Interactive on-line help for completing a task

• US 6,690,390 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2000
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Cifra, Christopher, Connell, Thomas, Walters, Kristy
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao (Kevin)
• Application Number:
  US09/695,803
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 345/705, 345/707, 345/762, 345/708, 345/733, 345/808, 345/764, 345/804, 707/3, 707/5, 707/102, 707/513, 707/531
• US Class Current: 715/705
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A computer system and method for performing a task within an application from within an on-line help information display. Thus the on-line help information displayed by the computer system may include user selectable elements which enable the user to complete portions or all of a task directly from the on-line help window, e.g., without requiring the user to search for this functionality in menus or toolbars within the application. The user may launch the application and then select on-line help information associated with performing a task within the application. In response to this user input, the computer may display on-line help information associated with the application. The displayed on-line help information may include various help information that specifies a recipe for performing the task, e.g., the information may guide the user through a series of steps to perform the task in the application. The displayed on-line help information may include one or more user selectable elements. In response to the user selecting a user selectable element, the application may perform at least a portion of the task within the application. Thus the user can perform a portion or all of a task by selecting an element or item directly from the on-line help information window. Thus the user is not required to manually search for the appropriate selection, such as a menu item or toolbar item, from within the application itself.

Claims

1. A method for performing a task within an application in a computer system, comprising:

receiving user input to select on-line help associated with performing the task within the application;

displaying on-line help information associated with the application, wherein the displayed on-line help information includes one or more user selectable elements, wherein the one or more user selectable elements are executable when selected to perform at least a portion of the task within the application;

receiving user input to select a user selectable element within the on-line help information;

performing at least a portion of the task within the application in response to the user input selecting the user selectable element within the on-line help information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more user selectable elements comprise at least a portion of a recipe for performing the task within the application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the on-line help information displays information that specifies a recipe, wherein the information guides the user through a series of steps to perform the task in the application.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising opening the application prior to displaying the on-line help information associated with the application.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user selectable element comprises one or more words displayed in the on-line help information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user selectable element is a graphical icon displayed in the on-line help information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the graphical icon is a push-button.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the task comprises configuration of the application.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the on-line help information is HTML-based help information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the HTML-based help information comprises DHTML elements.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the DHTML elements comprise one of:

JavaScript or ActiveX controls.

12. A method for performing a task within an application in a computer system, comprising:

receiving user input selecting on-line help information associated with performing the task within the application;

displaying on-line help information associated with the application, wherein the displayed on-line help information includes one or more user selectable elements, wherein the one or more user selectable elements are executable when selected to perform at least a portion of the task within the application;

receiving user input selecting a user selectable element within the on-line help information, wherein in response to the selected element the application performs at least a portion of the task within the application.

13. A computer system for performing a task within an application, the computer system comprising:

a display;

an input device;

a memory which stores a software program for completing the task within the application;

a CPU coupled to the memory, the display, and the input device, wherein the CPU is operable to execute the software program in the memory, wherein, in executing the software program, the CPU is operable to;

receive user input to select on-line help associated with performing the task within the application;

display on-line help information associated with the application, wherein the displayed on-line help information includes one or more user selectable elements, wherein the one or more user selectable elements are executable when selected to perform at least a portion of the task within the application;

receive user input to select a user selectable element within the on-line help information;

perform at least a portion of the task within the application in response to the user input selecting the user selectable element within the on-line help information.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the one or more user selectable elements comprise at least a portion of a recipe for performing the task within the application.

15. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the on-line help information displays information that specifies a recipe, wherein the information guides the user through a series of steps to perform the task in the application.

16. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising opening the application prior to displaying the on-line help information associated with the application.

17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the user selectable element comprises one or more words displayed in the on-line help information.

18. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the user selectable element is a graphical icon displayed in the on-line help information.

19. The computer system of claim 18, wherein the graphical icon is a push-button.

20. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the task comprises configuration of the application.

21. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the on-line help information is HTML-based help information.

22. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the HTML-based help information comprises DHTML elements.

23. The computer system of claim 22, wherein the DHTML elements comprise one of:

JavaScript or ActiveX controls.

24. A computer system for performing a task within an application, the computer system comprising:

a display;

an input device;

a memory which stores a software program for completing the task within the application;

a CPU coupled to the memory, the display, and the input device, wherein the CPU is operable to execute the software program in the memory, wherein, in executing the software program, the CPU is operable to;

receive user input selecting on-line help information associated with performing the task within the application;

display on-line help information associated with the application, wherein the displayed on-line help information includes one or more user selectable elements, wherein the one or more user selectable elements are executable when selected to perform at least a portion of the task within the application;

receive user input selecting a user selectable element within the on-line help information, wherein in response to the selected element the application performs at least a portion of the task within the application.

25. A carrier medium which stores program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement:

receiving user input to select on-line help associated with performing the task within the application;

displaying on-line help information associated with the application, wherein the displayed on-line help information includes one or more user selectable elements, wherein the one or more user selectable elements are executable when selected to perform at least a portion of the task within the application;

receiving user input to select a user selectable element within the on-line help information;

performing at least a portion of the task within the application in response to the user input selecting the user selectable element within the on-line help information.

26. The carrier medium of claim 25, wherein the carrier medium is a memory medium.

27. A carrier medium which stores program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement:

receiving user input selecting on-line help information associated with performing the task on within the application;

displaying on-line help information associated with the application, wherein the displayed on-line help information includes one or more user selectable elements, wherein the one or more user selectable elements are executable when selected to perform at least a portion of the task within the application;

receiving user input selecting a user selectable element within the on-line help information, wherein in response to the selected element the application performs at least a portion of the task within the application.