WO2009121880A1

WO2009121880A1 - A method for providing subtasks' wizard information

Info

Publication number: WO2009121880A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/053811
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rui Yang; Zhi Hao Li; Fei LV
Original assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2008-04-02
Filing date: 2009-03-31
Publication date: 2009-10-08
Also published as: CN101551744B; EP2260383A1; CN101551744A

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for providing wizard information to a subtask, the method comprises: determining, when starting a task, the corresponding relationships between subtasks of the task and the subtasks' wizard information, and providing a user interface; then, producing, in accordance with the selection of a subtask by a user via the user interface, an instruction including a marker of said subtask; and finally, providing, in accordance with the marker in said instruction, the subtask wizard information corresponding to the subtask. The present invention also discloses an apparatus for providing subtasks' wizard information, and the apparatus comprises a wizard module and a user interface module. Applying the technical solution of the present invention to software products can improve the degree of convenience in using the software by a user, and can provide a global view to the user, to make it clear to the user the contextual relationships between all the subtasks of a current task, and between the current subtask and the other subtasks.

Description

A method for providing subtasks' wizard information

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a computer technology and, particularly, to a method and an apparatus for providing subtasks' wizard information.

Background Art

With the continuous progress of computer technology and the broad applications of the microprocessors, software products suitable for various fields are appearing continuously in the market, and the functions of the softwares are also becoming more and more complicated and specialized. In some large-scale softwares or specialized softwares, many human- computer interactions are generally required and a task can be completed only after a user has executed a series of subtasks (or known as operating processes) . However, it is impractical to require a user to know well each of the subtasks in a task, and therefore it is often necessary for the user to obtain some operation guidance regarding subtasks, i.e. subtasks' wizard information. The subtasks' wizard information will help users to improve work efficiency and reduce the probability for errors .

There exists a method for providing subtasks' wizard information to users by way of a wizard application program in the prior art. The method pre-constructs the wizard application program aiming at a task, and the constructed wizard application program comprises the subtasks' wizard information which guides a user to complete some or all of the subtasks in a task. The wizard application program begins to run generally when the software is started, and displays in turn the wizard information of some or each subtask of a task to the user, thereby guiding the user to complete the task step by step. After the user has completed the task, the wizard application program is closed.

When the wizard application program is closed, if the user wants to acquire the wizard information of a certain subtask, the corresponding wizard application program will need to be restarted. Moreover, after the user has executed a subtask, the wizard information of the subtask will not be displayed again, and if the user wants to backtrack the wizard information of the subtask, it is necessary to exit the wizard application program first, and then restart the corresponding wizard application program. In addition, since only the wizard information of a currently executed subtask is displayed one by one, the user cannot know which subtasks have been executed, and as a result cannot know the whole execution state of a task. It can be seen that the wizard application program in the prior art is unable to provide the necessary subtasks' wizard information to the user at any moment in the process of the user using software, which offers a low degree of convenience in using the software, and cannot provide an overview to the user. Said overview on a task comprises: the contextual relationships between all subtasks of the task, the current subtask and the other subtasks, and the executed state of each of the subtasks.

Moreover, in practical applications, the user also hopes to find the keyword help information regarding some technical terms or some functions precisely while he acquires the subtasks' wizard information.

A method for providing keyword help information to the user by a help system does exist in the prior art. The method provides the keyword help information to the user by integrating the help windows in a software program, or obtains online keyword help information via Internet and provides it to the user. Firstly, the method constructs the hypertext pages with the keyword help information, and the links of the hypertext pages compose the help system; when a user triggers the help function, a help window pop-ups and searches the relevant keyword help information in accordance with the keyword inputted by the user (for example, technical term, function designation, etc.) or index contents, so as to display the hypertext pages comprising the keyword help information to the user. Since this method for providing help by a keyword will find out all keyword help information relevant to the keyword, the user needs to further find the required keyword help information from this keyword help information, and therefore it is difficult for this method to provide the keyword help information needed by the user quickly and accurately.

Contents of the invention

In view of this situation, the present invention discloses a method for providing subtasks' wizard information, which can improve the degree of convenience in using the software by a user .

The present invention also discloses an apparatus for providing the subtasks' wizard information, which can improve the degree of convenience in using the software by a user.

The technical solution of the present invention is implemented as follows: a method for providing subtasks' wizard information comprises : determining, when starting a task, the corresponding relationships between subtasks of the task and the subtasks' wizard information, and providing a user interface; producing, in accordance with a subtask selected by a user via the user interface, an instruction including a marker of said subtask; and providing, in accordance with the marker in said instruction, the subtask wizard information corresponding to the subtask.

On the basis of the abovementioned technical solution, it can further comprise: presetting the corresponding relationships between the three parties of the task, the subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information; in this case said determining, when starting a task, the corresponding relationships between subtasks of the task and the subtasks' wizard information can comprise: determining, in accordance with said corresponding relationships between said three parties, the corresponding relationships between the subtasks of the task and between said subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information .

Preferably, in said user interface, there is a subtask key corresponding to each of the subtasks; and in this case, said producing, in accordance with a subtask selected by a user via the user interface, an instruction including a marker of said subtask can comprise: producing, when it is detected that a subtask key in the user interface is clicked, the instruction including a marker of the subtask corresponding to the clicked subtask key.

Furthermore, after having determined the corresponding relationships between the subtasks of the task and the subtasks' wizard information, the method can comprise: producing, when it is detected that the current subtask is changed, an instruction including the marker of the current subtask; and providing, in accordance with the marker of said instruction, the subtask wizard information corresponding to the current subtask.

Furthermore, it can preset a marker for a default current subtask of each of the tasks; and store, when closing the started task, the marker of the current subtask of the task closed; and after having determined the corresponding relationships between the subtasks of the task and the subtasks' wizard information, the method can further comprise: judging whether the marker of the current subtask of the task has been stored, if the answer is yes, providing the subtask wizard information corresponding to the current subtask; if the answer is no, providing the subtask wizard information corresponding to the default current subtask.

