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US4800485A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

On-line documentation facility

Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
•
Filing: 1986-06-16
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Granted: 1989-01-24
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Expires: 2006-06-16
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Abstract

Abstract Users of an on-line documentation facility in a computer system are provided with the capability of specifying modifications to be made to the documentation that would otherwise be provided by the system.

Inventors

  • 👤 John M. Ackroff
  • 👤 Michael J. Heffler
  • 👤 John C. Mitchell

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 14:56
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/023; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0489; G06F3/04895; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/451; G06F9/453; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945; Y10S707/99948; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952; Y10S707/99953

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 158 words
A method performed by an on-line documentation program executing in a computer system, said method comprising the steps of maintaining in a file within said computer system particular predefined system on-line documentation associated with a particular on-line documentation command, receiving from at least one user of said system user-specific on-line documentation associated with said particular on-line documentation command, said at least one user being other than a designer of said computer system, retrieving from said file and providing to each other individual user of said system, in response to each issuance by said each other user of said particular on-line documentation command, said particular predefined system on-line documentation associated with said particular on-line documentation command, and providing to said at least one user of said system, in response to each issuance by said at least one user of said particular on-line documentation command, said user-specific on-line documentation, said user-specific on-line documentation being different from said system on-line documentation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 158 words
A method performed by an on-line documentation program executing in a computer system, said method comprising the steps of maintaining in a file within said computer system particular predefined system on-line documentation associated with a particular on-line documentation command, receiving from at least one user of said system user-specific on-line documentation associated with said particular on-line documentation command, said at least one user being other than a designer of said computer system, retrieving from said file and providing to each other individual user of said system, in response to each issuance by said each other user of said particular on-line documentation command, said particular predefined system on-line documentation associated with said particular on-line documentation command, and providing to said at least one user of said system, in response to each issuance by said at least one user of said particular on-line documentation command, said user-specific on-line documentation, said user-specific on-line documentation being different from said system on-line documentation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 226 words
An on-line documentation method for use in a computer system, said method comprising the steps of receiving from at least one user of said system user-specific on-line documentation associated with a particular on-line documentation command, providing to other individual users of said system, in response to each issuance by said other users of said particular on-line documentation command, system on-line documentation associated with that particular on-line documentation command, and providing to said at least one user of said system, in response to each issuance by said at least one user of said particular on-line documentation command, said user-specific on-line documentation, said user-specific on-line documentation being different from said system on-line documentation, wherein said computer system includes means for storing the system on-line documentation associated with said particular on-line documentation command and for storing system on-line documentation associated with other on-line documentation commands that can be issued by the users of said system, and wherein the second of said providing steps includes the steps of storing one or more user documentation texts associated with at least said particular on-line documentation command, storing an instruction associated with each user documentation text which indicates how that user documentation text is to be used to modify the stored system on-line documentation associated with said particular on-line documentation command, and creating said user-specific on-line documentation in accordance with each said instruction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 226 words
An on-line documentation method for use in a computer system, said method comprising the steps of receiving from at least one user of said system user-specific on-line documentation associated with a particular on-line documentation command, providing to other individual users of said system, in response to each issuance by said other users of said particular on-line documentation command, system on-line documentation associated with that particular on-line documentation command, and providing to said at least one user of said system, in response to each issuance by said at least one user of said particular on-line documentation command, said user-specific on-line documentation, said user-specific on-line documentation being different from said system on-line documentation, wherein said computer system includes means for storing the system on-line documentation associated with said particular on-line documentation command and for storing system on-line documentation associated with other on-line documentation commands that can be issued by the users of said system, and wherein the second of said providing steps includes the steps of storing one or more user documentation texts associated with at least said particular on-line documentation command, storing an instruction associated with each user documentation text which indicates how that user documentation text is to be used to modify the stored system on-line documentation associated with said particular on-line documentation command, and creating said user-specific on-line documentation in accordance with each said instruction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 81 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the system on-line documentation associated with each on-line documentation command includes one or more sections of system documentation text and wherein in said creating step each user documentation text associated with said particular on-line documentation command is either added to a corresponding system documentation text, used to replace a corresponding system documentation text or used as a separate section in said user-specific on-line documentation, as determined by the instruction associated with that user documentation text.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 136 words
