Persistent usage context
A system and method for generating a persistent usage context is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a method of generating a persistent usage context includes monitoring usage of an information handling system and generating a first representation corresponding to a first item of usage and a second representation corresponding to at least one of the first item of usage and a second item of usage. The first representation and second representation are communicated so as to communicate an association of the first representation to the second representation and to enable a determination of at least one of the prior usage and current usage of an information handling system.
The present invention generally relates to the field of monitoring and access of the utilization of programs and devices as pertaining to information handling systems, and particularly to the use, manipulation, and access of representations of prior and current usage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONToday, users of information handling systems have access to a wide range of resources. For example, faster processors and expanded memory enable a user to operate more than one program at a time, as well as connect an increasingly greater variety of devices to the information handling system, such as printers, modems, touch pads, write pads, voice recognition devices, satellite information, network access, etc. The variety and sheer number of available devices and resources connected to even one system may make tracking the performance and utilization of these resources near impossible, especially if the system is connected to a network. A user operating a typical information handling system may generally determine which programs are currently operating, but may not determine how they are operating, which tasks are being performed, or the utilization by the program of devices connected to the system. Additionally, a user may not have a clear idea of the past usage of the system. Errors may occur as a result of a downloaded document, incomplete installation, or malfunctioning device. Without the ability to view past usage and the association of various programs utilized, a user must merely guess at the cause of the problem.
In some instances even when the past usage of a resource is stored, the user may not determine the association of the resources. For example, a web browser may save accessed web sites saved in a history section displayed in alphabetical order relating to a specified unit of time. These saved histories are capable of accessing the previous item stored on the system or connecting through an active connection to access the resource, such as a web page. However, even though the relationship of a web page may be displayed as it pertains to the specific site, the association of the web pages to each other may not be shown. For instance, a user may determine that a particular site was accessed during a particular time and that a particular page is a component of a particular site, but the user may not determine the association of the sites with each other, such as the order the sites were accessed, the organization structure of the sites, how the sites were accessed, etc. Secondly, a user may not apply this information to other actions taken on an information handling system, such as the utilization of devices, programs, etc.
Furthermore, current usage of a system is typically stored in a chronological fashion. For example, sites visited by a user during a browsing session are typically listed in the order accessed. If a user accesses an initial site, then a second site, and then accesses the initial site again, the history is shown as initial site, second site, initial site. In other instances, a history of the current browsing session may merely show repeated accessing of the main site, even though pages within the site were accessed. Therefore, it may be advantageous to show prior access of resources and utilization of an information handling system by a user in organizational scheme so the association of the resources, devices, etc. may be communicated.
Additionally, users of current web browsers aid operating systems may utilize navigation controls to navigate through sites and windows that were previously accessed by the user. However, once a user exits the program or terminates the system, this data is lost. For example, a user must then either try to remember the address to the desired site or save desired sites and pages as a “bookmark” or on a list of “favorites” to access the site after termination of the browsing session. Therefore, it may be advantageous to save navigation histories so as to be accessed later by a user to enable the utilization of the navigation history by the navigation functions included in the information handling system.
Therefore there is a need for a system and method for persistent usage context of an information handling system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a system and method for generating a persistent usage context. In an exemplary embodiment, a method of generating a persistent usage context includes monitoring usage of an information handling system and generating a first representation corresponding to a first item of usage and a second representation corresponding to at least one of the first item of usage and a second item of usage. The first representation and second representation are communicated so as to communicate an association of the first representation to the second representation and to enable a determination of at least one of the prior usage and current usage of an information handling system.
In another exemplary embodiment, a user may determine the current and prior usage of an information handling system both locally on the information handling system and over a network as well as determine the utilization of a plurality of information handling systems. By utilizing representations depicting current and prior items of usage, such as the operation of a word processor, spread sheet, email, device, etc., a user may view activities performed on the system as well as the association of the activities. In this manner, a user may determine which programs are currently operating, which tasks are being performed, and the utilization by the program of devices connected to the system. This may also enable a user to determine the source of problems which occurred on the system by viewing a usage history of tasks and actions performed by the system. Furthermore, in another embodiment a user may access information and actual tasks and programs utilized by the system by utilizing the representation.
In a further exemplary embodiment, representations may be displayed in an organizational scheme. In one example, representations depicting the usage history of an information handling system may be communicated so as to disclose the association of the resources as utilized by the user.