Preferably, said subtask and the subtask key have two states: a normal state and a completion state; in this case after a task has been started, the method can further comprise: when receiving an instruction, issued by the user via the user interface, to set the subtask key into the completion state, setting said subtask key into the completion state, and when the started task is closed, setting the subtask corresponding to said subtask key into the completion state; and when starting a task, the method can further comprise: providing, in accordance with the set state of the subtask, the state information of the subtask.

In the abovementioned technical solution, the method can further comprise: presetting a keyword, and presetting corresponding relationships between the four parties of the keyword, the task, the subtasks and the keyword help information; and in this case, after having started a task, the method can further comprise: when receiving an instruction, issued by the user via the user interface, including the keyword and the marker of the subtask, providing, in accordance with the corresponding relationships between said four parties, the keyword help information of said keyword under the corresponding subtask.

Preferably, when providing the keyword help information of said keyword under said subtask, the method can further comprise: when it is detected that a subtask key in the user interface is clicked, providing the keyword help information of said keyword under the subtask corresponding to said clicked subtask key.

Furthermore, before receiving the instruction including the keyword and the marker of the subtask, the method can comprise: when it is detected via the user interface that a right mouse button is clicked on a keyword, providing options indicating the acquisition of keyword help information for the keyword, and when said option is selected, producing the instruction including said keyword and the marker of the current subtask.

Preferably, said user interface comprises a display area; and in this case, before receiving the instruction including the keyword and the marker of the subtask, the method can further comprise: when it is detected that the keyword is dragged by the mouse into said display area, producing the instruction including said keyword and the marker of the current subtask.

An apparatus for providing subtasks' wizard information comprises: a wizard module and a user interface module, wherein : the wizard module is for determining, when starting a task, the corresponding relationships between the subtasks of said started task and the subtasks' wizard information, and for informing the user interface module; and for providing, in accordance with the instruction including the marker of the subtask coming from the user interface module, to the user interface module the subtask wizard information corresponding to the subtask; and the user interface module is for providing the user interface in accordance with the information from the wizard module; for producing, in accordance with the subtask selected by the user via the user interface, the instruction including the marker of the subtask, and sending said instruction to the wizard module; and for providing the subtasks' wizard information coming from the wizard module to the user.

Furthermore, the apparatus can comprise: a memory module for storing preset corresponding relationships between the three parties of the task, the subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information; and in this case, said wizard module is also for determining, in accordance with the corresponding relationships between the three parties of the task, the subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information stored in said memory module, the subtasks of the started task, and the corresponding relationships between said subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information.

In the abovementioned apparatus, said user interface module can also be used for setting in the user interface a subtask key corresponding to each of the subtasks, and for producing, when it is detected that a subtask key is clicked in the user interface, the instruction including the marker of the subtask corresponding to the clicked subtask key.

Furthermore, said apparatus can further comprise: a subtask detecting module, which is for producing, when it is detected that the current subtask is changed, the instruction including the marker of the current subtask, and sending said instruction to the wizard module; and said wizard module can be also for providing, in accordance with the instruction including the marker of the current subtask coming from the subtask detecting module, to the user interface module the subtask wizard information corresponding to the current subtask.

Furthermore, said memory module can also be for storing the marker of a default current subtask of each of the tasks, and for storing, when closing the started task, the marker of the current subtask of the task being closed; and said wizard module can also be used for judging, after having determined the corresponding relationships between the subtasks of the started task and the subtasks' wizard information and in accordance with the information stored in the memory module, whether the marker of the current subtask of the started task has been stored, if the answer is yes, then sending the subtask wizard information of the current subtask to the user interface module; and if the answer is no, then sending the subtask wizard information of the corresponding default current subtask to the user interface module.

Furthermore, said memory module can also be used for storing the subtasks' state information; said wizard module can also be used for sending, when starting a task, to the user interface module the state information of the subtask stored by the memory module; and said user interface module can also be used for setting, after having started a task and in accordance with the instruction issued by the user via the user interface for setting the subtask key into the completion state, the subtask key into the completion state; for informing, when closing the started task, the memory module to store the subtask corresponding to said subtask key in the completion state; and for providing to the user the subtask state information coming from the wizard module.

Furthermore, said memory module can also be used for storing the preset corresponding relationships between the four parties of the keyword, the task, the subtasks and the keyword help information; said wizard module can be also for providing, after having started a task, when having received from the user interface module the instruction including the keyword and the marker of the subtask, and in accordance with said corresponding relationships, to the user interface module the keyword help information of said keyword under the corresponding subtask; and said user interface module can also be used for sending the instruction including the keyword and the marker of the subtask issued by the user via the user interface to the wizard module; and for providing to the user the keyword help information of said keyword coming from the wizard module under said subtask.

Furthermore, said user interface module can also be used for producing, when providing the keyword help information of said keyword under said subtask and when it is detected that the subtask key in the user interface is clicked, the instruction including the marker of the subtask corresponding to the clicked subtask key.

Preferably, said user interface module can also be used for providing, when it is detected that the right mouse button has been clicked in the user interface on the keyword, the options indicating the acquisition of the keyword help information of the keyword, and for producing, when said option is selected, the instruction including said keyword and the marker of the current subtask.

Preferably, said user interface module can also be used for providing a display area in the user interface; and for producing, when it is detected that the keyword has been dragged by the mouse into said display area, the instruction including said keyword and the marker of the current subtask.

It can be seen from the abovementioned technical solution that, when starting a task, the present invention determines the corresponding relationships between the subtasks of a task and the subtasks' wizard information, and provides a user interface, and then produces, in accordance with a subtask selected by the user via the user interface, the instruction including the marker of said subtask, and provides, in accordance with the marker of said instruction, the subtask wizard information of the corresponding subtask. Thus, providing the subtasks' wizard information to the user momentarily and conveniently is achieved, and the degree of convenience in using the software by a user is improved, and it can make the user understand the contextual relationships between all subtasks of the current task, the current subtask and the other subtasks.

