Providing assistance
Methods, devices, and systems that receive a signal corresponding to a selected portion of a manual related to an aspect of an electronic device, and provide an assistance correlating to the selected portion of the manual through a user interface of the electronic device different from the manual.
1 . A method comprising:
(a) receiving a signal corresponding to a selected portion of a manual related to an aspect of an electronic device; and
(b) providing an assistance correlating to the selected portion of the manual through a user interface of the electronic device different from the manual.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
(c) searching an assistance file for the assistance correlating to the selected portion of the manual.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein searching the assistance file includes searching an assistance file stored in the electronic device.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing an assistance further includes providing a visual presentation.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing an assistance further includes providing an audio presentation.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing an assistance further includes providing a spoken presentation.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing an assistance further includes providing a tactile presentation.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the assistance includes assistance with a physical element of the device.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the assistance with the physical element of the device includes blinking a light emitter associated with the physical element.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the assistance includes a guidance through a process associated with the aspect of the device.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the assistance includes description of the aspect of the device.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the assistance includes showing how the aspect of the device works.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the assistance includes an interactive tutorial.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected portion of a manual related to an aspect of an electronic device includes a user-selected portion of a manual related to an electronic device.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface of the electronic device includes a user interface associated with the electronic device.
16 . A computer-readable media containing computer instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of claim 1 .
17 . The computer-readable media of claim 16 wherein the computer-readable media includes a computer storage media.
18 . The computer-readable media of claim 17 , wherein the computer storage media is carried by a computer readable carrier.
19 . The computer-readable media of claim 16 , wherein the computer-readable media includes a communications media.
20 . A method comprising:
(a) receiving a signal corresponding to a selected portion of a manual related to an item having an electronic device; and
(b) providing an assistance correlating to the selected portion of the manual through a user interface associated with the electronic device and different from the manual.
21 . A method comprising:
(a) receiving a signal corresponding to a selected portion of a manual related to an item; and
(b) providing an assistance correlating with the selected portion of the manual through a user interface of an electronic device associated with item.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the assistance includes assistance with a physical element of the item.
23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the user interface of the electronic device associated with the item includes a removable association with the item.
24 . A system comprising:
(a) an electronic device having an electronic device user interface and including a computing device having a storage media;
(b) a manual having a manual user interface and including a content related to the electronic device, and being operable to;
(i) receive a user-selection to a portion of the manual related to an aspect of the electronic device through the manual user interface; and
(ii) generate a signal corresponding to the user-selected portion of the manual; and
(c) an electronic device assistance manager which includes instructions, that when implemented in a computing device cause the computing device to;
(i) receive the signal corresponding to a user-selected portion of the manual; and
(ii) provide an assistance correlating to the user-selected portion of the manual through the electronic device user interface.
25 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the electronic device assistance manager further includes an assistance file having an assistance content related to the electronic device.
26 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the electronic device is included in an electrical appliance and the manual includes a content associated with the electrical appliance.
27 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the electronic device is included in a computing device and the manual includes a content associated with the computing device.
28 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the computing device includes a personal computer.
29 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the electronic device is included in a limited resource computing device and the manual includes a content associated with the limited resource computing device.
30 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the electronic device is included in a pervasive computing device and the manual includes a content associated with the pervasive computing device.
31 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the electronic device is included in a digital appliance and the manual includes a content associated with the digital appliance.
32 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the manual and the electronic device are linked by a physical coupling.
33 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the manual and the electronic device are linked by a wireless coupling.
34 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the aspect of the electronic device includes a feature of the electronic device.
35 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the aspect of the electronic device includes a component of the electronic device.
36 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the aspect of the electronic device includes a button of the electronic device.
37 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the button includes a tangible button.
38 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the aspect of the electronic device includes a process associated with the electronic device.
39 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the manual includes information related to the device.
40 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the manual includes instructions related to the device.
41 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the electronic device user interface includes a visual display.
42 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the electronic device user interface includes a graphical display.
43 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the electronic device user interface includes a graphical user interface.
44 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the electronic device user interface includes an audio display.
45 . The system of claim 44 , wherein the audio display includes an acoustic speaker.
46 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the electronic device user interface includes a tactile display.
47 . A system comprising:
(a) an electronic device having an electronic device user interface and including a computing device having a storage media; and
(b) an electronic device assistance manager which includes instructions, that when implement in a computing device cause the computing device to;
(i) receive a signal corresponding to a user-selected portion of a manual related to an aspect of the electronic device; and
(ii) provide an assistance correlating to the user-selected portion of the manual through the electronic device user interface.
48 . A system comprising:
(a) a computing device having a user interface and a storage media;
(b) a manual having a user interface and including a content related to the computing device, and being operable to;
(i) receive a user-selection to a portion of the manual related to an aspect of the computing device through the manual user interface; and
(ii) generate a signal corresponding to the user-selected portion of the manual; and
(c) a computing device assistance manager which includes instructions, that when implement in a computing device cause the computing device to;
(i) receive the signal corresponding to a user-selected portion of the manual; and
(ii) provide an assistance correlating to the user-selected portion of the manual through the electronic device user interface.
