US-12621352-B2 - Providing enhanced functionality in an interactive electronic technical manual

US12621352B2US 12621352 B2US12621352 B2US 12621352B2US-12621352-B2

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatus, systems, computer program products for supporting communication functionality in an interactive electronic technical manual system (IETM) configured to provide electronic and credentialed access via an IETM viewer to technical documentation for an item. In one embodiment, a method is provided comprising: providing a window comprising a communication session option; receiving input of a selection of the communication session option; responsive to receiving the input: identifying active users who are signed into the IETM for a particular object of the item based on credentials for the user and the user being signed into the IETM for the particular object; and causing display of an identifier for each active user on the window as selectable; receiving input of a selection of an indicator for an active user; and responsive to receiving the input, initiating a communication session with the active user within the IETM.

Inventors

Ran Meriaz
Yoram Meriaz
Alexander Tkachman

Assignees

MBTE Holdings Sweden AB

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230911

Claims (15)

1 . A method for supporting communication functionality in an interactive electronic technical manual system (IETM), the method comprising: providing a first initial window for display, the first initial window comprising an electronic form configured for display via a first IETM viewer executing on a first user computing entity being used by a first user, wherein the first user computing entity, which is not connected to a network, is connected to a virtual private network after a first sign-in mechanism authenticates and signs the first user into the IETM; providing a second initial window for display, the second initial window comprising an electronic form configured for display via a second IETM viewer executing on a second user computing entity being used by a second user, wherein the second user computing, which is not connected to a network, is connected to the virtual private network after a second sign-in mechanism authenticates and signs the second user into the IETM; receiving input of a selection of the communication session option, wherein the selection of the communication session option is performed by the first user via the first IETM viewer; responsive to receiving the input of the selection of the communication session option: identifying a plurality of active users who are signed into the IETM for a particular object of an item to view technical documentation for the item, wherein the plurality of active users comprises the second user; and providing, for display, an indicator of each of the plurality of active users on the window as selectable; receiving input of a selection of the indicator for the second user; and responsive to receiving the input of the selection of the indicator for the second user, initiating a communication session via the virtual private network between the first user computing entity and the second user computing entity.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving input indicating the second user accepting the communication session, where the second user accepts activation of the communication session via the second IETM viewer executing on the second user computing entity; and the second user accepts activation of the communication session via the second IETM viewer executing on the second user computing entity; and responsive to receiving the input indicating the second user accepting activation of the communication session, conducting the communication session between the first user and the second user, wherein the communication session is conducted within the IETM over a internet protocol based network.
3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising: responsive to receiving the input of the selection of the communication session option: identifying one or more special users based at least in part on the credentials for the first user; and providing, for display, an indicator for each of the one or more special users on the window as selectable, wherein the first user can initiate a communication session to a special user of the one or more special users by selecting the corresponding indicator.
4 . The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving input of a selection of a share mechanism, wherein the selection of the share mechanism is performed by the first user via the first IETM viewer; and responsive to receiving the input of the share mechanism, causing the window to be shared over the communication session so that the second user can view the window via the second IETM viewer.
5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically saving a record of the communication session in a log in the IETM upon a completion of the communication session.
6 . An apparatus for supporting communication functionality in an interactive electronic technical manual system (IETM), the apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including a computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: provide a first initial window for display, the first initial window comprising an electronic form configured for display via a first IETM viewer executing on a first user computing entity being used by a first user, wherein the first user computing entity, which is not connected to a network, is connected to a virtual private network after a first sign-in mechanism authenticates and signs the first user into the IETM; provide a second initial window for display, the second initial window comprising an electronic form configured for display via a second IETM viewer executing on a second user computing entity being used by a second user, wherein the second user computing entity, which is not connected to a network, is connected to the virtual private network after a second sign-in mechanism authenticates and signs the second user into the IETM; receive input of a selection of the communication session option, wherein the selection of the communication session option is performed by the first user via the first IETM viewer; responsive to receiving the input of the selection of the communication session option: identify a plurality of active users who are signed into the IETM for a particular object of an item to view technical documentation for the item, wherein the plurality of active users comprises the second user; and provide, for display, an indicator of each of the plurality of active users on the window as selectable; receive input of a selection of the indicator for the second user; and responsive to receiving the input of the selection of the indicator for the second user, initiate a communication session via the virtual private network between the first user computing entity and the second user computing entity.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: receive input indicating the second user accepting the communication session, wherein the second user accepts activation of the communication session via the second IETM viewer executing on the second user computing entity; and responsive to receiving the input indicating the second user accepting activation of the communication session, conduct the communication session between the first user and the second user, wherein the communication session is conducted within the IETM over a internet protocol based network.
8 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: responsive to receiving the input of the selection of the communication session option: identifying one or more special users based at least in part on the credentials for the first user; and providing, for display, an indicator for each of the one or more special users on the window as selectable, wherein the first user can initiate a communication session to a special user of the one or more special users by selecting the corresponding indicator.
9 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: receive input of a selection of a share mechanism, wherein the selection of the share mechanism is performed by the first user via the first IETM viewer; and responsive to receiving the input of the share mechanism, cause the window to be shared over the communication session so that the second user can view the window via the second IETM viewer.
10 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to automatically save a record of the communication session in a log in the IETM upon a completion of the communication session.
11 . A non-transitory computer storage medium comprising instructions for supporting communication functionality in an interactive electronic technical manual system (IETM), the instructions being configured to cause one or more processors to at least perform operations configured to: provide a first initial window for display, the first initial window comprising an electronic form configured for display via a first IETM viewer executing on a first user computing entity being used by a first user, wherein the first user computing entity, which is not connected to a network, is connected to a virtual private network after a first sign-in mechanism authenticates and signs the first user into the IETM; provide a second initial window for display, the second initial window comprising an electronic form configured for display via a second IETM viewer executing on a second user computing entity being used by a second user, wherein the second user computing entity, which is not connected to a network, is connected to the virtual private network after a second sign-in mechanism authenticates and signs the second user into the IETM; receive input of a selection of the communication session option, wherein the selection of the communication session option is performed by the first user via the first IETM viewer; responsive to receiving the input of the selection of the communication session option: identify a plurality of active users who are signed into the IETM for a particular object of an item to view technical documentation for the item, wherein the plurality of active users comprises the second user; and provide, for display, an indicator of each of the plurality of active users on the window as selectable; receive input of a selection of the indicator for the second user; and responsive to receiving the input of the selection of the indicator for the second user, initiate a communication session via the virtual private network between the first user computing entity and the second user computing entity.
12 . The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to at least perform operations configured to: receive input indicating the second user accepting the communication session, wherein the second user accepts activation of the communication session via the second IETM viewer executing on the second user computing entity; and responsive to receiving the input indicating the second user accepting activation of the communication session, conduct the communication session between the first user and the second user, wherein the communication session is conducted within the IETM over a internet protocol based network.
13 . The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to at least perform operations configured to: responsive to receiving the input of the selection of the communication session option: identify one or more special users based at least in part on the credentials for the first user; and providing, for display, an indicator for each of the one or more special users on the window as selectable, wherein the first user can initiate a communication session to a special user of the one or more special users by selecting the corresponding indicator.
14 . The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to at least perform operations configured to: receive input of a selection of a share mechanism, wherein the selection of the share mechanism is performed by the first user via the first IETM viewer; and responsive to receiving the input of the share mechanism, cause the window to be shared over the communication session so that the second user can view the window via the second IETM viewer.
15 . The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to at least perform operations configured to automatically save a record of the communication session in a log in the IETM upon a completion of the communication session.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/030,455 filed Sep. 24, 2020 and that issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,792,237, which 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 entireties into the present application. TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD 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 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 can include nested subsystems (and sub-subsystems) within systems. This requires the users to know not only the exact nomenclature of the item they seek (many times this is unknown), but how to navigate through the seemingly endless array of nested data. 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. For example, the technical data may involve information that is highly confidential such as information on military equipment. 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. Thus, a need exists in the industry to address technical problems related to efficiently providing technical data to users in a user-friendly manner. Further, a need exists in the industry to provide technical improvements to allow for enhanced functionality with respect to the technical data. It is with respect to these considerations and others that the disclosure herein is presented. BRIEF SUMMARY Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatus, systems, computer program products and/or the like for supporting communication functionality in an interactive electronic technical manual system (IETM) configured to provide electronic and credentialed access via an IETM viewer to technical documentation for an item. In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a method for supporting communication functionality in an interactive electronic technical manual system (IETM) configured to provide electronic and credentialed access via an IETM viewer to technical documentation for an item is provided. In various embodiments, the method comprises: providing a window for display via the IETM viewer executing on a user computing entity being used by a user signed into the IETM, the window comprising a communication session option; receiving input of a selection of the communication session option, wherein the selection of the communication session option is performed by the user via the IETM viewer; responsive to receiving the input of the selection of the communication session option: identifying a plurality of active users who are signed into the IETM for a particular object of the item to view the technical documentation for the item based at least in part on credentials for the user and the user being signed into the IETM for the particular object; and causing display of an identifier for each of the plurality of active users on the window as selectable; receiving input of a selection of an indicator for an active user of the plurality of active users, wherein the selection of the indicator for the active user is performed by the user via the IETM viewer; and responsive to receiving the input of the selection of the indicator for the active user, initiating a communication session with the active user within the IETM, wherein the communication session is initiated over an internet protocol based network between the user computing entity being used by the user and a second user computing entity being used by the active user. In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosu