Community-based software application help system
First Claim
1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions adapted for execution on a computer having a display, the computer-executable instructions, when executed, comprising:
- an application component, the application component adapted to perform at least one application function based on input from a user, the at least one application function comprising receiving user input through at least one application control displayed on the display as part of a control display area; and
a help-related component for creating or searching for a video clip depicting user interaction with the application component, the help-related component being adapted to create or search for the video clip in response to user input received through at least one help-related control displayed as part of the control display area.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A framework for enabling a community of users to share help information about an application program. The framework includes a mechanism for users to generate and share help information and a mechanism for users to access help information created by other users. To generate help information, tools may be incorporated into an application to enable users to capture information about the application as they are performing functions. Those tools capture as a video clip a representation of screen displays created by the application as the user interacts with the application to perform a function about which help information is to be generated. Along with the scenes captured in the video clip, application context information and explanatory material, such as an audio narration, can be captured. The mechanism to access help information includes a server to which video clips can be posted and catalogued, allowing identification of clips in response to user input describing a required help topic.
56 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions adapted for execution on a computer having a display, the computer-executable instructions, when executed, comprising:
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an application component, the application component adapted to perform at least one application function based on input from a user, the at least one application function comprising receiving user input through at least one application control displayed on the display as part of a control display area; and a help-related component for creating or searching for a video clip depicting user interaction with the application component, the help-related component being adapted to create or search for the video clip in response to user input received through at least one help-related control displayed as part of the control display area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions adapted for execution on a computer having a display, the display displaying information stored in a frame buffer, the computer-executable instructions, when executed, for:
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performing at least one application function based on input from a user, the at least one application function comprising receiving user input through at least one application control displayed on the display; and creating a video clip from the information in the frame buffer while user input is being provided through the at least one application control. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of operating a computer to create help information associated with an application program, the method comprising:
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operating the application program, the operating comprising a plurality of interactions between a user and the application program; and creating an audio-video clip, the audio-video clip comprising video data graphically representing the plurality of user interactions based on data internal to the computer and audio data comprising voice input from the user. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification