Predictive, adaptive computer interface

• US 5,726,688 A
• Filed: 09/29/1995
• Issued: 03/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Siefert, David M., McCollum, Tab A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US08/536,506
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 395/352, 395/353, 395/354, 395/356, 395/357, 345/352, 345/353, 345/354, 345/356, 345/357, 345/358
• US Class Current: 715/821
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

A predictive, adaptive interface for a computer, wherein a user'"'"'s interaction with the computer is monitored, and future interactions are predicted, based on previous interactions. The invention adapts the interface to the user'"'"'s preferences, using the predictions. For example, if a particular user repeatedly selects one option from a given menu, the invention detects this repeated selection, and adapts to the user'"'"'s selection by eliminating other options from the menu.

Claims

1. In a computer, the improvement comprising the following steps:

a) presenting a first interface to a user, which contains options which the user may select;

b) ascertaining when the user attains a predetermined amount of experience with the interface, and then presenting a second interface to the user, which contains additional options;

c) identifying the most-selected option in the first interface;

d) proposing the most-selected option to the user; and

e) providing means for the user to accept the proposed option for automatic execution.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the emphasized options appear in the first interface.

2. In a computer, the improvement comprising:

a) means for generating an interface, which presents options to the user;

b) means for identifying the most-selected option;

c) means for

i) proposing the most-selected option to the user, and

ii) allowing the user to accept the most-selected option for automatic execution.

3. In a computer system, which services a plurality of users, in which each user navigates through a decision tree, which comprises decision nodes at which one or more options are chosen, the improvement comprising the following steps:

a) for respective nodes, maintaining data which indicates preferred options, expected to be chosen at those nodes;

b) when the user reaches a node,

i) proposing the most-preferred option for that node to the user for automatic execution, and

ii) displaying an option to the user which allows the user to see a menu containing all options available for that node.

4. System according to claim 3, in which said data is derived by monitoring previous selections of options by one or more users.