Configuration assistance using a knowledgebase

• US 9,547,407 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2013
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• 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): Lee, Marina
• Application Number:
  US13/908,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20130275870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 717/168
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 a configuration. A point of progress is detected before completion of a web based configuration. Data associated with the point of progress is sent to a server to perform a query of a knowledgebase with the data to identify information associated with the point of progress. Information is received from the server in response to the server performing the query of the knowledgebase and provided to a user to assist the user with completing the web based configuration.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting, by a computing device, achievement of a point of progress of a web based configuration before completion of the web based configuration by monitoring activities of the web based configuration;

sending, by the computing device, data associated with the point of progress to perform a query of a knowledgebase with the data to identify information associated with the point of progress without receiving a request for assistance relating to the web based configuration;

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

providing the information to assist with completing the web based configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing an instant messaging chat session with a live assistant person to assist with the web based configuration.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the knowledgebase information resides on a server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the knowledgebase information is received over an Internet connection.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring an application configuration executable with a shell program.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the web based configuration is an execution of an application configuration executable.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the knowledgebase information within a web browser.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing an account with a web service associated with the configuration.

9. A system comprising:

a memory; and

a computing device operatively coupled to the memory, the computing device to;

detect achievement of a point of progress of a web based configuration before completion of the web based configuration by monitoring activities of the web based configuration;

send data associated with the point of progress to perform a query of a knowledgebase with the data to identify information associated with the point of progress without receiving a request for assistance relating to the web based configuration;

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

provide the information to assist with completing the web based configuration.

10. The system of claim 9, the computing device to establish an instant messaging chat session with a live assistant person to assist with the web based configuration.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein data associated with the knowledgebase resides on a server.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the information is received over an Internet connection.

13. The system of claim 9, the computing device to establish an account with a web service associated with the configuration.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the web based configuration comprises configuring software via the web.

15. The system of claim 9, the computing device to monitor configuration via a web browser.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to:

detect, by the computing device, achievement of a point of progress of a web based configuration before completion of the web based configuration by monitoring activities of the web based configuration;

send, by the computing device, data associated with the point of progress to perform a query of a knowledgebase with the data to identify information associated with the point of progress without receiving a request for assistance relating to the web based configuration;

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

provide the information to assist with completing the web based configuration.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, the computing device to establish an instant messaging chat session with a live assistant person to assist with the web based configuration.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, the computing device to monitor an application configuration executable with a shell program.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the web based configuration is an execution of an application configuration executable.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, the computing device to establish an account with a web service associated with the configuration.