When implementing the technical solution of the present invention, a subtask key corresponding to each of the subtasks can be set, and the user can acquire the subtask wizard information of the subtask corresponding to a clicked subtask key by clicking the task key, which makes the use of the technical solution of the present invention very convenient. The present invention can also provide corresponding subtask wizard information automatically in accordance with the subtask currently being executed when it is detected that the subtask currently being executed is changed, rather than by the subtask key, which enables the user to acquire the subtasks' wizard information conveniently and to understand the contextual relationships between all subtasks of the current task, the current subtask and the other subtasks.

When a task is closed, the present invention can store the marker of the subtask of the closed task, and when the task is started next time, the subtask wizard information of the current subtask can be provided by default, so as to make the user understand the development of the last execution of the task. Moreover, it can also set a task into the completion state in accordance with the instruction of the user, and store the situation of all subtasks of the task when the task is closed, and thus, when the task is started next time, the state information relevant to the subtask can be provided to the user, so as to facilitate the user in knowing the implementation of the task. The technical solution of the present invention realizes interactions with the user by setting the user interface, and provides the subtasks' wizard information to the user. When the technical solution of the present invention is applied in software products, the user interface of the present invention can be set as still floating on the operation interfaces of software products, and the user can acquire requisite subtasks' wizard information at any moment.

On the basis of the abovementioned provision of subtask wizard information about a subtask, the present invention also discloses a technical solution for providing the subtasks' wizard information and the keyword help information at the same time. Specifically, a keyword is set first, and the corresponding relationships between the keyword, the task, the subtasks and the keyword help information are set, and then, when receiving the instruction including the keyword and the marker of the subtask, the keyword help information of said keyword under the corresponding subtask is provided in accordance with the set corresponding relationships between them. When receiving the instruction including the marker of the subtask, the subtask wizard information corresponding to the relevant subtask is provided. Since the corresponding relationships between the set keyword, the task, the subtasks and the keyword help information are based on the task and the subtasks, the content of the keyword help information can be filtered in accordance with the context when providing the keyword help information, thereby allowing the user to find out requisite keyword help information quickly and accurately.

Moreover, the above technical solution of the present invention provides a consistent user interface for providing the subtasks' wizard information and the keyword help information to the user, and it further facilitates the user in acquiring requisite subtasks' wizard information and keyword help information, and improves the degree of convenience in using the software by the user.

Description of the drawings

In order to make the above and other features and advantages of the present invention more apparent to those skilled in the art, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a flowchart diagram of a method for providing subtasks' wizard information in embodiments of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a composition structural diagram of an apparatus for providing subtask wizard information in embodiments of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a composition structural diagram of a preferred user interface in an apparatus for providing subtasks' wizard information provided in the present invention;

Fig. 4 is an operating flowchart of a navigator in the embodiments of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is an operating flowchart of the navigator in a wizard mode in the embodiments of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is an operating flowchart of the navigator in a help mode in the embodiments of the present invention.

Particular embodiments

In order to make the object, technical solution and advantages of the present invention more apparent, the present invention will be further described in detail in conjunction with accompanying drawings and by way of examples.

The basic concept of the technical solution of the present invention lies in: determining, when starting a task, the corresponding relationships between the subtasks of the started task and the subtasks' wizard information, and providing a user interface, and then producing, in accordance with the subtask selected by the user via the user interface, the instruction including the marker of said subtask, and furthermore providing, in accordance with the marker in said instruction, the subtask wizard information corresponding to a subtask. As mentioned above, in some large-scale softwares, there are generally some tasks of different types, but it is necessary to execute respective subtasks for completing these tasks, and each of the subtasks has its corresponding subtask wizard information, and therefore, preferably, it can preset the corresponding relationships between the task, the subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information, and when the task is started, determine the subtasks of the task and the corresponding relationships between the subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information in accordance with said trilateral corresponding relationship. Here, there exists a certain executing sequence relationship between the subtasks of each of the tasks.

Fig. 1 shows a flowchart diagram of a method for providing the subtasks' wizard information in the embodiments of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 1, the method comprises: step 101: determining, when starting a task, the corresponding relationships between the subtasks of the task and subtasks' wizard information, and providing a user interface; step 102: producing an instruction including a marker of said subtask in accordance with a subtask selected by a user via the user interface; and step 103: providing subtask wizard information corresponding to the subtask in accordance with the marker in said instruction.

Based on the abovementioned basic concept, the embodiments of the present invention disclose three preferred methods for providing subtasks' wizard information, which will be introduced respectively below. The first preferred method for providing subtasks' wizard information : this method sets a corresponding subtask key for each of the subtasks of a task started in the user interface. During the running of the software, a user can acquire the subtask wizard information of the subtask corresponding to the subtask key by clicking a subtask key. Thus, this enables the user to acquire at any time the subtask wizard information of a certain subtask of the started task, to improve the degree of convenience in using the software by the user, and provide to the user an overview on the task in the process of using the software by the user, so as to make the user understand all subtasks of the current task and the contextual relationships between the current subtask and the other subtasks. Specifically, said first method for providing the subtasks' wizard information comprises the steps as follows:

Step 1 : setting the corresponding relationships between the task, the subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information.

Step 2: determining, when starting a task and in accordance with said trilateral corresponding relationship, the subtasks of the task and the corresponding relationships between said subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information; and setting in the user interface a subtask key corresponding to each of the subtasks.

Step 3: producing, when it is detected that a subtask key in the user interface is clicked, an instruction including a marker of the subtask corresponding to the subtask key clicked.

Step 4 : providing, in accordance with the marker in said instruction, the subtask wizard information of the subtask corresponding to the clicked subtask key.

