Dynamic Help Composition for Aggregated Application Views
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional help mechanisms are inadequate for composite applications in portal environments, as they cannot dynamically aggregate help information to match the changing composition of applications, resulting in unwieldy and unhelpful documentation.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for composing a composite help view by obtaining and combining separate help documents associated with individual interface units into a single aggregated view, with dynamic rendering and updating based on changes in the aggregation of interface units, and incorporating access restrictions for users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single comprehensive help document is provided for aggregate applications, then all possible permutations of applications are covered, but the help document becomes unwieldy and unhelpful
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the comprehensive help document into multiple separate help documents, each corresponding to individual interface units or applications within the aggregation. This segmentation allows the help system to provide complete coverage without creating a single unwieldy document, as each segment can be independently managed and presented based on the user's specific aggregation context.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic help composition system that automatically aggregates relevant help documents based on the current state of the interface unit aggregation. The help system dynamically determines which help documents to combine and how to structure them, transforming the static comprehensive document into a dynamic, context-aware help presentation that adapts to the user's specific view.
2Device complexity
If separate help documents are provided for each interface unit in an aggregation, then each help document remains manageable in size, but no unified help view is available for the composite application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate help documents into a unified help view when the corresponding interface units are aggregated together. The system automatically combines the individual help documents based on the aggregation structure, providing a unified help presentation that reflects the composite application's context while maintaining the manageability of individual help segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary help composition system that sits between the individual help documents and the user interface. This intermediary automatically determines which help documents to combine, how to structure them, and how to present them unified, based on the current aggregation state. The intermediary handles the complexity of merging multiple help sources while presenting a simplified unified view to the user.
3Ease of manufacture
If help documentation is static, then it is easy to maintain and structure, but it cannot adapt to changes in the aggregation composition of applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static help system into a dynamic one that automatically adapts to changes in the aggregation composition. When interface units are added, removed, or reorganized in the aggregation, the help system dynamically detects these changes and automatically recombines the relevant help documents to reflect the new aggregation state, maintaining adaptability without requiring manual help system updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the help system continuously monitors the aggregation state of interface units and automatically adjusts the help composition accordingly. When changes occur in the aggregation structure, the system receives feedback about the new state and automatically reconfigures the help documentation to match, ensuring the help remains synchronized with the application aggregation without manual intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a method, system and apparatus for producing a composite help view for an aggregation of applications. The method can include obtaining at least two separate help documents. Each of the separate help documents can have an association with a corresponding one of separate interface units aggregated together into a single aggregated view. Importantly, the separate help documents can be combined into a composition of help documents corresponding to the single aggregated view. Subsequently, the composition of help documents can be rendered in a help system view responsive to a request for help initiated in the single aggregated view.