Enhanced Contextual User Assistance

• US 20130238991A1
• Filed: 12/18/2012
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward K.Y., Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US13/718,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20130238991A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/708
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

In an approach, an exemplary method includes receiving a query related to an electronic device through a first user interface associated with the electronic device, sensing a context of the electronic device, and providing an assistance correlating to the query and the sensed context through a second user interface associated with the electronic device. In another approach, an exemplary system includes an electronic device having a context sensor, a first and a second user interface, and instructions. The instructions cause the electronic device to receive a query related to the electronic device through a first user interface associated with the electronic device, receive a context of the electronic device from the context sensor, and provide an assistance corresponding to the query and the context of the electronic device through a second user interface associated with the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a query related to an electronic device through a first user interface associated with the electronic device;

sensing a context of the electronic device; and

providing an assistance correlating to the query and the sensed context through a second user interface associated with the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user interface includes an element of the electronic device in a first state and the second user interface includes the element of the electronic device in a second state.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user interface includes an element of the electronic device in a first mode and the second user interface includes the element of the electronic device in a second mode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving a query related to an electronic device through a first user interface associated with the electronic device includes receiving a selection of an aspect of the electronic device through a first user interface associated with the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the receiving a selection of an aspect of the electronic device through a first user interface associated with the electronic device includes receiving a selection of an aspect of the electronic device through a first user interface associated with the aspect of the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving a query related to an electronic device through a first user interface associated with the electronic device includes detecting a touch through a first user interface associated with the electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving a query related to an electronic device through a first user interface associated with the electronic device includes receiving a selection of an aspect of the electronic device through a first user interface associated with the electronic device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving a query related to an electronic device through a first user interface associated with the electronic device includes receiving a selection corresponding to an assistance request.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensing a context of the electronic device includes sensing a context extrinsic to the electronic device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensing a context of the electronic device includes sensing an environment extrinsic to the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensing a context of the electronic device includes sensing a context intrinsic to the electronic device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving a query related to an electronic device through a first user interface associated with the electronic device includes detecting a touch to the first user interface.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving a query related to an electronic device through a first user interface associated with the electronic device includes detecting a sound through the first user interface.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the detecting a sound through the first user interface includes detecting a spoken word.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing an assistance correlating to the query and the sensed context through a second user interface associated with the electronic device includes providing a user assistance.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing an assistance correlating to the query and the sensed context through a second user interface associated with the electronic device includes visually providing an assistance.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing an assistance correlating to the query and the sensed context through a second user interface associated with the electronic device includes audibly providing an assistance.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing an assistance correlating to the query and the sensed context through a second user interface associated with the electronic device includes providing a spoken assistance.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing an assistance correlating to the query and the sensed context through a second user interface associated with the electronic device includes tactilely providing an assistance.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing an assistance correlating to the query and the sensed context through a second user interface associated with the electronic device includes providing a guided response assistance.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing an assistance correlating to the query and the sensed context through a second user interface associated with the electronic device includes providing an interactive tutorial assistance.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing an assistance correlating to the query and the sensed context through a second user interface associated with the electronic device includes providing a description of the electronic device.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing an assistance correlating to the query and the sensed context through a second user interface associated with the electronic device includes providing an assistance showing how an aspect of the device works.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing an assistance correlating to the query and the sensed context through a second user interface associated with the electronic device includes providing an assistance through a physical element of the electronic device.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein providing an assistance through a physical element of the electronic device includes providing an assistance by blinking a light associated with a physical element of the electronic device.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving a query including a selection of an aspect of an electronic device through a first user interface associated with the electronic device includes receiving a query including a selection of an aspect of an electronic device and a sensed context of the electronic device.

94. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user interface associated with the electronic device includes a touchscreen of the electronic device presenting a first user interface and the second user interface associated with the electronic device includes the touchscreen of the electronic device presenting a second user interface.

8. (canceled)

13-15. -15. (canceled)

19-22. -22. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

35. (canceled)

37-40. -40. (canceled)

41. A system comprising:

an electronic device including a context sensor, a first user interface, and a second user interface; and

instructions for;

receiving a query related to the electronic device through a first user interface associated with the electronic device;

sensing a context of the electronic device with the context sensor; and

providing an assistance correlating to the query and the sensed context through a second user interface associated with the electronic device.

42-58. -58. (canceled)

59. A method comprising:

receiving a selection corresponding to an aspect of an electronic device through a first user interface of the electronic device;

receiving a selection corresponding to an assistance request related to the aspect of the electronic device through a second user interface of the electronic device;

sensing an environmental context of the electronic device; and

providing an assistance correlating to the assistance request related to the aspect of the electronic device and the environmental context through a third user interface of the electronic device.

60-79. -79. (canceled)

80. A system comprising:

an electronic device having a context sensor, a first user interface, a second user interface, and third user interface; and

instructions which when implemented in the electronic device cause the electronic device to;

receive a selection corresponding to an aspect of the electronic device through a first user interface of the electronic device;

receive a selection corresponding to an assistance request related to the aspect of the electronic device through a second user interface of the electronic device;

receive a context of the electronic device from the context sensor; and

provide an assistance correlating to the assistance request related to the aspect of the electronic device and to the context of the electronic device through a third user interface of the electronic device.

81-93. -93. (canceled)