The second preferred method for providing subtasks' wizard information : this preferred method acquires the marker of the current subtask of the started task during the running of a software, and provides, when it is detected that the current subtask is changed, the corresponding subtask wizard information automatically in accordance with the current subtask, so as to enable the user to acquire the subtasks' wizard information conveniently, and to understand the contextual relationships between all subtasks of the started task, the current subtask and the other subtasks. Specifically, said second preferred method for providing the subtasks' wizard information comprises the steps as follows:

Step 2: determining, when starting a task and in accordance with said trilateral corresponding relationship, the subtasks of the task and the corresponding relationships between said subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information.

Step 3: producing, with the execution of the started task and when it is detected that the current subtask is changed, an instruction including a marker of the current subtask.

Step 4 : providing, in accordance with the marker in said instruction, the subtask wizard information corresponding to the current subtask.

The third preferred method for providing subtasks' wizard information : this preferred method is a combination of the first preferred method and the second preferred method above, and therefore it also has the advantages of the abovementioned two preferred methods. The method not only detects the situation of the subtask key in the user interface to provide to the user the subtask wizard information of the subtask corresponding to the clicked subtask key; but also acquires the executing state of the task to provide the subtask wizard information of the current subtask. Specifically, said third preferred method for providing the subtasks' wizard information comprises the steps as follows:

Step 1 : setting the corresponding relationships between the task, the subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information. Step 2: determining, when starting a task and in accordance with said trilateral corresponding relationship, the subtasks of the task, and setting a subtask key corresponding to each of the subtasks in the user interface.

Step 3: producing, when it is detected that a subtask key in the user interface is clicked, an instruction including a marker of the subtask corresponding to the clicked subtask key; and producing, with the execution of the task and when it is detected that the current subtask is changed, the instruction including the marker of the current subtask.

Step 4 : providing, in accordance with said instruction including the marker of the subtask corresponding to the clicked subtask key, the subtask wizard information of the subtask corresponding to the clicked subtask key; and providing, in accordance with said instruction including the marker of the current subtask, the subtask wizard information corresponding to the current subtask.

Preferably, on the basis of the above technical solution, it can set the marker of the default current subtask of each of the tasks; and when the started task is closed, store the marker of the current subtask of the closed task. Then, after having started a task, it can first judge whether the marker of the current subtask of the task has been stored or not, if the answer is yes, then provide the subtask wizard information corresponding to the current subtask to the user by default; if the answer is no, then provide the subtask wizard information corresponding to the default current subtask to the user.

When judging whether the marker of the current subtask of a task has been stored, it can first judge whether the started task is a new task or an existing task, if it is a new task, it is determined that the marker of the current subtask of the task is stored; and if it is an existing task, it can further search the marker of the stored current subtask. When creating a new task or starting a task of the current subtask which is not stored, it can provide the subtask wizard information of a first subtask of the task by default, and of course it can also provide the subtask wizard information of other subtasks by default .

In the above methods, the subtasks and the subtask keys can have two states: a normal state and a completion state. Wherein, the completion state represents that the subtask has been completed, and relative to the completion state, the normal state represents that the subtask has not been completed yet. After having completed the execution of a subtask, the user can send out an instruction via the user interface, and set the subtask key into the completion state to mark which subtask is currently executed, so as to facilitate the user in knowing the execution state of the task. When the started task is closed, the subtask corresponding to the subtask key which has been marked in the completion state is stored in the completion state, and thus when the task is started next time, it can provide state information of the relevant subtask to the user in accordance with the state of the stored subtask, so as to facilitate the user in knowing the execution state of the task.

In the above methods, after having determined the subtasks of the started task, it can be set a user interface which comprises a key area and a display area. In which case, the set subtask key can be set within the key area of said user interface, and the provided subtasks' wizard information can be displayed in the display area of said user interface.

In the technical solution of the present invention, whether or not the subtask key corresponding to one subtask in the user interface has been clicked can be judged in a plurality of manners. For example, it can be stipulated in advance that the operation of clicking and then releasing the left mouse button on a certain subtask key in the user interface represents that the subtask key is clicked; it can also be stipulated that the operation of clicking the right mouse button on a certain subtask key in the user interface represents that the subtask key is clicked, and the present invention will not limit these operations.

The above set user interface can float on the operation interface of a software product all the time after having started the task, so as to provide to a user the requisite subtasks' wizard information at any time. Some routine keys can also be set in the user interface, such as minimization key, close key, etc., and in accordance with the requirements of practical applications, some keys which have other functions can also be set. Certainly, the user interface set in the present invention to provide the subtasks' wizard information to the user can also be like other desktop icons to support mouse dragging by the user, and the particular embodiments of these routine functions will not be described redundantly here.

On the basis of providing the subtask wizard information of the subtask to a user, the present invention further provides a technical solution for providing to the user the keyword help information about keywords. The solution presets the information of the technical terms and/or function designators of a software product as the keys, and presets the corresponding relationships between the keys, the task, the subtasks and the keyword help information. When receiving the instruction including the marker of the keyword and the subtask sent by the user via the user interface, in accordance with the corresponding relationships between said four, the keyword help information of said keyword under the corresponding subtask is provided to the user. Therefore, when providing the keyword help information about the keywords, it can filter the contents of the keyword help information in accordance with the context, so as to allow the user to find the requisite keyword help information about the keywords quickly and accurately, and to improve the degree of convenience in using the software by the user .

In particular implementations, it can set a wizard key in the user interface corresponding to the wizard mode, and set a help key in the user interface corresponding to the help mode, and the switch of said operating modes is realized by said wizard key and help key: when the wizard key in the user interface is clicked, the operating mode is in the wizard mode; and when the help key in the user interface is clicked, the operating mode is in the help mode. In practical applications, of course, one key can also be set to realize switching of the above operating modes, or, it can automatically judge which one in the subtasks' wizard information and the keyword help information should be provided in accordance with the operation of the user in the user interface, rather than setting the function key, and this will be described in detail hereinbelow.

