System and method for generating software tools

• US 6,871,340 B1
• Filed: 05/21/1999
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Gillis, Philip W.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAS, CHAMELI
• Application Number:
  US09/316,040
• Time in Patent Office: 2,132 Days
• Field of Search: 717100-102, 717105-110, 717/114, 717/1, 717/3, 717/11, 345/594, 345/650, 345/700, 345/727, 345/763, 719/328, 707/102, 709/320, 709/323, 709/328
• US Class Current: 717/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus provide for the creating of a software tool, such as a Wizard, which is easily modifiable and which can simplify a complex procedure. Process steps, such as questions, are prompted and a plurality of potential selections associated with each of the process steps, such as answers to the questions, are also prompted. These process steps are questions and their corresponding answers are then stored and therefrom, a software tool is created.

Claims

1. A method for creating a wizard, comprising:

prompting a plurality of input process steps and a plurality of potential selections associated with each of the input process steps, the plurality of input process steps being displayed concurrently in the wizard, and each of the plurality of input process steps including a corresponding plurality of potential selections which are displayed in the same displayed wizard;

storing the plurality of input process steps and associated potential selections; and

using the plurality of stored input process steps and associated potential selections to create the wizard for outputting the input process steps based upon input selections.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the prompting is performed by a displayed template.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the prompting is audible.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein input of a designation is further prompted and stored, associating a potential selection with a subsequent process step.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the potential selections permits input of a character string.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the created wizard is displayed.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the created wizard is displayed as sequential process steps with potential selections.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of sequential steps in a process is displayed concurrent with a single step and associated potential selections.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein input of a query is prompted as a process step.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein potential answers to the query are prompted as associated potential selections.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the created wizard.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of a stored process step and potential selection in the created wizard is modifiable.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising prompting and storing input of a designation, associated with a process step, indicating one of machine and non-machine processing.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein upon receiving an input designation indicating machine processing, further input of information relating to the machine processing is prompted.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

accessing prestored information upon receiving an input designation indicating machine processing.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the prestored information is stored in a relational database.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the prestored information includes information stored in a text file including a state transition table.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the created wizard sequentially conveys each of the input process steps and prompts selection of a potential selection for each process step.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the created wizard sequentially displays each of the input process steps.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the created wizard audibly sequentially outputs each of the input process steps.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein conveyance of a process step is dependent upon a selection made in response to a previously conveyed process step.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing prestored information and creating the wizard, at least in part, based upon the prestored information.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the prestored information is stored in a relational database.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the additional information includes a URL.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the prestored information includes information stored in a text file including a state table.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing additional information associated with at least one of a process step and potential selection.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting from a plurality of languages in which prompting will occur.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the prompting input of process steps and a plurality of potential selections associated with each of the process steps includes presenting at least one input field to receive the process steps.

29. A wizard creator, comprising:

a user interface, adapted to a plurality of prompt input of process steps and potential selections associated with each of the input process steps, the plurality of input process steps being displayed concurrently in the wizard, and each of the plurality of input process steps including a corresponding plurality of potential selections which are displayed in the same displayed wizard;

a memory adapted to store the plurality of input process steps and associated potential selections; and

a processor, adapted to create a wizard based upon the plurality of stored process steps and associated potential selections.

30. The wizard creator of claim 29, wherein the user interface is displayed.

31. The wizard creator of claim 30, wherein the user interface is an integrated input and display.

32. The wizard creator of claim 30, wherein the user interface is a touch-screen.

33. The wizard creator of claim 30, wherein the memory is adapted to store audibly input process steps and associated potential selections.

34. The wizard creator of claim 29, wherein the user interface prompts audibly.

35. The wizard creator of claim 29, wherein the user interface is further adapted to prompt input of a designation, associating a potential selection with a subsequent process step.

36. The wizard creator of claim 29, wherein one of the potential selections permits input of a character string.

37. The wizard creator of claim 29, wherein the user interface prompts input of a query as a process step.

38. The wizard creator of claim 37, wherein the user interface prompts input of potential answers to a query as associated potential selections.

