US5388993A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and system for demonstrating a computer program
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1992-07-15
•
Granted: 1995-02-14
•
Expires: 2012-07-15
Abstract
Abstract A system and method are provided for building a help function in the form of a tutorial that physically demonstrates to an end user the function that the end user wants to understand. The invention includes a script language that includes tags or commands that the information developer can use in demonstrating the application program and providing tutorial information to the user. The system includes an interpreter that interprets the script language.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank A. McKiel
- 👤 G. Michael Trowbridge
- 👤 Cathy J. Cavendish
- 👤 Robert J. Catino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:21
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B19/00; G09B19/0053; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S345/00; Y10S345/949; Y10S345/952; Y10S345/956; Y10S706/00; Y10S706/902; Y10S706/927; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/975; Y10S715/977
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
45 words
A method of demonstrating a computer system application program, which comprises the computer system implemented steps of: running said application program; providing tutorial information to a user; and, sending simulated user-input messages to said application program thereby to demonstrate the operation of said application program.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
45 words
A method of demonstrating a computer system application program, which comprises the computer system implemented steps of: running said application program; providing tutorial information to a user; and, sending simulated user-input messages to said application program thereby to demonstrate the operation of said application program.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of providing tutorial information includes the steps of: displaying tutorial text on a computer system display screen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said tutorial text is displayed in a window.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said application program includes a graphical user interface and said step of sending simulated user-input messages includes the computer implemented steps of: moving a graphical pointer to a preselected position on a computer system display screen; and sending a simulated mouse button command to said computer system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said application program includes a graphical user interface and said step of sending simulated user-input messages includes the computer implemented step of: activating a preselected object of said application program.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said computer implemented steps further include the steps of: moving a graphical pointer to said preselected object; and sending a simulated mouse button command to said computer system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of sending simulated user-input messages includes the computer implemented step of: sending simulated keystroke commands to said application.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said application program includes a graphical user interface and said step of sending simulated user-input messages includes the computer implemented step of: positioning a typing cursor in a text entry field of said application program.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of providing tutorial information includes the steps of: displaying a representation of a human figure on a computer display screen; displaying a speech bubble near said human figure; and, displaying scrolling tutorial text in said speech bubble.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of demonstrating an application program in a multitasking computer system that includes a computer display screen and a user-input device, which comprises the computer implemented steps of: running said application program on said computer system; simultaneously running a demonstration program on said computer system; and, generating simulated user-input messages to said application program, under control of said demonstration program, thereby to simulate user interaction with said application program.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of demonstrating an application program in a multitasking computer system that includes a computer display screen and a user-input device, which comprises the computer implemented steps of: running said application program on said computer system; simultaneously running a demonstration program on said computer system; and, generating simulated user-input messages to said application program, under control of said demonstration program, thereby to simulate user interaction with said application program.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as claimed in claim 10, including the step of: providing tutorial information to a user, under control of said demonstration program.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said step of providing tutorial information includes the step of: displaying tutorial text on said display screen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said step of generating user-input messages includes the steps performed by said demonstration program of: reading a line of a demonstration script; and interpreting said line.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method as claimed in claim 13, including the computer implemented step of: providing to said user, under control of said demonstration program, tutorial information about another feature of said application program after demonstrating said feature of said application program.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of demonstrating an application program in a multitasking computer system that includes a computer display screen and a user input device, which comprises the computer implemented steps of: running said application program on said computer system; simultaneously running a demonstration program on said computer system; providing to a user, under control of said demonstration program, tutorial information about a feature of said application program; prompting said user for a demonstration of said feature; and, generating, in response to a user response to prompting, simulated user-input messages, under control of said demonstration program, thereby demonstrating said feature of said application program.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of demonstrating an application program in a multitasking computer system that includes a computer display screen and a user input device, which comprises the computer implemented steps of: running said application program on said computer system; simultaneously running a demonstration program on said computer system; providing to a user, under control of said demonstration program, tutorial information about a feature of said application program; prompting said user for a demonstration of said feature; and, generating, in response to a user response to prompting, simulated user-input messages, under control of said demonstration program, thereby demonstrating said feature of said application program.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3707725A
Cited
US4672554A
Cited
US4802104A
Cited
US5096423A
Cited
US4696003A
Cited
US4827404A
Cited
US5038316A
Cited
US5175812A
Cited
US5210859A
Cited
US5111409A
Cited
US5166886A
Cited
US5198379A
Cited
US5169342A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-02-13 | 1998-08-15 | 1999-02-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-02-13 | 2002-08-15 | 2003-02-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-02-13 | 2006-08-15 | 2007-02-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |