Patents by Inventor Brian McConville

Brian McConville has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10459744
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Business Objects Software LTD
    Inventors: Alfred Fung, Sean McGregor, Brian McConville, Xing Jin, Trevor Dubinsky, Philip Leung, Ariel Kahana, Stephen Paxian
  • Patent number: 10459745
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Business Objects Software LTD
    Inventors: Alfred Fung, Sean McGregor, Brian McConville, Xing Jin, Trevor Dubinsky, Philip Leung, Ariel Kahana, Stephen Paxian
  • Publication number: 20170177386
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Alfred Fung, Sean McGregor, Brian McConville, Xing Jin, Trevor Dubinsky, Philip Leung, Ariel Kahana, Stephen Paxian
  • Publication number: 20170177385
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Alfred Fung, Sean McGregor, Brian McConville, Xing Jin, Trevor Dubinsky, Philip Leung, Ariel Kahana, Stephen Paxian