in accordance with the application configuration and the user characteristic.

11. The help system of claim 10, further comprising a data access layer in communication with a configuration key subsystem of the application to facilitate the execution of the control command and determine the application configuration.

12. The help system of claim 10, further comprising a data access layer in communication with a security key subsystem of the application to facilitate the execution of the control command and determine the user characteristic.

13. The help system of claim 10, wherein the application configuration is indicative of whether the application is being implemented during the control command execution.

14. A computer-readable medium adapted to store computer-executable instructions to generate a help user interface having static help content and customized help content for an application, wherein the computer-executable instructions comprise computer code to:

access help content data defining the static help content and a placeholder to support incorporation of the customized help content;

determine a configuration of the application;

resolve the customized help content based on the application configuration; and

,

render the help user interface based on the static help content, the placeholder, and the resolved customized help content.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, having further computer code to communicate with a configuration key subsystem of the application to determine the application configuration.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, having further computer code to communicate with a security key subsystem of the application to determine the application configuration.