The present invention also provides two particular implementations for providing the keyword help information about the keyword in the present invention. One implementation is that of: providing, options indicating the acquisition of keyword help information for the keyword when it is detected via the user interface that the right mouse button is clicked on the keyword, and producing the instruction including the marker of said keyword and current subtask when said option is selected, and then providing the keyword help information of said keyword under the current subtask to the user in accordance with the instruction. The other implementation is that of: supporting the user to drag the keyword into the display area of the user interface in a manner of mouse dragging, and producing the instruction including said keyword and the marker of the current subtask when it is detected that the keyword is dragged by the mouse into said display area, and then providing, in accordance with the instruction, the keyword help information of said keyword under the current subtask to the user.

If a subtask key is set corresponding to each of the subtasks in the user interface, it can acquire the keyword help information of the same keyword under different subtasks by clicking different subtask keys.

Corresponding to the above method for providing the subtasks' wizard information, the present invention also discloses an apparatus for providing the subtasks' wizard information. The particular embodiments of the apparatus will be described in detail in the following portion.

Fig. 2 is a composition structure diagram of the apparatus for providing the subtasks' wizard information in the embodiments of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 2, the apparatus comprises: a wizard module 210 and a user interface module 220, wherein: the wizard module 210 is for determining, when starting a task, the corresponding relationships between the subtasks of said started task and the subtasks' wizard information, and informing the user interface module; and for providing to the user interface module 220 the subtask wizard information corresponding to the subtask in accordance with the instruction including the marker of the subtask coming from the user interface module 220; and the user interface module 220 is for providing the user interface in accordance with the information of the wizard module 210; for producing the instruction including the marker of the subtask in accordance with the subtask selected by the user via the user interface, and sending said instruction to the wizard module 210; and for providing to the user the subtasks' wizard information coming from the wizard module 210. The apparatus in Fig. 2 can further comprise a memory module 230, for storing the corresponding relationships between the preset task, the subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information .

In this case, said wizard module 210 is also for determining the subtasks of the started task and the corresponding relationships between said subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information in accordance with the corresponding relationships between the task, the subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information stored in said memory module 230.

The user interface module 220 in the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 is also for setting a subtask key corresponding to each of the subtasks in the user interface, and is for producing, when it is detected that the subtask key in the user interface is clicked, an instruction including a marker of the subtask corresponding to the clicked subtask key.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 2 can also further comprise: a subtask detecting module 240, which is for producing an instruction including a marker of the current subtask when it is detected that the current subtask is changed, and sending said instruction to the wizard module 210; and said wizard module 210 is also for providing to the user interface module 220 the subtask wizard information corresponding to the current subtask, in accordance with the instruction including the marker of the current subtask coming from the subtask detecting module 240.

Said memory module 230 in Fig. 2 can further be used for storing the marker of the default current subtask of each of the tasks, and for storing, when the started task is closed, the marker of the current subtask of the closed task. In this case, the shown wizard module 210 can also be used for judging, after having determined the corresponding relationships between the subtasks of the started task and the subtasks' wizard information and in accordance with the information stored in the memory module 230, whether the marker of the current subtask of the started task has been stored, if the answer is yes, then sending the subtask wizard information of the current subtask to the user interface module 220; and if the answer is no, then sending the subtask wizard information of the corresponding default current subtask to the user interface module 220.

Here, the marker of the default current subtask can be set, and when the marker of the current subtask of a certain task is not stored or a new task is created, it can display the subtask wizard information of said default current subtask to the user.

The memory module 230 of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 can also be used for storing the state information of the subtasks, so that the user can instruct to set the subtask as in the completion state when a certain subtask is completed. When starting a task for the first time, said user interface module 220 can set the corresponding subtask in the user interface into the completion state in accordance with the instruction of setting the subtask key into the completion state issued by the user via the user interface, and when the started task is closed, it informs the memory module 230 to store the state of the subtask corresponding to the subtask key in the completion state. Thus, when the task is started next time, the wizard module 210 can send the state information of the subtask stored by the memory module 230 to the user interface module 220; and said user interface module 220 can set the corresponding state of the subtask key in accordance with the state information of the subtask coming from the wizard module 210. The memory module 230 shown in Fig. 2 can further be used for storing the corresponding relationships between the preset keyword, the task, the subtasks and the keyword help information .

In this case, the wizard module 210 in the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 can also be used for providing, after having started a task and when receiving the instruction including the keyword and the marker of the subtask coming from the user interface module 220, in accordance with the corresponding relationships of said four, the keyword help information of said keyword under the corresponding subtask to the user interface module 220.

Correspondingly, said user interface module 220, can also further be used for sending the instruction including the keyword and the marker of the subtask sent by the user via the user interface to the wizard module 210; and providing to the user the keyword help information of said keyword coming from the wizard module 210 under said subtask.

Preferably, the user interface module 220 shown in Fig. 2 can be used for providing options indicating the acquisition of keyword help information for the keyword when it is detected via the user interface that a right mouse button is clicked on a keyword, and for producing the instruction including said keyword and the marker of current subtask when said option is selected.

Preferably, the user interface module 220 shown in Fig. 2 can also be used for providing a display area in the user interface, and for producing the instruction including the keyword and the marker of the current subtask when it is detected that the keyword is dragged by the mouse into said display area. Moreover, the user interface module 220 of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 can also be used for producing the instruction including said keyword and the marker of the subtask corresponding to the clicked subtask key when providing the keyword help information of said keyword under said subtask and when it is detected that the subtask key in the user interface is clicked.

It can be seen from the abovementioned embodiments that, in the technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present invention, when starting a task, it determines the corresponding relationships between the subtasks of the task and the subtasks' wizard information, and provides the user interface, and then in accordance with a subtask selected by the user via the user interface, it produces the instruction including the marker of said subtask, and provides the subtask wizard information of the corresponding subtask further in accordance with the marker of said instruction. Thus, the subtasks' wizard information is provided momentarily and conveniently, and the degree of convenience in using the software by the user is improved, and the contextual relationships between all subtasks of the current subtask, the current subtask and other subtasks are made clear to the user.

