Help Presentation Patents (Class 715/705)
  • Patent number: 9715396
    Abstract: A terminal device, which can reduce a calculation amount for displaying an annotation text, an annotation method, a computer system, and a computer program. A plurality of annotation rules created for each window in which an annotation text is to be displayed are accumulated in an annotation DB, which of windows displayed on an operation screen is an active window is always monitored by a business screen state acquisition section, and when annotation display operation is performed by a user, an annotation display section obtains an annotation rule of an active window associated with the user's operation from the annotation DB and displays an annotation text included in the annotation rule on the operation screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventor: Yuto Kawabata
  • Patent number: 9703462
    Abstract: A method for display-independent recognition of a graphical user interface (GUI) control, the method comprising capturing a screenshot of a GUI of a computerized application, determining a cursor position in the screenshot, analyzing an area surrounding the cursor position, to identify a GUI control, and storing an image of the GUI control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: KRYON SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Emma Butin, Oren Keinan, Erez Keinan, Alon Rabinovich
  • Patent number: 9690444
    Abstract: A method delivers a help process customized for a particular operating environment using a help system that initially has more generic content. The method includes obtaining system-specific information about a target system. A wrapper is instantiated by invoking it with the system-specific information as invocation parameters, the wrapper providing wrapper methods for modifying help content files of the help system that initially store the more generic content. The wrapper then (1) instantiates the help system, and (2) uses the wrapper methods to modify the help content files based on the invocation parameters to include the system-specific information instead of or in addition to the more generic content. The help system subsequently uses the help content files as modified in subsequent operation. In operation, the help system reflects the system-specific information, providing desirable customized functionality while leveraging automated design tools used to generate the more generic help system content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: EMC IP Holding Company LLC
    Inventors: Scott E. Joyce, Norman M. Miles, Bruce R. Rabe
  • Patent number: 9674363
    Abstract: Associating callers of a contact center with their social media identity may provide mutual benefits to the caller and contact center. For example, a business operating a contact center can receive information about their current and potential customers and customers can receive additional information, incentives, or other perks by allowing access to their social media profile. When a caller initially calls a contact center, they are prompted, and possibly incentivized, to provide a social media identity. The social media identity may or may not have an affinity with an organization on the social media website. If not, the caller is provided with the opportunity to establish the affinity. If the caller does establish the affinity, the call may be identified as having a positive sentiment or negative sentiment if the caller does not do so. The call, or future calls, with the caller may then be processed accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Reinhard Klemm, David Skiba
  • Patent number: 9632650
    Abstract: A user can access a searching component that allows the user to enter search terms to search for commands associated with a computer program. Some specific embodiments pertain to methods for supporting user access to the searching component, to methods for processing search terms submitted by the user, and to methods for guiding the user in terms of their formulation and selection queries. Methods for generating, organizing and manipulating the search results are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventor: Aravind Bala
  • Patent number: 9591135
    Abstract: A rules-based compliance system enables a permitted user to define one or more contact attempt suppression rules, wherein each contact attempt suppression rule is adapted to be triggered when a configurable number of past contact attempts as defined in the contact attempt suppression rule have been attempted. A set of contacts are then received by the system. During a communications campaign, and before being issued, a contact in the set of contacts is compared against each of the one or more contact attempt suppression rules. The compliance system is then operative to suppress at least one contact based on a result of the comparison that indicates that a given one of the one or more contact attempt suppression rules is satisfied for the contact. A user may also provision one or more contact location rules that suppress contacts based on location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Bohlin, John P. Keyes
  • Patent number: 9535720
    Abstract: A capture system may capture client events for an application session. Some client events may contain display information associated with screen gestures. The screen gestures may be associated with any user input that changes how images are displayed during the application session. For example, the screen gestures may comprise one or more of a scroll gesture, a touch start gesture, a touch move gesture, a touch end gesture, and/or a pinch gesture. In another example the screen gesture may comprise a reorientation of a device operating in the application session. A replay system may replay the application session based on the captured client events to recreate images displayed during the application session in response to the screen gestures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Omar Hernandez, Sukhbir Singh, Neel Phadnis
