Enhanced user assistance
An apparatus, method, and system distinct from an item that provides user assistance for the item.
1. A system comprising:
a plurality of interfaces configured to operate in a first state, wherein the plurality of interfaces operating in the first state respectively perform a first function; and
an electronic assistance device including a display, the electronic device implemented with instructions that configure the electronic assistance device to:
receive a query related to a first interface of the plurality of interfaces while the plurality of interfaces are operating in the first state based on detecting a first user selection of the first interface, wherein the plurality of interfaces correspond to buttons;
responsive to receipt of the query related to the first interface, transition the plurality of interfaces to a second state, wherein the plurality of interfaces operating in the second state respectively perform a second function that is different from the first function and that is related to the first interface and wherein the display displays the second function corresponding to a subset of the plurality of interfaces operating in the second state;
receive a query related to an assistance request related to the first interface through a second user selection of one of the subset of the plurality of interfaces of the system that is operating in the second state;
wherein the system is configured to receive contextual information associated with the system including at least environmental information extrinsic to the system that is sensed by the system; and
wherein the electronic assistance device is further implemented with instructions that configure the electronic assistance device to:
responsive to receipt of the assistance request and receipt of the contextual information associated with the system, determine an assistance correlating operation of the first interface based on the environmental information extrinsic to the system, and provide assistance based on the operation via a user interface.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining an assistance correlating operation of the first interface based on the environmental information extrinsic to the system includes:
searching an assistance file via a network.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing assistance via a user interface includes:
providing a user interface visually indicating an association with the first interface.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing assistance based on the operation via a user interface includes:
providing a user interface visually indicating an association with the first interface.
5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface that is wirelessly couplable with the electronic assistance device.
6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface that is electrically couplable with the electronic assistance device.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is at least a portion of a vehicle, an appliance, a manufacturing apparatus or a processing apparatus.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system includes at least one control system.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining an assistance correlating operation of the first interface based on the environmental information extrinsic to the system includes:
searching an assistance file of the electronic assistance device.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic assistance device is further implemented with instructions that configure the electronic assistance device to:
receive one user input responsive to the provided assistance; and provide another assistance correlating to the one user input responsive to the provided assistance.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first interface is a shutter button.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the step of determining an assistance correlating operation of the first interface based on the environmental information extrinsic to the system includes:
determining an assistance correlating operation of shutter speed of the shutter button based on temperature sensed by a temperature sensor in the system.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the step of determining an assistance correlating operation of the first interface based on the environmental information extrinsic to the system includes:
determining an assistance correlating operation of shutter speed of the shutter button based on light intensity sensed by a light intensity sensor in the system.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the step of determining an assistance correlating operation of the first interface based on the environmental information extrinsic to the system includes:
determining an assistance correlating operation of shutter speed of the shutter button based on temperature and light intensity sensed by a temperature sensor and a light intensity sensor in the system.
15. A method for providing user assistance for a system using an electronic assistance device, the system having a plurality of interfaces configured to operate in a first state that respectively perform a first function, comprising:
receiving a query related to a first interface of the plurality of interfaces while the plurality of interfaces are operating in the first state based on detecting a first user selection of the first interface, wherein the plurality of interfaces correspond to buttons;
responsive to receipt of the query related to the first interface, transitioning the plurality of interfaces to a second state, wherein the plurality of interfaces operating in the second state respectively perform a second function that is different from the first function and that is related to the first interface;
displaying the second function corresponding to a subset of the plurality of interfaces operating in the second state;
receiving a query related to an assistance request related to the first interface through a second user selection of one of the subset of the plurality of interfaces of the system that is operating in the second state;
receiving contextual information associated with the system including at least environmental information extrinsic to the system that is sensed by the system; and
responsive to receipt of the assistance request and receipt of the contextual information associated with the system, determining an assistance correlating operation of the first interface based on the environmental information extrinsic to the system, and provide assistance based on the operation via a user interface.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of determining an assistance correlating operation of the first interface based on the environmental information extrinsic to the system includes:
searching an assistance file via a network.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of providing assistance based on the operation via a user interface includes:
providing a user interface visually indicating an association with the first interface.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of receiving a query related to the first interface while the plurality of interfaces are operating in the first state includes:
detecting a touch to the first interface.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of receiving a query related to the first interface while the plurality of interfaces are operating in the first state includes:
detecting a sound through the system.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of detecting a sound includes detecting at least one spoken word.
21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of determining an assistance correlating operation of the first interface based on the environmental information extrinsic to the system includes:
determining an assistance correlating operation of a camera control of a camera specified by the assistance request based on a background in an image captured by the camera.
22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of determining an assistance correlating operation of the first interface based on the environmental information extrinsic to the system includes:
determining an assistance correlating operation of protection of a camera lens of a camera specified by the assistance request based on a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor in the camera.
23. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of receiving a query related to an assistance request related to the first interface through a second user selection of one of the subset of the plurality of interfaces of the system that is operating in the second state includes:
receiving a selection corresponding to a predetermined assistance request related to the system.
24. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of determining an assistance correlating operation of the first interface based on the environmental information extrinsic to the system includes:
searching an assistance file for the assistance correlating to the assistance request.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the step of searching an assistance file includes searching an assistance file stored remotely via at least one network.
26. The method of claim 15 , wherein the method is configured to provide user assistance for a system that is at least a portion of a vehicle, an appliance, a manufacturing apparatus or a processing apparatus.
27. The method of claim 15 , further comprising receiving an input responsive to the provided assistance.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the step of receiving an input responsive to the provided assistance includes a request for an additional assistance correlating to the provided assistance.
29. The method of claim 28 , further comprising providing another assistance correlating to the input responsive to the provided assistance.
30. The method of claim 15 , further comprising activating a help mode of the electronic assistance device.
31. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of providing assistance based on the operation via a user interface includes:
providing a guided response assistance related to the first interface, an interactive tutorial assistance related to the first interface, an assistance correlating with a physical element of the system, a guidance correlating with a process associated with the first interface, showing how the first interface operates, or a description of the first interface.
32. The system of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing assistance based on the operation via a user interface includes:
providing a guided response assistance related to the first interface, an interactive tutorial assistance related to the first interface, an assistance correlating with a physical element of the system, a guidance correlating with a process associated with the first interface, showing how the first interface operates, or a description of the first interface.
33. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of receiving a query related to a first interface of the plurality of interfaces while the plurality of interfaces are operating in the first state includes:
receiving a query related to a shutter button of the plurality of interfaces while the plurality of interfaces are operating in the first state.
34. The method of claim 33 , wherein the step of deter lining an assistance correlating operation of the first interface based on the environmental information extrinsic to the system includes:
determining an assistance correlating operation of shutter speed of the shutter button based on temperature sensed by a temperature sensor in the system.
35. The method of claim 33 , wherein the step of determining an assistance correlating operation of the first interface based on the environmental information extrinsic to the system includes:
determining an assistance correlating operation of shutter speed of the shutter button based on temperature and light intensity sensed by a temperature sensor and a light intensity sensor in the system.
36. The method of claim 33 , wherein the step of determining an assistance correlating operation of the first interface based on the environmental information extrinsic to the system includes:
determining an assistance correlating operation of shutter speed of the shutter button based on light intensity sensed by a light intensity sensor in the system.