System and method for adapting program elements based on application usage

• US 7,788,204 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Thomas, Erikheath A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Starks, Jr.; Wilbert L
• Application Number:
  US11/741,595
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 706/45, 706/47, 718/102
• US Class Current: 706/47
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/04 Inference or reasoning models
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

Various embodiments of a system and method for adapting software elements based on application usage are described. The system and method for adapting software elements based on application usage may include a knowledge component configured to determine how a user is using an interview-based application including, but not limited to, the functions of the application that the user has utilized, the content that the user has viewed, the tasks that have been performed, and the assistance that has been requested. The knowledge component may use the application usage to determine a measure of the user'"'"'s knowledge of topics within an interview-based application in order to create and/or maintain a knowledge profile for the user. The knowledge component may use the user'"'"'s knowledge profile to determine a knowledge deficiency that prevents the user from completing a task within the interview-based application and modify the application in order to resolve the deficiency.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises program instructions executable by the processor to;

select a navigation path of an interview-based application, wherein the navigation path comprises a plurality of prompts associated with a tax topic on a tax return;

display a prompt to a user, wherein the plurality of prompts includes the prompt

receive, from the user and in response to displaying the prompt, a request for help associated with the tax topic;

obtain a knowledge profile comprising a numerical knowledge subscale score, wherein the numerical knowledge subscale score is associated with the tax topic, and wherein the knowledge profile is associated with the user;

lower, in response to the request for help associated with the tax topic, the numerical knowledge subscale score associated with the tax topic;

select, in response to lowering the numerical knowledge subscale score, an alternate navigation path of the interview-based application, wherein the alternate path comprises an alternate plurality of prompts regarding the tax topic;

display an alternate prompt to the user, wherein the alternate plurality of prompts includes the alternate prompt;

receive, from the user, a value in response to displaying the alternate prompt and populate a field of the tax return based on the value.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

determine usage, by the user, of an assistance component configured to provide help functionality.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

identify completion of a task corresponding to the tax topic within the interview-based application; and

increase, in response to the completion of the task, the numerical knowledge subscale score corresponding to the tax topic.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

obtain a numerical knowledge score requirement corresponding to a task of the tax topic; and

display an additional prompt to the user in response to the numerical knowledge score requirement exceeding the numerical knowledge subscale score.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

obtain a numerical knowledge score requirement corresponding to a task of the tax topic; and

display additional help content to the user in response to the numerical knowledge score requirement exceeding the numerical knowledge subscale score.

6. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

selecting, using a processor, a navigation path of an interview-based application, wherein the navigation path comprises a plurality of prompts associated with a tax topic on a tax return;

displaying, using the processor, a prompt to a user, wherein the plurality of prompts includes the prompt;

receiving, from the user and in response to displaying the prompt, a request for help associated with the tax topic;

obtaining, using the processor, a knowledge profile comprising a numerical knowledge subscale score for the tax topic, wherein the numerical knowledge subscale score is associated with the tax topic, and wherein the knowledge profile is associated with the user;

lowering, using the processor and in response to the request for help associated with the tax topic, the numerical knowledge subscale score associated with the tax topic;

selecting, using the processor and in response to lowering the numerical knowledge subscale score, an alternate navigation path of the interview-based application, wherein the alternate path comprises an alternate plurality of prompts regarding the tax topic;

displaying, using the processor, an alternate prompt to the user, wherein the alternate plurality of prompts includes the alternate prompt;

receiving, from the user and using the processor, a value in response to displaying the alternate prompt; and

populating, using the processor, a field of the tax return based on the value.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining, using the processor, usage, by the user, of an assistance component configured to provide help functionality.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

identifying completion of a task corresponding to the tax topic within the interview-based application; and

increasing, raising using the processor and in response to the completion of the task, the numerical knowledge subscale score corresponding to the tax topic.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

obtaining a numerical knowledge score requirement corresponding to a task of the tax topic; and

displaying an additional prompt to the user in response to the numerical knowledge score requirement exceeding the numerical knowledge subscale score.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

obtaining a numerical knowledge score requirement corresponding to a task of the tax topic; and

displaying additional help content to the user in response to the numerical knowledge score requirement exceeding the numerical knowledge subscale score.

11. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising program instructions computer-executable to implement:

selecting a navigation path of an interview-based application, wherein the navigation path comprises a plurality of prompts associated with a tax topic on a tax return;

displaying a prompt to a user, wherein the plurality of prompts includes the prompt;

receiving, from the user and in response to displaying the prompt, a request for help associated with the tax topic;

obtaining a knowledge profile comprising a numerical knowledge subscale score, wherein the numerical knowledge subscale score is associated with the tax topic, and wherein the knowledge profile is associated with the user;

lowering, in response to the request for help associated with the tax topic, the numerical knowledge subscale score associated with the tax topic;

selecting, in response to lowering the numerical knowledge subscale score, an alternate navigation path of the interview-based application, wherein the alternate path comprises an alternate plurality of prompts regarding the tax topic;

displaying an alternate prompt to the user, wherein the alternate plurality of prompts includes the prompt;

receiving, from the user, a value in response to displaying the alternate prompt; and

populating a field of the tax return based on the value.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

determining usage, by the user, of an assistance component configured to provide help functionality.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

identifying completion of a task corresponding to the tax topic within the interview-based application; and

increasing, in response to the user'"'"'s completion of the task, the numerical knowledge subscale score corresponding to the tax topic.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

obtaining a numerical knowledge score requirement corresponding to a task of the tax topic; and

displaying an additional prompt to the user in response to the numerical knowledge score requirement exceeding the numerical knowledge subscale score.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

obtaining a numerical knowledge score requirement corresponding to a task of the tax topic; and

displaying additional help content to the user in response to the numerical knowledge score requirement exceeding the numerical knowledge subscale score.