International Business Machines Corporation

Gregory Lee Dunlap

Bernice E Casey

George E Corbin

Jose R Castano

Sammy L Rockwell

Kevin L Godbey

Stephen Richard Nichols

Margaret Croft Enichen

Deborah Anne Totten Larnerd

Peter David Pagerey

James Andrew Morrell

User Assistants are software programs that prompt the customer for information about user's current system by examining system files and other sources of data; store information about the user in a repository for later retrieval or for access by other assistants; present customized instructions to the user on actions to take to complete planning, configuration, and management tasks; perform actions on behalf of the user (e.g., run programs, send e-mail requests, ship order forms) and track the user's progress through planning, configuration, and management tasks. The present invention provides customized output to support the implementation of a User Assistant. This output may be documentation, instructional steps, programs, or parameter files. This output is produced by combining product data, user input, and product rules.

Method for providing automated user assistance customized output in the planning, configuration, and management of information systems

User Assistants are software programs that prompt the customer for information about user's current system by examining system files and other sources of data; store information about the user in a repository for later retrieval or for access by other assistants; present customized instructions to the user on actions to take to complete planning, configuration, and management tasks; perform actions on behalf of the user (e.g., run programs, send e-mail requests, ship order forms) and track the user's progress through planning, configuration, and management tasks. The present invention provides customized output to support the implementation of a User Assistant. This output may be documentation, instructional steps, programs, or parameter files. This output is produced by combining product data, user input, and product rules. The current invention allows for cross-product dependencies to be included in the product rules and, thus, embodied in the customized procedures.

Method and an apparatus for providing cross product automated user assistance in the planning, configuration, and management of information systems

A method and system for providing a user interface in a data processing system to be utilized for performing a plurality of tasks on a plurality of diverse central processing complexes, wherein processes utilized to perform the plurality of tasks are transparent to a user, and wherein the user interface utilized to perform the plurality of tasks is common across diverse central processor complexes. A library containing interface parameters for each central processing complex is established. The interface parameters include information necessary to tailor the user interface for the specific target central processing complex, as well as processes for performing selected tasks within each of the central processing complexes. The user is prompted to select a task for at least one of the diverse central processing complexes. At least one interface parameter from the library of interface parameters is selected in response to the user selecting a task for at least one of the diverse central processing complexes. The selected task is then performed, utilizing the interface parameter or parameters to execute processes for performing the selected task within a selected one of the diverse central processing complexes. As a result, the user interface allows the user to transparently execute processes utilized to perform a task on a central processing complex.

Method and system for providing a common hardware system console interface in data processing systems

A support computer controls operation of a data processing computer, the support computer includes: a video display monitor, an input device for making selections from video display monitor, and a processor. A first program runs on the processor for displaying a display screen on the monitor. The display screen includes an identification of the data processing computer or a component thereof, a status field, and a plurality of action selection categories including an action selection category used to operate the data processing computer. The first program is responsive to a selection of the action selection category to operate the data processing computer, for displaying a pull down of action functions within the action selection category. A second program runs on the processor and reads a selection made via the input device from the action selection category to activate the data processing computer and generates an activate signal. An activation program runs on the processor and directs activation of the data processing computer in response to receipt of the activate signal. A third program runs on the processor for updating the status of the data processing computer after the data processing computer is activated.

Method for operating and displaying status of a computer system

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Poughkeepsie, NY, United States of America

Gregory Lee Dunlap