Moreover, a consistent user interface which provides the subtasks' wizard information and the keyword help information in the embodiments of the present invention is also provided to the user, so as to further facilitate the user in acquiring the requisite subtasks' wizard information and the keyword help information .

The technical solution for providing the subtasks' wizard information of the present invention will be further described in detail below by way of preferred embodiments in conjunction with accompanying drawings. Said user interface of the present invention can be set in an arbitrary shape, such as: circle, square, rectangle, ellipse, etc. Preferably, it can be set as a circle.

Fig. 3 shows a composition structural diagram of a preferred user interface of the apparatus for providing the subtasks' wizard information of the present invention. The user interface can not only be used for providing the subtasks' wizard information to the user, but can also be used for providing the keyword help information to the user, and the user interface will be referred to as a navigator in the following description of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 3, the navigator comprises: a key area 310, a display area 320 and a dragging area 330.

In which case, the key area 310 is the second ring-shaped area from outside inwards in Fig. 3, and there is a plurality of subtask keys set in the key area 310; the display area 320 is the square area with rounded corners in the middle of the navigator shown in Fig. 3; and the dragging area 330 is the first ring-shape area from outside inwards shown in Fig. 3, and a minimization/maximization key 331, a close key 332, a wizard key 333 and a help key 334 are set in the dragging area 330.

The number of subtask keys in the navigator shown in Fig. 3 is determined by the task started, and supposing that there are five subtasks in a certain task, then five subtask keys corresponding to each of the subtasks can be set in the navigator. For example, the subtask key "subtask 1" 311 corresponds to the first subtask of the task, and when the subtask key is clicked, the subtask wizard information of the first subtask of the task (i.e. operational guidance of the subtask 1) will be displayed in the display area 320; the subtask key "subtask 2" 312 corresponds to the second subtask of the task, and when the subtask key is clicked, the subtask wizard information of the second subtask of the task will be displayed in the display area 320, and so on. Certainly, in practical applications, it is not necessary to set the abovementioned subtask keys in a sequence.

In practical applications, the initial size and position of the navigator can be set. The navigator can be activated by way of clicking the mouse or clicking the minimization/maximization key 331 and so on, and after the navigator has been activated, the navigator can be enlarged by two times of the initial size or other sizes, and the navigator is brightened, so as to enable the user to view the subtasks' wizard information in the display area 320 clearly, and when the user clicks a subtask key corresponding to a certain subtask, the key is brightened. When the navigator is in an activated state, clicking the minimization/maximization key 331 can display the navigator in gray, so as to make the navigator in an inactivated state. When it is needed to close the navigator, the close key 332 can be used, while when it is needed to start the navigator, the menu options can be used to start it. For example, an option "navigator" can be added in the help menu of the operation interface of the software product, and the navigator of the present invention can be displayed when the key is clicked, and at the same time, the apparatus for providing the subtasks' wizard information is started simultaneously. As mentioned above, said navigator of the present invention can also support the dragging function of a mouse, and the dragging function can be realized by pressing the left mouse button down in said dragging area 330, dragging the navigator to an expected position and then releasing the left mouse button.

When there is a lot of subtasks' wizard information and it is impossible to display all the subtasks' wizard information in the display area 320 at the same time, the rolling arrows 340 can be set on the upper e lower portions or on the left and right sides of the display area 320. When a rolling arrow 340 is pressed, the display area 320 is controlled to display the corresponding subtask wizard information. Thus, it enables the user to acquire all the subtasks' wizard information by using the rolling arrow 340.

If the keywords are preset in accordance with the technical terms and/or function designators of a software product of the present invention, and the corresponding relationships between the keywords, the task, the subtasks and the keyword help information are present, then the keyword help information can be further provided to the user by using the navigator shown in Fig. 3. Corresponding to two types of information provided by the navigator in the present invention, the operating modes of the navigator can be divided into two types: a wizard mode and a help mode, and a wizard key 333 and a help key 334 shown in Fig. 3 can realize the switching between the two modes. Specifically, when the wizard key 333 is clicked, the navigator will operate in the wizard mode, and in this case, the navigator can be switched to the help mode by clicking the help key 334.

Based on the navigator shown in Fig. 3, the operation flow of the method and the apparatus for providing the subtasks' wizard information of the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings .

Fig. 4 is an operating flowchart of a navigator in the embodiments of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 4, the operation flow comprises:

Step 401: the task not started, the navigator being in an invisible state to the user. Step 402: judging whether the task has been started, if the answer is yes, then continuing to execute step 401, and otherwise, continuing to execute step 403.

Step 403: judging whether the started task is a new task or an existing task, if it is a new task, continuing to execute step 404, and otherwise, continuing to execute step 405.

Step 404: determining, in accordance with the started task, the subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information corresponding to each of the subtasks, determining the number of the subtask keys in the navigator and the marker of the default current subtask, and continuing to execute step 406.

In this step, the subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information corresponding to each of the subtasks can be determined in accordance with the corresponding relationships between the preset task, the subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information. After having determined the subtasks, the number of the subtask keys in the navigator and the corresponding relationships between the subtask keys, the subtasks can be determined. In this embodiment, the marker of the default current subtask is set as the marker of the first subtask.

Step 405: determining, in accordance with the started task, the subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information corresponding to each of the subtasks, and determining, in accordance with the stored marker of the current subtask, the marker of the current subtask of the started task.

In this step, the started task is an existing task, and in the embodiment, since the marker of the current subtask of the task is stored when the task is closed at a previous time, when the task is started again, the subtask wizard information of the current subtask of the task is displayed by default in the navigator in accordance with the stored marker of the current subtask of the task, thereby enabling the user to know which subtask the task has proceeded last time.

Step 406: displaying the navigator in gray, and in this case, the navigator is in the inactivated state and the wizard mode, and it is in a default position with the default size.

Step 407: judging whether the task has been closed, if the answer is yes, then continuing to execute step 408; and if the answer is no, then continuing to execute step 415.

