Support tool for software parameterization

• US 20030023965A1
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bull Sas (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Bull Sas (Atos SE)
• Inventors: Robilliard, Pascal
• Granted Patent: US 7,587,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

The invention concerns the parameterization of a piece of software comprising parameters to be entered in order for it to be used. The principle consists of subdividing the set of parameters into subsets, and of simultaneously displaying the subsets (SS1, SS2, SS3), the content of at least one selected subset, and the position within the set of each subset selected.

Claims

1. Method for parameterizing a piece of software comprising parameters that must be entered in order for it to be used, characterized in that it consists of subdividing the set of parameters into subsets and of simultaneously displaying the subsets (SS1, SS2, SS3), the content of at least one selected subset, and the position within the set of each subset selected.

2. Parameterization method according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists, during the installation, of suspending the entry of the parameters and of storing in storage means (4) the partial entry performed so as to allow a subsequent resumption of the parameterization.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it consists of displaying the progress of the parameterization using visual means (V2) capable of informing a user whether or not the parameters of a subset have all been entered.

4. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it consists of displaying the position of the selected subset using visual means (V1) capable of indicating the position within the set of the subset selected.

5. Method according to any of claims 1 through 4, characterized in that if a suspension has occurred, during the subsequent resumption of the parameterization, the visual means (V1, V2) will appear as they were upon suspension.

6. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the selection of a subset is performed using selection means (Z2) based on the sequential or non-sequential entry mode of the subsets.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that if the entry mode is non-sequential, the selection of a subset of the area (Z1) is performed by means of a cursor whose movement is controlled by a mouse or by means of “

previous” and

“

next”

commands visible on the screen.

8. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that if the entry mode is sequential, the selection of a subset of the area (Z1) is performed by means of a cursor whose movement is controlled by a mouse.

9. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that it consists of distinguishing the various subsets by means of a unique identifier (SS1, SS2, SS3).

10. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the visual (V1) is an indicator positioned next to the identifier of the selected subset.

11. Graphical interface implementing the method defined in any of claims 1 through 10, characterized in that it comprises

a navigation area (Z1) that includes subsets to select and the identifier (SS1, SS2, SS3) of the subset selected,

and an entry area (Z3) that includes the content to be entered for the subset selected in the navigation area.

12. Graphical interface according to claim 11, characterized in that it also comprises a selection area (Z2) that includes a command for suspending the parameterization procedure, and for storing, in storage means (4), the information entered prior to the suspension.

13. Support tool for the parameterization of a piece of software comprising parameters that must be entered in order for it to be used, characterized in that it implements the method defined in any of claims 1 through 10, and in that it comes into contact with a user via a graphical interface as defined in claim 11 or 12.

14. Computing machine comprising at least a processor (3) and storage means (8), characterized in that it incorporates a support tool as defined in claim 13.