Dynamic and intelligent hover assistance

• US 8,140,971 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2008
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Branson, Michael J., Hintermeister, Gregory R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Do, Chat
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALVESTEFFER, STEPHEN D
• Application Number:
  US12/127,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20080229197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• Field of Search: 715/705, 715/708, 715/711, 715/715
• US Class Current: 715/711
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

A method, system and article of manufacture for hover help management in data processing systems and, more particularly, for providing dynamic and intelligent hover assistance in graphical user interfaces. One embodiment provides a method of displaying hover assistance on a display screen. The method comprises moving a pointer element to a position over a user interface element shown on the display screen in response to user manipulation of a pointing device, while the pointer element is positioned over the user interface element, invoking a first hover element for display on the display screen, and invoking a second hover element for display on the display screen after invoking the first hover element, and while the pointer element continues to be positioned over the user interface element.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of displaying hover assistance on a display screen, comprising:

moving a pointer element to a position over a user interface element shown on the display screen in response to user manipulation of a pointing device;

by operation of one or more computer processors, determining a hover assistance detail level for a first hover element based on;

(i) a determined user behavior pattern and (ii) user preferences received from an input device, wherein the first hover element comprises a first plurality of indications of respective actions selectable via user input to cause execution of associated operations;

while the pointer element is positioned over the user interface element, invoking the first hover element with the determined hover assistance detail level, for display on the display screen; and

determining whether a condition is met, the condition specifying user selection of at least one indication of the first plurality of indications while the pointer element is positioned over the at least one of the user interface element and the first hover element and prior to the earlier of;

(i) expiration of a first predetermined period of time and (ii) user entry of a predetermined input sequence, wherein the at least one indication is selectable by a mouse pointer;

wherein processing branches to execute the associated operation upon determining that the condition is met, wherein a second hover element is invoked for display on the display screen upon determining that the condition is not met, wherein the second hover element comprises a second plurality of indications of respective actions selectable via user input to cause execution of associated operations, and wherein at least one of the first hover element and the second hover element provide assistance regarding the user interface element.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing from display the first hover element upon invoking the second hover element.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising copying at least one of the first hover element and the second hover element to the clipboard.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein copying the at least one of the first hover element and the second hover element at least in part to the clipboard occurs in response to user input from an input device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the associated operation comprises outputting for display a help window including detailed help specific to the user interface element.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first hover element and the second hover element includes a copy element selectable via user input to cause the at least one of the first hover element and the second hover element to be copied at least in part to a clipboard.

7. A computer-implemented method of displaying hover assistance for a user on a display screen, comprising:

moving a pointer element to a position over a user interface element shown on the display screen in response to user manipulation of a pointing device; and

by operation of one or more computer processors and while the pointer element is positioned over the user interface element, determining a hover assistance detail level for the user, based on;

(i) a determined user behavior pattern and (ii) user preferences received from the user via an input device;

invoking a first hover element with the determined hover assistance detail level for display on the display screen, wherein the first hover element comprises a first plurality of indications of respective actions selectable via user input to cause execution of associated operations, wherein the at least one indication is selectable by a mouse pointer; and

determining whether a condition is met, the condition specifying user selection of at least one indication of the first plurality of indications while the pointer element is positioned over the at least one of the user interface element and the first hover element and prior to the earlier of;

(i) expiration of a first predetermined period of time and (ii) user entry of a predetermined input sequence;

wherein processing branches to execute the associated operation upon determining that the condition is met, wherein a second hover element is invoked for display on the display screen upon determining that the condition is not met, wherein the second hover element comprises a second plurality of indications of respective actions selectable via user input to cause execution of associated operations, and wherein at least one of the first hover element and the second hover element provide assistance regarding the user interface element.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein invoking the first hover element comprises:

successively invoking a plurality of hover elements with increasingly greater hover assistance detail levels for display on the display screen.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein successively invoking the plurality of hover elements comprises:

for each successive hover element of the plurality of hover elements having an associated hover element detail level;

determining whether the successive hover element is to be invoked on the basis of user preferences.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first hover element and the second hover element includes a copy element selectable via user input to cause the at least one of the first hover element and the second hover element to be copied at least in part to a clipboard.

11. A computer readable storage medium containing a program which, when executed, performs an operation of displaying hover assistance on a display screen, the operation comprising:

detecting a pointer element at a position over a user interface element shown on the display screen;

by operation of one or more computer processors when executing the program, determining a hover assistance detail level for a first hover element based on;

(i) a determined user behavior pattern and (ii) user preferences received from an input device, wherein the first hover element comprises a first plurality of indications of respective actions selectable via user input to cause execution of associated operations;

while the pointer element is positioned over the user interface element, invoking a first hover element with the determined hover assistance detail level for display on the display screen, wherein the at least one indication is selectable by a mouse pointer;

determining whether a condition is met, the condition specifying user selection of at least one indication of the first plurality of indications while the pointer element is positioned over the at least one of the user interface element and the first hover element and prior to the earlier of;

(i) expiration of a first predetermined period of time and (ii) user entry of a predetermined input sequence;

wherein processing branches to execute the associated operation upon determining that the condition is met;

wherein a second hover element is invoked for display on the display screen upon determining that the condition is not met, wherein the second hover element comprises a second plurality of indications of respective actions selectable via user input to cause execution of associated operations;

wherein at least one of the first hover element and the second hover element provide assistance regarding the user interface element.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the operation further comprises:

removing from display the first hover element upon invoking the second hover element.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein copying the at least one of the first hover element and the second hover element at least in part to the clipboard occurs in response to receiving user input from an input device.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the associated operation comprises outputting for display a help window including detailed help specific to the user interface element.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the operation further comprises:

successively invoking a plurality of hover elements after invoking the second hover element.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein each successive hover element of the plurality of hover elements provides more detail regarding the user interface element relative to each previous hover element.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein invoking of each successive hover element occurs after one of (i) expiration of a predefined period of time and (ii) a user input command to display the successive hover element, whichever occurs first.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first hover element and the second hover element includes a copy element selectable via user input to cause the at least one of the first hover element and the second hover element to be copied at least in part to a clipboard.

19. A system, comprising:

one or more computer processors;

a display screen;

a graphical user interface displayable on the display screen;

an input device for controlling movement of a pointer element over graphical user interface elements of the graphical user interface; and

a hover assistance manager configured for;

detecting a pointer element at a position over a user interface element shown on the display screen;

by operation of the one or more computer processors, determining a hover assistance detail level for a first hover element based on;

(i) a determined user behavior pattern and (ii) user preferences received from the input device, wherein the first hover element is invoked with the determined hover assistance detail level, wherein the first hover element comprises a first plurality of indications of respective actions selectable via user input to cause execution of associated operations;

while the pointer element is positioned over the user interface element, invoking the first hover element for display on the display screen, wherein the at least one indication is selectable by a mouse pointer; and

determining whether a condition is met, the condition specifying user selection of at least one indication of the first plurality of indications while the pointer element is positioned over the at least one of the user interface element and the first hover element and prior to the earlier of;

(i) expiration of a first predetermined period of time and (ii) user entry of a predetermined input sequence;

wherein processing branches to execute the associated operation upon determining that the condition is met;

wherein a second hover element is invoked for display on the display screen upon determining that the condition is not met, wherein the second hover element comprises a second plurality of indications of respective actions selectable via user input to cause execution of associated operations;

wherein at least one of the first hover element and the second hover element provide assistance regarding the user interface element.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein at least one of the first hover element and the second hover element includes a copy element selectable via user input to cause the at least one of the first hover element and the second hover element to be copied at least in part to a clipboard.