System and method for providing help/training content for a web-based application

• US 6,882,825 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thinksmart Performance Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Thinksmart Performance Systems LLC
• Inventors: Hopkins, Rosalie Marie, Chodrow, Sarah Elizabeth, Danner, Kevin Rory
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John
• Application Number:
  US10/742,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20040157202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 434/350, 434/322, 434/307.R, 345/705, 717/124
• US Class Current: 434/350
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F

Abstract

A system and method of the present invention supplies a user of a web-based application with relevant interactive help/training content that corresponds to an object or page of the web-based application that the user'"'"'s cursor is pointing to. The help/training content may include instructions, policies, procedures, tips and other information that may be dynamically updated and delivered to the user. The relevant help/training content may be displayed in a separate browser window where general information related to a page or pages as well as specific information related to a particular object may be provided.

Claims

1. A method employed by a computer user for accessing help/training content associated with a web-based application for dynamically displaying help/training content associated with at least one object dynamically triggered in the web-based application, the method comprising the steps of:

accessing the web-based application in a first browser window through a proxy server wherein the web-based application outputs a page comprising at least one object, wherein the object comprises an element of the page;

wherein the proxy server receives the page from the web-based application, identifies the at least one object and annotates the page to associate help/training content to the at least one object; and

wherein the proxy server further initiates a help/training tool associated with the web-based application wherein the help/training tool displays a separate second browser window for simultaneously displaying help/training content with the first browser window containing the web-based application;

dynamically triggering the at least one object in the page of the web-based application wherein the step of dynamically triggering the at least one object in the first browser window automatically invokes a simultaneous display of help/training content associated with the triggered object in the second browser window; and

dynamically triggering a second object in the web-based application, wherein content in the second browser window is replaced with content associated with the second object;

wherein the web-based application as displayed to the user remains unchanged and wherein the web-based application and the help/training tool operate independently.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first browser window and the second browser window are displayed on a single device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first browser window is displayed on a first device and the second browser window is displayed on a second device, separate from the first device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first device and the second device comprise one or more of a computer, personal digital assistant device, wireless device, and mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the element comprises one or more of text, hyperlink, fields, form objects, graphics.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the content comprises one or more of sound, animation, and graphical images.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the content corresponding to the at least one object is presented in a first language, wherein the first language is different from a second language used in the web-based application.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the content is delivered as sound.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

applying a level of security applicable to the user wherein the content displayed to the user is specific to the level of security.

10. A method for providing content associated with at least one object in a web-based application provided to a user for simultaneous display in a separate browser page, the method comprising the steps of:

accessing the web-based application wherein the web-based application outputs a page comprising at least one object, wherein the object comprises an element of the page;

parsing the page of the web-based application to identify the at least one object prior to delivery to a user;

annotating the page to associate a content to the at least one object;

delivering the annotated page to the user;

storing the content associated with the at least one object in a database wherein the content is accessed when the at least one object is triggered by the user;

determining that the at least one object is triggered by the user in a first browser window displaying the web-based application;

retrieving the content associated with the triggered object from the database in response to the object being triggered in the first browser window; and

dynamically displaying the associated content to the user in a second browser window through a help/training tool for simultaneous display with the web-based application in the first browser window;

wherein the web-based application as displayed to the user remains unchanged and wherein the web-based application and the help/training tool operate independently.

11. The method claim 10, wherein the first browser window and the second browser window are displayed on a single device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first browser window is displayed on a first device and the second browser window is displayed on a second device, separate from the first device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first device and the second device comprise one or more of a computer, personal digital assistant device, wireless device, and mobile device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the element comprises one or more of text, hyperlink, fields, form objects, graphics.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the content comprises one or more of sound, animation, and graphical images.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the content is delivered as sound.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

applying a level of security applicable to the user wherein the content displayed to the user is specific to the level of security.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the content is associated with a group of objects.

19. A method for providing help/training content associated with a web-based application, the method comprising the steps of:

retrieving a portion a web-based application wherein the portion of the web-based application is parsed to identify at least one object prior to delivery to a user, wherein the object comprises an element of the web-based application;

annotating the portion of the web-based application with at least one content identifier for identifying a content record associated with the at least one object;

displaying available objects associated with each of the at least one content identifier to the user via a content window;

enabling the user to apply an action to the content record associated with at least one selected object;

storing the content record based on the action in a database for updating the content record associated with the at least one selected object; and

displaying the stored content record associated with each of the at least one object in the content window through a help/training tool when each object is triggered in the web-based application displayed in a separate browser window;

wherein the web-based application as displayed to the user remains unchanged and wherein the web-based application and the help/training tool operate independently.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the action comprises one or more of the following:

save, create, delete and update.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the portion comprises one or more of a portion of an application page, an application page, multiple application pages and an entire application.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of displaying available objects further comprises the step of:

determining whether existing content has been previously defined for the object.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of displaying available objects further comprises the step of:

determining whether new content needs to be defined or updated for the object.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of:

enabling the user to search for an object from the available objects via a search interface.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of displaying available objects comprises the step of:

listing one or more hyperlinks found on the portion of the web-based application.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein a first browser window displaying the web-based application and the separate browser window are displayed on a single device.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein a first browser window displaying the web-based application is displayed on a first device and the separate browser window is displayed on a second device, separate from the first device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first device and the second device comprise one or more of a computer, personal digital assistant device, wireless device, and mobile device.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein the element comprises one or more of text, hyperlink, fields, form objects, graphics.

30. The method of claim 19, wherein content associated with the content record comprises one or more of sound, animation, and graphical images.

31. The method of claim 19, wherein content associated with the content record corresponding to the at least one object is presented in a first language, wherein the first language is different from a second language used in the web-based application.

32. The method of claim 19, Wherein content associated with the content record is delivered as sound.

33. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of:

applying a level of security applicable to the user wherein content associated with the content displayed to the user is specific to the level of security.

34. A method for providing content associated with a web-based application, the method comprising the steps of:

enabling a user to select an object in a page of the web-based application, wherein the object comprises an element of the page;

identifying a content record associated with the selected object, or, if none exists, creating a content record and associating the created content record with the selected object;

applying an action to the content record associated with the selected object;

storing the action applied to the content record in a database based on the action;

annotating the page for associating a content identified by the content record to the selected object; and

displaying the content associated with the selected object through a help/training tool wherein the content is simultaneously displayed in a content window in response to a trigger of an associated object in the web-based application displayed in a separate browser window;

wherein the web-based application as displayed to the user remains unchanged and wherein the web-based application and the help/training tool operate independently.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of;

applying global content to the web-based application wherein the global content is displayed as a message to the user.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the global content is displayed in the content window.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the global content is displayed in a user interface, other than the content window.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the content comprises one or more of text, graphics, animation, speech, music, and sound.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein the separate browser window and the content window are displayed on a single device.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein the separate browser window is displayed on a first device and the content window is displayed on a second device, separate from the first device.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the first device and the second device comprise one or more of a computer, personal digital assistant device, wireless device, and mobile device.

42. The method of claim 34, the element comprises one or more of text, hyperlink, fields, form objects, graphics.

43. The method of claim 34, wherein the content comprises one or more of sound, animation, and graphical images.

44. The method of claim 34, wherein the content corresponding to the at least one object is presented in a first language, wherein the first language is different from a second language used in the web-based application.

45. The method of claim 34, wherein the content is delivered as sound.

46. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of;

applying a level of security applicable to the user wherein the content displayed to the user is specific to the level of security.

47. A system employed by a computer user for accessing help/training content associated with a web-based application for dynamically displaying help/training content associated with at least one object dynamically triggered in the web-based application, the system comprising:

a graphical user interface module for displaying in a first browser window the web-based application through a proxy server wherein the web-based application outputs a page comprising at least one object, wherein the object comprises an element of the page;

wherein the proxy server receives the page from the web-based application, identifies the at least one object and annotates the page to associate help/training content to the at least one object; and

wherein the proxy server further initiates a help/training tool associated with the web-based application wherein the help/training tool displays a separate second browser window for simultaneously displaying help/training content with the first browser window containing the web-based application; and

a user device for dynamically triggering the at least one object in the page of the web-based application wherein the step of dynamically triggering the at least one object in the first browser window automatically invokes a simultaneous display of help/training content associated with the triggered object in the second browser window; and

for dynamically triggering a second object in the web-based application, wherein content in the second browser window is replaced with content associated with the second object;

wherein the web-based application as displayed to the user remains unchanged and wherein the web-based application and the help/training tool operate independently.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the first browser window and the second browser window are displayed on a single device.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein the first browser window is displayed on a first device and the second browser window is displayed on a second device, separate from the first device.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the first device and the second device comprise one or more of a computer, personal digital assistant device, wireless device, and mobile device.

