Computerized help system with modal and non-modal modes
First Claim
1. A computerized non-modal help system comprising:
- a display screen providing a window for a plurality of output displays of computerized processes, said plurality of output displays being associated with a respective plurality of contexts;
a collection of pre-defined images mapped to said plurality of output displays by said contexts, where each image includes a non-literal representation an output display to which it is mapped and textual help within said representation;
a user input device for initiating non-modal help; and
a non-modal displayer displaying a pre-defined image within said window in place of an output display to which it is mapped that was present at the time of said initiation of non-modal help, wherein said predefined image includes non-modal skeleton help simultaneous display of a plurality of help balloons using a verb/object paradigm in response to a user request for non-modal help.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A non-modal help mode uses a verb/object paradigm where the current context of the application program for which the user needs help is determined and a help screen is provided which shows all of the actions that can be taken from that context. The non-modal help system includes a display screen providing a window for a number of output displays of an application program, a collection of pre-defined images mapped to the output displays by their context, a user input device for initiating non-modal help, and a non-modal displayer which displays one of the predefined images within the window in the place of its contextually-related output display. Preferably, the predefined images are stored as static bit map images including a dithered representation of the context in which the help was requested and a number of help balloons strategically positioned on the dithered image. Even more preferably, the balloons are positioned manually by a graphic artist to maximize their placement on the dithered image. By providing a balloon to described the functionality of every (or most) of the active elements, a user is provided with a quick framework or “Skeleton” view of the meaning and operation of the various elements in the display.
93 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A computerized non-modal help system comprising:
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a display screen providing a window for a plurality of output displays of computerized processes, said plurality of output displays being associated with a respective plurality of contexts;
a collection of pre-defined images mapped to said plurality of output displays by said contexts, where each image includes a non-literal representation an output display to which it is mapped and textual help within said representation;
a user input device for initiating non-modal help; and
a non-modal displayer displaying a pre-defined image within said window in place of an output display to which it is mapped that was present at the time of said initiation of non-modal help, wherein said predefined image includes non-modal skeleton help simultaneous display of a plurality of help balloons using a verb/object paradigm in response to a user request for non-modal help. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for providing non-modal help comprising:
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detecting a user request for non-modal help with respect to a dynamic application display;
determining a context of said dynamic application display;
retrieving a static image contextually related to said dynamic application display, where said static image includes a non-literal representation of said dynamic application display and textual help within said representation; and
displaying said static image in the place of said dynamic application display, wherein said static image includes non-modal non-modal skeleton help simultaneous display of a plurality of help balloons using a verb/object paradigm in response to said user request for non-modal help. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A help system comprising:
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means for detecting a user request for non-modal help with respect to a dynamic application display;
means for determining a context of said dynamic application display;
means for retrieving a static image contextually related to said dynamic application display, where said static image includes a non-literal representation of said dynamic application display and textual help within said representation; and
means for displaying said static image in the place of said dynamic application display, wherein said static image includes non-modal non-modal skeleton help simultaneous display of a plurality of help balloons using a verb/object paradigm in response to said user request for non-modal help. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification