Method and system of help-information control method and system

• US 5,434,963 A
• Filed: 12/08/1992
• Issued: 07/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kuwabara, Tadashi, Nonaka, Naomichi, Nakane, Keiichi, Fujiwara, Masaki, Koreeda, Hiroyuki, Masuda, Kiyoshi, Kuwamoto, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): Jankus, Almis R.
• Application Number:
  US07/987,569
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 395/100, 395/144-149, 395/153, 395/155-161, 395/275, 395/650, 395/700, 395/600, 364/419, 364/DIG. 1, 364/DIG. 2
• US Class Current: 715/708
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

A method of help-information control for displaying help information on a display unit of an information processing system executing a plurality of application programs. A status management table for storing the executing status of application programs is provided as common to these programs. During execution of a given application program, the contents of the status information table are updated successively in accordance with the executing status. Whenever an operator makes a help request, the contents of the status management table in effect at that point in time are referenced. The table is searched for the help information corresponding to the request. When found and retrieved, the information is displayed. The search is performed using a program identifier, a message identifier, and a help message searching table that includes the position information containing the corresponding help data. Each application program is equipped with a control data part that makes it possible to reference help data of other application programs.

Claims

1. A method of controlling help-information of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, input means, and display means connected to the CPU, comprising the steps of:

storing continuously an executing status corresponding to each of a plurality of application programs to be executed in the CPU in a status management table in the memory means until said executing status is renewed;

renewing successively each executing status stored in said status management table in response to execution of a corresponding application program;

referring to said executing statuses stored in said status management table in response to a help request provided from an operator during execution of one of said application programs to obtain an executing status corresponding to said one application program; and

searching help data corresponding to said executing statuses stored in said status management table using said obtained executing status to display help-information corresponding to said obtained executing status of said one application program on the display means;

wherein said status management table stores executing statuses each forming a set which includes a program identifier of an application program and a message identifier corresponding to an executing status of said application program.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

said status management table is stored in a memory area of the memory means, said memory area being commonly accessed by each of said application programs.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

a help-data management table and a help message searching table both formed in the memory means are searched in said searching step, said help-data management table stores a program identifier of each of said application programs and a storing position of help-data corresponding to each application program, said help message searching table stores a message identifier related to said executing status corresponding to each of said application programs and a storing position of help message data corresponding to said message identifier of said each application program, said help data includes a help-message searching table and a plurality of help messages data.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

a help-information searching table is searched in said searching step, said help-information searching table includes a program identifier, a message identifier, and a storing position of help message data related to said message identifier corresponding to each application program.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

assigning a respective window of multi-windows which are to be displayed on the display means to a respective one of said application programs;

simultaneously displaying on the display means the multi-windows for the respective ones of the application programs;

selecting one of said sets corresponding to an active one of said multi-windows by current pointing means.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

said help-data includes display data to be displayed on the display means and control data including a plurality of sets each having a program identifier and a message identifer corresponding to each of said application programs.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

judging whether an input, supplied from the input means after displaying said help-information on the display means, is another help request in accordance with said control data; and

searching for another help-data when said input is another help request in accordance with said control data.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

said message identifier and said program identifier corresponding to each application program are stored in a status management table formed in a common area of the memory means commonly accessed by each of said application programs.

9. A method of displaying help-information on an active window of multi-windows overlapping each other on display means of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling the system and executing programs and video buffer means for storing video data to be displayed in windows on the display means, memory means, and input means connected to the CPU, comprising the steps of:

drawing the video data for displaying at least one of the multi-windows in the video buffer means, each of the multi-windows being respectively allocated to one of a plurality of application programs which are executed in the CPU;

storing an executing status of each of said application programs in the memory means until said executing status is renewed;

renewing successively each of said executing statuses in response to the execution of a corresponding application program;

referring to said executing statuses in response to a help request supplied from the input means during execution of one of said application programs to obtain an executing status corresponding to said one application program;

searching help message data corresponding to said executing statuses stored in said memory means using said obtained executing status;

drawing help message data corresponding to said obtained executing status as the video data for displaying an active window in the video buffer means; and

displaying the video data stored in the video buffer means on the display means;

wherein said memory means stores executing statuses each forming a set which includes a program identifier of an application program and a message identifier corresponding to executing status of said application program.