  • Patent number: 9529604
    Abstract: A method, device and system for pushing information is disclosed by the present disclosure. The method comprises, obtaining and storing a microblog message published though an Instant Messaging client by a user; scanning the stored microblog message published by the user and obtaining keywords of the microblog message according to a preset extracting policy; and determining an application scene of the user according to the obtained keywords, matching the application scene with the corresponding prestored help information, and obtaining and pushing the matched help information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited
    Inventor: Li Zhang
  • Patent number: 9483475
    Abstract: A content recommendation method for use in a portable electronic device is provided. The method includes the steps of fetching current context information from the portable electronic device; calculating a relevant ranking value of each item within each type of media files stored in the portable electronic device based on the context information; sorting the relevant ranking value of each item within each type of the media files; highlighting at least one of the items of a first user interface of the portable electronic device according to the sorted ranking values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: HTC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Augustin Tuffet Blaise, Ya-Chu Yang
  • Patent number: 9459791
    Abstract: A method comprising of displaying a GUI object is disclosed. The method displays a first graphical user interface (GUI) object with multiple selectable GUI items. The method detects a movement of a cursor in a direction of a particular selectable GUI item. The method determines an expected location for the stopping of the cursor. The method displays, at the expected location, a second GUI object corresponding to the particular GUI item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre M. Mouilleseaux, Charles J. Migos
  • Patent number: 9451004
    Abstract: This description relates to methods for initiating a server-based action using a timing mechanism. Furthermore, the description relates to the implementation of the aspects and embodiments of the method for initiating a server-based action described herein in hardware or software, or a combination thereof. The description suggests a mechanism to trigger the delayed execution of a server-based action based on hovering over interactive elements in a graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Crytek GmbH
    Inventor: Cevat Yerli
  • Patent number: 9417772
    Abstract: A display operation device has a display-integrated operation panel with a display screen, on which a monochrome copy start key and a color copy start key are displayed. When black-toner-out or color-toner-out occurs, on the monochrome copy start key and the color copy start key, another UI component such as black-toner-out key and color-toner-out key is displayed. Such a UI component is displayed at the display position of the monochrome copy start key and the color copy start key, being superposed on these keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mikiya Okada, Naohiro Andoh
  • Patent number: 9389882
    Abstract: Responsive to a detected user access by a user to help content of an application, at least one subsequent detected user interaction with the application is recorded that documents the user's actual use of the application in response to instructions within the accessed help content. The help content includes tracking metrics that include at least one configured expected user interaction with the application to perform the instructions within the accessed help content. The effectiveness of the instructions within the accessed help content at improving the user's proficiency in using the application is determined by comparison of the recorded at least one subsequent detected user interaction with the application after the help content was accessed with the at least one configured expected user interaction with the application to perform the instructions within the accessed help content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew A. Armstrong, Richard W. Pilot
  • Patent number: 9348615
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with transitioning are described. In one embodiment, a method comprises analyzing at least one interface to produce an interface analysis result. The method also comprises causing a transformation of at least one constituent element based, at least in part, on the interface analysis result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Inventors: Brendan Edward Clark, Ronald Charles Krosky, Matthew Franklin Clapper
  • Patent number: 9324063
    Abstract: A reduced capability subset of an application referred to as a “starter application” is provided on a computer device prior to purchase and intended for use by a user purchasing the computer device. The starter application may monitor input from the user when the starter application is executing to ascertain opportunities to inform the user of an upgrade and then solicit the user for purchasing the upgrade. The starter application may use a limited access browser to contact a server to assist in the solicitation and complete the transaction. Upon completing the transaction, the upgrade is provided to the computing device. The upgrade may comprise the full capability version of the application, templates, clip art, or other software. The upgrade may entail transmitting the upgrade to the computer device or providing an authorization key to unlock the upgrade that is already stored on the computer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Terry Farrell, Norbert van Woerkom, Robert McQuillan, David Mowatt, Pieter Retief Kasselman
  • Patent number: 9304508
