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EP0678204B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Multipurpose user interface
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
•
Filing: 1994-01-03
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Granted: 2000-03-01
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Expires: 2014-01-03
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for displaying information associated with a system. Softkeys are used to quickly reach screens associated with a desired system. The system may then be quickly modified using the softkeys.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen V. Metz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:17
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/18; G05B19/409; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/36; G05B2219/36129
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for displaying information and modifying parameters associated
with a system in an operator interface unit which includes a display means and data entry
means, the data entry means including keys, the operator interface having a hierarchy of
displays for displaying on the display means, the hierarchy including levels of displays,
each level having one or more displays, the method characterised by the steps of: displaying system parameter information associated with a display in a current
level; displaying a softkey command on the display means, a softkey being a software
reconfigurable key with identification of what will occur if the key is actuated; determining whether a softkey or a fixed key has been actuated; displaying, within a next level, a display if said fixed key has been actuated; and displaying within a current level, a next display if said softkey has been actuated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to Claim 1, determining whether a top or bottom level
has been reached in the hierarchy upon actuation of said fixed key and if the bottom level
has been reached, doing nothing upon further actuation of the fixed key, and if not,
operating normally.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to Claim 1 or 2 characterised by displaying a system
parameter modification instruction in association with a softkey when a current
penetration level value has a predetermined relationship to a row penetration limit
value.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
40 words
A method according to any preceding Claim characterised by:- determining whether the softkey associated with a system parameter
modification instruction has been actuated; modifying the system parameter if the softkey associated with said system
parameter modification instruction has been actuated.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
32 words
A method according to any preceding Claim characterised by:- determining whether the fixed key has been actuated; entering the displayed system parameter into the system if the fixed key has been
actuated.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
117 words
A method according to any preceding Claim characterised in that the operator
interface has first and second fixed keys, the first fixed key serving the first function of
incrementing the level of a display to be displayed and the second function of entering
system parameters, the second fixed key serving the first function of decrementing the
level of a display to be displayed and the second function of canceling changes to system
parameters, comprising the further steps of: determining whether the first or second fixed key has been actuated; performing the first function for the fixed key actuated if said bottom level has
not been reached; and performing the second function for the fixed key actuated otherwise.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
26 words
A method according to any preceding Claim, characterised by displaying an
icon on the display means which identifies the system for which information is being
displayed.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
68 words
A method according to any preceding Claim characterised by:- displaying a symbol indicating that modification of the display means to show
displays in a next level is possible whenever a current display is not from said bottom
level; and displaying a symbol indicating that modification of the display means to display
screens in a previous level is possible if the current display is not from the top level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
187 words
Apparatus for displaying information and modifying parameters associated
with a system, comprising a communications bus (635), a controller (600) connected to
the communications bus for controlling operations of the apparatus, a display means (10,
11) connected to said communications bus for displaying displays which contain
information associated with the system, memory connected to said communications bus,
said memory storing instructions for said controller and format and data information for
a menu of displays for displaying on the display means, the menu including plural levels
of displays, said displays providing information about the system, the apparatus
characterised by:- data entry means (12, 13, 14) connected to the bus, said data entry means
including a fixed key (13, 14) and a softkey (12), a softkey being a software
reconfigurable key with identification of what will occur if the key is actuated, actuation
of said fixed key causing said display means to show a display from a next level, actuation
of said sofkey causing said display means to show a next display from a current level;
and a communications interface (635) for connection of said communications bus to
the system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus according to Claim 9, characterised in that said memory stores a
bottom level (7012A-I) and a top level (7010) and said apparatus farther comprises a
tracking means for tracking a current penetration level within the menu and comparison
means for comparing said level penetration limit to said top and bottom levels as
required.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to Claim 10, characterised in that said display
means displays a system parameter modification instruction in association with a softkey
when said current penetration level value has a predetermined relationship to said row
penetration limit value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to Claim 11 characterised in that said
controller modifies the system parameter being displayed if the softkey associated with
said system parameter modification instruction has been actuated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to Claim 12 characterised in that said
controller enters the displayed system parameter into the system if the fixed key has been
actuated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus according to any of Claims 9 to 13 characrerised in that the data
entry means has first and second fixed keys, the first fixed key serving the first function
of incrementing the level of a display to be displayed and the second function of entering
system parameters, the second fixed key serving the first function of decrementing the
level of a display to be displayed and the second function of canceling changes to system
parameters.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus according to Claim 14 characterised in that said
controller causes said first and second fixed keys to perform their respective first
functions for the fixed key actuated if said level penetration limit does not have said
predetermined relationship to said bottom level; and said controller causes said first and second fixed keys to perform their respective
second functions for the fixed key actuated, otherwise.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to any of Claims 9 to 15 characterised in that said
memory stores an icon for display on said display means, said icon being symbolic of the
system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
93 words
Apparatus according to any of Claims 9 to 16 characterised in that:- said controller instructs said display means to display a symbol indicating that
modification of the display means to display screens in a next level from a present display
is possible if said current level is not the bottom level; and said controller instructs said display means to display a symbol indicating that
modification of the display means to show displays in a previous level from a present
display is possible if said current row penetration level is not the top level.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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