Graphical end-user interface for intelligent assistants

• US 5,727,174 A
• Filed: 03/23/1992
• Issued: 03/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Aparicio, Manuel IV, Chang, Roger A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Herndon, Heather R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vo, Cliff N.
• Application Number:
  US07/855,817
• Time in Patent Office: 2,178 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155, 395/159, 395/161, 395/348, 395/333, 395/334, 395/335, 395/336
• US Class Current: 715/837
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/977 Dynamic icon, e.g. animated or live action

Abstract

A graphical user interface for a computer system that includes one or more intelligent assistants. The interface includes composite icons comprising a graphical representation of a human figure, a representation of a desk, and a mini-icon that associates an assistant with the object it supports. The assistant'"'"'s desk can be opened to show its contents and the human figure can move from its position next to the desk to a position on the computer display screen next to a suggestions dialog box that displays suggested actions to the user.

Claims

1. A method for performing a selected action within a computer system having a display screen and a graphic pointing device wherein said computer system is capable of performing a plurality of diverse actions, said method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

associating an intelligent assistant with at least one object within said computer system, said intelligent assistant including a neural representation of learned experience with respect to actions within said computer system relating to said at least one object;

displaying an object window within said display screen of said computer system in response to selection of said at least one object by a user utilizing said graphic pointing device, said object window including an action bar;

displaying an assistant item within said action bar within said object window in response to said association of said intelligent assistant with said at least one object; and

selectively displaying a pull-down menu containing a suggested action among said plurality of diverse actions in association with said assistant item, said suggested action determined utilizing said neural representation of learned experience with respect to actions within said computer system related to said at least one object.

2. The method according to claim 1, further including the step of performing said suggested action in response to a selection thereof by said user within said pull-down menu.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of selectively displaying a pull-down menu containing a suggested action among said plurality of diverse actions in association with said assistant item comprises the step of selectively displaying multiple suggested actions among said plurality of diverse actions in association with said assistant item, each of said multiple suggested actions determined utilizing said neural representation of learned experience with respect to actions within said computer system related to said at least one object.

4. The method according to claim 2, further including the step of displaying a graphic representation of a human figure having a head adjacent to said pull-down menu containing a suggested action and a speech bubble adjacent to said head and wherein said step of performing said suggested action in response to a selection thereof comprises the step of performing said suggested action in response to selection of said speech bubble.

5. The method according to claim 4, further including:

selecting the head of said human figure;

automatically opening a neural network window in response to selecting said head; and

displaying in said neural network window a graphic representation of a neural network associated with said intelligent assistant.

6. A method for performing a selected action within a computer system having a display screen and a graphic pointing device wherein said computer system is capable of performing a plurality of diverse actions, said method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

displaying at least one assistant icon within said display screen, said at least one assistant icon comprising a mini-icon representative of a selected object, a graphic representation of a human figure symbolizing an intelligent assistant having a neural representation of learned experience with respect to actions within said computer system related to said selected object, and a graphic representation of a desk displayed adjacent to said human figure;

opening an object window for said selected object associated with said intelligent assistant in response to a selection of said mini-icon; and

displaying a suggestion dialog box in association with said object window, said suggestion dialog box containing a suggested action among said plurality of diverse actions, said suggested action determined utilizing said neural representation of learned experience with respect to actions within said computer system related to said selected object.

7. A method according to claim 6, further including the step of performing said suggested action in response to a selection thereof by a user within said suggestion dialog box.