REAL-TIME INSTALLATION AND/OR CONFIGURATION ASSISTANT

• US 20080307413A1
• Filed: 06/11/2007
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Huff, David P., Ferris, James M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,464,239 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

A system and method of assisting a user include displaying a status of at least one of an installation and configuration within a first of a plurality of windows. A point of progress of at least one of the installation and configuration is monitored. Knowledgebase information is retrieved related to the point of progress. The knowledgebase information is displayed within a second of the plurality of windows to assist the user with the at least one of the installation and configuration. An instant messaging chat session can be displayed within a third of the plurality of windows to assist a user with the at least one of the installation and configuration.

Claims

1. A method of assisting a user, comprising:

displaying a status of at least one of an installation and configuration within a first of a plurality of windows;

monitoring a point of progress of the at least one of an installation and configuration;

retrieving knowledgebase information related to the point of progress; and

displaying the knowledgebase information within a second of the plurality of windows to assist the user with the at least one of the installation and configuration.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

establishing an instant messaging chat session within a third of the plurality of windows with a live assistant person to assist the user with the at least one of the installation and configuration.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the knowledgebase information resides on a server.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the knowledgebase information is retrieved over an Internet connection.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising monitoring an application installation executable with a shell program.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the installation and configuration is an execution of an application installation executable.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying the knowledgebase information within a web browser.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a means to perform the method of assisting a user with at least one of an installation and configuration.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of an installation and configuration is a web based process.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the web based process is a process to setup an account with a web service.

11. A system to assist a user, comprising:

a first display window module to display a progress point of a status of at least one of an installation and configuration;

a monitor module to monitor a point of progress of the at least one of an installation and configuration;

a retriever module to retrieve knowledgebase information related to the point of progress; and

a second display window module to display the knowledgebase information to a user to assist the user with the at least one of the installation and configuration.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a third display window to display an instant messaging chat session with a live assistant person assisting to assist the user with the at least one of the installation and configuration.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the retriever module communicates with a knowledgebase server.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the knowledgebase information is retrieved over an Internet connection.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the at least one of the installation and configuration is an application installation.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein the at least one of the installation and configuration is an web based process.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the web based process is a process to setup an account with a web service.