Displaying help resources

• US 7,516,405 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2004
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Watson, Thomas J., Schumacher, Daniel Mark, Burkhart, Michael John, Eisenhauer, Daniel G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu; Sy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kumar; Anil N
• Application Number:
  US10/755,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20050154985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,912 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.3, 715/526, 715/705
• US Class Current: 715/705
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/544 Remote
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/545 Gui
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products for displaying a help resource associated with a device on a remote display apparatus are provided. Some embodiments of methods, systems, and products for displaying a help resource associated with a device on a display apparatus include receiving, in a device, a help event created by a user engaging a help button installed on the device. In response to receiving the help event, typical embodiments include retrieving a help resource associated with the device, and creating, in the device, a help message including the help resource. The help resource can be retrieved from data storage on the device, downloaded from a network location, or any other way of retrieving the help resource that will occur those of skill in the art. The help message is typically broadcast to a display apparatus for display to a user.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for displaying a help resource associated with a device on a display apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving, in a services gateway, a help message created in a device as a result of a user engaging a help button installed on the device;

retrieving, in dependence upon the help message, a help resource associated with the device, wherein retrieving, in dependence upon the help message, a help resource associated with the device comprises;

retrieving the help resource from data storage on the services gateway, and

downloading the help resource from a network location;

selecting a display apparatus to display the help resource, wherein selecting a display apparatus to display the help resource comprises;

selecting a display apparatus in dependence upon the display requirements of the help resource, and

selecting a display apparatus in dependence upon the display capabilities of the display apparatus;

sending the help resource to the display apparatus for display.

2. A computer implemented system for displaying a help resource associated with a device on a display apparatus, the system comprising:

means for receiving, in a services gateway, a help message created in a device as a result of a user engaging a help button installed on the device;

means for retrieving, in dependence upon the help message, a help resource associated with the device, wherein means for retrieving, in dependence upon the help message, a help resource associated with the device comprises;

means for retrieving the help resource from data storage on the services gateway, and

means for retrieving the help resource from data storage on the services gateway, and

means for downloading the help resource from a network location;

means for selecting a display apparatus to display the help resource, wherein means for selecting a display apparatus to display the help resource comprises;

means for selecting a display apparatus in dependence upon the display requirements of the help resource, and

means for selecting a display apparatus in dependence upon the display capabilities of the display apparatus;

means for sending the help resource to the display apparatus for display.

3. A computer implemented computer program product for displaying a help resource associated with a device on a display apparatus, the computer program product comprising:

means, recorded on the recording medium, for receiving, in a services gateway, a help message created in a device as a result of a user engaging a help button installed on the device;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for retrieving, in dependence upon the help message, a help resource associated with the device, wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for retrieving, in dependence upon the help message, a help resource associated with the device comprises;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for retrieving the help resource from data storage on the services gateway, and

means, recorded on the recording medium, for downloading the help resource from a network location;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting a display apparatus to display the help resource, wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting a display apparatus to display the help resource comprises;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting a display apparatus in dependence upon the display requirements of the help resource, and

means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting a display apparatus in dependence upon the display capabilities of the display apparatus;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for sending the help resource to the display apparatus for display.