In an additional exemplary embodiment, the present invention is directed to a system and method wherein a persistent usage context, for instance navigation in a web browsing session, operating system, etc. may be stored. The method of generating a persistent usage context includes monitoring the navigation of a resource during a first navigation session to obtain navigation data and storing navigation data pertaining to the first navigation session. Then, the method involves initiating a second navigation session of at least one of the first resource and a second resource and loading stored data in at least one of the first resource and the second resource so as to enable the utilization of stored first navigation data during the second navigation session. For example, this may enable a user to store web browsing contexts for later use even after the web browsing session has terminated. In a preferred embodiment, saved usage contexts may be stored and selectively accessed on a user's information handling system. In another embodiment, the persistent usage context may act to load previously accessed sites into a user's web browser to enable the user to utilize the forward and backyard buttons as if the web session were still active.
It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe numerous advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Referring generally now to
Referring now to
A detailed description area 150 may be included to communicate present and historical usage information. In an exemplary embodiment, the detailed description area 150 may include an association depicted as a line of representations 152 for each instance of utilization of a resource, such as a word processor, email program, etc. Furthermore, associations including multiple representation lines 152 may be displayed for communicating information regarding the utilization of multiple resources by an information handling system, network of information handling systems, etc. A representation 154 may be displayed for individual resources or media pieces, such as documents generated from a word processor, spread sheets, email messages, etc. A selector control 156 may be utilized to allow a user to choose a particular time. For example, a selector control 156 may slide Lip and down a window 110 to allow a user to select the full viewing context as it existed at that time. Additionally, a default load control 158 may be utilized to set the default load, such as live or stored. For example, a user may access a live version of the utilization, such as a web page over the Internet or a stored version contained on the user's system. In a preferred embodiment, a user moving a cursor over a representation 160 may access a view of the usage. For example, a user moving a cursor over a representation 160 of a web page may view a thumbnail picture 162 of the page and controls 164 to allow opening of the page from a live or stored source. Additionally, it may be preferable to utilize indicators to signify if a resource is available 166 or not available 168. Indicators may include displaying an “A” if available and an “N/A” if not available, using colored dots such as green for available and red for not available, etc.
An exemplary method for the utilization of the present invention as shown in
Referring now to
As shown in
The persistent usage context may also be utilized to communicate the status and time required for an action performed by an information handling system, as shown in
A persistent usage context may also be utilized to communicate usage of devices, as shown in
A variety of menus may be utilized by the present invention to enable a user to access functions that may prove useful in the framework of a persistent usage context. One such function may be incorporated in the view menu, an example of which is shown in
An additional menu that may be utilized in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is the edit menu. As shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
An additional exemplary embodiment of a properties window included in a persistent usage context is shown in
Representations may be generated to indicate an item of usage and the source of the item of usage to which it pertains, examples of which are shown in
Additionally, representations of actions and processes 1030 may be generated to indicate performance of a task by the item of usage. For example, representations may be used to indicate the progress of a task, such as when an action starts 1032 and stops 1034. Additional examples include representations depicting when a device is added 1036, a brief process being performed 1038, sending or transmitting data 1040, receiving data 1042, viewing an item of usage 1044, editing an item of usage 1046, installing software 1048, etc. to show actions performed by an item of usage. Furthermore, the availability of the item of usage 1050 may be indicated by the use of a representation. For example, the availability of a web page from a stored source on an information handling system or a live connection over a network may be indicated with a representation showing availability, such as an “A” 1052 or a green dot, or showing that the item of usage is not available, such as an “N/A” 1054 or a red dot. Additionally, if the source of the item of usage is stored on an information handling system, server, etc. a stored copy representation may be utilized 1056. Likewise, representations for devices 1070 may be utilized by the present invention to indicate the usage of a device in conjunction with an item of usage, such as printing a document from a word processor, or items of usage pertaining to the device itself. For example, a server 1072, computer 1074, printer 1076, compact disk read only memory (CD ROM) 1078, floppy disk drive 1080, hard drive 1082, television 1084, satellite system 1086, video cassette recorder 1088, modem 1090, etc. may be represented to indicate usage of a device and how that usage is associated with available resources.
