Computer system and method for controlling the same utilizing a user interface control integrated with multiple sets of instructional material therefor

• US 6,275,227 B1
• Filed: 02/09/1998
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: DeStefano, George Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUU, SY D
• Application Number:
  US09/020,680
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 345/339, 345/340, 345/344, 345/345, 345/348, 345/968
• US Class Current: 369/30.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

A computer system and method of controlling a computer system integrate the display of a user interface control from which a user supplies input to a computer system with the display of multiple representations of instructional material related to how to operate the control. Displayed representations of first and second sets of instructional material may be concurrently or selectively integrated with a displayed representation of the user interface control. When multiple sets of instructional material are concurrently displayed, the user interface control may be actuated in response to user input supplied to multiple displayed representations of the user interface control. Moreover, when multiple sets of instructional material are selectively displayed, different sets of such material may replace other sets in response to user input. By integrating the display of a user interface control with the display of associated instructional material, a user is better able to comprehend and utilize the functionality of the user interface control without losing focus on the task at hand. Moreover, by concurrently or selectively displaying multiple sets of instructional material with a particular user interface control, a wider variety of potential users of the control may be supported.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

(a) a computer display;

(b) a memory configured to store a user interface control and first and second sets of user instructional material for operating the user interface control; and

(c) a processor, coupled to the computer display and memory, the processor configured to concurrently display first and second display groups, the first display group including a displayed representation of the first set of user instructional material integrated with a first displayed representation of the user interface control, and the second display group including a displayed representation of the second set of user instructional material integrated with a second displayed representation of the user interface control, the processor further configured to actuate the user interface control in response to user input supplied to either of the first and second displayed representations thereof;

wherein the user interface control is configured to generate at least one input parameter in response to user input thereto, the input parameter utilized by a computer program during execution of such computer program, and wherein the processor is further configured to update the first displayed representation to display user input received via the second displayed representation.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the memory is further configured to store at least a portion of a body of knowledge that includes a plurality of information elements, wherein each of the first and second sets of user instructional material is stored in at least one of the plurality of information elements, the body of knowledge stratified into a plurality of levels of abstraction including at least first and second levels of abstraction respectively associated with the first and second sets of user instructional material.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the second set of user instructional material includes more detailed information for understanding the user interface control than the first set of user instructional material.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the user interface control includes at least one graphical user interface (GUI) control selected from the group consisting of a pop-up button, a push button, a radio button, a check box, a color wheel, a combo box, a counter, a date control, an edit box, a filename box, a list box, a scroll bar, a viewer, and combinations thereof.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the user interface control includes an executable computer program configured to be executed in response to user input supplied to either of the first and second displayed representations of the user interface control.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the user interface control includes a command to execute a predetermined computer program, the command configured to be executed in response to user input supplied to either of the first and second displayed representations of the user interface control.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the first and second displayed representations of the user interface control are different from one another.

8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the memory is further configured to store a plurality of user interface controls including first and second user interface controls, the first user interface control configured to execute a predetermined computer program in response to user input thereto, and the second user interface control configured to generate an input parameter in response to user input thereto, the input parameter utilized by the predetermined computer program when executed in response to user input to the first user interface control.

9. A computer system, comprising:

(a) a computer display;

(b) a memory configured to store a user interface control and first and second sets of user instructional material for operating the user interface control; and

(c) a processor, coupled to the computer display and memory the processor configured to concurrently display first and second display groups, the first display group including a displayed representation of the first set of user instructional material integrated with a first displayed representation of the user interface control, and the second display group including a displayed representation of the second set of user instructional material integrated with a second displayed representation of the user interface control, the processor further configured to actuate the user interface control in response to user input supplied to either of the first and second displayed representations thereof;

wherein the memory is further configured to store at least a portion of a body of knowledge that includes a plurality of information elements, wherein each of the first and second sets of user instructional material is stored in at least one of the plurality of information elements, the body of knowledge stratified into a plurality of levels of abstraction including at least first and second levels of abstraction respectively associated with the first and second sets of user instructional material; and