51. The system of claim 47, wherein the element comprises one or more of text, hyperlink, fields, form objects, graphics.

52. The system of claim 47, wherein the content comprises one or more of sound, animation, and graphical images.

53. The system of claim 47, wherein the content corresponding to the at least one object is presented in a first language, wherein the first language is different from a second language used in the web-based application.

54. The system of claim 47, wherein the content is delivered as sound.

55. The system of claim 47, wherein a level of security applicable to the user is applied wherein the content displayed to the user is specific to the level of security.

56. A system for providing content associated with at least one object in a web-based application provided to a user for simultaneous display in a separate browser page, the system comprising:

a parser for parsing a page of the web-based application comprising at least one object, wherein the object comprises an element of the page, to identify the at least one object prior to delivery to a user;

a server for annotating the page to associate a content to the at least one object and delivering the annotated page to the user;

a database for storing the content associated with the at least one object in a database wherein the content is accessed when the at least one object is triggered by the user;

a content server for retrieving the content associated with the triggered object from the database in response to the object being triggered by the user in a first browser window displaying the web-based application; and

a graphical user interface module for dynamically displaying the associated content to the user in a second browser window through a help/training tool for simultaneous display with the web-based application in the first browser window;

wherein the web-based application as displayed to the user remains unchanged and wherein the web-based application and the help/training tool operate independently.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the first browser window and the second browser window are displayed on a single device.

58. The system of claim 56, wherein the first browser window is displayed on a first device and the second browser window is displayed on a second device, separate from the first device.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the first device and the second device comprise one or more of a computer, personal digital assistant device, wireless device, and mobile device.

60. The system of claim 56, wherein the element comprises one or more of text, hyperlink, fields, form objects, graphics.

61. The system of claim 56, wherein the content comprises one or more of sound, animation, and graphical images.

62. The system of claim 56, wherein the content is delivered as sound.

63. The system of claim 56, wherein a level of security applicable to the user is applied wherein the content displayed to the user is specific to the level of security.

64. The system of claim 56, wherein the content is associated with a group of objects.

65. A system for providing help/training content associated with a web-based application, the system comprising:

a proxy server for retrieving a portion a web-based application wherein the portion of the web-based application is parsed to identify at least one object prior to delivery to a user, wherein the object comprises an element of the web-based application and annotating the portion of the web-based application with at least one content identifier for identifying a content record associated with the at least one object;

a graphical user interface module for displaying in a content window available objects associated with each of the at least one content identifier to a user and enabling the user to apply an action to the content record associated with at least one selected object;

a database for storing the content record based on the action in a database for updating the content record associated with the at least one selected object wherein the updated content associated with each of the at least one object is displayed in the content window through a help/training tool when each object is triggered in the web-based application displayed in a separate browser window;

wherein the web-based application as displayed to the user remains unchanged and wherein the web-based application and the help/training tool operate independently.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein the action comprises one or more of the following:

save, create, delete and update.

67. The system of claim 65, wherein the portion comprises one or more of a portion of an application page, an application page, multiple application pages and an entire application.

68. The system of claim 65, wherein displaying available objects further comprises determining whether existing content has been previously defined for the object.

69. The system of claim 65, wherein displaying available objects further comprises determining whether new content needs to be defined or updated for the object.

70. The system of claim 65, wherein the graphical user interface module enables the user to search for an object from the available objects via a search interface.

71. The system of claim 65, wherein displaying available objects comprises listing one or more hyperlinks found on the portion of the web-based application.

72. The system of claim 65, wherein a first browser window displaying the web-based application and the separate browser window are displayed on a single device.

73. The system of claim 65, wherein a first browser window displaying the web-based application is displayed on a first device and the separate browser window is displayed on a second device, separate from the first device.

74. The system of claim 73, wherein the first device and the second device comprise one or more of a computer, personal digital assistant device, wireless device, and mobile device.

75. The system of claim 65, wherein the element comprises one or more of text, hyperlink, fields, form objects, graphics.

76. The system of claim 65, wherein content associated with the content record comprises one or more of sound, animation, and graphical images.

77. The system of claim 65, wherein content associated with the content record corresponding to the at least one object is presented in a first language, wherein the first language is different from a second language used in the web-based application.

78. The system of claim 65, wherein content associated with the content record is delivered as sound.

79. The system of claim 65, wherein a level of security applicable to the user is applied wherein content associated with the content displayed to the user is specific to the level of security.

80. A system for providing content associated with a web-based application, the system comprising:

a graphical user interface module for enabling a user to select an object in a page of the web-based application, wherein the object comprises an element of the page;

identify a content record associated with the selected object, or, if none exists, create a content record and associating the created content record with the selected object; and

apply -an action to the content record associated with the selected object;

a database for storing the action applied to the content record in a database based on the action;

a proxy server for annotating the page for associating a content identified by the content record to the selected object; and

a content server for updating the content window to simultaneously display the content associated with the selected object through a help/training tool in response to a trigger of an associated object in the web-based application displayed in a separate browser window;

wherein the web-based application as displayed to the user remains unchanged and wherein web-based application and the help/training tool operate independently.

81. The system of claim 80, wherein global content is applied to the web-based application wherein the global content is displayed as a message to the user.

82. The system of claim 81, wherein the global content is displayed in the content window.

83. The system of claim 81, wherein the global content is displayed in a user interface, other than the content window.

84. The method of claim 80, wherein the content comprises one or more of text, graphics, animation, speech, music, and sound.

85. The system of claim 80, wherein the separate browser window and the content window are displayed on a single device.

86. The system of claim 80, wherein the separate browser window is displayed on a first device and the content window is displayed on a second device, separate from the first device.

87. The system of claim 86, wherein the first device and the second device comprise one or more of a computer, personal digital assistant device, wireless device, and mobile device.

88. The system of claim 80, wherein the element comprises one or more of text, hyperlink, fields, form objects, graphics.

89. The system of claim 80, wherein the content comprises one or more of sound, animation, and graphical images.

90. The system of claim 80, wherein the content corresponding to the at least one object is presented in a first language, wherein the first language is different from a second language used in the web-based application.

91. The system of claim 80, wherein the content is delivered as sound.

92. The system of claim 80, wherein a level of security applicable to the user is applied wherein the content displayed to the user is specific to the level of security.

93. A method for providing content associated with at least one markup language tagged object in a web-based application provided to a user for simultaneous display in a separate window, the method comprising the steps of:

accessing the web-based application delivered in a tag-based language wherein the web-based application outputs a tag-based page comprising at least one markup language tagged object;

parsing the tag-based page of the web-based application to identify the at least one markup language tagged object prior to delivery to a user;

annotating the tag-based page to associate a content to the at least one markup language tagged object;

delivering the annotated tag-based page to the user;

storing the content associated with the at least one markup language tagged object wherein the content is accessed when the at least one markup language tagged object is triggered by the user;

determining that the at least one markup language tagged object is triggered by the user in a first browser window displaying the web-based application;

accessing the content associated with the triggered object in response to the object being triggered in the first browser window; and

dynamically displaying the associated content to the user in a second window through a help/training tool for simultaneous display with the web-based application in the first browser window;

wherein the web-based application as displayed to the user remains unchanged and wherein the web-based application and the help/training tool operate independently.

94. The method of claim 93, wherein the content is customized for the user.

95. A method for providing content associated with a web-based application, the method comprising the steps of:

enabling a user to select a markup language tagged object in a tag-based page of the web-based application;

identifying a content associated with the selected markup language tagged object;

applying an action to the content associated with the selected markup language tagged object;

storing the action applied to the content record;

annotating the tag-based page for associating the content to the selected markup language tagged object; and

displaying the content associated with the selected markup language tagged object through a help/training tool wherein the content is simultaneously displayed in a content window in response to a trigger of an associated markup language tagged object in the web-based application displayed in a separate window;

wherein the web-based application as displayed to the user remains unchanged and wherein the web-based application and the help/training tool operate independently.

96. The method of claim 95, wherein the action comprises one or more of the following;

save, create, delete and update.