Enhanced user assistance

• US 9,747,579 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2004
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward K. Y., Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, Jr., John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Augustine, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US10/974,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20060081695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,690 Days
• Field of Search: 715705, 715715, 715713, 715810
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Methods, devices, and systems that provide enhanced user assistance. A method includes receiving a query related to an electronic device through a first interface associated with the electronic device, and providing an assistance corresponding to the query through a second interface associated with the electronic device. A system includes an electronic device including a first interface and a second interface. The system further includes instructions which when implemented in the electronic device cause the electronic device to receive a query related to the electronic device through a first interface associated with the electronic device, and provide an assistance corresponding to the query through a second interface associated with the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving at least one user input corresponding to at least an electronic camera functionality including at least one of an image capture functionality or an image storage functionality via at least one user interface associated with an electronic camera device;

controlling one or more electronic camera device functions based at least partly on the at least one user input corresponding to at least an electronic camera functionality;

receiving at least one user input corresponding to at least one assistance request corresponding to at least one electronic camera functionality including at least one of an image capture functionality or an image storage functionality via the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device;

transitioning at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device to at least one assistance mode in response to the at least one assistance request; and

generating at least one assistance response via the at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device, the at least one assistance response corresponding to one or more electronic camera device functions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling one or more electronic camera device functions based at least partly on the at least one user input corresponding to at least an electronic camera functionality includes:

controlling image capture functionality.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling one or more electronic camera device functions based at least partly on the at least one user input corresponding to at least an electronic camera functionality includes:

controlling image storage functionality.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling one or more electronic camera device functions based at least partly on the at least one user input corresponding to at least an electronic camera functionality includes:

controlling at least one functionality aspect of at least one of a computing device, a cell phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a Blackberry appliance, a printer, a refrigerator, a car, an airplane, an X-box, a home gateway, a set-top box, a point-of-sale terminal, a TiVo device, or an automated teller machine.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving at least one user input corresponding to at least an electronic camera functionality including at least one of an image capture functionality or an image storage functionality via at least one user interface associated with an electronic camera device includes:

receiving at least one user input corresponding to at least one functionality aspect of image capture functionality including shutter functionality.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving at least one user input corresponding to at least an electronic camera functionality including at least one of an image capture functionality or an image storage functionality via at least one user interface associated with an electronic camera device includes:

receiving at least one user input corresponding to at least one functionality aspect of image capture functionality including at least one of a lens cover functionality or a lens zoom functionality.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving at least one user input corresponding to at least an electronic camera functionality including at least one of an image capture functionality or an image storage functionality via at least one user interface associated with an electronic camera device includes:

detecting at least one touch of at least one display button on a user interface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving at least one user input corresponding to at least one assistance request corresponding to at least one electronic camera functionality includes:

detecting at least one user input including at least one of a received sound, a spoken word, or a spoken phrase; and

determining via user input recognition analysis of the at least one user input at least one aspect of electronic camera functionality and at least one aspect of assistance requested.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving at least one user input corresponding to at least one assistance request corresponding to at least one electronic camera functionality includes:

detecting at least one user input a spoken phrase including at least one of “

show me, demonstrate, or guide me;

” and

determining via user input recognition analysis of the at least one user input at least one aspect of electronic camera functionality and at least one aspect of assistance requested.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving at least one user input corresponding to at least an electronic camera functionality including at least one of an image capture functionality or an image storage functionality via at least one user interface associated with an electronic camera device includes:

receiving at least one user input corresponding to at least one functionality aspect including at least one of computing device functionality, cell phone functionality, personal digital assistant (PDA) functionality, Blackberry appliance functionality, printer functionality, refrigerator functionality, car functionality, airplane functionality, X-box functionality, a home gateway functionality, set-top box functionality, point-of-sale terminal functionality, TiVo functionality, or automated teller machine functionality.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving at least one user input corresponding to at least one assistance request corresponding to at least one electronic camera functionality includes:

detecting at least one touch of at least one display button on a user interface or detecting at least one user input including at least one of a received sound, a spoken word, or a spoken phrase; and

determining via user input recognition analysis of the at least one user input at least one functionality aspect including at least one of computing device functionality, cell phone functionality, personal digital assistant (PDA) functionality, Blackberry appliance functionality, printer functionality, refrigerator functionality, car functionality, airplane functionality, X-box functionality, a home gateway functionality, set-top box functionality, point-of-sale terminal functionality, TiVo functionality, or automated teller machine functionality; and

