Trevor Dubinsky

Title: Trevor Dubinsky: Inventor of Context-Aware Software Help

Introduction

Trevor Dubinsky is an inventor associated with Surrey, Canada, and Business Objects Software Limited. His patent work focuses on making software help more relevant and interactive by adapting guidance to users’ actions and needs. He is credited with 2 patents.

Latest Patents

Dubinsky’s listed patents address related approaches to improving application help functionality.

“Interactive Hotspot Highlighting User Interface Element” describes a system that records context from a user’s interactions with a software program and uses it to find relevant guidance across sources such as official documentation, user blogs, and partner websites. The system can present help through an interactive hotspot focused on a particular interface element, such as an icon. It may also suggest follow-up questions and tailor guidance to an estimated skill level, such as novice, intermediate, or expert.

“Application Help Functionality Including Suggested Search” similarly uses interaction context to identify relevant help information from multiple sources. It can generate suggested questions to help users explore an issue and provide guidance through interface-focused hotspots. By adapting assistance to users’ skill levels and workflows, the approach aims to make help more useful within complex software applications.

Career Highlights

The available information associates Dubinsky’s patent activity with Business Objects Software Limited. His listed inventions center on contextual, skill-aware assistance that connects software users with relevant guidance while they work.

Collaborations

Sean McGregor and Philip Leung are identified as Dubinsky’s coworkers. The available details do not specify their roles in the listed patents.

Conclusion

Trevor Dubinsky’s two listed patents explore ways to make software help more contextual, interactive, and responsive to users’ experience and tasks.