Representations may be combined to further indicate the performance of an item of usage. As shown in
Furthermore, representations may be combined to form an additional representation to comprehensively represent an item of usage, as shown in
There are a variety of display options for a persistent usage context of the present invention. For instance, usage may be communicated through the use of representations organized in a spatial relation-mapping scheme that would illustrate the course of usage both two dimensionally and three dimensionally. Additionally, levels of display may be utilized so as to enable a user to choose a high level overall view or more detailed views as the situation warrants. In one embodiment, a high level display may depict a great volume of an organizational map but each representation of an item of usage may have little detailed information. Referring now to
The direction of arrows may also be utilized to indicate the progression of the utilization of a system and the association of the representations. For example, a user accessing a home page 1326 may choose to access a link contained in the home page 1326 to advance to another page 1328. Therefore an arrow depicting the order of access may be used. Additionally a user may wish to access a link contained in one site 1328 so as to access another site 1330 and return to the original site. Therefore a double sided arrow may be utilized to show both accessing another site 1332 and returning to the originating site 1328. Furthermore, a user may return to a site previously accessed. For example, a user may access a home site 1326, access another page contained in the site 1328, go to yet another page 1334 linked to the site 1328, and then return to the home page 1326. Therefore, this usage may be shown as a loop in an organization map which would more completely show the associations of the sites than over a traditional chronological map.
Additionally, in an additional embodiment of the present invention, a user may obtain detailed information regarding a representation and corresponding item of usage even in a high level organizational map. Referring again to
Referring now to
Referring now to
A Web browser format may also be utilized to access both live and stored past usage, an example of which is shown in
Referring now to
In one embodiment, PCI bus 1720 provides a 32-bit-wide data path that runs at 33 MHZ. In another embodiment, PCI bus 1720 provides a 64-bit-wide data path that runs at 33 MHZ. In yet other embodiments, PCI bus 1720 provides 32-bit-wide or 64-bit-wide data paths that runs at higher speeds. In one embodiment, PCI bus 1720 provides connectivity to I/O bridge 1722, graphics controller 1727, and one or more PCI connectors 1721, each of which accepts a standard PCI card. In one embodiment, I/O bridge 1722 and graphics controller 1727 are each integrated on the motherboard along with system controller 1712, in order to avoid a board-connector-board signal-crossing interface and thus provide better speed and reliability. In the embodiment shown, graphics controller 1727 is coupled to a video memory 1728 (that includes memory such as DRAM, EDO DRAM, SDRAM, or VRAM (Video Random-Access Memory)), and drives VGA (Video Graphics Adaptor) port 1729. VGA port 1729 can connect to VGA-type or SVGA (Super VGA)-type displays. Other input/output (I/O) cards having a PCI interface can be plugged into PCI connectors 1721.
In one embodiment, I/O bridge 1722 is a chip that provides connection and control to one or more independent IDE connectors 1724-1725, to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port 1726, and to ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) bus 1730. In this embodiment, IDE connector 1724 provides connectivity for up to two standard IDE-type devices such as hard disk drives, CDROM (Compact Disk-Read-Only Memory) drives, DVD (Digital Video Disk) drives, or TBU (Tape-Backup Unit) devices. In one similar embodiment, two IDE connectors 1724 are provided, and each provide the EIDE (Enhanced IDE) architecture. In the embodiment shown, SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) connector 1725 provides connectivity for up to seven or fifteen SCSI-type devices (depending on the version of SCSI supported by the embodiment). In one embodiment, I/O bridge 1722 provides ISA bus 1730 having one or more ISA connectors 1731 (in one embodiment, three connectors are provided). In one embodiment, ISA bus 1030 is coupled to I/O controller 1752, which in turn provides connections to two serial ports 1754 and 1755, parallel port 1756, and FDD (Floppy-Disk Drive) connector 1757. In one embodiment, FDD connector 1757 is connected to FDD 1758 that receives removable media (floppy diskette) 1759 on which is stored data and/or program code 1760. In one such embodiment, program code 1760 includes code that controls programmable system 1700 to perform the method described below. In another such embodiment, serial port 1754 is connectable to a computer network such as the Internet, and such network has program code 1760 that controls programmable system 1700 to perform the method described below. In one embodiment, ISA bus 1730 is connected to buffer 1732, which is connected to X bus 1740, which provides connections to real-time clock 1742, keyboard/mouse controller 1744 and keyboard BIOS ROM (Basic Input/Output System Read-Only Memory) 1045, and to system BIOS ROM 1746.
In one embodiment, I/O bridge 1722 is a chip that provides connection and control to one or more independent IDE connectors 1724-1725, to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port 1726, and to ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) bus 1730. In this embodiment, IDE connector 1724 provides connectivity for up to two standard IDE-type devices such as hard disk drives or CDROM (Compact Disk-Read-Only Memory) drives, and similarly IDE connector 1725 provides connectivity for up to two IDE-type devices. In one such embodiment, IDE connectors 1724 and 1725 each provide the EIDE (Enhanced IDE) architecture. In one embodiment, I/O bridge 1722 provides ISA bus 1730 having one or more ISA connectors 1731 (in one embodiment, three connectors are provided). In one embodiment, ISA bus 1730 is coupled to I/O controller 1752, which in turn provides connections to two serial ports 1754 and 1755, parallel port 1756, and FDD (Floppy-Disk Drive) connector 1757. In one embodiment, ISA bus 1730 is connected to buffer 1732, which is connected to X bus 1740, which provides connections to real-time clock 1742, keyboard/mouse controller 1744 and keyboard BIOS ROM (Basic Input/Output System Read-Only Memory) 1745, and to system BIOS ROM 1746.
Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it should be recognized that elements thereof may be altered by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. One of the embodiments of the invention can be implemented as sets of instructions resident in the main memory 1716 of one or more information handling systems configured generally as described in
It is believed that the persistent usage context of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the forgoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.
Claims
1. A method of generating a persistent usage context, comprising:
- monitoring usage of an information handling system;
- generating a first representation corresponding to a first item of usage;
- generating a second representation corresponding to a second item of usage;
- communicating an association of the first representation to the second representation so as to enable a determination of at least one of prior usage and current usage of an information handling system.
2. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising storing the first representation and second representation.
3. The method as described in claim 2, wherein at least one of the first stored representation and second representation may be accessed after termination of at least one of the first item of usage and the second item of usage.
4. The method as described in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first representation and second representation is capable of accessing at least one of a first item of usage and second item of usage.
5. The method as described in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first representation and second representation is interactive with at least one of the first item of usage and the second item of usage.
6. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the first representation includes as a part thereof the second representation.
7. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the association includes at least one of chronological mapping, organization scheme, spatial relationship, shared usage, and term of usage.
8. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising the step of searching data relating to at least one of the first representation and second representation.
9. The method as described in claim 8, wherein the search is performed by at least one of type, topic, size, time taken for usage, time usage performed, user defined criteria, and name.
10. The method as described in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first item of usage and second item of usage includes at least one of browsing the World Wide Web, printing, scanning for viruses, word processing, utilizing spreadsheets, utilizing a database, enabling an operating system, accessing a network, network applications, graphics usage, utilization of devices, and data manipulation.
11. A program of instructions storable on a medium readable by an information handling system for causing the information handling system to execute steps for a persistent usage context, the steps comprising:
- monitoring usage of an information handling system;
- generating a first representation corresponding to a first item of usage;
- generating a second representation corresponding to a second item of usage;
- communicating an association of the first representation to the second representation so as to enable a determination of at least one of prior usage and current usage of an information handling system.
12. The program of instructions as described in claim 11, further comprising storing the first representation and second representation.
13. The program of instructions as described in claim 12, wherein at least one of the first stored representation and second representation may be accessed after termination of at least one of the first item of usage and the second item of usage.
14. The program of instructions as described in claim 11, wherein at least one of the first representation and second representation is capable of accessing at least one of a first item of usage and second item of usage.
15. The program of instructions as described in claim 11, wherein at least one of the first representation and second representation is interactive with at least one of the first item of usage and the second item of usage.
16. The program of instructions as described in claim 11, wherein the first representation includes as a part thereof the second representation.
17. The program of instructions as described in claim 11, wherein the association includes at least one of chronological mapping, organization scheme, spatial relationship, shared usage, and term of usage.
18. The program of instructions as described in claim 11, further comprising the step of searching data relating to at least one of the first representation and second representation.
19. The program of instructions as described in claim 18, wherein the search is performed by at least one of type, topic, size, time taken for usage, time usage performed, user defined criteria, and name.
20. The program of instructions as described in claim 1 wherein at least one of the first item of usage and second item of usage includes at least one of browsing the World Wide Web, printing, scanning for viruses, word processing, utilizing spreadsheets, utilizing a database, enabling an operating system, accessing a network, network applications, graphics usage, utilization of devices, and data manipulation.
21. An information handling system for a persistent usage context, comprising:
- a processor for executing a program of instructions on the information handling system;
- a memory coupled to the processor for storing the program of instructions executable by said processor; and
- an input and output system coupled to the processor for coupling the information handling system to a network wherein the program of instructions configures the information handling system to monitor usage of an information handling system; generate a first representation corresponding to a first item of usage; generate a second representation corresponding to a second item of usage; communicate an association of the first representation to the second representation so as to enable a determination of at least one of prior usage and current usage of an information handling system.
