Method and system for providing software application end-users with contextual access to text and video instructional information

• US 10,387,175 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2010
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Grossman, Tovi, Fitzmaurice, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Young, Kevin L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stitt, Erik V
• Application Number:
  US12/849,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20110099474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,304 Days
• Field of Search: 715810, 715764, 715709
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

A tool data engine displays instructional information to an end-user of a software application that pertains to one or more tools associated with the software application. The tool data engine displays the instructional information within a graphical user interface (GUI) after the user has indicated interest in that tool. The instructional information includes a detailed description of the tool and one or more video clips associated with the tool. The tool data engine also allows end-users to record and/or upload video clips that demonstrate usage of the tool.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing instructional information to an end-user of a software application, the method comprising:

receiving, from the end-user, an indication of a tool that is associated with the software application and is configured to allow data associated with the software application to be modified;

causing a display device to display a tool data graphical user interface (GUI) in response to the indication, wherein the tool data GUI includes a first portion of instructional information pertaining to usage of the tool and one or more GUI elements;

receiving, from the end-user, a selection of a first GUI element included in the tool data GUI;

updating the tool data GUI to display a second portion of instructional information comprising a first video clip illustrating a usage of the tool in response to the selection;

selecting a third portion of instructional information comprising a second video clip illustrating the usage of the tool, wherein selecting the third portion of instructional information is based on a first numeric relevance value that indicates a relevance of the third portion of instructional information relative to the second portion of instructional information;

selecting a fourth portion of instructional information comprising a third video clip illustrating the usage of the tool, wherein selecting the fourth portion of instructional information is based on a second numeric relevance value that indicates a relevance of the fourth portion of instructional information relative to the second portion of instructional information;

updating the tool data GUI to display, while displaying the second portion of the instructional information in a first window;

a first thumbnail associated with the third portion of instructional information in a second window, and

a second thumbnail associated with the fourth portion of instructional information in the second window;

initiating playback of the second portion of the instructional information; and

after completion of playback of the second portion of instructional information, updating the tool data GUI to;

remove the second portion of instructional information from the first window, and

display, in the first window, at least one of the third portion of instructional information and the fourth portion of instructional information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion of instructional information includes at least one of a textual description of the usage of the tool or one or more images illustrating usage of the tool.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a tool data engine causes the display device to display the tool data GUI within a software application GUI also displayed by the display device, and wherein the software application GUI includes an icon representing the tool.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the tool data engine causes the display device to display the tool data GUI when a distance between a screen position of a cursor and a screen position of the icon representing the tool is less than or equal to a threshold value.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the tool data engine causes the display device to cease displaying the tool data GUI when a distance between a screen position of a cursor and a screen position of the icon representing the tool is greater than or equal to a threshold value.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the tool data engine determines a transparency value for displaying the tool data GUI based on a distance between a screen position of a cursor and a screen position of the icon representing the tool.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the software application comprises a computer-aided design application or other graphical user interface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion of instructional information and second portion of instructional information are distributed across one or more databases.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating the first numeric relevance value based on a frequency with which the end-user views the third portion of instructional information immediately following viewing the second portion of instructional information.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating the first numeric relevance value based on a plurality of ratings received from a plurality of users, wherein the plurality of ratings are related to the second portion of instructional information and the third portion of instructional information.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving the first numeric relevance value from a relevance table, wherein the relevance table includes the first numeric relevance value and a second numeric relevance value that indicates a relevance of the second portion of instructional information relative to the third portion of instructional information.

12. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media including instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

receiving, from an end-user, an indication of a tool that is associated with a software application and is configured to allow data associated with the software application to be modified;

causing a display device to display a tool data graphical user interface (GUI) in response to the indication, wherein the tool data GUI includes a first portion of instructional information pertaining to usage of the tool and one or more GUI elements;

receiving from the end-user a selection of a first GUI element included in the tool data GUI;

updating the tool data GUI to display a second portion of instructional information comprising a first video clip illustrating a usage of the tool in response to the selection;

selecting a third portion of instructional information comprising a second video clip illustrating the usage of the tool, wherein selecting the third portion of instructional information is based on a first numeric relevance value that indicates a relevance of the third portion of instructional information relative to the second portion of instructional information;

selecting a fourth portion of instructional information comprising a third video clip illustrating the usage of the tool, wherein selecting the fourth portion of instructional information is based on a second numeric relevance value that indicates a relevance of the fourth portion of instructional information relative to the second portion of instructional information;

updating the tool data GUI to display, while displaying the second portion of instructional information in a first window;

a first thumbnail associated with the third portion of instructional information in a second window, and

a second thumbnail associated with the fourth portion of instructional information in the second window;

initiating playback of the second portion of instructional information; and

after completion of playback of the second portion of instructional information, updating the tool data GUI to;

remove the second portion of instructional information from the first window, and

display, in the first window, at least one of the third portion of instructional information and the fourth portion of instructional information.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 12, wherein the first portion of instructional information includes at least one of a textual description of the usage of the tool or one or more images illustrating usage of the tool.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 12, wherein a tool data engine causes the display device to display the tool data GUI within a software application GUI also displayed by the display device, and wherein the software application GUI includes an icon representing the tool.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the tool data engine causes the display device to display the tool data GUI when a distance between a screen position of a cursor and a screen position of the icon representing the tool is less than or equal to a threshold value.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the tool data engine causes the display device to cease displaying the tool data GUI when a distance between a screen position of a cursor and a screen position of the icon representing the tool is greater than or equal to a threshold value.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the tool data engine determines a transparency value for displaying the tool data GUI based on a distance between a screen position of a cursor and a screen position of the icon representing the tool.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 12, wherein the software application comprises a computer-aided design application or other graphical user interface.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 12, wherein the first portion of instructional information and second portion of instructional information are distributed across one or more databases.

20. A computing device for providing instructional information to an end-user of a software application executing on the computing device, the computing device comprising:

a memory storing the software application; and

a processor coupled to the memory that executes the software application to;

receive, from the end-user, an indication of a tool that is associated with the software application and is configured to allow data associated with the software application to be modified,

cause a display device to display a tool data graphical user interface (GUI) in response to the indication, wherein the tool data GUI includes a first portion of instructional information pertaining to usage of the tool and one or more GUI elements,

receive from the end-user a selection of a first GUI element included in the tool data GUI,

update the tool data GUI to display a second portion of instructional information comprising a first video clip illustrating a usage of the tool in response to the selection;

select a third portion of instructional information comprising a second video clip illustrating the usage of the tool, wherein selecting the third portion of instructional information is based on a first numeric relevance value that indicates a relevance of the third portion of instructional information relative to the second portion of instructional information;

select a fourth portion of instructional information comprising a third video clip illustrating the usage of the tool, wherein selecting the fourth portion of instructional information is based on a second numeric relevance value that indicates a relevance of the fourth portion of instructional information relative to the second portion of instructional information;

update the tool data GUI to display, while displaying the second portion of the instructional information in a first window;

a first thumbnail associated with the third portion of instructional information in a second window, and

a second thumbnail associated with the fourth portion of instructional information in the second window;

initiate playback of the second portion of the instructional information; and

after completion of playback of the second portion of instructional information, update the tool data GUI to;

remove the second portion of instructional information from the first window, and

display, in the first window, at least one of the third portion of instructional information and the fourth portion of instructional information.