    Abstract: A method associates a cell in the composite adaptive distance field (cADF) with a machining instruction that changes a type of the cell or a type of a distance field in the cell in forming a composite surface of the workpiece to produce at least part of an association, and associates the distance field in the cell with the machining instruction changing the type of the distance field in forming the composite surface of the workpiece to produce at least part of the association. In response to receiving a command to undo a simulation of the machining to the intermediate machining instruction, a subset of cells and a subset of distance fields forming the composite surface of the workpiece at a time of the simulation by the intermediate machining instruction are identified using the association and the intermediate representation of the workpiece is determined using the subset of cells and the subset of distance fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Sullivan, Dmytro Konobrytskyi
  • Patent number: 9305034
    Abstract: A system receives database tables from a plurality of computer systems. Each of the database tables is associated with a particular computer system. Each particular computer system is associated with a particular schema. The database tables are stored in a computer storage device according to the particular schema of the computer system with which each database table is associated. Database views are created and stored. Each of the views is associated with a particular schema. A configuration table according to the particular schemas of each of the computer systems is generated. The configuration table is displayed on a display device. A selection of one or more schemas is received from the display on the computer display device. The database view from one of the selected database schemas is used as a template to generate a view for all of the selected schemas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventors: Andreas Kemmler, Torsten Kamenz
  • Patent number: 9251345
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product for identifying malware is disclosed. The method identifies processes in a running process list on a host computer system. The method identifies ports assigned to the processes in the running process list on the host computer system. The method determines whether any one of ports that is currently in use in the host computer system is not assigned to any of the processes in the running process list. The method then makes a record that a hidden, running process is present as a characteristic of an attack in response to a determination that one of the ports is currently in use but is not assigned to any of the processes in the running process list in the host computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Freeman, Gunter D. Ollmann
  • Patent number: 9235852
    Abstract: Contextually relevant pieces of alternative content, including advertisements, are selected for display with requested content based on documents or other second content sources that are referenced by or in the requested content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy Hylton
  • Patent number: 9223786
    Abstract: A participant in a capture volume can speak through a microphone. The microphone can capture the speech and transmit it to a wearable computing device of the participant. The wearable computing device can process the speech to generate audio data. The wearable computing device can transmit the audio data to a simulator engine. The simulator engine can receive the audio data and processes the audio data to determine an attribute of the audio data (e.g., amplitude) at the location of a virtual character in a simulated virtual environment based on one or more attenuation factors. The attenuation factors can be calculated based on 3D motion data of the participant. Further, the simulator engine can drive an change in state of the virtual character in the simulated virtual environment based on the attribute of the audio data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Motion Reality, Inc.
    Inventors: Cameron Travis Hamrick, Nels Howard Madsen, Thomas Michael McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 9172832
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a method of controlling the image forming apparatus are provided. The method includes detecting a conflicting option that is impossible to be set simultaneously with a plurality of options selected for a job of the image forming apparatus, reflecting the detected conflicting option to display an option setting screen for the job of the image forming apparatus, and if a conflicting option is selected on the displayed option setting screen, displaying an option list user interface (UI) window in an area of the displayed option setting screen, wherein the option list UI window includes a replaceable option that replaces an option that is impossible to be set simultaneously with the conflicting option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tae-gyun Cho
  • Patent number: 9117006
    Abstract: Recommending keywords is disclosed, including: receiving a set of product information including a product title; extracting and parsing the product title into a set of parsed elements; finding a plurality of candidate keywords corresponding to at least a subset of the set of parsed elements based at least in part on stored mappings between parsed data and keywords; determining a plurality of composite correlation scores for corresponding ones of the plurality of candidate keywords; sorting at least a subset of the plurality of candidate keywords into a ranked list based on at least a subset of the plurality of composite correlation scores; and selecting a set of one or more keywords to recommend from the plurality of candidate keywords based at least in part on the ranked list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Limited
    Inventors: Daoyong Zhu, Fangying Dong
  • Patent number: 9117194