wherein the processor is further configured to respectively display the first and second display groups in first and second lenses, the first and second lenses generally arranged along an axis in a three dimensional workspace to represent a hierarchical relationship between the first and second display groups.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein each lens has associated therewith a filter criteria each filter criteria passing information elements associated with at least one predetermined level of abstraction.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the filter criteria for the first lens passes information elements associated with the first level of abstraction and blocks information elements associated with the second level of abstraction, and wherein the filter criteria for the second lens passes information elements associated with the second level of abstraction and blocks information elements associated with the first level of abstraction.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of levels includes a third level of abstraction associated with the user interface control, wherein the user interface control is stored in at least one of the plurality of information elements, and wherein the filter criteria for each of the first and second lenses passes information elements associated with the third level of abstraction.

13. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the user interface control is associated with the first level of abstraction and is stored in at least one of the plurality of information elements, wherein the filter criteria for the first lens passes information elements associated with the first level of abstraction and blocks information elements associated with the second level of abstraction, and wherein the filter criteria for the second lens passes information elements associated with either of the first and second levels of abstraction.

14. A computer system, comprising:

(a) a computer display;

(b) a memory configured to store a user interface control and first and second sets of user instructional material for operating the user interface control, and

(c) a processor, coupled to the computer display and memory the processor configured to concurrently display first and second display groups, the first display group including a displayed representation of the first set of user instructional material integrated with a first displayed representation of the user interface control, and the second display group including a displayed representation of the second set of user instructional material integrated with a second displayed representation of the user interface control, the processor further configured to actuate the user interface control in response to user input supplied to either of the first and second displayed representations thereof;

wherein the memory is further configured to store a plurality of user interface controls including first and second user interface controls, the first user interface control configured to execute a predetermined computer program in response to user input thereto, and the second user interface control configured to generate an input parameter in response to user input thereto, the input parameter utilized by the predetermined computer program when executed in response to user input to the first user interface control, wherein the first and second sets of user instructional material include instructional material for operating each of the plurality of user interface controls, and wherein the first and second display groups include displayed representations of the instructional material for operating each user interface control interleaved with the displayed representations of the plurality of user interface controls.

15. A method of controlling a computer system with a user interface control displayed on a computer display thereof, the method comprising:

(a) concurrently displaying first and second display groups on the computer display, the first display group including a first displayed representation of the user interface control integrated with a displayed representation of a first set of user instructional material for operating the user interface control, and the second display group including a second displayed representation of the user interface control integrated with a displayed representation of a second set of user instructional material for operating the user interface control, wherein the user interface control is configured to generate at least one input parameter in response to user input thereto, the input parameter utilized by a computer program during execution of such computer program;

(b) actuating the user interface control in response to user input supplied to either of the first and second displayed representations thereof; and

(c) updating the first displayed representation to display user input received via the second displayed representation.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein each of the first and second sets of user instructional material is maintained in at least one of a plurality of information elements forming a body of knowledge, the body of knowledge stratified into a plurality of levels of abstraction including at least first and second levels of abstraction respectively associated with the first and second sets of user instructional material.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the second set of user instructional material includes more detailed information for understanding the user interface control than the first set of user instructional material.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the user interface control includes at least one graphical user interface (GUI) control selected from the group consisting of a pop-up button, a push button, a radio button, a check box, a color wheel, a combo box, a counter, a date control, an edit box, a filename box, a list box, a scroll bar, a viewer, and combinations thereof.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the user interface control includes an executable computer program configured to be executed in response to user input supplied to either of the first and second displayed representations of the user interface control.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the user interface control includes a command to execute a predetermined computer program, the command configured to be executed in response to user input supplied to either of the first and second displayed representations of the user interface control.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the first and second displayed representations of the user interface control are different from one another.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying in each display group a display representation of a second user interface control, wherein the second user interface control is configured to execute the computer program in response to user input thereto, and wherein the input parameter is utilized by the computer program when executed in response to user input to the second user interface control.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first and second sets of user instructional material include instructional material for operating each of the plurality of user interface controls, and wherein the first and second display groups include displayed representations of the instructional material for operating each user interface control interleaved with the displayed representations of the plurality of user interface controls.