Step 408: judging whether the mouse stays on the navigator or not, if the answer is no, then returning to execute step 406, and otherwise, continuing to execute step 409.

Step 409: brightening the navigator, and enlarging the navigator to a certain scale.

Step 410: judging the operating mode of the navigator, if the operating mode is the wizard mode, continuing to execute step 411, and if the operating mode is the help mode, continuing to execute step 412.

Step 411: this step relates to the operation flow of the navigator in the wizard mode, for details please refer to Fig. 5 and the corresponding text illustration.

Step 412: this step relates to the operation flow of the navigator in the help mode, for details please refer to Fig. 6 and the corresponding text illustration.

Step 413: judging whether the minimization/maximization key has been clicked, if the answer is yes, then continuing to execute step 406, and if the answer is no, then continuing to execute step 414. In the embodiment, the operation by pressing down the left mouse button on a certain key and then releasing the left mouse button represents that the key has been clicked.

Step 414: judging whether the task has been closed, if the answer is no, then continuing to execute step 409; and if the answer is yes, then continuing to execute step 415.

Step 415: storing the marker of the current subtask of the closed task.

Up to now, the operation flow of the navigator shown in Fig. 4 is completed.

Fig. 5 is an operating flowchart of the navigator in a wizard mode in the embodiments of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 5, the operation flow of the navigator in the wizard mode is as follows:

Step 501: initializing the navigator.

In this step, in accordance with the determined number of the subtask keys in the navigator, the corresponding number of subtask keys is constructed, and each of the subtask keys is given by a corresponding name, the association between the subtask keys and the subtasks is created; and the corresponding function keys are set. All the subtask keys and function keys are displayed in gray.

Step 502: brightening the subtask key corresponding to the current subtask, and displaying the subtask wizard information corresponding to the current subtask.

Step 503: judging whether the subtask keys other than the subtask key corresponding to the current subtask have been clicked, if the answer is yes, then continuing to execute step 504, and otherwise, continuing to execute step 505.

Step 504: not brightening the subtask key corresponding to said current subtask in step 502, brightening the subtask key clicked in step 503, determining the subtask corresponding to the subtask key clicked in step 503 as the current subtask, and then continuing to execute step 507.

Step 505: judging whether the current executing subtask has been changed, if the answer is yes, then continuing to execute step 506; and otherwise, ending the flow, and returning to step 413 shown in Fig. 4.

Step 506: determining the currently executed subtask as the current subtask.

Step 507: displaying the subtask wizard information corresponding to said current subtask in the display area, and returning to execute step 503.

Up to now, the operation flow of the navigator in the wizard mode shown in Fig. 5 is completed.

Fig. 6 is an operating flowchart of the navigator in the help mode of the embodiments in the present invention. Referring to Fig. 6, the operation flow of the navigator in the help mode is as follows:

Step 601: detecting on which certain character/word the cursor is staying.

Step 602: judging whether the character/word is a preset keyword, if the answer is yes, then continuing to execute step 603, and otherwise, continuing to execute step 601. Step 603: changing the display of the keyword. For example, the display color, size, brightness, etc. of the keyword can be changed.

Step 604: judging whether the right mouse button has been clicked, if the answer is yes, then continuing to execute step 605, and otherwise, continuing to execute step 606.

Step 605: displaying as a pop-up window the options which represent the explanation of the keyword, and when the option which represents the explanation of the keyword is selected, continuing to execute step 607, and otherwise, continuing to execute step 601.

In this step, said pop-up option can be contained in a pop-up menu, said option which represents the explanation of the keyword can be named "explanation" etc., and when the "explanation" option in the pop-up menu is selected, it continues to execute step 607.

Step 606: judging whether to detect that a keyword is dragged by the mouse into the display area, if the answer is yes, then continuing to execute step 606; otherwise, continuing to execute step 601.

Step 607: displaying the keyword help information of the keyword under the current subtask in the display area of the navigator .

In this embodiment, the corresponding relationships between the keyword, the task, the subtasks and the keyword help information are preset. In this step, said corresponding relationships can be searched in accordance with the keyword which needs explanation and the subtask currently instructed by the navigation, the corresponding keyword help information can be acquired and it is displayed in the display area of the navigator .

Step 608: judging whether the subtask key of the navigation has been clicked, if the answer is yes, then continuing to execute step 609, and otherwise, continuing to execute step 607.

Step 609: determining the subtask corresponding to the currently clicked subtask key as the current subtask.

Step 610: displaying the keyword help information of the keyword under the current subtask, and then returning to step 413 shown in Fig. 4.

Up to now, the operation flow of the navigator shown in Fig. 6 in the help mode is completed.

What having been described above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the protective scope of the present invention. Any modification, equivalent replacement and improvement within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the protective scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for providing subtasks' wizard information, comprising : determining, when starting a task, the corresponding relationships between subtasks of the task and the subtasks' wizard information, and providing a user interface; producing, in accordance with a subtask selected by a user via the user interface, an instruction including a marker of said subtask; and providing, in accordance with the marker in said instruction, the subtask wizard information corresponding to the subtask.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises: presetting the corresponding relationships between the three parties of the task, the subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information; said determining, when starting a task, the corresponding relationships between subtasks of the task and the subtasks' wizard information comprises: determining, in accordance with said corresponding relationships between said three parties, the corresponding relationships between the subtasks of the task and between said subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information .

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that in said user interface, there is a subtask key corresponding to each of the subtasks; and said producing, in accordance with a subtask selected by a user via the user interface, an instruction including a marker of said subtask comprises: producing, when it is detected that a subtask key in the user interface is clicked, the instruction including a marker of the subtask corresponding to the clicked subtask key.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that after having determined the corresponding relationships between the subtasks of the task and the subtasks' wizard information, the method further comprises: producing, when it is detected that a current subtask is changed, an instruction including the marker of the current subtask; and providing, in accordance with the marker of said instruction, the subtask wizard information corresponding to the current subtask.

