Mark E Estes

US Patent:

48581526, Aug 15, 1989

Filed:

Jan 23, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/006514

Inventors:

Mark W. Estes - Dallas TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corp. - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G01F 1506

US Classification:

364550

Abstract:

Information from multiple CICS host applications is gathered and the information is displayed on a single display screen. The information includes graphics, reports, and monitoring information. The display screens that the user is presented with are in a format that correspond to the host display screens that are commonly employed in large data processing (DO) centers. A host based status array is used to minimize the overhead of the communications between the host and the PC. The IBM 3270-PC or other microprocessor with a host communications interface receives existing, summarized information and reduces the information to a complete, accurate picture of the multiple applications that enables the operator to have timely information and respond effectively in a complex DP environment. The alarm information is organized to effectively call the operator's attention to a key problem quickly and efficiently. Key alarm messages can be designated as voice messages which are automatically translated and output as synthesized voice alerts.

US Patent:

49418297, Jul 17, 1990

Filed:

Dec 23, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/137399

Inventors:

Mark W. Estes - Dallas TX
Ivan R. Eisen - Flower Mound TX
Anthony M. Peters - Bedford TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G09B 1900

US Classification:

434118

Abstract:

A method is disclosed for providing a dynamic tutorial display for assisting a computer operator in the utilization of a selected interactive software application. A tutorial processing program is provided and is resident between the operating system and a selected interactive software application, acting as a filter therebetween. A sequence of desired operator inputs, such as keystrokes or mouse movements, is recorded by the tutorial processing program along with an indication of the elapsed time between each input. In response to an operator request for assistance, the tutorial processing program couples each recorded input in a selected sequence to the interactive software application, in sequence in accordance with the recorded elapsed time indications. In practice, the software application will then respond in a manner identical to the response generated by human inputs. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tutorial processing program also includes a provision for recording a plurality of textual or audible descriptive elements within the sequence of operator inputs.