24. A method of controlling a computer system with a user interface control displayed on a computer display thereof the method comprising:

(a) concurrently displaying first and second display groups on the computer display the first display group including a first displayed representation of the user interface control integrated with a displayed representation of a first set of user instructional material for operating the user interface control, and the second display group including a second displayed representation of the user interface control integrated with a displayed representation of a second set of user instructional material for operating the user interface control; and

(b) actuating the user interface control in response to user input supplied to either of the first and second displayed representations thereof;

wherein each of the first and second sets of user instructional material is maintained in at least one of a plurality of information elements forming a body of knowledge, the body of knowledge stratified into a plurality of levels of abstraction including at least first and second levels of abstraction respectively associated with the first and second sets of user instructional material, the method further comprising respectively displaying the first and second display groups in first and second lenses, the first and second lenses generally arranged along an axis in a three dimensional workspace to represent a hierarchical relationship between the first and second display groups, and wherein each lens has associated therewith a filter criteria passing information elements associated with at least one predetermined level of abstraction.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the filter criteria for the first lens passes information elements associated with the first level of abstraction and blocks information elements associated with the second level of abstraction, and wherein the filter criteria for the second lens passes information elements associated with the second level of abstraction and blocks information elements associated with the first level of abstraction.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the plurality of levels includes a third level of abstraction associated with the user interface control, wherein the user interface control is stored in at least one of the plurality of information elements, and wherein the filter criteria for each of the first and second lenses passes information elements associated with the third level of abstraction.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the user interface control is associated with the first level of abstraction and is stored in at least one of the plurality of information elements, wherein the filter criteria for the first lens passes information elements associated with the first level of abstraction and blocks information elements associated with the second level of abstraction, and wherein the filter criteria for the second lens passes information elements associated with either of the first and second levels of abstraction.

28. A program product, comprising:

(a) a program configured to perform a method of controlling a computer system with a user interface control displayed on a computer display thereof, the method comprising;

(1) concurrently displaying first and second display groups on the computer display, the first display group including a first displayed representation of the user interface control integrated with a displayed representation of a first set of user instructional material for operating the user interface control, and the second display group including a second displayed representation of the user interface control integrated with a displayed representation of a second set of user instructional material for operating the user interface control, wherein the user interface control is configured to generate at least one input parameter in response to user input thereto, the input parameter utilized by a computer program during execution of such computer program;

(2) actuating the user interface control in response to user input supplied to either of the first and second displayed representations thereof and

(3) updating the first displayed representation to display user input received via the second displayed representation; and

(b) a signal bearing media bearing the program.

29. The program product of claim 28, wherein the signal bearing media is transmission type media.

30. The program product of claim 28, wherein the signal bearing media is recordable media.

31. A computer system, comprising:

(a) a computer display;

(b) a memory configured to store a user interface control and first and second sets of user instructional material for operating the user interface control; and

(c) a processor, coupled to the computer display and memory, the processor configured to display a displayed representation of the first set of user instructional material integrated with a displayed representation of the user interface control, the processor further configured to selectively replace the displayed representation of the first set of user instructional material with a displayed representation of the second set of user instructional material in response to user input;

wherein the memory is further configured to store at least a portion of a body of knowledge that includes a plurality of information elements, wherein each of the first and second sets of user instructional material is stored in at least one of the plurality of information elements, the body of knowledge stratified into a plurality of levels of abstraction including at least first and second levels of abstraction respectively associated with the first and second sets of user instructional material;

and wherein the processor is further configured to display the displayed representations of the first set of user instructional material and the user interface control in a lens, the lens having associated therewith a filter criteria, the filter criteria passing information elements associated with at least one predetermined level of abstraction.