at least one aspect of assistance requested.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein transitioning at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device to at least one assistance mode in response to the at least one assistance request includes:

transitioning at least one physical button or at least one microphone operable to receive at least one of a received sound, a spoken word, or a spoken phrase that receives the at least one user input corresponding to at least an electronic camera functionality to operate to receive the at least one user input corresponding to at least one assistance request.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein transitioning at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device to at least one assistance mode in response to the at least one assistance request includes:

transitioning at least one physical button or at least one microphone operable to receive at least one of a received sound, a spoken word, or a spoken phrase that receives the at least one user input corresponding to at least one functionality aspect including at least one of computing device functionality, cell phone functionality, personal digital assistant (PDA) functionality, Blackberry appliance functionality, printer functionality, refrigerator functionality, car functionality, airplane functionality, X-box functionality, a home gateway functionality, set-top box functionality, point-of-sale terminal functionality, TiVo functionality, or automated teller machine functionality to operate to receive the at least one user input corresponding to at least one assistance request.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein transitioning at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device to at least one assistance mode in response to the at least one assistance request includes:

activating at least one assistance manager corresponding to at least one functionality aspect including at least one of computing device functionality, cell phone functionality, personal digital assistant (PDA) functionality, Blackberry appliance functionality, printer functionality, refrigerator functionality, car functionality, airplane functionality, X-box functionality, a home gateway functionality, set-top box functionality, point-of-sale terminal functionality, TiVo functionality, or automated teller machine functionality to operate to receive the at least one user input corresponding to at least one assistance request.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes:

at least one of

a method for operating an electrical appliance;

or

a method for operating a digital appliance.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes:

at least one of

a method for operating a limited resource computing device;

or

a method for operating a pervasive computing device.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes:

a method for operating a digital camera.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes:

at least one of

a method for operating a cell phone;

a method for operating a personal digital assistant (PDA);

a method for operating a Blackberry appliance;

a method for operating a printer;

or

a method for operating an on-board computing device in at least one of a refrigerator, a car;

an airplane, an X-box, a home gateway, a set-top box, a point-of-sale terminal, a TiVo, or an automated teller machine.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating at least one assistance response via the at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device includes:

generating at least one user assistance response including an audible assistance presentation from at least one speaker and at least one blinking light-emitting diode corresponding to at least one electronic camera device functionality.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating at least one assistance response via the at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device includes:

at least one of visually displaying at least one assistance presentation, audibly annunciating at least one assistance presentation, audibly annunciating at least one spoken assistance presentation, or tactilely presenting at least one assistance indication.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating at least one assistance response via the at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device includes:

generating at least one of a guided response assistance presentation, or an interactive tutorial assistance presentation.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating at least one assistance response via the at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device includes:

generating at least one assistance response corresponding to at least one physical element of the electronic camera device.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating at least one assistance response via the at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device includes:

generating at least one guidance through at least one process associated with at least one aspect of the electronic camera device.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating at least one assistance response via the at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device includes:

at least one of

presenting at least one description associated with at least one aspect of the electronic camera device;

or

showing how at least one aspect of the electronic camera device works.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating at least one assistance response via the at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device includes:

ending at least one assistance at completion, including transitioning at least one physical button or at least one microphone operable to present at least one assistance response to operate to receive at least one of a received sound, a spoken word, or a spoken phrase that receives the at least one user input corresponding to at least an electronic camera functionality.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating at least one assistance response via the at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device includes:

searching, via at least one network, at least one remote assistance file for at least one assistance response correlating with the one or more electronic camera device functions associated with the electronic camera device.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one user interface includes:

a touch sensitive display interface presenting an icon activatable to control the one or more electronic device functions;

wherein the receiving a user input via a first user interface of an electronic device includes;

receiving a user touch input activating the icon.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating at least one assistance response via the at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device, the at least one assistance response corresponding to one or more electronic camera device functions includes:

generating at least one assistance response corresponding to at least one functionality aspect of at least one of computing device functionality, cell phone functionality, personal digital assistant (PDA) functionality, Blackberry appliance functionality, printer functionality, refrigerator functionality, car functionality, airplane functionality, X-box functionality, a home gateway functionality, set-top box functionality, point-of-sale terminal functionality, TiVo functionality, or automated teller machine functionality.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating at least one assistance response via the at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device, the at least one assistance response corresponding to one or more electronic camera device functions includes:

generating at least one guidance through at least one process associated with at least one functionality aspect of at least one of computing device functionality, cell phone functionality, personal digital assistant (PDA) functionality, Blackberry appliance functionality, printer functionality, refrigerator functionality, car functionality, airplane functionality, X-box functionality, a home gateway functionality, set-top box functionality, point-of-sale terminal functionality, TiVo functionality, or automated teller machine functionality.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating at least one assistance response via the at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device, the at least one assistance response corresponding to one or more electronic camera device functions includes:

presenting at least one description associated with at least one aspect of a computing device, a cell phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a Blackberry appliance, a printer, a refrigerator, a car, an airplane, an X-box, a home gateway, a set-top box, a point-of-sale terminal, a TiVo device, or an automated teller machine.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating at least one assistance response via the at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device, the at least one assistance response corresponding to one or more electronic camera device functions includes:

showing how at least one aspect of at least one of a digital camera, a computing device, a cell phone, a vehicle, a point-of-sale terminal, a set-top box, or a gaming system works.

27. A computer-readable storage medium containing computer instructions which, when executed on a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a process, the process comprising:

receiving at least one user input corresponding to at least an electronic camera functionality including at least one of an image capture functionality or an image storage functionality via at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device;

controlling one or more electronic camera device functions based at least partly on the at least one user input corresponding to at least an electronic camera functionality;

receiving at least one user input corresponding to at least one assistance request corresponding to at least one electronic camera functionality including at least one of an image capture functionality or an image storage functionality via the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device;

transitioning at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device to at least one assistance mode in response to the at least one assistance request; and

generating at least one assistance response via the at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device, the at least one assistance response corresponding to one or more electronic camera device functions.

28. A system comprising:

at least one electronic camera device including at least

instructions which, when implemented in the electronic device, configure the electronic camera device for;

receiving at least one user input corresponding to at least an electronic camera functionality including at least one of an image capture functionality or an image storage functionality via at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device;

controlling one or more electronic camera device functions based at least partly on the at least one user input corresponding to at least an electronic camera functionality;

receiving at least one user input corresponding to at least one assistance request corresponding to at least one electronic camera functionality including at least one of an image capture functionality or an image storage functionality via the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device;

transitioning at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device to at least one assistance mode in response to the at least one assistance request; and

generating at least one assistance response via the at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device, the at least one assistance response corresponding to one or more electronic camera device functions.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein transitioning at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device to at least one assistance mode in response to the at least one assistance request includes:

transitioning at least one physical button or at least one microphone operable to receive at least one of a received sound, a spoken word, or a spoken phrase that receives the at least one user input corresponding to at least an electronic camera functionality to operate to receive the at least one user input corresponding to at least one assistance request.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein transitioning at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device to at least one assistance mode in response to the at least one assistance request includes:

transitioning at least one physical button or at least one microphone operable to receive at least one of a received sound, a spoken word, or a spoken phrase that receives the at least one user input corresponding to at least one functionality aspect including at least one of computing device functionality, cell phone functionality, personal digital assistant (PDA) functionality, Blackberry appliance functionality, printer functionality, refrigerator functionality, car functionality, airplane functionality, X-box functionality, a home gateway functionality, set-top box functionality, point-of-sale terminal functionality, TiVo functionality, or automated teller machine functionality to operate to receive the at least one user input corresponding to at least one assistance request.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein transitioning at least a portion of the at least one user interface associated with the electronic camera device to at least one assistance mode in response to the at least one assistance request includes:

activating at least one assistance manager corresponding to at least one functionality aspect including at least one of computing device functionality, cell phone functionality, personal digital assistant (PDA) functionality, Blackberry appliance functionality, printer functionality, refrigerator functionality, car functionality, airplane functionality, X-box functionality, a home gateway functionality, set-top box functionality, point-of-sale terminal functionality, TiVo functionality, or automated teller machine functionality to operate to receive the at least one user input corresponding to at least one assistance request.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one user interface includes a button.

33. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one user interface includes a visual display.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the visual display includes a light emitter.