Real-time installation and/or configuration assistant

• US 8,464,239 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2007
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Ferris, James M., Huff, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Marina
• Application Number:
  US11/760,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20080307413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,192 Days
• Field of Search: 717/168
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

A system and method of assisting a user include displaying a status of at least one of an installation and configuration within a first of a plurality of windows. A point of progress of at least one of the installation and configuration is monitored. Knowledgebase information is retrieved related to the point of progress. The knowledgebase information is displayed within a second of the plurality of windows to assist the user with the at least one of the installation and configuration. An instant messaging chat session can be displayed within a third of the plurality of windows to assist a user with the at least one of the installation and configuration.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting achievement of a point of progress before completion of a web based installation of software;

sending data associated with the point of progress to a server to perform a query of a knowledgebase with the data to identify information associated with the point of progress;

receiving the information from the server in response to the server performing the query of the knowledgebase; and

providing the information to a user to assist the user with completing the web based installation of software.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

establishing an instant messaging chat session with a live assistant person to assist the user with the web based installation of software.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein data associated with the knowledgebase resides on the server.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information is received over an internet connection.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising monitoring an application installation executable with a shell program.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the web based installation of software is an execution of an application installation executable.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information is displayed within a web browser.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising assisting the user with the web based installation of software.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the web based installation of software comprises a process to set up an account with a web service.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the web based installation of software comprises installing the software via the web.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the web based installation of software comprises monitoring installation of software via a web browser.

12. A system, comprising:

an interface to a controller module; and

a processor, communicating with the controller module via the interface, the processor to;

detect achievement of a point of progress before completion of a web based installation of software;

send data associated with the point of progress to a server to perform a query of a knowledgebase with the data to identify information associated with the point of progress;

receive the information from the server in response to the server performing the query of the knowledgebase; and

provide the information to a user to assist the user with completing the web based installation of software.

13. The system according to claim 12, the processor to establish an instant messaging chat session with a live assistant person to assist the user with the web based installation of software.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein data associated with the knowledgebase resides on the server.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein the information is received over an internet connection.

16. The system according to claim 12, wherein the web based installation of software comprises a process to set up an account with a web service.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the web based installation of software comprises installing the software via the web.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the web based installation of software comprises monitoring installation of software via a web browser.