10. A system for controlling help-information in an information handling apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, input means, and display means connected to the CPU, the system comprising:

a set of programs to be executed in the CPU including a plurality of application programs and an operating system program;

a status management table formed in the memory means, said status management table continuously stores an executing status corresponding to each of said application programs, each executing status having a set which includes a program identifier of an application program and a message identifier corresponding to executing status of said application program;

means for successively renewing each executing status of said status management table in response to execution of a corresponding application program;

means for referring to said executing statuses of said status management table in response to a help request supplied from the input means during execution of one of said application programs to obtain an executing status corresponding to said one application program;

means for searching help message data corresponding to said executing statuses of said status management table using said obtained executing status; and

means for supplying help message data corresponding to said obtained executing status to the display means.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein:

said status management table is formed in a common memory area of the memory means, said common memory area being commonly accessed by each of said application programs.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising:

means for allocating a respective window of multi-windows and a window control block to a respective one of said application programs so as to enable simultaneous display of said multi-windows on the display means;

wherein each of said window control blocks has a status management table pointer, said status management table pointer pointing to one of said sets of program and message identifiers corresponding to one of said application programs.

13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising:

active pointing means for pointing to a window control block corresponding to an active one of said multi-windows.

14. The system according to claim 10, further comprising:

a help-information searching table formed in the memory means, said help-information searching table stores a plurality of sets each having a program identifier, a message identifier, and a storing position of help message data related to said message identifier corresponding to each of said application programs.

15. The system according to claim 10, further comprising:

a help-data management table formed in the memory means, said help-data management table stores a plurality of sets each having a program identifier and a storing position of said help data corresponding to each of said application programs; and

a help message searching table formed in the memory means, said help message searching table stores a plurality of sets of each having a message identifier and a storing position of help message data corresponding to said message identifer.

16. A control apparatus for controlling help facility in an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, input means, and display means connected to the CPU, comprising:

a plurality of application programs to be executed in the CPU and interrupted in response to a help request provided from the input means;

an operating system program to be executed in the CPU for controlling the system and managing help message data corresponding to an executing status of each of said application programs, said operating system program being informed of said executing status by a corresponding application program;

a status management table which is formed in the memory means and successively renewed in response to execution of each application program for continuously storing a current executing status corresponding to each of said application programs, said status management table storing a plurality of sets each having a program identifier and a message identifier corresponding to an application program as an executing status of said application program; and

a help program to be started in response to said help request and executed in the CPU for referring to an executing status of an application program interrupted in response to said help request so as to search and deliver help message data corresponding to said executing status of said interrupted application program to the display means.

17. The control apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

a help information searching table formed in the memory means, said help information searching table stores said program identifier, said message identifier, and a storing position in the memory means of said help message data corresponding to each of said application programs;

wherein said help program searches said help message data in accordance with said help information searching table.

18. The control apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

a help data area formed on the memory means for storing said help message data corresponding to each of said executing statuses including display data to be displayed on the display means and control data which have display positions of said display data, corresponding to program numbers and corresponding message numbers.

19. A help-information display system for displaying help-information on display means of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, and input means connected to the CPU, comprising:

a plurality of application programs to be executed in the CPU and interrupted in response to a help request provided from the input means;

an operating system program to be executed in the CPU for controlling the system and managing help message data corresponding to a current executing status of each of said application programs;

first area which is formed in the memory means and successively renewed in response to execution of each application program, for continuously storing a plurality of sets each having a program identifier and a message identifier corresponding to execution statuses of each of said application programs; and

a help program to be started in response to said help request and executed in the CPU for referring to one of said sets of program and message identifiers representing a current execution status of a program for which help was requested so as to search and deliver said help message data corresponding to said one set to the display means.

20. The help-information display system for displaying help-information on display means of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, and input means connected to the CPU, comprising:

a plurality of application programs to be executed in the CPU and interrupted in response to a help request provided from the input means;

an operating system program to be executed in the CPU for controlling the system and managing help message data corresponding to a current executing status of each of said application programs;

first area which is formed in the memory means and successively renewed in response to execution of each application program, for continuously storing a plurality of sets each having a program identifier and a message identifier corresponding to execution statuses of each of said application programs;

a help program to be started in response to said help request and executed in the CPU for referring to one of said sets of program and message identifiers based on a current execution status of a program being executed so as to search and deliver said help message data corresponding to said one set to the display means; and

said one set corresponds to help message data of one of said application programs, which is different from another one of said application programs interrupted in response to said help request.

21. The help-information display system for displaying help-information on display means of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, and input means connected to the CPU, comprising:

a plurality of application programs to be executed in the CPU and interrupted in response to a help request provided from the input means;

an operating system program to be executed in the CPU for controlling the system and managing help message data corresponding to a current executing status of each of said application programs;

first area which is formed in the memory means and successively renewed in response to execution of each application program, for continuously storing a plurality of sets each having a program identifier and a message identifier corresponding to of each of said application programs;

a help program to be started in response to said help request and executed in the CPU for referring to one of said sets of program and message identifiers so as to search and deliver said help message data corresponding to said one set to the display means; and

a second area formed in the memory means is provided for storing said program identifier, said message identifier, and a storing position in the memory means of said help message data corresponding to each of aid application program;

wherein said help program searches said help message data in accordance with said second area.

22. A method of controlling help information of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, input means and display means connected to the CPU, comprising the steps of:

storing a history of execution statuses corresponding to previous execution statuses of a plurality of programs executed in the CPU in a status management table in the memory means;

continuously updating said history of execution statuses in response to execution of said programs;

referring to said history of execution statuses stored in said status management table in response to a help request provided from an operator;

searching help information corresponding to said history of execution statuses stored in said status management table; and

displaying help information corresponding to said history of execution statuses on said display means.

23. A method according to claim 22 wherein said help-information displayed on said display means is displayed on an active window of multi-windows overlapping each other on said display means.

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein said active window is a help window.

25. A method according to claim 23 wherein said active window is an application program window.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein said application program window is automatically selected when said application program is being executed.

27. A method of displaying help information on an active window of multi-windows overlapping each other on display means of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling the system and executing programs and video buffer means for storing video data to be displayed in windows on the display means, memory means and input means connected to the CPU, comprising the steps of:

drawing the video data for display in at least one of the multi-windows in the video buffer means, each of the multi-windows being respectively allocated to programs executed in the CPU;

storing a history of executing statuses of said programs in the memory means;

continuously renewing said history of executing statuses in response to execution of said programs;

referring to said history of executing statuses in response to a help request supplied from the input means during execution of said programs;

searching help information corresponding to said history of execution statuses stored in said memory means using said history of executing statuses;

drawing help information corresponding to said history of executing statuses as the video data on an active window in the video buffer means; and

displaying the video data stored in the video buffer means on the display means.

28. A method according to claim 27 wherein said active window is a help window.

29. A method according to claim 27 wherein said active window is an application program window.

30. A help system, in a computer system, for aiding a user of computer programs, comprising:

a help information database for storing help information;

monitoring means for monitoring a series of execution statuses of said computer programs;

means for generating data indicating said series of execution statuses

generated data database for storing said generated data;

detecting means for detecting a request for help information from the user;

selecting means for selecting appropriate help information from said help information database based on said generated data; and

displaying means for displaying said selected help information to the user.

31. A help system according to claim 30 wherein said help system operates independently of said computer programs.

32. A help system, in a computer system, for aiding a user of at least one computer program, comprising:

a help information database for storing help information;

monitoring means for monitoring a series of execution statuses of said at least one computer program;

generating means for generating data indicating said series of execution statuses

generated data database for storing said generated data;

detecting means for detecting a request for help information from the user;

selecting means for selecting appropriate help information from said help information database based on said generated data; and

display means for displaying said selected help information to the user.

33. A help system according to claim 32 wherein said help system operates independently of said computer programs.

34. A help controller for controlling help information of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, input means and display means connected to the CPU, comprising:

a status management table, stored in said memory means, for storing a history of executing statuses corresponding to previous execution statuses of a plurality of programs executed in the CPU;

means for continuously updating said history of execution statuses in response to execution of said programs;

means for referring to said history of execution statuses stored in said status management table in response to a help request provided from an operator; and

means for searching help data corresponding to said history of execution statuses stored in said status management table and displaying help information corresponding to said history of execution statuses on said display means.

35. A help controller according to claim 34 wherein said help-information displayed on said display means is displayed on an active window of multi-windows overlapping each other on said display means.

