Method and apparatus for providing help content corresponding to the occurrence of an event within a computer

Patent 7158965 Issued on January 2, 2007. Estimated Expiration Date:

November 26, 2022. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventors

Assignee

Microsoft Corporation

Application

No. 10304257 filed on 11/26/2002

US Classes:

707/3, Query processing (i.e., searching)707/104.1, Application of database or data structure (e.g., distributed, multimedia, image)717/125, Having interactive or visual715/705, Help presentation714/26, Artificial intelligence (e.g., diagnostic expert system)714/25, Fault locating (i.e., diagnosis or testing)715/501.1, Hypermedia707/4, Query formulation, input preparation, or translation715/714, Combining diverse help information (e.g., different sources)707/2, Access augmentation or optimizing715/708, Context sensitive709/224, Computer network monitoring709/203Client/server

Examiners

Primary: Wong, Don
Assistant: Dang, Khanh

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Merchant & Gould

International Classes

G06F 17/30
G06F 17/00

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for displaying help content corresponding to the occurrence of an event occurring within a computer. An alert help data file is periodically downloaded at a client computer. When a program alert occurs within a client computer, the alert help data file is searched to identify help content corresponding to the particular occurrence of the alert. An alert identifier may be uniquely assigned to each alert to assist in locating the corresponding help content. Moreover, an assert tag and a function result value may also be utilized to define and locate particular help content. Once located, the help content may be displayed to a user.

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