Method and system for instructing a user of a computer system how to perform application program tasks
First Claim
1. A method of coaching a user of a computer system running an application program, where the user manipulates the user'"'"'s own data by performing various application program tasks, and where the computer system includes a display screen, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a coaching program to be run on the computer system while the application program is running;
activating the coaching program while the application program is running;
under control of the coaching program, determining a next task the user wishes to perform in the application program;
simultaneously displaying on the display screen application program instructions generated by the coaching program for performance of the next task and a user interface display generated by the application program, the user interface display having a working portion used by the user to perform the next task, with the application program instructions overlaying the user interface display without blocking the working portion of the user interface display and without interrupting the operation of the application program; and
performing the next task in the application program by using the working portion of the user interface display while continuing to display the application program instructions so that the application program instructions displayed on the display screen during performance of the next task are readable to the user.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and computer system for coaching a user how to perform application program tasks is provided. The user activates the coaching program of the present invention while an application program is running on the computer system. If the user needs such assistance, the coaching program helps the user determine the next task the user wishes to perform in the application program. The coaching program then determines if the application program is in the correct state for performance of the next task. If the application program is not in the correct state, the coaching program guides the user through performing essential preliminary tasks that place the application program in the correct state for performance of the next task. The computer system simultaneously displays on the display screen output, such as application program instructions, generated by the coaching program and a user interface display generated by the application program. Output generated by the coaching program always overlays the user interface display in such a way that it does not block the working portion of the user interface display and it does not interrupt the operation of the application program. The user performs the next task in the application program by interacting with the working portion of the user interface display, while the computer system continues to display the output generated by the coaching program. This enables the user to read instructions displayed on the display screen on how to perform the next task during performance of the next task.
-
Citations
33 Claims
-
1. A method of coaching a user of a computer system running an application program, where the user manipulates the user'"'"'s own data by performing various application program tasks, and where the computer system includes a display screen, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a coaching program to be run on the computer system while the application program is running; activating the coaching program while the application program is running; under control of the coaching program, determining a next task the user wishes to perform in the application program; simultaneously displaying on the display screen application program instructions generated by the coaching program for performance of the next task and a user interface display generated by the application program, the user interface display having a working portion used by the user to perform the next task, with the application program instructions overlaying the user interface display without blocking the working portion of the user interface display and without interrupting the operation of the application program; and performing the next task in the application program by using the working portion of the user interface display while continuing to display the application program instructions so that the application program instructions displayed on the display screen during performance of the next task are readable to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of coaching a user of a computer system running an application program, where the user manipulates data by performing various application program tasks, and where the computer system includes a display screen, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a coaching program to be run on the computer system while the application program is running; activating the coaching program while the application program is running in a current state; and under control of the activated coaching program, receiving from the user an indication of a next task to be performed; in response to receiving the indication, determining the current state of the application program; determining whether the next task is performable by the application program in its current state; and when the next task is not performable by the application program displaying application program instructions on how to put the application program in a state to perform the next task. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of coaching a user of a computer system running an application program, where the user manipulates data by performing various application program tasks, and where the computer system includes a display screen, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a coaching program to be run on the computer system while the application program is running; activating the coaching program while the application program is running; determining a next task the user wishes to perform in the application program; determining a current state of the application program; determining whether the next task is performable based on the current state of the application program; simultaneously displaying on the display screen a list of preliminary task options generated by the coaching program and a user interface display generated by the application program, the user interface display having a data entry portion used by the user to perform the next task, the list of preliminary task options overlaying the user interface display without blocking the data entry portion of the user interface display and without interrupting the operation of the application program; selecting a preliminary task option from the list of preliminary task options displayed on the display screen; performing a task clarification process to define the next task in response to the preliminary task option being selected; simultaneously displaying on the display screen application program instructions generated by the coaching program for performance of the next task and the user interface display generated by the application program, the application program instructions overlaying the user interface display without blocking the data entry portion of the user interface display and without interrupting the operation of the application program; and performing the next task in the application program by using the data entry portion of the user interface display while continuing to display the application program instructions that overlay the user interlace display so that the application program instructions displayed on the display screen during performance of the next task are readable to the user.
-
-
17. A computer system for coaching a user of the computer system running an application program, where the user manipulates data by performing various application program tasks, and where the computer system includes a display screen, the computer system comprising:
-
means for activating a coaching program while the application program is running; means for determining a next task the user wishes to perform in the application program under control of the coaching program; means for simultaneously displaying on the display screen application program instructions generated by the coaching program for performance of the next task and a user interface display generated by the application program, the user interface display having a working portion used by the user to perform the next task, with the application program instructions overlaying the user interface display without blocking the working portion of the user interface display and without interrupting the operation of the application program; and means for performing the next task in the application program by using the working portion of the user interface display while continuing to display the application program instructions that overlay the user interface display so that the application program instructions displayed on the display screen during performance of the next task are readable to the user. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A method in a computer system, which includes a display screen and a user input device, and which is running an application program and a coaching program, the method comprising the following steps:
-
a) maintaining task information indicating which tasks a user has already performed; b) determining which tasks are performable next based on the task information; c) displaying a list of tasks which are performable next based on the task information on the display screen; d) selecting a task from said list of tasks to perform next based on user input from the user input device and communications with the application program; e) displaying instructions to perform the selected task on the display screen. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
-
-
29. A computer system having an input device, an output device, a memory means, and a processing means running an application program wherein the application program has a current state, the computer system comprising:
-
means for providing a coaching program and task information for application program tasks; means for storing the coaching program and task information in the memory means; means for activating the coaching program while the application program is running; means for, under control of the coaching program, determining a next task for the application program to perform using the task information; means for displaying on the output device instructions for performing the next task generated by the coaching program; and means for performing the next task in the application program while continuing to display on the display device the instructions for performing the next task. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
-
Specification