36. A help system according to claim 35 wherein said active window is a help window.

37. A help system according to claim 35 wherein said active window is an application program window.

38. A help system according to claim 37 wherein said application program window is automatically selected when said application program is being executed.

39. A help system for displaying help information on an active window of multi-windows overlapping each other on display means of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling the system and executing programs and video buffer means for storing video data to be displayed in windows on the display means, memory means and input means connected to the CPU, comprising:

means for drawing the video data for displaying at least one of the multi-windows in the video buffer means, each of the multi-windows being respectively allocated to programs executed in the CPU;

said memory means stores a history of execution statuses of said programs;

means for continuously renewing said history of execution statuses in response to execution of said programs;

means for referring to said history of execution statuses in response to a help request supplied from the input means during execution of said programs;

means for searching help information corresponding to said history of execution statuses stored in said memory means using said history of executing statuses; and

means for drawing help information corresponding to said history of execution statuses as the video data on an active window in the video buffer means and displaying the video data stored in the video buffer means on the display means.

40. A help system according to claim 39 wherein said active window is a help window.

41. A help system according to claim 39 wherein said active window is an application program window.

42. A help system according to claim 41 further comprising:

means for automatically selecting said active window when said program is being executed.

43. A method of controlling help-information of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, input means, and display means connected to the CPU, comprising the steps of:

storing continuously an executing status corresponding to each of a plurality of application programs to be executed in the CPU in a status management table in the memory means until said executing status is renewed;

renewing successively each executing status stored in said status management table in response to execution of a corresponding application program;

referring to said executing statuses stored in said status management table in response to a help request provided from an operator during execution of one of said application programs to obtain an executing status corresponding to said one application program; and

searching help data corresponding to said executing statuses stored in said status management table using said obtained executing status to display help-information corresponding to said obtained executing status of said one application program on the display means;

wherein said status management table stores executing statuses each of which includes a message identifier corresponding to an executing status of one of said application program.

44. The method according to claim 43, wherein:

said status management table is stored in a memory area of the memory means, said memory area being commonly accessed by each of said application programs.

45. The method according to claim 43, wherein:

a help-data management table and a help message searching table both formed in the memory means are searched in said searching step, said help-data management stores a storing position of help-data corresponding to each application program, said help message searching table stores a message identifier related to said executing status corresponding to each of said application programs and a storing position of help message data corresponding to said message identifier of said each application program, said help-data includes a help-message searching table and a plurality of help messages data.

46. The method according to claim 43, wherein:

a help.-information searching table is searched in said searching step, said help-information searching table includes a message identifier, and a storing position of help message data related to said message identifier corresponding to each application program.

47. The method according to claim 43, further comprising the steps of:

assigning a respective window of multi-windows which are to be displayed on the display means to a respective one of said application programs;

simultaneously displaying on the display means the multi-windows for the respective ones of the application programs;

selecting one of said sets corresponding to an active one of said multi-windows by current pointing means.

48. The method according to claim 43, wherein:

said help-data includes display data to be displayed on the display means and control data each having a message identifier corresponding to each of said application programs.

49. The method according to claim 48, further comprising the steps of:

judging whether an input, supplied from the input means after displaying said help-information on the display means, is another help request in accordance with said control data; and

searching for another help-data when said input is another help request in accordance with said control data.

50. The method according to claim 43, wherein:

said message identifier corresponding to each application program is stored in a status management table formed in a common area of the memory means commonly accessed by each of said application programs.

51. A method of displaying help-information on an active window of multi-windows overlapping each other on display means of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling the system and executing programs and video buffer means for storing video data to be displayed in windows on the display means, memory means, and input means connected to the CPU, comprising the steps of:

drawing the video data for displaying at least one of the multi-windows in the video buffer means, each of the multi-windows being respectively allocated to one of a plurality of application programs which are executed in the CPU;

storing an executing status of each of said application programs in the memory means until said executing status is renewed;

renewing successively each of said executing statuses in response to the execution of a corresponding application program;

referring to said executing statuses in response to a help request supplied from the input means during execution of one of said application programs to obtain an executing status corresponding to said one application program;

searching help message data corresponding to said executing statuses stored in said memory means using said obtained executing status;

drawing help message data corresponding to said obtained executing status as the video data for displaying an active window in the video buffer means; and

displaying the video data stored in the video buffer means on the display means;

wherein said memory means stores executing statuses each of which includes a message identifier corresponding to an executing status of one said application program.

