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System for providing help information during a help mode based on selected operation controls and a current-state of the system

  • US 5,175,812 A
  • Filed: 05/20/1991
  • Issued: 12/29/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1988
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a system which is operable in a plurality of different modes and which has a video display and a plurality of controls, each of which controls is operable to be in a plurality of different states, the state of the control influencing a selected system function;

  • a mechanism for displaying information concerning the system function of at least selected ones of said controls for the current state of the system comprising;

    a help control;

    means responsive to a first operation of said help control for placing said system in a help mode;

    first means operative when the system is in the help mode for disabling the system from responding to the operation of said selected ones of the plurality of controls to influence the corresponding functions, the system operation otherwise continuing substantially unchanged when the system is in the help mode;

    second means operative when the system is in the help mode and in response both to the operations of each of said selected ones of said plurality of controls when the system is in the help mode and to said current state of the system for displaying on said video display selected help information concerning the particular function controlled by the operation of each said selected ones of the plurality of controls; and

    ,means for taking the system out of the help mode.

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