Providing enhanced functionality in an interactive electronic technical manual

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatus, systems, computer program products for providing previews at an end of textual information for a topic found in technical documentation for an item via an interactive electronic technical manual system (IETM) configured to provide electronic and credentialed access to the technical documentation via an IETM viewer. In one embodiment e, a method is provided comprising: providing a window comprising (1) a first view pane displaying the textual information and (2) a second view pane displaying media content; receiving input of a user scrolling to the end of the textual information: responsive to receiving the input, providing a selection mechanism for display; receiving selection of the mechanism; responsive to receiving the selection: generating and providing for display a preview window displaying a portion of content comprising textual information and / or media content for a second topic found in the technical documentation for the item.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17 / 026,636, filed Sep. 21, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety into the present application.TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD[0002]Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to providing enhanced functionality in an interactive electronic technical manual (IETM). The inventors have developed solutions that increase the efficiency, functionality, speed, capabilities, and user friendliness over conventional IETMs.BACKGROUND[0003]IETMs and other technical data generally hold large amounts of information that can include multiple volumes and hundreds or thousands of data modules when in electronic format. When users of IETMs, or other technical data that are provided electronically, need to look for a specific subject, they need to go over a lengthy electronic table of contents, similar to a paper book, but using links, which ca...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present patent provides methods and apparatus for providing previews at the end of textual information in a technical manual system. The system allows users to access and view electronic documents related to a specific item. The method involves displaying a window with two view panes, one for textual information and one for media content. When the user scrolls to the end of the textual information, a first selection mechanism is provided for display. When the user selects the first mechanism, a first preview window is generated and displayed. The technical effect of this patent is to provide a more efficient and effective way for users to access and view information related to a specific item.

Problems solved by technology

This results in a lot of time spent by users, trying to look in many different places (and sometimes, out of exasperation, just look from A to Z) to find the information, which results in inefficiency, loss of time, and waste of expensive resources.

Furthermore, although many conventional IETMs provide some type of interactive functionality with respect to the technical data that allow users to interactively view the data, such functionality is typically limited to capabilities and do not address many of the technical issues encountered when providing an electronic interface for a large amount of information, as well as technical improvements that provide features beyond just simply allowing the user to view such information.

Many conventional IETMs fail to provide functionality to control secure access to the technical data, as well as control user functionality within the IETMs in viewing and using the technical data in a secure manner.

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