52. A system for controlling help-information in an information handling apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, input means, and display means connected to the CPU, the system comprising:

a set of programs to be executed in the CPU including a plurality of application programs and an operating system program;

a status management table formed in the memory means, said status management table continuously stores an executing status corresponding to each of said application programs, each executing status includes a message identifier corresponding to an executing status of one of said application programs;

means for successively renewing each executing status of said status management table in response to execution of a corresponding application program;

means for referring to said executing statuses of said status management table in response to a help request supplied from the input means during execution of one of said application programs to obtain an executing status corresponding to said one application program;

means for searching help message data corresponding to said executing statuses of said status management table using said obtained executing status; and

means for supplying help message data corresponding to said obtained executing status to the display means.

53. The method according to claim 52, wherein:

said status management table is stored in a memory area of the memory means, said memory area being commonly accessed by each of said application programs.

54. The system according to claim 53, further comprising:

means for allocating a respective window of multi-windows and a window control block to a respective one of said application programs so as to enable simultaneous display of said multi-windows on the display means;

wherein each of said window control blocks has a status management table pointer, said status management table pointer pointing to one of said sets of program and message identifiers corresponding to one of said application programs.

55. The system according to claim 54, further comprising:

active pointing means for pointing to a window control block corresponding to an active one of said multi-windows.

56. The system according to claim 52, further comprising:

a help-information searching table formed in the memory means, said help-information searching table stores a plurality of sets each having a message identifier, and a storing position of help message data related to said message identifier corresponding to each of said application programs.

57. The system according to claim 52, further comprising:

a help-data management table formed in the memory means, said help-data management table stores a storing position of said help-data corresponding to each of said application programs; and

a help message searching table formed in the memory means, said help message searching table stores a plurality of sets of each having a message identifier and a storing position of help message data corresponding to said message identifier.

58. A control apparatus for controlling help facility in an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, input means, and display means connected to the CPU, comprising:

a plurality of application programs to be executed in the CPU and interrupted in response to a help request provided from the input means;

an operating system program to be executed in the CPU for controlling the system and managing help message data corresponding to an executing status of each of said application programs, said operating system program being informed of said executing status by a corresponding application program;

a status management table which is formed in the memory means and successively renewed in response to execution of each application program for continuously storing a current executing status corresponding to each of said application programs, said status management table storing a plurality of message identifiers corresponding to said application program as executing statuses of said application programs; and

a help program to be started in response to said help request and executed in the CPU for referring to an executing status of an application program interrupted in response to said help request so as to search and deliver help message data corresponding to said executing status of said interrupted application program to the display means.

59. The control apparatus according to claim 58, further comprising:

a help information searching table formed in the memory means, said help information searching table stores said message identifier, and a storing position in the memory means of said help message data corresponding to each of said application programs;

wherein said help program searches said help message data in accordance with said help information searching table.

60. The control apparatus according to claim 58, further comprising:

a help data area formed on the memory means for storing said help message data corresponding to each of said executing statuses including display data to be displayed on the display means and control data which have display positions of said display data, corresponding to program numbers and corresponding message numbers.

61. A help-information display system for displaying help-information on display means of an information handling system having a central processing unit (CPU) for executing programs and memory means, and input means connected to the CPU, comprising:

a plurality of application programs to be executed in the CPU and interrupted in response to a help request provided from the input means;

an operating system program to be executed in the CPU for controlling the system and managing help message data corresponding to a current executing status of each of said application programs;

first area which is formed in the memory means and successively renewed in response to execution of each application program, for continuously storing a plurality of message identifiers each corresponding to one of said application programs; and

a help program to be started in response to said help request and executed in the CPU for referring to one of said message identifiers based on a current execution status of a program being executed so as to search and deliver said help message data corresponding to said one set to the display means.

62. The help-information display system according to claim 61, wherein:

said one message identifier corresponds to help message data of one of said application programs, which is different from another one of said application programs interrupted in response to said help request.

63. The help-information display system according to claim 61, wherein:

a second area formed in the memory means is provided for storing said message identifiers, and a storing position in the memory means of said help message data corresponding to each of said application programs;

wherein said help program searches said help message data in accordance with said second area.