    Abstract: Typical frequently-asked question (FAQ) systems perform keyword searches on queries to a database of answers to deliver an answer to a user. The present invention searches a user generated query in a classifier trained to search a database of questions in a set of FAQs. The questions in the database correspond to answers. Upon finding a relevant question, the system returns the corresponding answer to the user. Searching the query against the questions generates more accurate results for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Ding Liu
  • Patent number: 9113016
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus capable of providing effective guidance on operation procedures for fixing a failure such as a paper jam when the failure occurs. The image forming apparatus displays operation contents for fixing the jam and operations to be performed to resume the stopped job are displayed on a simple maintenance screen. When the jam is fixed according to the operations of the contents, the screen is switched to a reread standby screen. In a case where detailed guidance is necessary, the screen is switched to a detailed maintenance screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiro Tachibana
  • Patent number: 9106893
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus of a mobile terminal generates a three-dimensional (3D) image based on images captured by a camera, and transmit and/or display the generated 3D image to allow a user to easily, conveniently view the 3D image, and a method thereof are provided. The image processing apparatus of a mobile terminal receives images captured by at least a pair of cameras installed in the mobile terminal, converts the received images into a 3D image, and transmit the 3D image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Salkmann Ji
  • Patent number: 9100615
    Abstract: On-screen display techniques and configurations for audiovisual content input selection and indications in a television, monitor, receiver, or other electronic display device are described herein. An on-screen user interface of a display device may be enhanced with on-screen indications that indicate the position of the respective audiovisual content. For example, a user interface may provide an arrow in the lower-left portion of the screen to correspond to audiovisual input obtained from a device connected to the lower-left portion of the display device housing. A listing of input sources arranged by position relative to the display device and appropriate previews of the audiovisual content from the sources may also be incorporated into the user interface. In further examples, determined labels and human-readable identifiers for the respective input sources may be coordinated with the listing of input sources arranged by position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: BBY Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Mahmood Majid
  • Patent number: 9064001
    Abstract: In FAQ based systems, associating questions with answers can be a time consuming task if performed manually. In one embodiment, a method of building a frequently-asked questions (FAQ) portal can include creating cluster labels. The labels can include predefined universal semantic labels and application-specific labels. The method can further include applying the cluster labels to clusters of queries within an FAQ application. The method can additionally include adjusting the application-specific labels to support combined and newly created clusters of queries based on application-specific queries within the FAQ application on an ongoing basis and reapplying the universal semantic labels and the adjusted application-specific labels to the combined and newly created clusters of queries. The method and system proposed herein allow for the automated clustering of queries and association with applicable answers, which leads to higher efficiencies for a faster response time for a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Ding Liu, Real Tremblay, Jerome Tremblay, Serge Robillard
  • Patent number: 9047451
    Abstract: A method for differentiated access control on a computing device, and the computing device, the method including starting a timer on the computing device; resetting the timer if activity occurs on the computing device prior to the expiration of the timer; and preventing a subset of applications from being launched or enabled on expiry of the timer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Christopher Lyle Bender, Herbert Anthony Little
  • Patent number: 9030495
    Abstract: A system and related methods for an augmented reality help system in a head-mounted display device are provided. In one example, the head-mounted display device includes a plurality of sensors and a display system for presenting holographic objects. An augmented reality help program is configured to receive one or more user biometric parameters from the plurality of sensors. Based on the user biometric parameters, the program determines that the user is experiencing a stress response, and presents help content to the user via the head-mounted display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel McCulloch, Kudo Tsunoda, Abby Lin Lee, Ryan Hastings, Jason Scott
  • Patent number: 9031955
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards generating a representative sampling as a subset from a larger dataset that includes unstructured data. A graphical user interface enables a user to provide various data selection parameters, including specifying a data source and one or more subset types desired, including one or more of latest records, earliest records, diverse records, outlier records, and/or random records. Diverse and/or outlier subset types may be obtained by generating clusters from an initial selection of records obtained from the larger dataset. An iteration analysis is performed to determine whether a sufficient number of clusters and/or cluster types have been generated that exceed at least one threshold and when not exceeded, additional clustering is performed on additional records. From the resultant clusters, and/or other subtype results, a subset of records is obtained as the representative sampling subset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Splunk Inc.
    Inventors: R. David Carasso, Micah James Delfino
  • Patent number: 9032308
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a manufacturer portal are disclosed. More specifically, in one embodiment a content distribution system, as a central location for user generated content may also provide manufacturers with a portal to monitor, and participate in, the process of content generation and distribution. This portal may provide the manufacturers with the ability to: view generated content related to that manufacturer and to filter this user generated content utilizing a wide variety of criteria and to generate content which may be responsive to presented generated content. Content generated by a manufacturer through their portal may subsequently be incorporated into one or more retailer's site utilizing the content distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Bazaarvoice, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Chen, Sam Decker, Patrick Barrett
  • Patent number: 9026915
    Abstract: The invention provides for a system, method, and computer readable medium storing instructions related to controlling a presentation in a multimodal system. The method embodiment of the invention is a method for the retrieval of information on the basis of its content for incorporation into an electronic presentation. The method comprises receiving from a user a content-based request for at least one segment from a first plurality of segments within a media presentation preprocessed to enable natural language content searchability; in response to the request, presenting a subset of the first plurality of segments to the user; receiving a selection indication from the user associated with at least one segment of the subset of the first plurality of segments and adding the selected at least one segment to a deck for use in a presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Patrick Ehlen, David Crawford Gibbon, Mazin Gilbert, Michael Johnston, Zhu Liu, Behzad Shahraray
  • Publication number: 20150121214
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes 1) detecting a first activity performed by a first user with respect to a media service while the first user is logged in to the media service with a particular user account and a second activity performed by a second user with respect to the media service while the second user is logged in to the media service with the particular user account, 2) determining that the first activity is performed within a first device context and that the second activity is performed within a second device context, 3) including, based on the determination, the first activity in a local activity set associated with the first device context, 4) excluding, based on the determination, the second activity from the local activity set, and 5) using the local activity set to provide a personalized interaction experience with the media service within the first device context.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Verizon and Redbox Digital Entertainment Services, LLC
    Inventors: Brian F. Roberts, Imran Arif Maskatia, Anthony Lemus
  • Publication number: 20150121216
    Abstract: Techniques for mapping actions and objects to tasks may include identifying a task to be performed by a virtual assistant for an action and/or object. The task may be identified based on a task map of the virtual assistant. In some examples, the task may be identified based on contextual information of a user, such as a conversation history, content output history, user preferences, and so on. The techniques may also include customizing a task map for a particular context, such as a particular user, industry, platform, device type, and so on. The customization may include assigning an action, object, and/or variable value to a particular task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Next IT Corporation
    Inventors: Fred A. Brown, Tanya M. Miller, Megan Brown, Verlie Thompson
  • Patent number: 9021097
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for managing and deploying physical and virtual environments across multiple hardware platforms. A single unit, referred to herein as a cloud construction block, contains both the hardware and software components used to build a cloud computing environment. By having such a single unit contain both the hardware and software components needed to build a cloud computing environment, the user no longer needs to purchase and integrate different hardware and software components. Furthermore, the cloud construction block contains modular pieces of hardware, such as compute hardware, memory hardware, storage hardware and network hardware, that are integrated with management software configured to manage both the hardware and the cloud computing environment in a seamlessly integrated package. Since there is a single management system, the management software allows the user to manage the modular pieces of hardware via a single user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rohith K. Ashok, Thomas M. Brey, Raymond J. Harrington, Matt R. Hogstrom, Matthew J. Sheard
  • Patent number: 9015586
    Abstract: According to the claimed invention, an information processing apparatus for displaying a help screen based on help screen information, comprising a determination unit adapted to determine whether a detailed help file corresponding to a program is present or not; and a display control unit adapted to, when said determination unit determines that the relevant detailed help file is present, display a help screen based on help screen information included in the relevant detailed help file, and to, when said determination unit determines that the relevant detailed help file is absent, display a help screen based on help screen information included in a simplified help file installed together with the program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Takemura
  • Patent number: 9015617
