System and method for improved computer-based training

• US 5,627,958 A
• Filed: 03/17/1995
• Issued: 05/06/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Borland Software Corporation (Open Text Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Borland International, Inc. (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Potts, Richard J., Vershel, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Breene, John E.
• Application Number:
  US08/407,438
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155-161, 395/700, 345/117-120, 345/145-146, 345/156-184, 434/118
• US Class Current: 715/708
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45512 Command shells
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4812 by interrupt, e.g. masked
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0053 Computers, e.g. programming

Abstract

The present invention includes a computer-based training system (CBT) having one or more Application Translation Units (ATUs), a message engine, and a script engine. For one or more target applications of interest, an ATU is provided for processing events specific to that application, thereby trapping events and translating them into abstract messages or "meta-messages" for conveying information about a particular event to the system. A general operating system ATU is also provided for trapping general system events. Translated event messages are processed by event handlers. System or application-specific messages which are not of interest are simply allowed to pass through. The individual handlers dispatch their respective messages to the script engine, which includes instructions for directing the activity of the target application(s). The script engine, in turn, acts upon an incoming message. The dispatched message triggers appropriate action (as specified by instructions within the script).

Claims

1. In a computer system having a screen device and an input device, an improved method for aiding a user in operation of the system, the method comprising:

(a) displaying a cursor for indicating a location on the screen device, said cursor responsive to signals from the input device;

(b) displaying on the screen device at least one screen object created by the user; and

(c) if said cursor is within a preselected distance of said at least one object, displaying on the screen device a help dialog means specific for said at least one screen object, said help dialog means including at least one user interface component for receiving user input.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) repositioning the cursor to a new location; and

(e) if said screen cursor is not within a preselected distance of said at least one screen object, then removing the help dialog means.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein before step (c) further comprises:

signaling with the input device a request for information for said at least one screen object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) includes:

determining a single screen object from said at least one screen object which is closest to the cursor; and

displaying information specific for the closest screen object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein after step (c) further comprises:

selecting one of the dialog components with the input device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said dialog components includes selected ones of a tutorial means, a help information means, and a multimedia means.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein selection of said at least one user interface component invokes a tutorial for the screen object.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein selection of said at least one user interface component displays a help information means for said at least one screen object.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said help information means includes a full-text, on-line help system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one user interface component is a screen resource for displaying multimedia information relevant to said at least one screen object.

11. A computer help system comprising:

(a) a computer having a screen device;

(b) an input device for positioning a cursor at a desired location on the screen device;

(b) means for displaying on the screen at least one object created by a user; and

(c) means for displaying on the screen a dialog means specific for said at least one screen object if said cursor is within a preselected distance of said at least one screen object, said dialog means including components responsive to signals from said input device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said means for displaying dialog means includes trigger means for automatically displaying said dialog means whenever the cursor is positioned within the preselected distance of said at least one screen object.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said means for displaying dialog means includes trigger means for displaying said dialog means only when the cursor is positioned within the preselected distance of said at least one screen object and a request for information is received from the user.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said request for information includes at least one signal generated by said cursor positioning device.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a keyboard device, wherein said input device is a two-button mouse device, and wherein said request for information comprises signals from both the keyboard device and the mouse device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said request for information includes a right-mouse button down signal generated by the mouse device and a shift key signal generated by the keyboard device.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein said at least one object is selected from a textual object and a graphic object.