39. The wizard creator of claim 29, wherein the memory is further adapted to store the created wizard.

40. The wizard creator of claim 29, wherein at least one of a stored process step and potential selection in the created wizard is modifiable through the user interface.

41. The wizard creator of claim 29, wherein the user interface further prompts input of a designation, associated with a process step, indicating one of machine and non-machine processing.

42. The wizard creator of claim 41, wherein the user interface further prompts input of information relating to the machine processing upon receiving an input of a designation indicating machine processing.

43. The wizard creator of claim 42, wherein the user interface further prompts input of a machine connection.

44. The wizard creator of claim 43, wherein the input of the machine connection includes input of a URL.

45. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a computer usable medium including,

first code for causing a computer to prompt a plurality of input process steps and a plurality of potential selections associated with each of the input process steps, the plurality of input process steps being displayed concurrently in the wizard, and each of the plurality of input process steps including a corresponding plurality of potential selections which are displayed in the same displayed wizard;

second code for causing a computer to store the plurality of input process steps and associated potential selections; and

third code for causing a computer to create the wizard based upon the plurality of stored process steps and associated potential selections.

46. The article of manufacture of claim 45, wherein the first code causes the computer to prompt via a displayed template.

47. The article of manufacture of claim 45, wherein the first code causes the computer to audibly prompt.

48. The article of manufacture of claim 45, wherein the first code and second code respectively cause the computer to further prompt and store an input designation, associating a potential selection with a subsequent process step.

49. The article of manufacture of claim 45, wherein the first code causes the computer to prompt input of queries as the process steps.

50. The article of manufacture of claim 49, wherein the first code causes the computer to prompt input of potential answers to the queries as the associated potential selections.

51. The article of manufacture of claim 45, wherein the first code and second code respectively cause the computer to prompt and store an input designation, associated with a process step, indicating one of machine and non-machine processing.

52. The article of manufacture of claim 51, wherein the first and second code respectively cause the computer to prompt and store input of information relating to the machine processing upon receiving an input of a designation indicating machine processing.

53. A computer system with a propagated signal, comprising:

a first code segment instructing prompting a plurality of input process steps and a plurality of potential selections associated with each of the process steps, the plurality of input process steps being displayed concurrently in the wizard, and each of the plurality of input process steps including a corresponding plurality of potential selections which are displayed in the same displayed wizard;

a second code segment instructing storage of the plurality of input process steps and associated potential selections; and

a third code segment instructing creation of the wizard based upon the plurality of stored process steps and associated potential selections.

54. The propagated signal of claim 53, wherein the propagated signal is embodied in a digital signal.

55. The propagated signal of claim 53, wherein the propagated signal is embodied in a digital bit stream.

56. The propagated signal of claim 53, wherein the propagated signal is embodied in a carrier wave.

57. The propagated signal of claim 53, wherein the first code segment instructs prompting via a displayed template.

58. The propagated signal of claim 53, wherein the first code segment instructs audible prompting.

59. The propagated signal of claim 53, wherein the first and second code segment respectively instruct prompting of input and storage of an input designation, associating a potential selection with a subsequent process step.

60. The propagated signal of claim 53, wherein the first code segment instructs prompting of input of queries as process steps.

61. The propagated signal of claim 60, wherein the first code segment instructs prompting of input of potential answers to the queries as the associated potential selections.

62. The propagated signal of claim 53, wherein the first code segment and second code segment respectfully instruct prompting of input and storage of an input designation, associated with a process step, and indicating one of machine and non-machine processing.

63. The propagated signal of claim 62, wherein the first and second code segments respectively instruct prompting of input and storage of input of information relating to the machine processing in response to receiving input of a designation indicating machine processing.

64. A method for creating a wizard, comprising:

prompting a plurality of input process steps;

storing the plurality of input process steps; and

using the stored plurality of input process steps to create a wizard for outputting the input process steps based upon a plurality of input selections, the plurality of input process steps being displayed concurrently in the created wizard, and each of the plurality of input process steps including a corresponding plurality of input selections which are displayed in the same displayed wizard.