System for enhancing user efficiency in initiating sequence of data processing system user inputs using calculated probability of user executing selected sequences of user inputs

• US 5,465,358 A
• Filed: 12/28/1992
• Issued: 11/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kiel, Harvey G., Blades, Jerry A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US07/997,398
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 395/275, 395/600, 395/700, 395/155, 395/156, 395/157, 395/158, 395/159, 395/160, 395/161, 395/650
• US Class Current: 715/707
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3438 monitoring of user actions tracking the activity of the user H04L67/535
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3466 Performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/86 Event-based monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

A method and system in a data processing system for enhancing user efficiency in initiating a sequence of data processing system user inputs. Within the data processing system, data processing system stimulus events are identified and stored in a data base. Each sequence of data processing system user inputs which occurs in response to a subsequent occurrence of the identified stimulus event is also stored in the data base. The probability of an occurrence of a selected sequence of data processing system user inputs in response to a subsequent occurrence of the stimulus event is then calculated, utilizing the data base of stored sequences of data processing system user inputs. Upon subsequent recognition of a data processing system stimulus event, one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs are identified and displayed, along with an indicated probability of a user executing each identified sequence of data processing system user inputs. Thereafter, in response to a user input, a selected one of the identified sequences of data processing system user inputs may be automatically initiated, thereby enhancing a user'"'"'s efficiency in performing a sequence of data processing system inputs within said data processing system.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for enhancing user efficiency in initiating a sequence of data processing system user inputs, said method comprising the data-processing-system-implemented steps of:

identifying a stimulus event within said data processing system;

storing, within said data processing system, each sequence of data processing system user inputs which occurs in response to each subsequent occurrence of said stimulus event;

thereafter calculating a positive probability of a user executing a selected sequence of data processing system user inputs in response to a subsequent occurrence of said stimulus event, utilizing said stored sequences of data processing system user inputs;

displaying, within said data processing system in response to a subsequent occurrence of said stimulus event, an identification of one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs;

indicating said calculated positive probability of a user executing each of said identified one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs; and

automatically initiating one of said identified one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs in response to a user input, wherein a user'"'"'s efficiency in performing a sequence of data processing system inputs within said data processing system is enhanced.

2. The method in a data processing system for enhancing user efficiency in initiating a sequence of data processing system user inputs according to claim 1, wherein the step of displaying an identification of one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs comprises the step of displaying each individual user input within said one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs within said data processing system in response to said subsequent occurrence of said stimulus event.

3. The method in a data processing system for enhancing user efficiency in initiating a sequence of data processing system user inputs according to claim 2, wherein the step of displaying each individual user input within said one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs within said data processing system in response to said subsequent occurrence of said stimulus event comprises the step of displaying a decision tree which includes a graphic depiction of each data processing system prompt for user interaction.

4. The method in a data processing system for enhancing user efficiency in initiating a sequence of data processing system user inputs according to claim 1, wherein the step of displaying an identification of one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs comprises the step of displaying an identification of only selected sequences of data processing system user inputs that have an associated positive probability of a user executing said selected sequence of data processing system user inputs which exceeds a specified threshold probability.

5. The method in a data processing system for enhancing user efficiency in initiating a sequence of data processing system user inputs according to claim 1, wherein the step of indicating said calculated positive probability of a user executing each of said identified one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs comprises the step of displaying textual indicia of said calculated positive probability of a user executing each of said identified one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs.

6. The method in a data processing system for enhancing user efficiency in initiating a sequence of data processing system user inputs according to claim 1, wherein the step of indicating said calculated positive probability of a user executing each of said identified one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs comprises the step of graphically displaying indicia of said calculated positive probability of a user executing each of said identified one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs.

7. The method in a data processing system for enhancing user efficiency in initiating a sequence of data processing system user inputs according to claim 6, wherein the step of graphically displaying indicia of said calculated positive probability of a user executing each of said identified one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs comprises the step of varying a brightness of said graphical indicia in relation to said calculated positive probability of a user executing each of said one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs.

8. A data processing system for enhancing user efficiency in initiating a sequence of data processing system user inputs, said system comprising:

means for identifying a stimulus event within said data processing system;

means for storing, within said data processing system, each sequence of data processing system user inputs which occurs in response to each subsequent occurrence of said stimulus event;

means for calculating a positive probability of a user executing a selected sequence of data processing system user inputs in response to a subsequent occurrence of said stimulus event, utilizing said stored sequences of data processing system user inputs;

means for displaying, within said data processing system in response to a subsequent occurrence of said stimulus event, an identification of one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs;

means for indicating said calculated positive probability of a user executing each of said identified one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs; and

means for automatically initiating one of said identified one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs in response to a user input, wherein a user'"'"'s efficiency in performing a sequence of data processing system inputs within said data processing system is enhanced.

9. The data processing system for enhancing user efficiency in initiating a sequence of data processing system user inputs according to claim 8 wherein said means for displaying an identification of one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs comprises means for displaying each individual user input within said one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs within said data processing system in response to said subsequent occurrence of said stimulus event.

10. The data processing system for enhancing user efficiency in initiating a sequence of data processing system user inputs according to claim 9, wherein said means for displaying each individual user input within said one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs within said data processing system in response to said subsequent occurrence of said stimulus event comprises means for displaying a decision tree which includes a graphic depiction of each data processing system prompt for user interaction.

11. The data processing system for enhancing user efficiency in initiating a sequence of data processing system user inputs according to claim 8, wherein said means for displaying an identification of one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs comprises means for displaying an identification of only selected sequences of data processing system user inputs that have an associated positive probability of a user executing said selected sequence of data processing system user inputs which exceeds a specified threshold probability.

12. The method in a data processing system for enhancing user efficiency in initiating a sequence of data processing system user inputs according to claim 8, wherein said means for indicating said calculated positive probability of a user executing each of said identified one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs comprises means for displaying textual indicia of said calculated positive probability of a user executing each of said identified one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs.

13. The data processing system for enhancing user efficiency in initiating a sequence of data processing system user inputs according to claim 8, wherein said means for indicating said calculated positive probability of a user executing each of said identified one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs comprises means for graphically displaying indicia of said calculated positive probability of a user executing each of said identified one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs.

14. The method in a data processing system for enhancing user efficiency in initiating a sequence of data processing system user inputs according to claim 13, wherein said means for graphically displaying indicia of said calculated probability of a user executing each of said identified one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs comprises means for varying a brightness of said graphical indicia in relation to said calculated positive probability of a user executing each of said one or more selected sequences of data processing system user inputs.