Enhanced user assistance

• US 20060116979A1
• Filed: 12/01/2004
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Jung, Edward K.Y., Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 10,514,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and system distinct from an item that provides user assistance for the item.

Claims

1. An apparatus distinct from an item, the apparatus comprising:

a) an electronic device including a first user interface associatable with an aspect of the item, a second user interface, and a third user interface; and

b) instructions that when implemented in the electronic device cause the electronic device to;

(i) receive a selection corresponding to an aspect of the item through the first user interface;

(ii) receive a selection corresponding to an assistance request related to the aspect of the item through the second user interface; and

(iii) provide an assistance correlating to the assistance request related to the aspect of the item through the third user interface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first user interface includes an element of the electronic device in a first state, and the second user interface includes the element of the electronic device in a second state.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first user interface includes an element of the electronic device in a first state, the second user interface includes the element of the electronic device in a second state, and the third user interface includes the element of the electronic device in a third state.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the first user interface, the second user interface, and the third user interface includes an element of the electronic device in a first state, and another of the first user interface, the second user interface, and the third user interface include the element of the electronic device in a second state.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first user interface includes an element of the electronic device in a first mode and the second user interface includes the element of the electronic device in a second mode.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first user interface includes an element of the electronic device in a first mode, the second user interface includes the element of the electronic device in a second mode, and the third user interface includes the element of the electronic device in a third mode.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the first user interface, the second user interface, and the third user interface include an element of the electronic device in a first mode, and another of the first user interface, the second user interface, and the third user interface include the element of the electronic device in a second mode.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first user interface of the electronic device includes a first user interface of the electronic device associatable with the aspect of the item.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first user interface associatable with an item includes a first user interface removably associatable with an item.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first user interface includes a first user interface wirelessly couplable with the electronic device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first user interface includes a first user interface electrically couplable with the electronic device.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second user interface includes a second user interface wirelessly couplable with the electronic device.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second user interface includes a second user interface electrically couplable with the electronic device.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the item includes a premises.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the item includes a control system.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions further include:

(iv) search an assistance file for the assistance correlating to the assistance request.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions further include:

(iv) receive an input responsive to the provided assistance; and

(v) provide another assistance correlating to the received input responsive to the provided assistance.

18. An apparatus distinct from an item, the apparatus comprising:

a) first associatable means for receiving a selection corresponding to an aspect of the item;

b) second means for receiving a selection corresponding to an assistance request related to the aspect of the item; and

c) third means for providing an assistance correlating to the assistance request related to the aspect of the item.

19. A method for providing user assistance with an item, the method comprising:

a) receiving a selection corresponding to the item through a first user interface operably coupled to an electronic device and associated with the item, wherein the item is distinct from the electronic device;

b) receiving a selection corresponding to an assistance request related to the item through a second user interface operably coupled to the electronic device; and

c) providing an assistance correlating to the assistance request related to the item through a third user interface operably coupled to the electronic device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first user interface includes an element of the electronic device in a first state, and the second user interface includes the element of the electronic device in a second state.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the first user interface includes an element of the electronic device in a first state, the second user interface includes the element of the electronic device in a second state, and the third user interface includes the element of the electronic device in a third state.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein one of the first user interface, the second user interface, and the third user interface includes an element of the electronic device in a first state, and another of the first user interface, the second user interface, and the third user interface include the element of the electronic device in a second state.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the first user interface includes an element of the electronic device in a first mode and the second user interface includes the element of the electronic device in a second mode.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the first user interface includes an element of the electronic device in a first mode, the second user interface includes the element of the electronic device in a second mode, and the third user interface includes the element of the electronic device in a third mode.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein one of the first user interface, the second user interface, and the third user interface include an element of the electronic device in a first mode, and another of the first user interface, the second user interface, and the third user interface include the element of the electronic device in a second mode.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the receiving a selection through a first user interface associated with the item includes a receiving a selection through a first user interface associated with an aspect of the item.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the receiving a selection through a first user interface associated with the item includes a receiving a selection through a first user interface removably associated with the item.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein the receiving a selection corresponding to an item through a first user interface includes a receiving a selection corresponding to an aspect of an item through a first user interface.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the receiving a selection corresponding to an aspect of an item through a first user interface includes a receiving a selection corresponding to an aspect of an item through a first user interface associated with the aspect.

30. The method of claim 19, wherein the receiving a selection corresponding to an item through a first user interface includes a detecting a touch to the first user interface.

31. The method of claim 19, wherein the receiving a selection corresponding to an item through a first user interface includes detecting a sound through the first user interface.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the detecting a sound includes detecting a spoken word.

33. The method of claim 19, wherein the receiving a selection corresponding to an assistance request through a second user interface includes detecting a touch to the second user interface.

34. The method of claim 19, wherein the receiving a selection corresponding to an assistance request through a second user interface associated with the item includes a receiving a selection corresponding to an assistance request through a second user interface associated with the item.

35. The method of claim 19, wherein the receiving a selection corresponding to an assistance request related to the item through a second user interface includes receiving a selection corresponding to a predetermined assistance request related to the item through a second user interface.

36. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

d) searching an assistance file for the assistance correlating to the assistance request.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the searching the assistance file includes searching an assistance file stored in an association with the electronic device.

38. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

d) sensing a context of the item and wherein the providing an assistance correlating to the query includes providing an assistance correlating to the query and the sensed context of the item.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the sensing a context of the item includes sensing a context extrinsic to the item.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the sensing a context of the item includes sensing an environment extrinsic to the item.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the sensing a context of the item includes sensing a context intrinsic to the item.

42. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

d) receiving an input responsive to the provided assistance.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the input responsive to the provided assistance includes a request for an additional assistance correlating to the provided assistance.

44. The method of claim 42, further comprising:

e) providing another assistance correlating to the received input responsive to the provided assistance.

45. A computer-readable medium product for providing assistance with an item, the computer-readable medium product having computer-executable instructions comprising:

a) receive a selection corresponding to the item through a first user interface operably coupled to an electronic device and associatable with the item, wherein the item is distinct from the electronic device;

b) receive a selection corresponding to an assistance request related to the item through a second user interface operably coupled to the electronic device; and

c) provide an assistance correlating to the assistance request related to the item through a third user interface operably coupled to the electronic device.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 45, wherein the computer-readable medium product includes a computer storage medium product.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 46, wherein the computer storage medium product is carried by a computer-readable carrier.

48. The computer-readable medium of claim 45, wherein the computer-readable medium product includes a communications medium product.

49. A method of providing a tutorial for an item, the method comprising:

a) activating a help mode in an electronic device distinct from the item;

b) receiving a user selection corresponding to an aspect of the item through a first receiving portion of the electronic device associated with the aspect;

c) receiving a user selection corresponding to a tutorial request through a second receiving portion of the electronic device; and

d) broadcasting a tutorial correlating with the tutorial request that includes information related to the selected aspect of the item through an indicator portion of the electronic device.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the first receiving portion of the electronic device includes an element of the electronic device in a first state and the second receiving portion of the electronic device includes the element of the electronic device in a second state.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the first receiving portion of the electronic device includes an element of the electronic device in a first mode and the second receiving portion of the electronic device includes the element of the electronic device in a second mode.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein the receiving a user selection through a first receiving portion of the electronic device associated with the aspect includes receiving a user selection through a first receiving portion of the electronic device removably associated with the aspect.

53. The method of claim 49, wherein the first receiving portion of the electronic device and the second receiving portion of the electronic device are at least substantially a same portion of the electronic device.

54. An apparatus distinct from an item and providing a tutorial for the item, the apparatus comprising:

a) an electronic device including a first receiver portion associatable with an aspect of an item, a second receiver portion, and an indicator portion; and

b) instructions that when implemented in the electronic device cause the electronic device to;

(i) receive a user selection of the aspect of the item through the first receiving portion;

(ii) receive a user selection corresponding to a tutorial request through a second receiving portion of the electronic device; and

(iii) broadcast a tutorial that includes information related to the selected aspect of the item through the indicator portion.