Method and apparatus for generating animated help demonstrations
First Claim
1. Apparatus for use on a computer system having a display screen, a memory and user-controlled means for generating input commands, the apparatus suspending operation of an application program to generate an animated help demonstration on the display screen for teaching a user to operate a feature of the application program, the apparatus comprising:
- a list of demonstration commands stored in the memory, the demonstration commands including program statements for detecting a customized desktop created by the user of the application program and the display screen at the time of suspension and for changing the list of demonstration commands to accommodate the application program customized desktop;
a demonstration player stored in the memory and responsive to the demonstration commands for generating input commands reflective of the customized desktop of the application program and the display screen at the time of suspension;
means for applying the input commands to the application program as simulated user input commands to cause the application program to perform a help demonstration starting with the customized desktop as it is displayed at the time of suspension; and
a mechanism which resumes operation of the application program after the help demonstration ends.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A help demonstration player program is provided which accepts a set of commands in the form of a script input and generates simulated keystrokes and mouse events. The keystrokes and mouse events are provided to the application program which then operates as if the user had generated the keystrokes and mouse events. The sequence of keystrokes and mouse events directs the application software to perform a task one step at a time. Since the task starts with the user'"'"'s customized screen and detects and responds to the state of the user'"'"'s desktop through the demonstration, the resulting animated display is tailored to the user'"'"'s actual display, presenting much more meaningful and less confusing instructions to the user. The demonstration player creates sample data so that the user'"'"'s actual data is not corrupted during the playing of the explanatory sequence and user control over the keyboard and mouse is disabled to prevent the user from interfering with the demonstration. The text from conventional help screens may also be displayed on the screen during the demonstration in order to further assist the user.
-
Citations
31 Claims
-
1. Apparatus for use on a computer system having a display screen, a memory and user-controlled means for generating input commands, the apparatus suspending operation of an application program to generate an animated help demonstration on the display screen for teaching a user to operate a feature of the application program, the apparatus comprising:
-
a list of demonstration commands stored in the memory, the demonstration commands including program statements for detecting a customized desktop created by the user of the application program and the display screen at the time of suspension and for changing the list of demonstration commands to accommodate the application program customized desktop; a demonstration player stored in the memory and responsive to the demonstration commands for generating input commands reflective of the customized desktop of the application program and the display screen at the time of suspension; means for applying the input commands to the application program as simulated user input commands to cause the application program to perform a help demonstration starting with the customized desktop as it is displayed at the time of suspension; and a mechanism which resumes operation of the application program after the help demonstration ends. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method for use on a computer system having a display screen, a memory and user-controlled means for generating input commands, the method generating an animated help demonstration on the display screen for teaching a user to operate a feature of an application program, the method comprising the steps of:
-
A. storing a list of demonstration commands in the memory, the demonstration commands including position query commands and control commands; B. suspending the operation of the application program; C. using the position query commands to detect a customized desktop of the application program and the display screen at the time of suspension and to change the list of demonstration commands to accommodate the application program customized desktop; D. applying the demonstration commands to a demonstration player to cause the demonstration player to generate input commands reflective of the customized desktop of the application program; E. applying the input commands to the application program as simulated user input commands to cause the application program to perform a help demonstration; and F. resuming operation of the application program after the help demonstration ends. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. Apparatus for use on a computer system having a displays screen with a plurality of graphic control images displayed thereon, a memory and user-controlled means for generating input commands, the apparatus generating an animated help demonstration on the display screen for teaching a user to operate a feature of an application program, the apparatus comprising:
-
a script file containing a list of position query commands, control commands and program statements for detecting a customized desktops of the application program displayed on the display screen and for changing the list of commands of the script file to accommodate the application program customized desktop; locating means stored in the memory and responsive to each position query command for passing information identifying one of the plurality of graphic control images, whereupon the application program returns information indicating a location on the display screen of the one graphic control image in the customized desktop; control means stored in the memory and responsive to information returned from the application program and to a control command for generating input commands; and means for applying the input commands to the application program as simulated user input commands to cause the application program to manipulate the one graphic control image before the animated help demonstration is generated on the display screen. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A computer program product for use on a computer system having a display screen with a plurality of graphic control images displayed thereon, a memory and user-controlled means for generating input commands, the computer program product generating an animated help demonstration on the display screen for teaching a user to operate a feature of an application program, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon including:
-
a script file containing a list of position query commands, control commands and program statements for detecting a customized desktop of the application program displayed on the display screen and for changing the list of commands of the script file to accommodate the application program customized desktop; program code responsive to each position query command for passing information identifying one of the plurality of graphic control images, whereupon the application program returns information indicating a location on the display screen of the one graphic control image in the customized desktop; program code responsive to information returned from the application program and to a control command for generating input commands; and program code for applying the input commands to the application program as simulated user input commands to cause the application program to manipulate the one graphic control image before the animated help demonstration is generated on the display screen. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
Specification