Quick reference card and on-line help for a computing system

• US 20080155412A1
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Headrick, Todd R.
• Application Number:
  US11/642,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20080155412A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/712
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

Various technologies for generating a quick reference card. In one implementation, system settings information about a computing system may be read. Optional settings information about the computing system may then be queried and received thereafter. The system settings information and the optional settings information may then be displayed on the quick reference card.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a quick reference card, comprising:

reading system settings information about a computing system;

querying optional settings information about the computing system;

receiving the optional settings information; and

displaying the system settings information and the optional settings information on the quick reference card.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the system settings information is determined during set up.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the system settings information comprises information determined by the computing system during set up.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the system settings information comprises information determined by a user during set up.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the system settings information comprises internet protocol (IP) address information for the computing system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the system settings information comprises at least one of a user-defined name for the computing system, one or more user names having access to the computing system, one or more shared folder names stored in the computing system, an internet remote access name for the computing system, a diagram of the computing system, one or more names for one or more personal computers connected to the computing system and one or more names for one or more printers connected to the computing system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the optional settings information comprises at least one of a telephone number for technical emergency and one or more accessory hardware information connected to the computing system.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising printing the quick reference card.

9. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

read system settings information about a computing system, the system settings information being defined by one of the computing system and a user during set up; and

display the system settings information on a quick reference card.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

query optional settings information about the computing system;

receive the optional settings information; and

display the system settings information and the optional settings information on the quick reference card.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the optional settings information comprises at least one of a telephone number for technical emergency and one or more accessory hardware information connected to the computing system.

12. A memory for storing data for access by an application program being executed on a processor, the memory comprising:

a data structure for a quick reference card stored in the memory, the data structure comprising system settings information for a computing system and optional settings information about the computing system.

13. The memory of claim 12, wherein the system settings information comprises information determined by the computing system during set up.

14. The memory of claim 12, wherein the system settings information comprises information determined by a user during set up.

15. The memory of claim 12, wherein the optional settings information comprises at least one of a telephone number for technical emergency and one or more accessory hardware information connected to the computing system.

16. A method for providing on-line help from a computing system, comprising:

receiving a request for help on a topic;

retrieving a help documentation file for the topic, the help documentation file having one or more descriptors configured to identify at least one of system settings information for the computing system and optional settings information about the computing system; and

displaying the help documentation file.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising retrieving the at least one of the system settings information for the computing system and the optional settings information about the computing system identified by the descriptors.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising replacing the descriptors with the at least one of the system settings information and the optional settings information.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying the help documentation file with the at least one of the system settings information and the optional settings information.

20. A memory for storing data for access by an application program being executed on a processor, the memory comprising:

a data structure for a help documentation file stored in the memory, the data structure comprising one or more descriptors for identifying at least one of system settings information for a computing system and optional settings information about the computing system.