5. The method as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the method further comprises: presetting a marker for a default current subtask of each task; and storing, when closing the started task, the marker of the current subtask of the task closed; and after having determined the corresponding relationships between the subtasks of the task and the subtasks' wizard information, the method further comprises: judging whether the marker of the current subtask of the task has been stored, if the answer is yes, providing the subtask wizard information corresponding to the current subtask; if the answer is no, providing the subtask wizard information corresponding to the default current subtask.

6. The method as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said subtask and the subtask key have two states: a normal state and a completion state; after a task has been started, the method further comprises: when receiving an instruction, issued by the user via the user interface, to set the subtask key into the completion state, setting said subtask key into the completion state, and when the started task is closed, setting the subtask corresponding to said subtask key into the completion state; and when a task is started, the method further comprises: providing, in accordance with the set state of the subtask, the state information of the subtask.

7. The method as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the method further comprises: presetting a keyword, and presetting corresponding relationships between the four parties of the keyword, the task, the subtasks and the keyword help information; and after a task has been started, the method further comprises: when receiving an instruction, issued by the user via the user interface, including the keyword and the marker of the subtask, providing, in accordance with the corresponding relationships between said four parties, the keyword help information of said keyword under the corresponding subtask.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that when providing the keyword help information of said keyword under said subtask, the method further comprises: when it is detected that a subtask key in the user interface is clicked, providing the keyword help information of said keyword under the subtask corresponding to said clicked subtask key.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that before receiving the instruction including the keyword and the marker of the subtask, the method further comprises: when it is detected via the user interface that a right mouse button is clicked on a keyword, providing options indicating the acquisition of keyword help information for the keyword, and when said option is selected, producing the instruction including said keyword and the marker of the current subtask.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that said user interface comprises a display area; and before receiving the instruction including the keyword and the marker of the subtask, the method further comprises: producing the instruction including said keyword and the marker of the current subtask when it is detected that the keyword is dragged by the mouse into said display area.

11. An apparatus for providing subtasks' wizard information, comprising: a wizard module (210) and a user interface module (220), wherein: the wizard module (210) is for determining, when starting a task, the corresponding relationships between the subtasks of said started task and the subtasks' wizard information, and for informing the user interface module; and for providing, in accordance with the instruction including the marker of the subtask coming from the user interface module (220), to the user interface module (220) the subtask wizard information corresponding to the subtask; and the user interface module (220) is for providing the user interface in accordance with the information from the wizard module (210); for producing, in accordance with the subtask selected by the user via the user interface, the instruction including the marker of the subtask, and sending said instruction to the wizard module (210); and for providing the subtasks' wizard information coming from the wizard module (210) to the user.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises: a memory module (230) for storing preset corresponding relationships between the three parties of the task, the subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information; and said wizard module (210) is also for determining, in accordance with the corresponding relationships between the three parties of the task, the subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information stored in said memory module (230), the subtasks of the started task, and the corresponding relationships between said subtasks and the subtasks' wizard information .

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that: said user interface module (220) is also for setting in the user interface a subtask key corresponding to each of the subtasks, and for producing, when it is detected that a subtask key is clicked in the user interface, the instruction including the marker of the subtask corresponding to the clicked subtask key.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that said apparatus further comprises: a subtask detecting module (240), which is for producing, when it is detected that the current subtask is changed, the instruction including the marker of the current subtask, and sending said instruction to the wizard module (210); and said wizard module (210) is also for providing, in accordance with the instruction including the marker of the current subtask coming from the subtask detecting module (240), to the user interface module (220) the subtask wizard information corresponding to the current subtask.

15. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that: said memory module (230) is also for storing the marker of a default current subtask of each of the tasks, and for storing, when closing the started task, the marker of the current subtask of the task being closed; and said wizard module (210) is also for judging, after having determined the corresponding relationships between the subtasks of the started task and the subtasks' wizard information and in accordance with the information stored in the memory module (230), whether the marker of the current subtask of the started task has been stored, if the answer is yes, then sending the subtask wizard information of the current subtask to the user interface module (220); and if the answer is no, then sending the subtask wizard information of the corresponding default current subtask to the user interface module (220).

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 or 14, characterized in that: said memory module (230) is also for storing the subtasks' state information; said wizard module (210) is also for sending, when starting a task, to the user interface module (220) the state information of the subtask stored by the memory module (230); and said user interface module (220) is also for setting, after having started a task and in accordance with the instruction issued by the user via the user interface for setting the subtask key into the completion state, the subtask key into the completion state; for informing, when closing the started task, the memory module (230) to store the subtask corresponding to said subtask key in the completion state; and for providing to the user the subtask state information coming from the wizard module (210) .

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 or 14, characterized in that said memory module (230) is also for storing the preset corresponding relationships between the four parties of the keyword, the task, the subtasks and the keyword help information; said wizard module (210) is also for providing, after having started a task, when having received from the user interface module (220) the instruction including the keyword and the marker of the subtask, and in accordance with said corresponding relationships, to the user interface module (220) the keyword help information of said keyword under the corresponding subtask; and said user interface module (220) is also for sending the instruction including the keyword and the marker of the subtask issued by the user via the user interface to the wizard module (210); and for providing to the user the keyword help information of said keyword coming from the wizard module (210) under said subtask.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that: said user interface module (220) is also for producing, when providing the keyword help information of said keyword under said subtask and when it is detected that the subtask key in the user interface is clicked, the instruction including said keyword and the marker of the subtask corresponding to the clicked subtask key.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that: said user interface module (220) is also for providing, when it is detected that the right mouse button has been clicked in the user interface on the keyword, the options indicating the acquisition of the keyword help information of the keyword, and for producing, when said option is selected, the instruction including said keyword and the marker of the current subtask.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that: said user interface module (220) is also for providing a display area in the user interface; and for producing, when it is detected that the keyword has been dragged by the mouse into said display area, the instruction including said keyword and the marker of the current subtask.