Interactive online tutorial system with monitoring function for software products

Claim 1

An interactive online tutorial system for providing instruction in the use of multiple software products operating concurrently on a digital processing apparatus, the digital processing apparatus including an instruction processing unit, a data storage resource, an input system for receiving data input from a user, an output system including a video display for providing data output to a user and a multi-tasking operating system, said tutorial system comprising: first display control means for generating a tutorial display window in a first portion of the video display for displaying tutorial lesson information; second display control means for generating a product display window in a second portion of the video display for displaying a selected software product, said selected software product being display concurrently with said tutorial lesson information; information presentation means for presenting said tutorial lesson information in said tutorial display window, said tutorial lesson information including descriptions of user input actions required for operation of a plurality of software products selectively displayed in said product window; object identifier means for storing object identifiers representing elements of a product interface related to user input actions; command means for storing commands representing user input actions that are potentially detrimental to completion of tutorial lessons; a lesson control table data structure containing user input command statements corresponding to tutorial lesson information presented in said tutorial display window; memory pointer means for sequentially pointing to command statements in said lesson control table as correct user input actions are taken in accordance with said tutorial lesson information; and tutorial monitoring means for monitoring user input actions to determine whether said user input actions should be withheld from said software product, said tutorial monitoring means including: optional command determining means for monitoring optional user input actions and subsequent user input actions to monitor instances wherein optional user input actions are not taken by a user; first filter means for comparing user input actions received from said input system with object identifiers stored in said object identifier means and determining whether said user input actions are directed to said software product and, if false, allowing said user input actions to pass to their intended destination; second filter means for comparing user input actions from said first filter means with commands stored in said command means and determining whether said user input actions are product critical command actions and, if false, allowing said user input actions to pass to their intended destination; and comparison means for comparing user input actions received from said second filter means with command statements listed in said lesson control table and comparing said user input actions with selected input actions representing appropriate input actions to said product and, if a match condition is determined, allowing said user input actions to pass to their intended destination, and, if a mismatch condition is determined, generating an error message, said tutorial system further including means for generating an error message display window in said video display, and said tutorial system further including graphical input means for cancelling messages to try input again, deactivating said tutorial monitoring means or requesting user assistance via a graphical input button.