Method for providing an on line help facility for interactive information handling systems
First Claim
1. A method to assist the operator of an interactive information handling system in entering command via an input device in response to the entry by said operator of a "Command Help Request;
- " said method including the steps of,(1) determining what commands are valid as the next command based on an analysis of the current state of the process task being performed by the system at the time said request command is issued and(2) displaying at least one Help panel that overlays a portion of the information on the screen at the time said request is entered which contains the names of only valid commands that can be entered into the system at the current state of the process task and explains the functions of the named commands.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method to help and displace Help Panels containing information to explain Command Functions, Command Syntax, and Command Parameters to the operator of an interactive information handling system in response to the entry of a "Command Help Request" into said system by said operator. The method displays the selected panel as an overlay on the existing screen at the time the Command Help request is entered into the system. Selection of the panel to be displayed is based on an analysis by the system as to what commands are valid or active for the next step in the process or task that the system is performing. The operator may select directly from the Command Help Panel overlay, the desired command, or alternately enter the command desired by moving the cursor to the command area of the underlying screen and keying in the command.
The method further provides for the system to display a second level of Command Help Panels containing information as to the Parameters and their meaning for commands selected from the first level of the Command Help Panels.
The method also advises the operator with other overlaid Help Panels if an invalid command is entered when the system is displaying a first level of Help Panel. The panels that re displayed in addition to advising that the command is not active also advise the operator how to reach the point in the process where the non-active command becomes active from the current state of the process task.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method to assist the operator of an interactive information handling system in entering command via an input device in response to the entry by said operator of a "Command Help Request;
- " said method including the steps of,
(1) determining what commands are valid as the next command based on an analysis of the current state of the process task being performed by the system at the time said request command is issued and (2) displaying at least one Help panel that overlays a portion of the information on the screen at the time said request is entered which contains the names of only valid commands that can be entered into the system at the current state of the process task and explains the functions of the named commands. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- " said method including the steps of,
Specification