Providing enhanced functionality in an interactive electronic technical manual

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.

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.