EP0491392A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Embedded user-interface having multiple language capability
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1991-12-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A postage meter mailing machine (1) includes an embedded user interface system. The mailing machine includes a programmable microcontroller means having a non-volatile memory for storing data information and executable routine. The microcontroller is in bus communication with a visual display (7) and a plurality of soft keys (8). Stored in the memory are (i) a plurality of system screens for display on the visual display (7), (ii) a data window field and a prompt field and having descriptors for each of the respective fields (iii) a plurality of text strings in a first language and a plurality of text strings in a second language, (iv) a plurality of graphic display run routines, (v) a plurality of routines for enabling the soft keys (8) and for identifying the respective subsequent screen. The user interface is programmed to enable a select one of the text strings in one of the languages for display on the display.
Inventors
- 👤 Terrence M. Doeberl
- 👤 Patrick J. Donahue
- 👤 Michael E. Field
- 👤 Kevin D. Hunter
- 👤 Paul H. Mitchell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:21
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00193; G07B2017/00266; G07B2017/00274; G07B2017/0029; G07B2017/00298
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
An embedded user interface system for an apparatus, said apparatus having a programmable microcontroller means for performing hard and soft system apparatus functions and having memory means for storing data information and executable routines, said microcontroller being in bus communication with a visual display means for displaying information under control of said microcontroller and a plurality of soft keys, wherein said embedded user interface system comprises: said memory means having stored therein (a) a plurality of system screens for display on said visual display, each of said screens having a menu field of N columns and M rows, a data window field, and a prompt field, and having descriptors for each of said respective fields, (b) a plurality of text strings in a first language and a plurality of text strings in a second language, (c) a plurality of graphic display run routines, (d) means for enabling said soft keys and for identifying said respective subsequent screen in response to activation of said respective soft keys; and, said user interface having means to enable a selected one of said text strings in one of said languages being programmed to identify a first screen and having a screen select routine to (a) get the identified screen from said screen region of said memory for display on said display means, (b) get the text strings identified by said screen descriptor of said identified screen from said text region and display said text string in respective areas of said menu field of said screen, and enable said respective soft keys, (c) display dynamic information in the data window field of said displayed screen and execute a graphic display run routine, (d) await activation of one of said soft keys, and (e) execute a command file.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
39 words
An embedded user interface system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said soft keys is aligned to a respective portion of said screen menu field and said respective text string is aligned opposite said enabled soft key.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
91 words
An embedded user interface system as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said memory means comprises; (a) a screen region having stored therein said plurality of system screens, (b) a text region having stored therein a first language subregion and a second language subregion each region having said plurality of text strings in the respective languages, (c) a dynamic field region having stored therein said graphic display run routines, and (d) a soft key field having said routine for enabling said soft keys and for identifying said respective subsequent screen.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
243 words
A method of providing an apparatus with a user selectable apparatus system function, said apparatus having a programmable microcontroller in bus communication with a program memory, a visual display means for visual display of information and a plurality of soft keys comprising the steps of: storing in said program memory (i) a plurality of system screens for display on said visual display, each of said screens having a menu field of N columns and M rows, a data window field and a prompt field, and having descriptors for each of said respective fields, (ii) a plurality of text strings, (iii) a plurality of graphic display run routines, (iv) means for enabling said soft keys and for identifying a respective subsequent screen; and, programming said microcontroller to identify a first screen and to perform a screen routine to (a) get the identified screen from said screen region of said memory for display on said display, (b) get the text strings identified by said screen descriptor of said identified screen from said text region and display said text strings in respective areas of said menu field of said screen, and enable said respective soft keys, (c) display dynamic information in the data window field of said screen and execute a graphic display run routine, (d) await activation of one of said soft keys and repeat for next screen till end, and (e) execute a command file upon actuation of a selected one of said keys.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising the steps of storing in said memory a plurality of regions (a) a screen region having stored therein said plurality of system screens, (b) a text region having stored therein said plurality of text strings, (c) a dynamic field having said graphic display run routines, and (d) a soft key field having said routine for enabling said soft keys and for identifying said respective subsequent screen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
301 words
An embedded user interface system for an mailing machine, said mailing machine having a programmable microcontroller means for performing hard and soft system apparatus functions and having memory means for storing data information and executable routines, said microcontroller being in bus communication with a visual display means for displaying information under control of said microcontroller and a plurality of soft keys, wherein said embedded user interface system comprises: said memory means having stored therein: (a) a plurality of system screens for display on said visual display means each of said screens having a menu field of N columns and M rows, a data window field, and a prompt field, and having descriptors for each of said respective fields, (b) a plurality of text strings in a first language and a plurality of text strings in a second language, (c) a plurality of graphic display run routines, and (d) means for enabling said soft keys and for identifying said respective subsequent screen in response to activation of said soft keys; and, said user interface having means to enable a select one of said text strings in one of said languages, being programmed to identify a first screen and having a screen select routine to (a) get the screen identified from said screen region of said memory for display on said display means, (b) get the text strings identified by said screen descriptor of said identified screen from said text region and display said text strings in respective areas of said menu field of said screen, and enable said respective soft keys, (c) display dynamic information in the data window field of said screen and execute a graphic display run routine, (d) await activation of one of said soft keys and report for next screen till end, and (e) execute a command file.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
An embedded user interface system as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of said soft keys is aligned to a respective portion of said screen menu field, said respective text string being aligned opposite said enabled soft key.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
91 words
An embedded user interface system as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein said memory means comprises; (a) a screen region having stored therein said plurality of system screens, (b) a text region having stored therein a first language subregion and a second language subregion each region having said plurality of text strings in the respective languages, (c) a dynamic field region having stored therein said graphic display run routines, and (d) a soft key field having said routine for enabling said soft keys and for identifying said respective subsequent screen.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
244 words
A method of providing a mailing machine with a user selectable mailing machine system function, said mailing machine having programmable microcontroller in bus communication with a program memory, a visual display means for visual display of information and a plurality of soft key, comprising the steps of: storing in said program memory: (i) a plurality of system screens for display on said visual display, each of said screens having a menu field of N columns and M rows, a data window field and a prompt field, and having descriptors for each of said fields, (ii) a plurality of text strings, (iii) a plurality of graphic display run routines, and (iv) means for enabling said soft keys and for identifying said respective subsequent screen; and, programming said microcontroller to identify a first screen and having a screen routine to: (a) get the identified screen from said screen region of said memory for display on said display means, (b) get the text strings identified by said screen descriptor of said identified screen from said text region and display said text string in respective areas of said menu field of said screen, and enable said respective soft keys, (c) display dynamic information in the data window field of said screen and execute graphic display run routine, (d) await activation of one of said soft keys and repeat for next screen till end, and (e) execute a command file upon actuation of a selected one of said keys.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 further comprising the step of storing in said memory means a plurality of regions including: (a) a screen region having stored therein said plurality of system screens, (b) a text region having stored therein said plurality of text strings, (c) a dynamic field having said graphic display run routines, and (d) a soft key field having said routine for enabling said soft keys and for identifying said respective subsequent screen.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
A user interface system for microcomputer controlled apparatus having a memory, a plurality of keys and a display, the system comprising: text strings in first and second languages stored in said memory; and means responsive to actuation of a selected key to enable display of text strings in a selected one of said languages.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A mailing machine having a user interface system according to any of claims 1 to 3, 6 to 8 and 11 or operable according to any of claims 4,5,9 and 10.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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