32. The computer system of claim 31, wherein the displayed representations of the first set of user instructional material and the user interface control define a first display group, and wherein the processor is further configured to:

(a) concurrently display a second display group with the first display group, the second display group including a displayed representation of the second set of user instructional material integrated with a second displayed representation of the user interface control; and

(b) actuate the user interface control in response to user input supplied to either of the first and second displayed representations thereof.

33. The computer system of claim 31, wherein the filter criteria for the lens passes information elements associated with the first level of abstraction and blocks information elements associated with the second level of abstraction, and wherein the processor is configured to selectively replace the displayed representation of the first set of user instructional material with the displayed representation of the second set of user instructional material by modifying the filter criteria for the lens to block information elements associated with the first level of abstraction and pass information elements associated with the second level of abstraction.

34. The computer system of claim 33, wherein the plurality of levels includes a third level of abstraction associated with the user interface control, wherein the user interface control is stored in at least one of the plurality of information elements, and wherein the filter criteria for the lens passes information elements associated with the third level of abstraction.

35. The computer system of claim 31, wherein the second set of user instructional material includes more detailed information for understanding the user interface control than the first set of user instructional material.

36. A method of controlling a computer system with a user interface control displayed on a computer display thereof, the method comprising:

(a) displaying a displayed representation of the user interface control integrated with a displayed representation of a first set of user instructional material for operating the user interface control; and

(b) in response to user input, selectively replacing the displayed representation of the first set of user instructional material with a displayed representation of a second set of user instructional material for operating the user interface control;

wherein each of the first and second sets of user instructional material is maintained in at least one of a plurality of information elements forming a body of knowledge, the body of knowledge stratified into a plurality of levels of abstraction including at least first and second levels of abstraction respectively associated with the first and second sets of user instructional material, the method further comprising displaying the displayed representations of the first set of user instructional material and the user interface control in a lens, the lens having associated therewith a filter criteria, the filter criteria passing information elements associated with at least one predetermined level of abstraction.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the displayed representations of the first set of user instructional material and the user interface control define a first display group, the method further comprising:

(a) concurrently displaying a second display group with the first display group, the second display group including a displayed representation of the second set of user instructional material integrated with a second displayed representation of the user interface control; and

(b) actuating the user interface control in response to user input supplied to either of the first and second displayed representations thereof.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the filter criteria for the lens passes information elements associated with the first level of abstraction and blocks information elements associated with the second level of abstraction, and wherein selectively replacing the displayed representation of the first set of user instructional material with the displayed representation of the second set of user instructional material includes modifying the filter criteria for the lens to block information elements associated with the first level of abstraction and pass information elements associated with the second level of abstraction.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the plurality of levels includes a third level of abstraction associated with the user interface control, wherein the user interface control is stored in at least one of the plurality of information elements, and wherein the filter criteria for the lens passes information elements associated with the third level of abstraction.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the second set of user instructional material includes more detailed information for understanding the user interface control than the first set of user instructional material.

41. A program product, comprising:

(a) a program configured to perform a method of controlling a computer system with a user interface control displayed on a computer display thereof, the method comprising;

(1) displaying a displayed representation of the user interface control integrated with a displayed representation of a first set of user instructional material for operating the user interface control; and

(2) in response to user input, selectively replacing the displayed representation of the first set of user instructional material with a displayed representation of a second set of user instructional material for operating the user interface control; and

(b) a signal bearing media bearing the program;

wherein each of the first and second sets of user instructional material is maintained in at least one of a plurality of information elements forming a body of knowledge, the body of knowledge stratified into a plurality of levels of abstraction including at least first and second levels of abstraction respectively associated with the first and second sets of user instructional material, the method performed by the program further comprising displaying the displayed representations of the first set of user instructional material and the user interface control in a lens, the lens having associated therewith a filter criteria, the filter criteria passing information elements associated with at least one predetermined level of abstraction.

42. The program product of claim 41, wherein the signal bearing media is transmission type media.

43. The program product of claim 41, wherein the signal bearing media is recordable media.