System and method for guiding a user in utilizing functions and features of a computer-based device

Abstract

A system/method is provided for guiding a user in utilizing functions of a computer-based device. The computer-based method includes operating a software application that interfaces with one or more applications on one or more remote computing devices. The computed-based method includes rendering a first screen having a plurality of display elements that are linked to a plurality of activities including a first activity and a second activity. The computer-based method includes receiving a selection of a display element of the plurality of display elements that is linked to the first activity. The computer-based method includes obtaining first activity information that includes first ancillary information. The computer-based method includes generating an inference of an interest or preference of a user based on the first ancillary information and outputting or performing a suggestion or recommendation to the user based on the inference of the interest or preference of the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-based method, comprising:
 rendering, by a processor and on a display, a screen having a first display element that is linked to an activity having a plurality of tasks;   receiving, by the processor, a selection of the first display element that is linked to the activity;   determining, by the processor, a capability score of a user that represents a level of technical expertise of the user based on a user response to each task of the plurality of tasks;   determining, by the processor, a first number of tasks to complete a subsequent activity when the capability score is a first capability score and a second number of tasks to complete the subsequent activity when the capability score is a second capability score; and   providing instructions to perform the subsequent activity based on the first number of tasks, the first type of tasks, the second number of tasks or the second type of tasks.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-based method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 dividing the subsequent activity into the first number of tasks when the capability score is the first capability score; and   dividing the subsequent activity into the second number of tasks when the capability score is the second capability score.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-based method of  claim 2 , wherein the second number of tasks is less than the first number of tasks when the second capability score is greater than the first capability score. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-based method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 operating a software application that displays an overlay on the screen that has the first display element that accesses and interfaces with a first application on a first remote computing device and a second display element that accesses and interfaces with a second application on a second remote computing device.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-based method of  claim 1 , wherein the user response to each task of the plurality of tasks includes an amount of time to receive the user response from when a task is provided to the user and a validity of the user response to the task that is provided to the user. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-based method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 measuring the amount of time to receive the user response from when a screen associated with the activity is presented.   
     
     
         7 . The computer-based method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the capability score of the user includes:
 increasing the capability score when the user completes a task of the plurality of tasks; and   decreasing the capability score when the user is unable to complete the task.   
     
     
         8 . The computer-based method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 providing additional instructions when the user is unable to complete the task.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-based method of  claim 1 , wherein the capability score is based on a previous capability score of the user that is stored in a user profile and that represents the level of expertise of the user prior to completing a task of the plurality of tasks of the activity. 
     
     
         10 . A computer-based user assistance system, comprising:
 a memory configured to store a software application;   a display configured to render a screen having a display element that is linked to an activity having a plurality of tasks; and   a processor coupled to the memory and configured to:
 execute the software application that interfaces with one or more applications, wherein the software application performs operations comprising: 
 rendering, on the display, a screen having a first display element that is linked to the activity; 
 receiving a selection of the first display element that is linked to the activity; 
 determining a capability score of a user that represents a level of technical expertise of the user based on a user response to each task of the plurality of tasks; 
 determining a first number of tasks to complete a subsequent activity when the capability score is a first capability score and a second number of tasks to complete the subsequent activity when the capability score is a second capability score; and 
 providing instructions to perform the subsequent activity based on the first number of tasks or the second number of tasks. 
   
     
     
         11 . The computer-based user assistance system of  claim 10 , wherein the user response to each task of the plurality of tasks includes an amount of time to receive the user response from when a task is provided to the user and a validity of the user response to the task that is provided to the user. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-based user assistance system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 measuring the amount of time to receive the user response from when the screen associated with the activity is presented.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-based user assistance system of  claim 10 , wherein determining the capability score of the user includes:
 increasing the capability score when the user completes a task of the plurality of tasks; and   decreasing the capability score when the user is unable to complete the task.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-based user assistance system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 providing additional instructions when the user is unable to complete the task.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-based user assistance system of  claim 10 , wherein the capability score is based on a previous capability score of the user that is stored in a user profile and that represents the level of expertise of the user prior to completing a task of the plurality of tasks of the activity. 
     
     
         16 . A computer-based method, comprising:
 rendering, by a processor and on a display, a screen having a first display element that is linked to a activity having a plurality of tasks;   receiving, by the processor, a selection of the display element that is linked to the activity;   assigning each task of the plurality of tasks a level of task difficulty;   determining, by the processor, a capability score of a user that represents a level of technical expertise of the user based on a user response to each task of the plurality of tasks and the level of task difficulty of each task;   determining, by the processor, a first number of tasks to complete a subsequent activity when the capability score is a first capability score and a second number of tasks to complete the subsequent activity when the capability score is a second capability score; and   providing instructions to perform the subsequent activity based on the first number of tasks or the second number of tasks.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-based method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 dividing the subsequent activity into the first number of tasks when the capability score is the first capability score; and   dividing the subsequent activity into the second number of tasks when the capability score is the second capability score, wherein the second number of tasks is less than the first number of tasks when the second capability score is greater than the first capability score.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-based method of  claim 16 , wherein the user response to each task of the plurality of tasks includes an amount of time to receive the user response from when a task is provided to the user and a validity of the user response to the task that is provided to the user. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-based method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 measuring the amount of time to receive the user response from when a screen associated with the activity is presented.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-based method of  claim 16 , wherein the capability score is based on a previous capability score of the user that is stored in a user profile and that represents the level of expertise of the user prior to completing a task of the plurality of tasks of the activity.