    Abstract: Disclosed are method and apparatus for displaying supplementary information on a graphical user interface. A request for supplementary information is received. The supplementary information is retrieved and displayed in a reserved display field in a graphical user interface. The reserved display field may be configured by a user to adapt to specific applications, but remains stationary throughout the user session. The reserved display field does not obstruct any other display fields in the graphical user interface. A request for supplementary information may be generated by using a mouse to first position a cursor over an active display element. A request for supplementary information associated with the active display element may be generated by clicking the mouse, or by holding the cursor stationary for a time interval greater than a threshold dwell time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: James Patrick Stapleton, James Anthony Gewecke, Justin Nicholas Marcucci, Lee Allan Culver, David Jason Krantz
  • Patent number: 9009593
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to monitor for a tutorial request from a set top box coupled to a monitor display where the tutorial request is associated with use of the set top box, determine a tutorial type based on the tutorial request, and establish real time communication using a first webcam coupled to the set top box and a second webcam coupled to a communication device at a support center when the tutorial type is a video conference. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventor: Scott White
  • Patent number: 9003285
    Abstract: An application includes functionality for dynamically modifying controls based on readme documentation content after the development of the application is substantially complete. A developer marks up a documentation file to include references to graphical user interface controls. The application generates a registry that stores associations between the documentation content and the affected controls. The application then modifies the properties of the affected controls to alter presentation or at least one behavior of each affected control. When the application creates an instance of an affected control, the control includes the modified presentation or behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Daniel Bauman, Amanda Jane Burton, Michael Pierre Carlson, Travis M. Grigsby
  • Patent number: 9002929
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to reduce memory requirements of software applications in a process control system are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a primary process space to execute a primary application for use in a process control system, a primary user interface associated with the primary application and to be rendered on a display, and a secondary application to be invoked via the primary application. The secondary application includes a client application to enable interaction between the primary application and the secondary application, and a server application that serves the client application to implement at least one software component to generate a secondary user interface associated with the secondary application. The secondary user interface is to be communicated to the primary application to be rendered within the primary user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventor: David Curtis Ingram
  • Patent number: 9003316
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a method for entering technical formulas. The method includes receiving a sequence of inputs on a computing device. The sequence of inputs specifies the technical formula. The method also includes displaying the technical formula in response to receiving the sequence of inputs. Additionally, the method includes determining an alternate sequence of inputs that specify the technical formula. The alternate sequence of inputs may be input to the computing device to display the technical formula. The method further includes displaying the alternate sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Kuansan Wang, Johnson Apacible, Bo-June (Paul) Hsu
  • Publication number: 20150082164
    Abstract: A method, system, and/or computer program product operate a computer system having a display device that displays a user interface, wherein a processor is connected to the display device. A graphical user interface is displayed on the display device. A user input, defining an area of the graphical user interface, is received. A graphical user interface action in a defined area of the graphical user interface is determined. An event, which is generated in response to determining the graphical user interface action, is stored in an event log. A user selection of an event stored in the event log is received. Configuration options are then provided for a user selected event from the event log.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Mandeep Chana, Jonathan K. Lawder, Christian D. Smith, Mary J. Li Kam Wa
  • Patent number: 8979538
    Abstract: Elements of game play, such as usage statistics, scores, levels, challenges, achievements, competition, and the like, are incorporated into a productivity application to assist in motivating users to learn features of the productivity application. A recommendation system is utilized to assist users in determining what features of the application to learn next. Help content that is associated with the productivity application can also be tied to the features that are currently being learned and used by the user such that the linked help content is readily available. Users may compare their scores and compete with other persons that are also participating in the game play learning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jennifer P. Michelstein, Jonas Helin, Mark R. Alexieff
  • Patent number: 8984134
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for managing and deploying physical and virtual environments across multiple hardware platforms. A single unit, referred to herein as a cloud construction block, contains both the hardware and software components used to build a cloud computing environment. By having such a single unit contain both the hardware and software components needed to build a cloud computing environment, the user no longer needs to purchase and integrate different hardware and software components. Furthermore, the cloud construction block contains modular pieces of hardware, such as compute hardware, memory hardware, storage hardware and network hardware, that are integrated with management software configured to manage both the hardware and the cloud computing environment in a seamlessly integrated package. Since there is a single management system, the management software allows the user to manage the modular pieces of hardware via a single user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rohith K. Ashok, Thomas M. Brey, Raymond J. Harrington, Matt R. Hogstrom, Matthew J. Sheard
