Network-based help architecture

• US 6,236,989 B1
• Filed: 12/11/1998
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Saxena, Shubhada, Mandyam, Sriram Srinivasan
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, RUAY L
• Application Number:
  US09/210,089
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1-10, 707/100-104, 707/200-206, 707/500-516, 345/326-333, 345/338, 706/46, 709/102
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

A method and system for implementing a network-based help architecture for software applications that reside on a host data processing system. A help database that is designed to support a software application that resides on a data processing system is integrated with an advanced knowledge base utilizing a standardized data format. The advanced knowledge base resides in a computer network to which the data processing system is linked. Next, and in response to selecting a help request associated with the software application, the help request is automatically converted into a data format readable by the computer network. Finally, the help database is dynamically supplemented and updated utilizing the advanced knowledge base, such that, in response to the step of selecting a help request associated with the software application, seamless access is provided within the computer network to the help database and the advanced knowledge base.

Claims

1. A method of implementing a network-based help architecture for software applications that reside on a host data processing system, said method comprising the steps of:

integrating a help database with an advanced knowledge base utilizing a standardized data format, said advanced knowledge base residing in a computer network, said help database designed to support a software application resident on a data processing system, said host data processing system linked to said computer network;

in response to selecting a help request associated with said software application, automatically converting said help request into a data format readable by said computer network; and

dynamically supplementing and updating said help database utilizing said advanced knowledge base, such that, in response to said step of selecting a help request associated with said software application, seamless access is provided within said computer network to said help database and said advanced knowledge base.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said computer network utilizes a hypertext data format and wherein said step of, in response to selecting a help request associated with said software application, automatically converting said help request into a data format readable by said computer network, is performed utilizing said hypertext data format.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said help database and said advanced knowledge base reside on a network server, said network server residing on said computer network and wherein the step of dynamically supplementing and updating said help database utilizing said advanced knowledge base, is performed utilizing said network server.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of:

installing said help package as an HTML help file on said network server.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:

launching said help request via an application help button, said application help button residing on said data processing system, said application help button including a HTTP pathname.

6. The method of claim 1 where in the step of, in response to selecting a help request associated with said software application, automatically converting said help request into a data format readable by said computer network, comprises the steps of:

selecting a help request resident on a graphical user interface, said graphical user interface residing on a display device within said data processing system;

launching said selected help request from said data processing system; and

automatically converting said help request into a hypertext data format.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of dynamically supplementing and updating said help database is performed periodically.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of dynamically supplementing and updating said help database is performed in response to a user request.

9. An information handling system for implementing a network-based help architecture for software applications that reside on a host data processing system, said information handling system comprising:

means for integrating a help database with an advanced knowledge base utilizing a standardized data format, said advanced knowledge base residing in a computer network, said help database designed to support a software application resident on a data processing system, said host data processing system linked to said computer network;

means for, in response to selecting a help request associated with said software application, automatically converting said help request into a data format readable by said computer network; and

means for dynamically supplementing and updating said help database utilizing said advanced knowledge base, such that, in response to said step of selecting a help request associated with said software application, seamless access is provided within said computer network to said help database and said advanced knowledge base.

10. A computer network system for providing access to comprehensive help information for resident software applications, said computer network system comprising:

a help button associated with a software application, said help button residing on a data processing system that hosts said software application, said data processing system linked to a communications network, said communications network including a plurality of network servers;

an application help database residing on one of said plurality of network servers;

an advanced knowledge base residing on one of said plurality of network servers; and

means for utilizing said advanced knowledge base to supplement and automatically update said application help database, such that said help button may have seamless access to both said application help database and said advanced knowledge base.

11. The computer network system of claim 10 wherein said means for utilizing said advanced knowledge base to supplement and automatically update said application help database is a standardized data format, said standardized data format utilized by said application help database and said advanced knowledge base.

12. A computer program product stored in signal bearing media for implementing a network-based help architecture for software applications that reside on a host data processing system, said computer program product comprising:

instruction means stored in signal bearing media for integrating a help database with an advanced knowledge base utilizing a standardized data format, said advanced knowledge base residing in a computer network, said help database designed to support a software application resident on a data processing system, said host data processing system linked to said computer network;

instruction means stored in signal bearing media for, in response to selecting a help request associated with said software application, automatically converting said help request into a data format readable by said computer network; and

instruction means stored in signal bearing media for dynamically supplementing and updating said help database utilizing said advanced knowledge base, such that, in response to said selecting a help request associated with said software application, seamless access is provided within said computer network to said help database and said advanced knowledge base.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein said computer network utilizes a hypertext data format and wherein said instruction means stored in signal bearing media for, in response to selecting a help request associated with said software application, automatically converting said help request into a data format readable by said computer network, utilizes said hypertext data format.

14. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein said help database and said advanced knowledge base reside on a network server, said network server residing on said computer network and wherein said instruction means stored in signal bearing media for dynamically supplementing and updating said help database utilizing said advanced knowledge base, utilizes said network server.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 further comprising:

instruction means stored in signal bearing media for installing said help package as an HTML help file on said network server.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising:

instruction means stored in signal bearing media for launching said help request via an application help button, said application help button residing on said data processing system, said application help button including a HTTP pathname.

17. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the instruction means stored in signal bearing media for, in response to selecting a help request associated with said software application, automatically converting said help request into a data format readable by said computer network, comprises:

instruction means stored in signal bearing media for selecting a help request resident on a graphical user interface, said graphical user interface residing on a display device within said data processing system;

instruction means stored in signal bearing media for launching said selected help request from said data processing system; and

instruction means stored in signal bearing media for automatically converting said help request into a hypertext data format.