49 . A method comprising:
(a) receiving a signal corresponding to a user-selected portion of a manual related to an aspect of an electronic device, the user selection having been received by a user interface of the manual;
(b) receiving a signal corresponding to a user-selected request for assistance related to the aspect of the electronic device, the user selection having been received by the user interface of the manual;
(c) searching an assistance file for an assistance correlating to the user-selected request for assistance; and
(d) providing the assistance correlating to the user-selected request for assistance through a user interface of the electronic device.
50 . The method of claim 49 , wherein the signal corresponding to a user-selected request for assistance is generated in response to a user selection of an assistance mode from a menu provided by the manual.
51 . A manual comprising:
(a) a content related to an electronic device;
(b) a user interface different from the electronic device and operable to receive a user-selection to a portion of the manual content; and
(c) a module operable to generate a signal corresponding to the user-selected portion of the manual.
52 . The manual of claim 51 , wherein operable to receive a user-selection includes operability to receive a user touch.
53 . The manual of claim 51 , wherein operable to receive a user-selection includes operability to receive a user body part orientation with respect to the portion of the manual.
54 . The manual of claim 53 , wherein the user body part is a finger.
55 . The manual of claim 53 , wherein the user body part is an eye.
56 . The manual of claim 51 , wherein operable to receive a user-selection includes operability to receive a movement of a user body part with respect to the portion of the manual.
57 . The manual of claim 51 , wherein operable to receive a user-selection includes operability to receive a user created sound.
58 . The manual of claim 51 , wherein operable to receive a user-selection includes operability to receive a user spoken word.
59 . The manual of claim 51 , wherein operable to receive a user-selection includes operability to receive a user spoken phrase.
60 . The manual of claim 51 , wherein the manual includes information related to the device.
61 . The manual of claim 51 , wherein the manual includes instructions related to the device.
62 . The manual of claim 51 , wherein the manual includes a tangible manual.
63 . The manual of claim 51 , wherein the tangible manual includes a paper manual.
64 . The manual of claim 51 , wherein the manual includes an e-paper manual.
65 . The manual of claim 51 , wherein the manual includes an intangible manual.
66 . The manual of claim 65 , wherein the intangible manual includes a manual called from a storage.
67 . The manual of claim 65 , wherein the intangible manual includes a manual received over the Internet.
68 . The manual of claim 51 , wherein the manual includes streaming images.
69 . The manual of claim 51 , wherein the manual includes an audio stream.
70 . A manual comprising:
(a) a content related to an item having an electronic device;
(b) a user interface different from the electronic device and operable to receive a user-selection to a portion of the manual content; and
(c) a module operable to generate a signal corresponding to the user-selected portion of the manual.
71 . A method comprising:
(a) receiving a user-selection to a portion of a manual having a content related to an electronic device in a user interface different from the electronic device; and
(b) generating a signal correlating to the user-selected portion of the manual content.
72 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the receiving the user-selection includes receiving a signal responsive to a user-selection touch to the portion of the manual.
73 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the receiving the user-selection includes receiving a signal responsive to a user body part having an orientation with respect to the portion of the manual.
74 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the receiving the user-selection includes receiving a signal responsive to a user created sound.
75 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the user-selected portion of the manual includes at least a portion of a page.
76 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the user-selected portion of the manual includes a word.
77 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the user-selected portion of the manual includes a picture.
78 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the user-selected portion of the manual includes a figure.
79 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the user-selected portion of the manual includes a portion of an image stream.
80 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the user-selected portion of the manual includes a portion of an audio stream.
81 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the user-selected portion of the manual includes a reference to a function of the device.
82 . A method comprising:
(a) receiving a user-selection to a portion of a manual related to an electronic device through a user interface;
(b) generating a signal corresponding to the user-selected portion of the manual;
(c) receiving a user assistance selection in the user interface; and
(d) generating a signal corresponding to the user assistance selection.
83 . The method of claim 82 , wherein the user assistance selection is received in a user interface different from the electronic device.
84 . An apparatus comprising:
(a) means for receiving a signal corresponding to a selected portion of a manual related to an aspect of an electronic device; and
(b) means for providing an assistance correlating to the selected portion of the manual through a user interface of the electronic device different from the manual.
85 . The method of claim 84 , further comprising:
(c) means for searching an assistance file for the assistance correlating to the selected portion of the manual.
86 . An apparatus comprising:
(a) means for receiving a signal corresponding to a user-selected portion of a manual related to an aspect of an electronic device, the user selection having been received by a user interface of the manual;
(b) means for receiving a signal corresponding to a user-selected request for assistance related to the aspect of the electronic device, the user selection having been received by the user interface of the manual;
(c) means for searching an assistance file for an assistance correlating to the user-selected request for assistance; and
(d) means for providing the assistance correlating to the user-selected request for assistance through a user interface of the electronic device.
87 . An apparatus comprising:
(a) means for receiving a user-selection to a portion of a manual having a content related to an electronic device in a user interface different from the electronic device; and
(b) means for generating a signal correlating to the user-selected portion of the manual content.
88 . An apparatus comprising:
(a) means for receiving a user-selection to a portion of a manual related to an electronic device through a user interface;
(b) means for generating a signal corresponding to the user-selected portion of the manual;
(c) means for receiving a user assistance selection in the user interface; and
(d) means for generating a signal corresponding to the user assistance selection.