Software wizard interface

• US 9,009,585 B1
• Filed: 03/18/2008
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated, Avaya Technology LLC (Avaya Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gluskin, Dan, Zilbershtein, Itai Ephraim, Haserodt, Kurt H., Chetrit, Ronen Ben, Dezent, Nimrod
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUDWIG, MATTHEW J
• Application Number:
  US12/050,325
• Time in Patent Office: 2,583 Days
• Field of Search: 715/221, 715/235, 715/273, 715/234, 715/760
• US Class Current: 715/221
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/24 Loading of the microprogram
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

A method of creating a software wizard. The method involves receiving, by a computer, an instruction to create a wizard, displaying by the computer one or more forms, created before receiving the instruction to create the wizard, receiving by the computer one or more customization instructions of at least one of the displayed one or more forms and storing a file defining a wizard including the displayed one or more forms as customized by the one or more customization instructions.

Claims

1. A method of creating a software wizard, comprising:

receiving, by a computer, an instruction to create a wizard, wherein the wizard is used to assist in performing a task;

displaying by the computer a first form, created separately before receiving the instruction to create the wizard, wherein the first form is selected from a list of separately created forms, wherein a plurality of different forms are included in the list of separately created forms, wherein the different forms each include a unique set of fields, and wherein a plurality of fields within any one of the forms are different from any other of the forms;

receiving by the computer first customization instructions for the first form, wherein the first customization instructions include at least one of instructions to delete, modify, or add a field in a set of fields included in the first form; and

displaying by the computer a second form comprising a set of fields that is different from a set of fields in the first form, wherein the second form is created before receiving the instruction to create the wizard and is selected from the list of separately created forms;

receiving by the computer second customization instructions for the second form; and

storing a file defining the wizard including the first form and the second form as customized by the first customization instructions and the second customization instructions respectively so that when the file is executed, the first form as customized and the second form as customized are displayed to assist in performing the task, wherein the stored file does not include copies of the first and second separately created forms, but instead includes links to the first and second separately created forms and wherein a description of the first and second separately created forms are not contained in the stored file.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the displaying by the computer the first form and the second form comprises displaying one or more forms written in HTML without script additions.

3. A method according to claim 1, comprising accessing one or more of the first form and the second form included in the wizard, after storing the wizard, wherein a user does not use the wizard to access the forms.

4. A method according to claim 1, comprising changing the display of the first form responsive to the first customization instructions received.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein storing the file comprises storing an executable file.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein storing the file comprises storing a data file executable by a wizard execution program.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the displaying by the computer the first forms comprises displaying before storing the file with substantially the same view as displayed by the stored wizard.

8. A method according to claim 1, comprising generating a report relating to the stored wizard, automatically by the computer responsive to the received customization instructions.

9. A method according to claim 1, comprising displaying by the computer a simulation of the wizard, between receiving by the computer customization instructions.

10. A method according to claim 1, comprising supplying the stored file to a computer for execution of the wizard using the supplied file.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein supplying the stored file to a computer for execution of the wizard comprises supplying to a computer different from the computer that stored the file.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

periodically checking the stored file for changes; and

in response to detecting the changes to the stored file, notifying a user of the changes found in the stored file and automatically updating the wizard.

13. A method of executing software wizards, comprising:

running a wizard executor program on a computer;

accessing a first non-executable wizard description file by the wizard executor, wherein the first wizard description file includes a first form that contains a first plurality of fields, wherein the first form has been customized by one or more first customization instructions, and a second form that contains a second plurality of fields including at least one field that is different from a field in the first form, wherein the second form has been customized by one or more second customization instructions, wherein when the wizard description file is utilized by the wizard executor the first form and the second form as customized are displayed to assist in performing a task, wherein the wizard description file does not include copies of the first and second forms, but instead includes links to the first and second forms and wherein a description of the first and second separately created forms are not contained in the stored file;

executing a first wizard described by the accessed first description file;

displaying the first form and the second form as customized;

accessing a second non-executable wizard description file by the wizard executor, wherein the second wizard description file includes a plurality of forms as customized by third one or more customization instructions so that when the second wizard description file is utilized by the wizard executor the plurality of forms as customized are displayed to assist in performing a second task;

executing a second wizard described by the accessed second description file; and

displaying the plurality forms as customized.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein accessing the first non-executable wizard description file comprises receiving the file over the Internet.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein executing the wizard described by the first description file comprises downloading at least the first form and the second form mentioned by the first description file from a form server remote from the computer running the wizard executor.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the downloading comprises downloading from a form server not co-hosted with a computer providing the first description file.

17. A method according to claim 13, wherein executing the wizard described by the first description file comprises downloading and displaying the first form and the second form without altering the code describing the first form and the second form.

18. A method according to claim 13, wherein executing the wizard described by the first description file comprises downloading the first form and displaying the first form with at least one field of the first form disabled.

19. A method according to claim 13, wherein executing the wizard described by the first description file comprises determining the order of display of the first forms and the second form of the wizard based on conditions included in the first description file.

20. A method of executing a software wizard, comprising:

initiating the execution of a wizard on a client computer, wherein the wizard is used to assist in performing a task and the wizard'"'"'s behavior is different for at least a first user and a second user;

determining at least one attribute of a first user to which the wizard is to be provided;

displaying a list including a first plurality of forms forming the wizard, in a manner selected as responsive to the determined at least one attribute of the first user;

collecting user input responsive to the displayed forms;

determining at least one attribute of a second user to which the wizard is to be provided;

displaying a list including a second plurality of forms forming the wizard, wherein the second plurality of forms includes at least one additional form not included in the first plurality of forms, wherein the display of the second plurality of forms is responsive to the determined at least one attribute of the second user that is different than the at least one attribute of the first user; and

storing a file defining the wizard, wherein the stored file does not include copies of the first and second forms, but instead includes links to the first and forms and wherein a description of the first and second separately created forms are not contained in the stored file.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein determining the at least one attribute of the user comprises determining a security level or a technical expertise level of the user.

22. A method according to claim 20, wherein displaying the first plurality of forms comprises displaying the forms in an order selected responsive to the at least one attribute of the user, such that different users are displayed the forms in different orders.

23. A method according to claim 20, wherein displaying the first plurality of forms comprises displaying at least one of the forms within one or more disabled fields selected responsive to the at least one attribute of the user, such that different users are displayed the at least one of the forms with different disabled fields.