Providing enhanced functionality in an interactive electronic technical manual

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatus, systems, computer program products for providing a table of contents (TOC) related to an information topic for an item in an interactive electronic technical manual system (IETM) configured to provide electronic and credentialed access to technical documentation for the item via an IETM viewer. In one embodiment, a method is provided comprising: providing a TOC window for display via the IETM viewer that includes an information topic field and a view pane; receiving the information topic for the item, wherein a user inputs the information topic in the field; and responsive to receiving the information topic: identifying topics found in the technical documentation, in which each topic comprises metadata having an information code matching the information topic, identifying a name for each topic, generating the TOC using the name for each topic, and providing the TOC for display via the view pane.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17 / 026,636, filed Sep. 21, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety into the present application.TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD[0002]Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to providing enhanced functionality in an interactive electronic technical manual (IETM). The inventors have developed solutions that increase the efficiency, functionality, speed, capabilities, and user friendliness over conventional IETMs.BACKGROUND[0003]IETMs and other technical data generally hold large amounts of information that can include multiple volumes and hundreds or thousands of data modules when in electronic format. When users of IETMs, or other technical data that are provided electronically, need to look for a specific subject, they need to go over a lengthy electronic table of contents, similar to a paper book, but using links, which ca...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present patent provides a method for providing an electrical schematic associated with wiring data for an item through an interactive electronic technical manual system (IETM). The method involves displaying a window on the IETM viewer, which includes the electrical schematic and selectable wires and components. Users can select a wire, and the system generates a diagram of the wire and its terminal ends. The system also provides a wire window for display, which includes a first view pane and a second view pane, allowing users to select specific parts of the wire. The technical effect of this patent is to provide a more efficient and effective way for users to access and understand the wiring data for an item.

Problems solved by technology

This results in a lot of time spent by users, trying to look in many different places (and sometimes, out of exasperation, just look from A to Z) to find the information, which results in inefficiency, loss of time, and waste of expensive resources.

Furthermore, although many conventional IETMs provide some type of interactive functionality with respect to the technical data that allow users to interactively view the data, such functionality is typically limited to capabilities and do not address many of the technical issues encountered when providing an electronic interface for a large amount of information, as well as technical improvements that provide features beyond just simply allowing the user to view such information.

Many conventional IETMs fail to provide functionality to control secure access to the technical data, as well as control user functionality within the IETMs in viewing and using the technical data in a secure manner.

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