Contextual Help Article Provider for Web Pages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for providing help resources on web pages often require users to leave the context of the currently-viewed page, making it cumbersome for users to find relevant help articles, and updating embedded help text is time-consuming and expensive for content providers.
Innovation Solution
A help article provider service that identifies and displays relevant help articles within the context of the web page by comparing content identifiers and user profile attributes, allowing help articles to be dynamically filtered and prioritized, and displayed without leaving the current page.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If help text is embedded in the web page, then users can access help resources without leaving the current page, but updating help text becomes time-consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates help resources from the web page content structure. Help articles are stored as independent database records with content identifiers, while the web page contains only references to these identifiers. This segmentation allows help content to be updated independently without modifying the web page structure, resolving the contradiction between easy user access and ease of updating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces content identifiers as an intermediary between web page elements and help articles. The web page contains content identifiers that link to corresponding help articles in the database, rather than embedding help text directly. This intermediary mechanism enables dynamic help resource delivery while maintaining the embedded help experience, solving both accessibility and updatability requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If help resources are organized by topic in a new window, then users can browse help topics systematically, but users are taken out of the context of the currently-viewed web page
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements context-specific help delivery by matching content identifiers on the current web page with corresponding help articles. Instead of presenting a generic topic-based help system, the system delivers help resources tailored to the specific context of the currently-viewed page. This localized approach maintains user context while providing relevant help, resolving the contradiction between systematic organization and ease of navigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically identifies and presents relevant help articles by comparing content identifiers between the web page and help database, without requiring users to manually search or navigate through organized topics. The help resources serve themselves by being automatically matched and delivered based on the page context, eliminating the need for users to leave the current page while still providing structured help content.
3Stability of the object's composition
If help text is hard-coded into the web page, then the help content is stable and consistent, but any changes require editing the web page itself
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the help system into two independent segments: stable web page structure containing content identifiers, and dynamic help content stored in database records. This segmentation maintains the stability of the web page composition while allowing independent updates to help content, resolving the contradiction between consistency and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The web page contains copies of content identifiers rather than the full help text itself. These identifiers reference the actual help articles in the database. This copying approach maintains web page stability and simplicity while enabling dynamic help content delivery, as the page structure remains unchanged regardless of help content updates.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for displaying help articles, for a web page, that are related to the context of the web page. A help article provider has access to a database of help articles, each of which are associated with target-context data that may include content identifiers for the help article and/or user profile attributes for users that the help article targets. The help article provider identifies content identifiers for a viewed web page based on one or more of: metadata and a URL for the web page. The help article provider searches the help article database using the identified content identifiers. The help article provider may filter the help articles based on an authenticated user's attributes. An ordered list of the identified help articles is displayed, with the most relevant or important help articles displayed at or near the top of the list.