Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Application help functionality including suggested search
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Application No.: US14971508Application Date: 2015-12-16
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Publication No.: US10459745B2Publication Date: 2019-10-29
- Inventor: Alfred Fung , Sean McGregor , Brian McConville , Xing Jin , Trevor Dubinsky , Philip Leung , Ariel Kahana , Stephen Paxian
- Applicant: Business Objects Software Limited
- Applicant Address: IE Dublin
- Assignee: Business Objects Software LTD
- Current Assignee: Business Objects Software LTD
- Current Assignee Address: IE Dublin
- Agency: Fountainhead Law Group P.C.
- Main IPC: G06F9/451
- IPC: G06F9/451 ; G06F16/33 ; G06F3/048 ; G06F3/0482 ; G06F16/332

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.
Public/Granted literature
- US20170177386A1 Application Help Functionality Including Suggested Search Public/Granted day:2017-06-22
Information query