Storage system with online manual

• US 6,728,717 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2001
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Hiwatashi, Junichi, Minefuji, Masanari, Nishio, Takanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Corrielus, Jean M.
• Application Number:
  US09/825,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20020056058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 715/511, 709/223, 709/228, 709/227, 709/225, 709/224, 717/173, 717/174, 707/100, 707/200, 707/1, 707/3, 707/10, 705/23, 345/762
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

Online manual display mechanisms that display a portion of a manual during execution of an application program are available conventionally. However, those manuals are not easy to use because manual display cannot be performed so as to follow execution of an application program or a proper portion cannot be opened. The invention provides a unified means for realizing a function displaying a manual portion corresponding to a manipulation for each program by providing, as a manual management mechanism, a graphical user interface to be used for registering manipulation units and a manual as well as APIs that can be referred to by an application program during its execution. The invention also provides a means for downloading a manual from its storage site over the Internet.

Claims

1. A storage system with an online manual, comprising:

a storage apparatus; and

a maintenance apparatus connected to the storage apparatus, the maintenance apparatus comprising;

a CPU for executing a maintenance program for performing a maintenance control on the storage apparatus and a manual display program for displaying a manipulation procedure of the maintenance program;

an output device for displaying an output result of the maintenance program and the manual display program;

a storage device for storing the maintenance program, the manual display program, manual data relating to a manipulation procedure of the maintenance program, and a manual management table showing a corresponding relationship between the manual data and pieces of identification information for identifying respective manipulation units of the maintenance program; and

an input device for performing input processing for the maintenance program and the manual display program,

wherein the manual display program is executable to select a first manipulation unit if a first piece of identification information is selected using the maintenance control program, the output device displaying the first information set,

wherein the manual display program is executable to select a second manipulation unit if a second piece of identification information is selected using the maintenance control program, the output device displaying the second information set,

wherein the first and second pieces of identification information are selected from the manual management table.

2. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance apparatus is further connected to a manual defining apparatus, the manual defining apparatus comprising:

output means for outputting the manual data; and

input means for a generating a corresponding relationship between the manual data and the pieces of identification information for identifying respective manipulation units of the maintenance program,

wherein the manual defining apparatus registers the corresponding relationship generated by the input means in the manual management table that is stored in the maintenance apparatus.

3. The storage system of claim 2, wherein a first application program interface is activated for manipulating state referencing to indicate a current execution manipulating unit.

4. The storage system of claim 3, wherein a second application program interface is activated for manipulation state transition notification to indicate a new manipulation unit.

5. The storage system of claim 4, wherein a third application program interface is activated for online manual display, the third application program interface instructing the manual display program to display the first information set of the manual data.

6. The storage system of claim 5, wherein a fourth application program interface is activated for placing the manual display program in a trace mode.

7. The storage system of claim 6 wherein a fifth application program interface is activated for canceling the trace mode.

8. The storage system of claim 1, wherein a first application program interface is activated for manipulating state referencing to indicate a current execution manipulating unit.

9. The storage system of claim 8, wherein a second application program interface is activated for manipulation state transition notification to indicate a new manipulation unit.

10. The storage system of claim 9, wherein a third application program interface is activated for online manual display, the third application program interface instructing the manual display program to display the first information set of the manual data.

11. The storage system of claim 10, wherein a fourth application program interface is activated for placing the manual display program in a trace mode.

12. The storage system of claim 11 wherein a fifth application program interface is activated for canceling the trace mode.

13. The storage system of claim 1, wherein a second application program interface is activated for manipulation state transition notification to indicate a new manipulation unit.

14. The storage system of claim 13, wherein a third application program interface is activated for online manual display, the third application program interface instructing the manual display program to display the first information set of the manual data.

15. The storage system of claim 14, wherein a fourth application program interface is activated for placing the manual display program in a trace mode.

16. The storage system of claim 15 wherein a fifth application program interface is activated for canceling the trace mode.

17. The storage system of claim 1, wherein a third application program interface is activated for online manual display, the third application program interface instructing the manual display program to display the first information set of the manual data.

18. The storage system of claim 17, wherein a fourth application program interface is activated for placing the manual display program in a trace mode.

19. The storage system of claim 18 wherein a fifth application program interface is activated for canceling the trace mode.

20. The storage system of claim 1, wherein a fourth application program interface is activated for placing the manual display program in a trace mode.

21. The storage system of claim 20 wherein a fifth application program interface is activated for canceling the trace mode.

22. The storage system of claim 1 wherein a fifth application program interface is activated for canceling the trace mode.