A method performed by an on-line documentation program executing in a computer system, said program being adapted to display on-line documentation in response to associated on-line documentation commands, said method comprising the steps of receiving, from each of a plurality of users of said system, user-specific on-line documentation associated with a particular on-line documentation command, each of said users being other than a designer of said computer system, and displaying for each one of said plurality of users of said system, in response to said particular on-line documentation command issued by said one of them, the user-specific on-line documentation previously received from said one of them, said user-specific on-line documentation for at least one of said plurality of users being different from said user-specific on-line documentation for at least one other of said plurality of users.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 136 words
A method performed by an on-line documentation program executing in a computer system, said program being adapted to display on-line documentation in response to associated on-line documentation commands, said method comprising the steps of receiving, from each of a plurality of users of said system, user-specific on-line documentation associated with a particular on-line documentation command, each of said users being other than a designer of said computer system, and displaying for each one of said plurality of users of said system, in response to said particular on-line documentation command issued by said one of them, the user-specific on-line documentation previously received from said one of them, said user-specific on-line documentation for at least one of said plurality of users being different from said user-specific on-line documentation for at least one other of said plurality of users.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 205 words
A method performed by an on-line documentation program executing in a computer system, said program being adapted to display on-line documentation in response to associated on-line documentation commands, said method comprising the steps of maintaining in a file within said computer system particular predefined system on-line documentation associated with a particular on-line documentation command, receiving, from each of a plurality of users of said system, user-specific on-line documentation associated with said particular on-line documentation command, each of said users being other than a designer of said computer system, and displaying for each one of said plurality of users of said system, in response to said particular on-line documentation command issued by said one of them, the user-specific on-line documentation previously received from said one of them, said user-specific on-line documentation for at least one of said plurality of users being different from said user-specific on-line documentation for at least one other of said plurality of users, said method comprising the further step of retrieving from said file and displaying for each other user of said system, in response to the issuance of said particular on-line documentation command by said each other user, said particular predefined system on-line documentation associated with said particular on-line documentation command.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 205 words
A method performed by an on-line documentation program executing in a computer system, said program being adapted to display on-line documentation in response to associated on-line documentation commands, said method comprising the steps of maintaining in a file within said computer system particular predefined system on-line documentation associated with a particular on-line documentation command, receiving, from each of a plurality of users of said system, user-specific on-line documentation associated with said particular on-line documentation command, each of said users being other than a designer of said computer system, and displaying for each one of said plurality of users of said system, in response to said particular on-line documentation command issued by said one of them, the user-specific on-line documentation previously received from said one of them, said user-specific on-line documentation for at least one of said plurality of users being different from said user-specific on-line documentation for at least one other of said plurality of users, said method comprising the further step of retrieving from said file and displaying for each other user of said system, in response to the issuance of said particular on-line documentation command by said each other user, said particular predefined system on-line documentation associated with said particular on-line documentation command.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 211 words
A method for use in a computer system in which on-line documentation is displayed in response to associated on-line documentation commands, said method comprising the steps of receiving, from each of a plurality of users of said system, user-specific on-line documentation associated with a particular on-line documentation command, and displaying for each one of said plurality of users of said system, in response to said particular on-line documentation command issued by said one of them, the user-specific on-line documentation previously received from said one of them, said user-specific on-line documentation for at least one of said plurality of users being different from said user-specific on-line documentation for at least one other of said plurality of users, said method comprising the further step of displaying for each other user of said system, in response to the issuance of said particular on-line documentation command by said each other user, predefined system on-line documentation associated with said particular on-line documentation command, the first of said displaying steps including the steps of storing for each of said plurality of users information indicating how the user-specific on-line documentation to be displayed for that user differs from said system on-line documentation and creating said user-specific on-line documentation in response to said system on-line documentation and said information.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 211 words