  • Patent number: 8984403
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for bringing user attention to guidance information presented on a display device. These methods and systems comprise displaying guidance information in an initial animation mode, receiving a first user input in response to the displayed guidance information, determining whether the first user input satisfies validation criteria for responses to the guidance information, and displaying the guidance information in an altered animation mode when the first user input fails to satisfy the validation criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Oluf Nissen, Marguerite Letulle
  • Patent number: 8984413
    Abstract: If a firmware set is released, a transmission system does not permit a change in a version combination of firmware included in the firmware set and does not display a change button on a firmware selection screen used for selecting a firmware set not to be changed/deleted. If a firmware set is not yet released, the transmission system permits a change in a version combination of firmware included in the firmware set. As for a firmware set whose change is permitted, the transmission system displays a change button on a firmware selection screen used for selecting a firmware set to be changed/deleted. As for a firmware set whose change is not permitted, the transmission system does not display the change button on the firmware selection screen used for selecting a firmware set to be changed/deleted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuya Sakai
  • Publication number: 20150074523
    Abstract: Skills of a novice user operating a charged particle beam apparatus can be improved. Provided are an image display device which displays operation items of an electron microscope on an operation screen, a storage device which stores information of assist buttons which display image state information acquired via a detector of the electron microscope such that the information of assist buttons is correspondent to image quality of the image thus acquired as well as to observation conditions composed of a combination of parameter setting values of the electron microscope, an operation program which analyzes the image quality of the image acquired via the detector, acquires the information of the assist buttons based on analytical results of the image quality of the image as well as current observation conditions, and makes the assist buttons be displayed on the predetermined part of the operation screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yayoi Konishi, Hiroyuki Noda, Takahiro Inada, Kunji Shigeto, Tohru Ando, Noriko Iizumi, Ryuichiro Tamochi, Mitsugu Sato
  • Patent number: 8977958
    Abstract: A framework for enabling a community of users to share help information about an application program. The framework includes a mechanism for users to generate and share help information and a mechanism for users to access help information created by other users. To generate help information, tools may be incorporated into an application to enable users to capture information about the application as they are performing functions. Those tools capture as a video clip a representation of screen displays created by the application as the user interacts with the application to perform a function about which help information is to be generated. Along with the scenes captured in the video clip, application context information and explanatory material, such as an audio narration, can be captured. The mechanism to access help information includes a server to which video clips can be posted and cataloged, allowing identification of clips in response to user input describing a required help topic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Roderic C. Deyo, Christopher Pratley, Sandeep Sahasrabudhe, Sunil Swami, Jeff Raikes
  • Patent number: 8976119
    Abstract: An electronic display board apparatus configured to provide an operation key, includes a display with a touch panel function on which an application image is displayed; a mode change accepting unit which accepts an operation mode for the touch panel function, the operation mode including a simple operation mode; an image analyzing unit which detects an operational image associated with an operational function from the application image displayed on the display at the simple operation mode; a key allocation unit which allocates the operation key to the operational image detected by the image analyzing unit so that an operation of the allocated operation key is treated as an operation to the operational image at the simple operation mode; and a touch panel control unit which suppresses the touch panel function of at least a part where the operational image is displayed at the simple operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Sakuramata, Kuangyi Zhu
  • Publication number: 20150067499
    Abstract: A system and method for sequencing rotatable images are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, an image database contains an at least one image collection comprising a plurality of view sets. The view sets each comprise a parallel sequence of images that depicts the same sequentially formatted subject matter as the other view sets in the image collection, but from a unique common perspective point. A unique view index is assigned to each view set in the at least one image collection, while a unique frame index is assigned to each image within each view set. Using these view and frame indices, the content module allows the user to dynamically and selectively choose the common perspective point at which to view the sequentially formatted subject matter at any step in the sequence of images, thereby providing a 360 degree, selectively rotatable view of the subject matter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Ken Lai