22. The information handling system as described in claim 21, further comprising storing the first representation and second representation.
23. The information handling system as described in claim 22, wherein at least one of the first stored representation and second representation may be accessed after termination of at least one of the first item of usage and the second item of usage.
24. The information handling system as described in claim 21, wherein at least one of the first representation and second representation is capable of accessing at least one of a first item of usage and second item of usage.
25. The information handling system as described in claim 21, wherein at least one of the first representation and second representation is interactive with at least one of the first item of usage and the second item of usage.
26. The information handling system as described in claim 21, wherein the first representation includes as a part thereof the second representation.
27. The information handling system as described in claim 21, wherein the association includes at least one of chronological mapping, organization scheme, spatial relationship, shared usage, and term of usage.
28. The information handling system as described in claim 21, further comprising the step of searching data relating to at least one of the first representation and second representation.
29. The information handling system as described in claim 28, wherein the search is performed by at least one of type, topic, size, time taken for usage, time usage performed, user defined criteria, and name.
30. The information handling system as described in claim 21, wherein at least one of the first item of usage and second item of usage includes at least one of browsing the World Wide Web, printing, scanning for viruses, word processing, utilizing spreadsheets, utilizing a database, enabling an operating system, accessing a network, network applications, graphics usage, utilization of devices, and data manipulation.
31. An information handling system for a persistent usage context, comprising:
- a processor for executing a program of instructions on the information handling system;
- a memory coupled to the processor for storing the program of instructions executable by said processor; and
- an input and output system coupled to the processor for coupling the information handling system to a network wherein the program of instructions configures the information handling system to include means for monitoring usage of an information handling system; means for generating a first representation corresponding to a first item of usage; means for generating a second representation corresponding to a second item of usage; means for communicating an association of the first representation to the second representation so as to enable a determination of at least one of prior usage and current usage of an information handling system.
32. The information handling system as described in claim 31, further comprising means for storing the first representation and second representation.
33. The information handling system as described in claim 32, wherein at least one of the first stored representation and second representation may be accessed after termination of at least one of the first item of usage and the second item of usage.
34. The information handling system as described in claim 31, wherein at least one of the first representation and second representation is capable of accessing at least one of a first item of usage and second item of usage.
35. The information handling system as described in claim 31, wherein at least one of the first representation and second representation is interactive with at least one of the first item of usage and the second item of usage.
36. The information handling system as described in claim 31, wherein the first representation includes as a part thereof the second representation.
37. The information handling system as described in claim 31, wherein the association includes at least one of chronological mapping, organization scheme, spatial relationship, shared usage, and term of usage.
38. The information handling system as described in claim 31, further comprising the step of searching data relating to at least one of the first representation and second representation.
39. The information handling system as described in claim 38, wherein the search is performed by at least one of type, topic, size, time taken for usage, time usage performed, user defined criteria, and name.
40. The information handling system as described in claim 31, wherein at least one of the first item of usage and second item of usage includes at least one of browsing the World Wide Web, printing, scanning for viruses, word processing, utilizing spreadsheets, utilizing a database, enabling an operating system, accessing a network, network applications, graphics usage, utilization of devices, and data manipulation.
41. A method of generating a persistent usage context, comprising:
- monitoring navigation of a resource during a first navigation session to obtain navigation data;
- storing navigation data pertaining to the first navigation session;
- initiating a second navigation session of at least one of the first resource and a second resource;
- loading stored data in at least one of the first resource and second resource during the second navigation session so as to enable the utilization of stored first navigation data during the second navigation session.
42. The method as described in claim 41, wherein at least one of the first resource and the second resource includes at least one of a web browser and operating system.
43. The method as described in claim 41, wherein the utilization of the stored first navigation data during the second navigation session includes at least one of a forward and backward button.
44. The method as described in claim 41, wherein the storing step includes storing the first navigation data in a format so as to be capable of being selectively accessed.
45. The method as described in claim 44, wherein the storing step includes a user defined identification.
46. The method as described in claim 41, wherein the stored first navigation data includes the utilization of navigation functions of at least one of the first resource and second resource.
47. The method as described in claim 46, wherein the navigation functions include at least one of forward button, a backward button, a favorites list, a bookmark, and a history list of resources accessed.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 29, 2003
Publication Date: Apr 21, 2005
Inventors: Russell McKnight (Sioux City, IA), Glen Anderson (Sioux City, IA), Michael Calvillo (Kansas City, MO), Stephen Vossler (Sioux Falls, SD), Joseph Richard (Vermillion, SD)
Application Number: 10/747,854