Method and system of help-information control
First Claim
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:
- renewing successively status pointers each of which points to an executing status stored in a status management table in response to execution of a corresponding application program;
referring to said status management table in response to a help request provided from an operator during execution of an application program to obtain an executing status pointed to by a status pointer corresponding to said application program; and
searching help data corresponding to said executing statuses using said obtained executing status of said status management table to display help-information corresponding to said obtained executing status of said application program on the display means;
wherein said status management table stores said executing statuses each of which includes a message identifier corresponding to an executing status of one of said application programs to be executed in the CPU;
wherein said status pointer stores pointers each pointing to an executing status stored in said status management table corresponding to an executing status of an application program to be executed in the CPU.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
16 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:
-
renewing successively status pointers each of which points to an executing status stored in a status management table in response to execution of a corresponding application program; referring to said status management table in response to a help request provided from an operator during execution of an application program to obtain an executing status pointed to by a status pointer corresponding to said application program; and searching help data corresponding to said executing statuses using said obtained executing status of said status management table to display help-information corresponding to said obtained executing status of said application program on the display means; wherein said status management table stores said executing statuses each of which includes a message identifier corresponding to an executing status of one of said application programs to be executed in the CPU; wherein said status pointer stores pointers each pointing to an executing status stored in said status management table corresponding to an executing status of an application program to be executed in the CPU. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. 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, said 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 stores a list of executing statuses each of which includes a message identifier corresponding to an executing status of one of said application programs to be executed in the CPU; means for successively renewing each of a plurality of status pointers for continuously pointing to an executing status stored in said status management table corresponding to an executing status of an application program to be executed in the CPU, in response to execution of a corresponding application program; means for referring to an executing status of said status management table pointed to by said status pointer 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; means for supplying help message data corresponding to said obtained executing status to the display means. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. 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, said apparatus 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 pointer, which is formed in the memory means and successively renewed in response to execution of each application program, for continuously pointing to an executing status stored in said status management table corresponding to an executing status of each application program to be executed in the CPU, in response to execution 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 pointed to by said status pointer 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. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
-
Specification