Tool tip with additional information and task-sensitive direct access help for a user

• US 8,165,908 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Bolle, Nikolaus, Feuerlein, Ute, Pauls, Klaus-Michael, Ullrich, Klaus, Schild, Bernhard, Nofz, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Jasmin, Lynda
• Assistant Examiner(s): Singh, Gurkanwaljit
• Application Number:
  US11/192,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20070027733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,461 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/7.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30004 Biomedical image processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 for simulation or modelling of medical disorders

Abstract

An interactive software application provides workflow assistance related to the proper performance of work steps in the workflow. The workflow assistance may include step by step instructions detailing the proper operation of the user interface to complete the current work step. Additionally, the workflow assistance may include a virtual simulation demonstrating the proper operation of the user interface to complete the work step. Alternate workflow assistance may be provided for alternate manners of completing the work step. The software application also may initiate the performance of a work step via a primary operation on an icon associated with the work step. Workflow assistance associated with the work step may be presented via a secondary operation performed on the icon. Workflow assistance also may be directly accessible from the user interface or from a help menu superimposed upon other images displayed on the user interface.

Claims

1. A computer-based interactive user-interface training system providing workflow assistance and simulating user-interface operation, the system comprising:

a data processor operable to assist a performance of a workflow, the workflow having a plurality of pre-determined work steps to be performed sequentially, the data processor being configured to track a user'"'"'s progress through the plurality of predetermined works steps and identify a current work step from among the plurality of predetermined work steps; and

a user interface generated by the data processor and operable to (1) initiate the current work step in the workflow, and (2) alternatively, respond to queries for information regarding a current work step and provide workflow assistance associated with a performance of the current work step via a display screen, the workflow assistance including at least step by step instructions detailing to the user a proper performance of the current work step, based on a previous operation of the current work step, to guide completion of the current work step, the user interface configured to individually display, on the display screen, each step by step instruction explaining to the user the proper performance of the current work step to complete the current work step, the workflow assistance further including a virtual simulation to be presented on the display screen demonstrating to the user the proper performance of the current work step to complete the current work step,

wherein, as the plurality of pre-determined work steps within the workflow are being performed sequentially, when the user has questions regarding the proper performance of the current work step, upon receipt of the request for information regarding the current work step, the user interface presents on the display screen the workflow assistance that details or demonstrates the proper performance of the current work step required to properly complete the current work step such that the workflow is recommenced and the current work step is completed by the user based on the previous operation of the current work step as detailed by at least one of the step by step instructions or demonstrated by the virtual simulation that simulates realistic operation of the user interface via the display screen, and

wherein the workflow assistance includes step by step instructions relate to a proper performance of a previous work step and a next work step from among the plurality of pre-determined work steps, the instructions based on a previous operation of the previous work step and the next work step.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the workflow assistance includes alternate step by step instructions and an alternate virtual simulation illustrating an alternate proper performance of the current work step, based on an alternate previous operation of the current work step, to complete the current work step.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the workflow involves analysis of images obtained from a medical imaging process and the user interface displays the images to facilitate the evaluation of a region of interest.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the data processor is operable to identify an error in the operation of the user interface and the user interface is operable to display an associated error message and recommended remedial actions.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is operable to enter and save user entered comments at every work step in the workflow.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is operable to present workflow assistance that is accessible from a help menu superimposed over other images displayed on the user interface such that the other images remain visible.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is operable to present workflow assistance that is indirectly accessible from an icon associated with a work step.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the workflow assistance detailing the proper performance of the current work step to complete the current work step is both accessible via a single operation on a global icon on the user interface and via an operation on an icon dedicated to the current work step.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual simulation demonstrating the proper performance of the current work step to complete the current work step visually demonstrates the proper operation of a mouse during the previous operation of the current work step to properly complete the current work step.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual simulation demonstrating the proper performance of the current work step to complete the current work step is an animation that visually demonstrates the proper operation of an input device during the previous operation of the current work step to properly complete the current work step.

11. A computer-based interactive user-interface training system providing workflow assistance and simulating user-interface operation, the system comprising:

a data processor operable to assist a current workflow, the current workflow having a plurality of pre-determined work steps to be performed sequentially by a user controlling an interactive software application via the data processor;

a user interface displayed on a display screen and coupled with the data processor, the user interface operable to initiate a current work step in the current workflow and alternatively provide workflow assistance associated with a performance of the current work step, the workflow assistance including textual instructions and visual simulation related to a previously performed proper operation of the user interface in a previous workflow and provided to the user in the course of the performance of the current work step in the current workflow, the textual instructions comprising a message explaining action to be taken by a user and the visual simulation simulating a proper operation of an input device such that by following the textual instructions and by mimicking guidance provided by the virtual simulation, the user may properly complete the current work step in the current workflow; and

the user interface configured to display on the display screen the textual instructions and visual simulation workflow assistance detailing the previously performed proper operation of the user interface during the course of the performance of the current work step such that the user interface is operable in accordance with the textual instructions or visual simulation displayed on the display screen to properly complete the current work step in the current workflow.

wherein the workflow assistance includes step by step instructions related to a proper performance of a previous work step and a next work step from among the plurality of pre-determined work steps, the instructions based on a previous operation of the previous work step and the next work step.