The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 29, 2019
Filed:
Dec. 16, 2015
Business Objects Software Limited, Dublin, IE;
Alfred Fung, Burnaby, CA;
Sean McGregor, Vancouver, CA;
Brian McConville, Vancouver, CA;
Xing Jin, Vancouver, CA;
Trevor Dubinsky, Surrey, CA;
Philip Leung, Richmond, CA;
Ariel Kahana, North Vancouver, CA;
Stephen Paxian, New Westminster, CA;
Business Objects Software LTD, Dublin, IE;
Abstract
Software program 'help' functionality includes features enhancing its relevance to users. An engine may receive/record context data arising from interactions between a user and the software program. The engine may process that context data to reference a plurality of sources (e.g., official help documentation, user blogs, partner web sites, etc.) and harvest relevant help information. Based upon stored context data and help information available from the plurality of sources, certain embodiments may generate suggested questions allowing further exploration of help issues. Some embodiments may offer help information in the form of an interactive 'hotspot' focusing upon a specific UI element (e.g., icon). Processing the context data may allow the engine to assign a particular skill level (e.g., novice/intermediate/expert) to individual users, tailoring the help information to that skill level. The interactive nature of the help functionality may enhance its use in conjunction with complex workflows encountered in many software programs.