Universal automated training and testing software system
First Claim
1. A universal automated training and testing system for training a user to use a software application program of the type that runs under a window operating system providing windows resources including a clipboard, menu resources and dialog box resources, employing a pointing device-directed screen cursor for testing the user'"'"'s skills in the software application program comprising:
- a run-time module adapted for running concurrently and interactively with the software application program;
a test question generator associated with the run-time module for generating a plurality of textually displayed questions to test the user'"'"'s skills in using different aspects of the software application program;
said run-time module examines at least one of said windows resources, namely at least one of said clipboard, said menu resources and said dialog box resources, to evaluate the user'"'"'s responses;
a Show-me button associated with said run-time module and with said test question generator, the Show-me button being actuable by the user to generate a trigger event within said run-time module;
said run-time module including a Show-me display generator responsive to said trigger event, said display generator producing at least one each of the following messages;
(a) a textually displayed instructional message, keyed to the question being displayed, for informing the user how to perform a task using the software application program; and
(b) a cursor movement message for causing the screen cursor to move to a predetermined location within the software application and for causing the software application program to execute at least one operating step associated with said task, thereby simulating the manner in which a user executes that cursor movement and operating step in actual use of the software application program.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The training and testing system runs concurrently with the target software application program. The testing and training program sets up a test scenario inside the software application program and asks the user to perform a series of application functions while monitoring the user'"'"'s responses. The user can select a Show-Me button to which the training and testing program responds by displaying a series of instructional messages and cursor movement and keystroke commands. These cursor movement and keystroke commands are throttled to a speed simulating the speed at which a user would execute them, so that the trainee sees the actual software application program perform the operation as if he or she had performed it.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A universal automated training and testing system for training a user to use a software application program of the type that runs under a window operating system providing windows resources including a clipboard, menu resources and dialog box resources, employing a pointing device-directed screen cursor for testing the user'"'"'s skills in the software application program comprising:
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a run-time module adapted for running concurrently and interactively with the software application program; a test question generator associated with the run-time module for generating a plurality of textually displayed questions to test the user'"'"'s skills in using different aspects of the software application program; said run-time module examines at least one of said windows resources, namely at least one of said clipboard, said menu resources and said dialog box resources, to evaluate the user'"'"'s responses; a Show-me button associated with said run-time module and with said test question generator, the Show-me button being actuable by the user to generate a trigger event within said run-time module; said run-time module including a Show-me display generator responsive to said trigger event, said display generator producing at least one each of the following messages; (a) a textually displayed instructional message, keyed to the question being displayed, for informing the user how to perform a task using the software application program; and (b) a cursor movement message for causing the screen cursor to move to a predetermined location within the software application and for causing the software application program to execute at least one operating step associated with said task, thereby simulating the manner in which a user executes that cursor movement and operating step in actual use of the software application program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of training a user in the use of a software application of the type that runs under a window operating system providing windows resources including a clipboard, menu resources and dialog box resources, employing a pointing device-directed screen cursor, comprising the steps of:
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concurrently loading a runtime module and said software application onto a computer; causing the computer to place said runtime module and said software application in bidirectional communication with one another; using said run-time module to generate a plurality of textually displayed questions to test the user'"'"'s skills in using different aspects of the software application program; allowing the user to operate the software application in response to said questions and wherein said run-time module examines at least one of said windows resources, namely at least one of said clipboard, said menu resources and said dialog box resources; using said runtime module to display a user-actuable Show-me button; in response to actuation of said Show-me button; (a) generating a textually displayed instructional message, keyed to the question being displayed, for informing the user how to perform a task using the software application program; and (b) causing the screen cursor to move to a predetermined location within the software application and causing the software application program to execute at least one operating step associated with said aspect of the software application, thereby simulating the manner in which a user executes that cursor movement and operating step in actual use of the software application program. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification