Interactive online tutorial system with user assistance function for software products

• US 5,442,759 A
• Filed: 12/09/1993
• Issued: 08/15/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: McBride, Kevin M., Chiang, Alice, Yee, Calvin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell, Robert B.
• Application Number:
  US08/164,485
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 434/118, 434/323, 434/18, 434/337, 434/156, 434/157, 434/332, 364/157, 364/156, 364/DIG. 1 MS File, 364/DIG. 2 MS File, 364/, 395/500, 395/375, 395/155, 395/156, 395/157, 395/159, 395/160, 395/161
• US Class Current: 705/326
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/205 Education administration or guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0053 Computers, e.g. programming
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation

Abstract

An interactive online tutorial system is disclosed for providing instruction in the use of a software product operating on a data processing device. The data processing device including an instruction processing unit or CPU, a data storage resource, an input system for receiving input from a user via a mouse or keyboard, and an output system for generating output images on a video display. The tutorial system includes a first display control for generating a tutorial window in a first portion of the video display. A second display control is provided for generating a product window in a second portion of the video display. A tutorial presentation system selectively generate a plurality of tutorial text panels in response to input from the input system. The tutorial text panels include one or more lesson panels and one or more step panels associated with each lesson panel. A tutorial panel linking system links the lesson panels through a series of sequential links and links the lesson panels and their associated step panels through a series of hierarchical links. A series of tutorial panel selectors are provided for selectively activating from a lesson or step panel a link to another lesson or step panel in order to display the linked panel.

Claims

1. An interactive online tutorial system for providing information in the use of a non-simulation software product operating [separately but]concurrently on a digital processing apparatus with said tutorial system, said software product and said tutorial system operating running as separate executable application file processes, said software product generating a product display window with user interface controls therein, the digital processing apparatus including an instruction processing unit, a data storage resource, an input system for receiving data input from a user, and an output system including a video display for providing data output to a user, said tutorial system comprising:

display control means for generating a tutorial display window in a first portion of said video display for displaying tutorial lesson information generated by said tutorial system;

software product control means for controlling said product display window to appear in a second portion of said video display for displaying said user interface controls generated by said software product;

information presentation means for presenting tutorial lesson information in said tutorial display window, said tutorial lesson information including descriptions of user input lesson actions required for operation of said software product displayed in said product window, said tutorial lesson information being arranged in a hierarchy of lesson, step and action levels;

tutorial assistance means for sending messages to said software product to manipulate said user interface controls and drive said software product to respond as if a user had performed said user input lesson actions specified in said tutorial lesson information, said tutorial assistance means including a lesson control table containing action command statements corresponding to said messages;

first assistance request means for activating said user assistance means in response to a user request for assistance, said assistance request means including selection means for requesting assistance for a selected one of said lesson, step and action levels of said tutorial lesson information;

second assistance request means including a graphical display button for activating said user assistance means in response to said user request for assistance, said second assistance request means including means for displaying said graphical display button upon an erroneous input action being taken by a user.

2. An interactive online tutorial system product operable in conjunction with a digital processing apparatus in a first multi-tasking session for providing instruction in the use of a non-simulation software product operating in a separate but concurrently executing second multi-tasking session on said [a]digital processing apparatus in conjunction with said tutorial system product, said software product generating a product display window with user interface controls therein, said digital processing apparatus including an instruction processing unit, a data storage resource, an input system for receiving input from a user, an output system including a video display for providing data output to said user, and a multi-tasking operating system which concurrently operates one or more multi-tasking sessions and communicates user input actions from said input system via messages to said multi-tasking sessions installed and running under said operating system, said tutorial system comprising:

a data storage medium operable in conjunction with said digital processing apparatus;

display control means encoded on said medium for generating a tutorial display window in a first portion of said video display for displaying tutorial lesson information generated by said tutorial system;

software product control means encoded on said medium for controlling said product display window to appear in a second portion of said video display for displaying said user interface controls generated by said software product;

information presentation means encoded on said medium for presenting said tutorial lesson information in said tutorial display window, said tutorial lesson information including descriptions of user input lesson actions required for operation of said software product displayed in said product window;

tutorial assistance means encoded on said medium for sending operating system messages to said software product to manipulate said user interface controls and drive said software product to respond as if a user had performed said user input lesson actions specified in said tutorial lesson information; and

assistance request means encoded on said medium for activating said user assistance means in response to a user request for assistance, said assistance request means including selection means for requesting assistance for a selected number of said user input lesson actions described in said tutorial lesson information.

3. The tutorial system of claim 2 wherein said tutorial assistance means includes a lesson control table containing command action statements corresponding to said user input actions set forth in said tutorial lesson information.

4. The tutorial system of claim 3 wherein said tutorial assistance means includes message means for generating operating system messages from lesson actions described by command, product interface identifiers and data.

5. The tutorial system of claim 4 wherein said conversion means includes locating means for locating positions in said product window where input is required by said software product, and wherein said conversion means incorporates position information determined by said locating means in said product control actions.

6. The tutorial system of claim 2 wherein said tutorial lesson information is presented in predetermined levels of information and said assistance request means includes selection means for requesting assistance at selected levels of said tutorial lesson information.

7. The tutorial system of claim 2 wherein said tutorial lesson information is presented as a hierarchy of lesson, step and action levels, and said assistance request means includes selection means for requesting assistance at a selected one of said levels of said tutorial information.

8. The tutorial system of claim 2 wherein said assistance request means include hypertext or hypergraphic link elements displayed in said tutorial lesson information for requesting assistance for selected tutorial lesson information.

9. The tutorial system of claim 2 wherein said tutorial lesson information is displayed as a series of text panels and wherein said assistance request means includes hypertext or hypergraphic link elements displayed in said tutorial text panels for requesting assistance for tutorial lesson information contained in said tutorial text panels.

10. The tutorial system of claim 2 wherein said tutorial information is presented in predetermined levels of information and said assistance request means includes input action elements displayed in a pull-down menu corresponding to levels of said tutorial lesson information.

11. The tutorial system of claim 2 further including mouse simulation means for simulating movement of a mouse pointer icon in said product display window before sending said operating system messages to said software product.

12. An interactive online tutorial method for providing instruction in the use of a non-simulation software product operating on a digital processing apparatus as an executable multi-tasking process, said software product generating a product display window with user interface controls therein, the digital processing apparatus including an instruction processing unit, a data storage resource, an input system for receiving data input from a user, and an output system including a video display for providing data output to a user, said tutorial method comprising the steps of:

generating a tutorial display window in a first portion of said video display for displaying tutorial lesson information generated by a tutorial software program operating on said digital processing apparatus separately but concurrently with said software product as an executable multi-tasking process;

controlling said product display window to appear in a second portion of said video display for displaying said user interface controls generated by said software product;

presenting tutorial lesson information in said tutorial display window, said tutorial lesson information including descriptions of user input lesson actions required for operation of said software product displayed in said product window; and

in response to a user request for assistance, providing user assistance by sending messages to said software product to manipulate said user interface controls and drive said software product to respond as if a user had performed a selected number of said user input lesson actions described in said tutorial lesson information.

13. The tutorial method of claim 12 further including the step of providing a lesson control table containing command action statements corresponding to user input actions set forth in said tutorial lesson information.

14. The tutorial method of claim 13 further including the step of generating said messages from said command action statements in response to a request for assistance.

15. The tutorial method of claim 14 further including the step of locating positions in said product window where input is required by said software product, and incorporating position information determined by said locating means in said product control actions.

16. The tutorial method of claim 12 further including the steps of presenting tutorial lesson information in predetermined levels of information and providing assistance at selected levels of said tutorial lesson information.

17. The tutorial method of claim 12 further including the steps of presenting said tutorial lesson information as a hierarchy of lesson, step and action levels, and providing assistance at a selected one of said levels of said tutorial information.

18. The tutorial method of claim 12 further including the step of providing hypertext or hypergraphic link elements in said tutorial lesson information for requesting assistance for a selected tutorial lesson information.

19. The tutorial method of claim 12 further including the step of displaying said tutorial lesson information as a series of text panels and providing hypertext or hypergraphic link elements in said tutorial text panels for requesting assistance for said tutorial lesson information contained in said tutorial text panels.

20. The tutorial method of claim 12 further including the step of presenting said tutorial lesson information in predetermined levels of information and displaying input action elements in a pull-down menu corresponding to levels of said tutorial lesson information.

21. The tutorial method of claim 12 further including the step of simulating movement of a mouse pointer icon in said product display window before sending said messages to said software product.