EP0030160A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interactive user-machine interface method and apparatus
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1980-12-03
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2000-12-03
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a user interface device (UI device) used for machine control. The UI device is comprised a video display (124) capable of presenting desired images to the machine operator and a touch-sensitive device (125) capable of detecting operator requests by means of the operator touching the surface of the video display (124). A standard keyboard (126) may also be employed when typed responses are required of the operator, or a QWERTY keyboard may be displayed on the display 124. The UI device is controlled by a general purpose computer (101) which also controls the on-line machine (102). Visual elements presented tothe user on the UI device's display (124) include instructions in text (orthographic display), and images (imaginal display). Displayed images may include and log status indicators (eg, meters, thermometers) and buttons which the operator can touch to signal control requests. The displayed images change dynamically, so that only relevant indicators and valid control buttons are presented to the user at any given time (termed "conditional disclosure"), and the display format can be changed completely upon operator request, to allow for control of infrequently used or complex features (termed "progressive disclosure"). A set of schematics and flowcharts are included to complete the disclosure of the system. The resultant interactive display enables a relatively untrained operator to control a feature-rich or complex system.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard P. Dunn
- 👤 Herbert B. Bebb
- 👤 Lionel W. Mosing
- 👤 Anthony J. Ciuffini
- 👤 Michael V. Bartulis
- 👤 Edwin J. Smura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:42
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/04842; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/50; G03G15/5016; G03G15/502; G06F3/03; G06F3/033
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A system for controlling a machine (102), characterised by: a CRT (124) for displaying orthographic and imaginal displays to the operator, a touch panel (125) for generating electrical signals which are a function of the location of a touched point on the display of said CRT (124), and a computer (101) for receiving said signals and for generating, in response thereto, commands for controlling said machine (102) and for producing new displays for said CRT (124).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
76 words
A system for controlling a machine (102), characterised by: a CRT (124) for displaying orthographic and imaginal displays to the operator, a touch panel (125) for generating electrical signals which are a function of the location of a touched point on the display of said CRT (124), and a computer (101) for receiving said signals and for generating, in response thereto, commands for controlling said machine (102) and for producing new displays for said CRT (124).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1, characterised in that said touch panel (125) is a matrix of light sources and sensors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said system includes keyboard (126) for entering alphanumeric data into said computer (101), said alphanumeric data to be used to control said machine (102) or to be added to said displays.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
81 words
The system of any preceding claim, characterised in that said computer includes means for transmitting to said CRT (124) at any time one of a plurality of displays stored in said computer (101), each display comprising imaginal data in the form of a set of controls and orthographic data in the form of explanation for said controls, said controls, when identified by said touch panel (125), enabling another of the plurality of stored displays or initiating a particular machine (102) function.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 4, characterised by a program for modifying said displays.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 5, characterised in that said display modifications may be either the modification of a portion of the imaginal data or a modification of the orthographic material associated with said imaginal data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 4, characterised in that each of said displays is limited to command those machine functions that can be initiated at that time, or to command another display which also is so limited.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
26 words
The system of any preceding claim, characterised in that said computer (101) can be controlled to create a bit map for display on said CRT 124.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of any preceding claim, characterised by: a memory (p05) for storing messages, a font generator (g05) for converting said messages into video suitable for display on said CRT (124), and a CRT controller (f06) for displaying the messages generated by said font generator (g05) in a video form to provide the CRT (124) with a source of messages for the operator in addition to said computer (101).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 6 or any claim dependent therefrom characterised by means for duplicating a display element from one display onto another.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 6 or any claim dependent therefrom characterised by means for cancelling an element on display.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of using a computer (101) to control an interactive CRT (124) and a machine (102) characterised by: transmitting from the computer to the CRT a set of displays in imaginal and orthographic form from which the operator may select a command for the computer to transmit another display or a command for the computer to initiate a particular machine action, pointing to the selected command to generate electrical signals which are a function of the position of the selected point on the CRT and using the computer to respond to said electrical signals by initiating the selected machine function or by transmitting to said CRT the selected display.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of using a computer (101) to control an interactive CRT (124) and a machine (102) characterised by: transmitting from the computer to the CRT a set of displays in imaginal and orthographic form from which the operator may select a command for the computer to transmit another display or a command for the computer to initiate a particular machine action, pointing to the selected command to generate electrical signals which are a function of the position of the selected point on the CRT and using the computer to respond to said electrical signals by initiating the selected machine function or by transmitting to said CRT the selected display.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 12, characterised by entering alphanumeric information into the computer in response to said display as an alternative to said pointing step to select a command.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
14 The method of claim 12 or 13, characterised by using said computer, in response to a particular combination of a display and an electrical signal, to modify a display.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 12, 13 or 14, characterised by displaying those commands which can be performed by said computer or said machine at the time.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
23 words
The method of any of claims 12-15, characterised by said computer 101 creating a bit map of said display prior to displaying it.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
30 words
The method of any of claims 12-16, characterised in that a local processor (f06) generates displays to provide the operator with information in the absence of a fully operational computer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14, characterised in that modification of a display comprises duplicating a display element from one display onto another.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 14, characterised in that modification comprises cancelling a display element on a display.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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