Context-Aware User Help System for Proficiency-Based Assistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems provide non-intuitive and distracting user help information, often providing it at inappropriate times or not at all, leading to user confusion and errors in performing tasks.

Innovation Solution

A computer system and method that selectively and automatically provide user-specific help information based on a user's proficiency category, determined by their history of actions, errors, and interactions, to assist users at relevant points during task execution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If user help information is displayed in response to a user request for help, then the user can obtain necessary assistance, but the user spends time searching for the correct help topic and is distracted from the actual task

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehelp information deliveryVSAvoidtime to search for help topic

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects user actions and provides context-specific help information without requiring the user to search or request it. The help system serves itself by monitoring user behavior and delivering assistance proactively based on detected actions or potential errors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system monitors user actions and provides feedback in the form of context-specific help information. The feedback loop detects what the user is doing or attempting to do and delivers relevant assistance, creating a responsive help system that adapts to user needs in real-time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If user help information is provided in response to an error action, then the user receives assistance, but time is wasted as the user must perform the action multiple times and help arrives after attention has shifted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror correctionVSAvoidtime to correct error

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system detects potential errors before they are committed and provides help information in advance. By monitoring user actions and identifying patterns that lead to errors, the system delivers context-specific assistance before the user completes the erroneous action, preventing the error rather than correcting it afterward.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically monitors user actions and provides proactive help without waiting for error confirmation. The help system detects potential problems and delivers assistance autonomously based on detected action patterns, eliminating the delay of waiting for error messages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If all possible user help instructions are displayed near fields and actions, then users have access to comprehensive guidance, but the display becomes cluttered and distracts from essential data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehelp information availabilityVSAvoiddisplay clutter

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides help information with local quality by delivering context-specific assistance only when and where it is needed. Instead of displaying all possible help instructions universally, the system monitors user actions and provides targeted help information relevant to the specific field or action the user is currently interacting with.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts only the necessary help information from the comprehensive database and presents it selectively. By monitoring user actions and identifying what help is actually needed, the system extracts and displays only relevant portions of help information, eliminating clutter while maintaining comprehensive availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If conventional user help systems provide generic assistance, then all users receive the same information, but users with different proficiency levels receive inappropriate or non-intuitive help

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehelp information deliveryVSAvoiduser comprehension

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system adapts help information to individual user needs by monitoring their actions and detecting proficiency patterns. Different users receive different levels and types of help based on their demonstrated competence, with novice users receiving more detailed guidance and experienced users receiving more concise or advanced assistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The help system dynamically adapts to user proficiency levels by continuously monitoring user actions and adjusting the nature of help provided. As users demonstrate competence through their actions, the system modifies the level of assistance, making help more or less detailed based on real-time performance data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS7526722B2System and method for providing user help according to user category

Publication Date: 2009.04.28 SAP SE

AI summary

In a system and method for providing user help information, based on a user history, a user proficiency category may be determined, at a point during execution of a sequence of program instructions, it may be determined based on the user proficiency category whether to output a portion of stored user help information that is, in particular, associated with the point in the execution, and based on the latter determination, the portion may be automatically provided without receiving a request for user help information.