Context-Aware Embedded Help for Conditional Commands
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conditional commands and buttons in software and electronic appliances are difficult to use due to their conditional nature, often requiring user manuals and training, and are not user-friendly when conditions for execution are not met.
Innovation Solution
Embedding conditional tests and intelligent operation guides within commands and buttons that provide timely, location-specific help based on user and document states, eliminating the need for manual consultation and ensuring direct execution when conditions are met.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conditional commands are updated by a command update system to be activated or deactivated based on conditions, then the system can prevent invalid operations, but the user interface complexity and difficulty of use increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing help information and operational guides before the user attempts to execute a conditional command. The system detects when a user selects a conditional command and proactively displays relevant help information, prerequisites, and operational steps, allowing the user to understand and satisfy the conditions before execution attempts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary help system that mediates between the conditional command interface and the user. This intermediary provides contextual help information, explains conditions, and guides users through the necessary steps, reducing the direct complexity interaction between the user and the conditional command system.
2Ease of operation
If conditional buttons are always operable without deactivation, then the interface remains simple and accessible, but users may press buttons when conditions are not satisfied causing no action or errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by having the system monitor button press attempts and provide immediate feedback when conditions are not satisfied. When a user presses a conditional button, the system detects the current state, determines if conditions are met, and either executes the command or provides appropriate feedback indicating why the command cannot be executed and what steps are needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the system to automatically provide help information and operational guidance without requiring external user manuals or separate help systems. The interface itself becomes the source of help, providing contextual information directly at the point of interaction.
3Loss of information
If help information is provided through traditional help systems or user manuals, then comprehensive information is available, but users must search through vast amounts of information to find relevant operational procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing help information that is specifically tailored to the local context of the user's current operation. Instead of providing all possible help information uniformly, the system detects the user's current state and command selection, then provides only the relevant help information for that specific context, making the information both complete for the current need and immediately accessible.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses preliminary action by proactively displaying help information before the user needs to search for it. When the system detects that a user is about to execute a conditional command, it automatically provides the relevant operational steps and prerequisites, eliminating the need for users to search through manuals or help systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and related software enable users to obtain intelligent and pertinent operation guides and/or help according to a user's operational situations and/or a document state or a working status of electronic appliances without resorting to a user manual or a help system, thereby providing an intelligent human-machine interface, thus augmenting greatly the ease of use for computers and other electronic appliances.