Method And Computer Program Product For Generating Shortcuts For Launching Computer Program Functionality On A Computer

• US 20090183124A1
• Filed: 01/09/2009
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: SRIDHAR, Muralikrishna, Govindarajulu, Naveen Sundar, Madhvanath, Sriganesh, Mandalapu, Dinesh
• Granted Patent: US 8,214,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/847
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57

Abstract

The present application discloses a method for generating a shortcut for launching computer program functionality on a computer. The method comprises the steps of monitoring a sequence of user actions resulting in the launch of the functionality; determining a launch frequency of the functionality; determining a complexity rating for the launch; comparing the launch frequency and the complexity rating with a predefined criterion; and generating the shortcut for activating the functionality if the predefined criterion is met. The present application further discloses a computer program product implementing the above method and a computer comprising such a computer program.

Claims

1. A method for generating a shortcut for launching computer program functionality on a computer, comprising:

monitoring a sequence of user actions resulting in the launch of the functionality;

determining a launch frequency of the functionality;

determining a complexity rating for the launch;

comparing the launch frequency and the complexity rating with a predefined criterion; and

generating the shortcut for activating the functionality if the predefined criterion is met.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predefined criterion comprises a predefined threshold, and wherein the step of comparing the launch frequency and the complexity rating with a predefined criterion comprises:

generating a score comprising the product of the launch frequency and the complexity rating; and

comparing the score with the predefined threshold.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predefined criterion comprises a predefined threshold, and wherein the step of comparing the launch frequency and the complexity rating with a predefined criterion comprises:

multiplying the launch frequency with a first weight factor;

multiplying the complexity rating with a second weight factor; and

comparing the sum of the weighted launch frequency and the weighted complexity rating with the predefined threshold.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predefined criterion comprises a frequency threshold and a complexity threshold, and wherein the step of comparing the launch frequency and the complexity rating with a predefined criterion comprises:

comparing the launch frequency with the frequency threshold;

comparing the complexity rating with the complexity threshold; and

wherein the predefined criterion is met when both the frequency threshold and the complexity threshold are met.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the complexity rating reflects a physical effort required to perform at least some of the user actions in said sequence.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sequence is terminated by a functionality launch action, and wherein the step of determining the complexity rating comprises determining the number of actions between the current functionality launch action and the preceding functionality launch action.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising using the complexity rating of the sequence of the preceding launch action as the complexity rating of the sequence of the current launch action if the number of actions between the current functionality launch action and the preceding functionality launch action is less than a predefined number.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of generating the shortcut further comprises:

prompting the user to approve the generation of said shortcut; and

generating said shortcut upon a positive response to said prompt.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

monitoring responses of the user to respective prompts for approving the generation of respective shortcuts for activating respective computer program functionalities;

determining an approval rate from said responses; and

adjusting the predefined criterion in response to the determined approval rate.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the step of generating said shortcut upon a positive response to said prompt comprises:

prompting the user to define the shortcut; and

generating the shortcut based on the definition.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a use frequency of a generated shortcut;

comparing the use frequency with a further predefined threshold; and

deleting the shortcut if the use frequency has fallen below the further predefined threshold.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of generating the shortcut further comprises:

proposing to the user to delete said shortcut; and

deleting said shortcut upon a positive response to said proposal.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

determining a cumulative use frequency of previously generated shortcuts; and

adjusting the predefined criterion in response to the determine cumulative use frequency.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

checking if a shortcut already exists for the sequence; and

flagging the existence of the shortcut to the user.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predefined criterion is a global criterion.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predefined criterion is specific to the launched functionality.

17. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising defining the criterion based on user competence.

24. The computer program product as claimed in claim 1, further adapted to perform the following steps:

determining a cumulative use frequency of previously generated shortcuts; and

adjusting the predefined criterion in response to the determine cumulative use frequency.

18. A computer program product for generating a shortcut for launching computer program functionality when executed by a computer, said computer program product comprising software program code means adapted to perform, when executed by a computer, the steps of:

monitoring a sequence of user actions resulting in the launch of the functionality;

determining a launch frequency of the functionality;

determining a complexity rating for the launch;

comparing the launch frequency and the complexity rating with a predefined criterion; and

generating the shortcut for activating the functionality if the predefined criterion is met.

19. The computer program product as claimed in claim 18, wherein the sequence is terminated by a current functionality launch action, and wherein the step of determining the complexity rating comprises determining the number of actions between the current functionality launch action and the preceding functionality launch action.

20. The computer program product as claimed in claim 18, wherein the step of generating the shortcut further comprises:

prompting the user to approve the generation of said shortcut; and

generating said shortcut upon a positive response to said prompt.

21. The computer program product as claimed in claim 18, further adapted to perform the following steps:

monitoring responses of the user to respective prompts for approving the generation of respective shortcuts for activating respective computer program functionalities;

determining an approval rate from said responses; and

adjusting the predefined criterion in response to the determined approval rate.

22. The computer program product as claimed in claim 21, wherein the step of generating said shortcut upon a positive response to said prompt comprises:

prompting the user to define the shortcut; and

generating the shortcut based on the definition.

23. The computer program product as claimed in claim 18, further adapted to perform the following steps:

monitoring a use frequency of a generated shortcut;

comparing the use frequency with a further predefined threshold; and

deleting the shortcut if the use frequency at least meets the further predefined threshold.

25. The computer program product as claimed in claim 18, wherein the computer program product comprises an operating system.

26. The computer program product as claimed in claim 18, wherein the computer program product is embodied on a computer-readable data carrier.

27. A computer comprising the computer program product of claim 18.