A method for use in a computer system in which on-line documentation is displayed in response to associated on-line documentation commands, said method comprising the steps of receiving, from each of a plurality of users of said system, user-specific on-line documentation associated with a particular on-line documentation command, and displaying for each one of said plurality of users of said system, in response to said particular on-line documentation command issued by said one of them, the user-specific on-line documentation previously received from said one of them, said user-specific on-line documentation for at least one of said plurality of users being different from said user-specific on-line documentation for at least one other of said plurality of users, said method comprising the further step of displaying for each other user of said system, in response to the issuance of said particular on-line documentation command by said each other user, predefined system on-line documentation associated with said particular on-line documentation command, the first of said displaying steps including the steps of storing for each of said plurality of users information indicating how the user-specific on-line documentation to be displayed for that user differs from said system on-line documentation and creating said user-specific on-line documentation in response to said system on-line documentation and said information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said information includes one or more user documentation texts and instructions indicating how each user documentation text is to be combined with said system on-line documentation to create said user-specific on-line documentation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 170 words
An on-line documentation facility for use in a computer system comprising means for maintaining in a file within said computer system particular predefined system on-line documentation associated with a particular on-line documentation command, means for storing for at least one user of said system user-specific on-line documentation received from said one user, said user-specific on-line documentation being associated with said particular on-line documentation command, said at least one user being other than a designer of said computer system, first means for retrieving from said file and providing to each other individual user of said system, in response to each issuance by said each other user of said particular on-line documentation command, said particular predefined system on-line documentation associated with that particular on-line documentation command, and second means for providing to said at least one user of said system, in response to each issuance by said at least one user of said particular on-line documentation command, said user-specific on-line documentation, said user-specific on-line documentation being different from said system on-line documentation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 170 words
An on-line documentation facility for use in a computer system comprising means for maintaining in a file within said computer system particular predefined system on-line documentation associated with a particular on-line documentation command, means for storing for at least one user of said system user-specific on-line documentation received from said one user, said user-specific on-line documentation being associated with said particular on-line documentation command, said at least one user being other than a designer of said computer system, first means for retrieving from said file and providing to each other individual user of said system, in response to each issuance by said each other user of said particular on-line documentation command, said particular predefined system on-line documentation associated with that particular on-line documentation command, and second means for providing to said at least one user of said system, in response to each issuance by said at least one user of said particular on-line documentation command, said user-specific on-line documentation, said user-specific on-line documentation being different from said system on-line documentation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 242 words
An on-line documentation facility for use in a computer system comprising means for storing for at least one user of said system user-specific on-line documentation received from said one user, said user-specific on-line documentation being associated with a particular on-line documentation command, first means for providing to each other individual users of said system, in response to each issuance by said other users of said particular on-line documentation command, system on-line documentation associated with that particular on-line documentation command, and second means for providing to said at least one user of said system, in response to each issuance by said at least one user of said particular on-line documentation command, said user-specific on-line documentation, said user-specific on-line documentation being different from said system on-line documentation, wherein said storing means further includes means for storing the system on-line documentation associated with said particular on-line documentation command and for storing system on-line documentation associated with other on-line documentation commands that can be issued by the users of said system, and means for storing one or more user documentation texts associated with at least said particular on-line documentation command and for storing an instruction associated with each user documentation text which indicates how that user documentation text is to be used to modify the stored system on-line documentation associated with said particular on-line documentation command, and wherein said second means further includes means for creating said user-specific on-line documentation in accordance with each said instruction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 242 words
An on-line documentation facility for use in a computer system comprising means for storing for at least one user of said system user-specific on-line documentation received from said one user, said user-specific on-line documentation being associated with a particular on-line documentation command, first means for providing to each other individual users of said system, in response to each issuance by said other users of said particular on-line documentation command, system on-line documentation associated with that particular on-line documentation command, and second means for providing to said at least one user of said system, in response to each issuance by said at least one user of said particular on-line documentation command, said user-specific on-line documentation, said user-specific on-line documentation being different from said system on-line documentation, wherein said storing means further includes means for storing the system on-line documentation associated with said particular on-line documentation command and for storing system on-line documentation associated with other on-line documentation commands that can be issued by the users of said system, and means for storing one or more user documentation texts associated with at least said particular on-line documentation command and for storing an instruction associated with each user documentation text which indicates how that user documentation text is to be used to modify the stored system on-line documentation associated with said particular on-line documentation command, and wherein said second means further includes means for creating said user-specific on-line documentation in accordance with each said instruction.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-01-24 1992-07-25 1993-01-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-01-24 1996-07-25 1997-01-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-01-24 2000-07-25 2001-01-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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