Interface devices
First Claim
1. Apparatus for customising user interface devices, each of the user interface devices having at least one user input region identified by a symbol and, operatively associated with the or each respective input region, at least one respective set of computer instructions for generating command signals for use in controlling at least one respective function of a remote target device, said apparatus being arranged to:
- a) receive control function selection information relating to at least one said function for inclusion in the interface device;
b) in accordance with the control function selection information, access from a location remote from the interface device at least one said set of computer instructions corresponding to a selected said at least one function;
c) receive layout selection information relating to a layout of the user interface device;
d) generate at least one symbol for identifying at least one of a control function, disposition and size of the or each respective user input region; and
e) in accordance with the layout selection information, produce an association file associating at least one selected said set of computer instructions with the or each respective said user input region, and initiate printing of the at least one symbol.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for producing a user interface device, said device having at least one user input region identified by a symbol and, operatively associated with the or each respective input region, at least one respective set of computer instructions for generating command signals for use in controlling a remote target device, said apparatus being arranged to:
a) access at least one said set of computer instructions from a location remote from the interface device;
b) produce an association file associating at least one selected said set of computer instructions with the or each respective said user input region; and
c) generate a symbol identifying a control function relating to the or each respective set of computer instructions.
65 Citations
33 Claims
-
1. Apparatus for customising user interface devices, each of the user interface devices having at least one user input region identified by a symbol and, operatively associated with the or each respective input region, at least one respective set of computer instructions for generating command signals for use in controlling at least one respective function of a remote target device, said apparatus being arranged to:
-
a) receive control function selection information relating to at least one said function for inclusion in the interface device;
b) in accordance with the control function selection information, access from a location remote from the interface device at least one said set of computer instructions corresponding to a selected said at least one function;
c) receive layout selection information relating to a layout of the user interface device;
d) generate at least one symbol for identifying at least one of a control function, disposition and size of the or each respective user input region; and
e) in accordance with the layout selection information, produce an association file associating at least one selected said set of computer instructions with the or each respective said user input region, and initiate printing of the at least one symbol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
- 9. Apparatus as claimed in clam 1, including at least one of the remote set or sets of computer instructions stored thereon.
-
14. A computer program, for use in producing a user interface device having at least one user input region identified by a symbol and, associated with the at least one respective input region, at least one set of computer instructions for use in controlling a remote target device, said computer program comprising computer executable instructions for causing computer apparatus to:
-
a) create an association file linking at least one selected said set of computer instructions, obtained from a location remote from the interface device, with at least one said user input region;
b) generate a symbol symbolising the or each respective set of computer instructions; and
c) generate a customisation interface arranged to display the or each symbol in an arrangement for printing onto the interface device, wherein the or each symbol is disposed so as to correspond with at least one said user input region. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. An interface device, customised for use in controlling a selected target device to access records stored on a remote storage medium, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of switches;
a plurality of corresponding switch actuating regions;
permanent symbols, corresponding to target device control functions, respectively printed relative to said actuating regions;
a controller for controlling the interface;
a path arrangement operably connecting the or each switch with said controller; and
transceiver apparatus for communication with said target device, whereby a user can use said symbols to identify a desired switch actuating region for generating and transmitting a command signal to the target device for accessing a selected record in desired manner, the arrangement of the symbols having been selected and printed in accordance with the user'"'"'s wishes. - View Dependent Claims (25)
- a plurality of switches;
-
31. A method of customising user interface devices, each of the user interface devices having at least one user input region identified by a symbol and, operatively associated with the or each respective input region, at least one respective set of computer instructions for generating command signals for use in controlling at least one respective function of a remote target device, the method comprising:
-
a) receiving control function selection information relating to at least one said function for inclusion in the interface device;
b) in accordance with the control function selection information, accessing from a location remote from the interface device at least one said set of computer instructions corresponding to a selected said at least one function;
c) receiving layout selection information relating to a layout of the user interface device;
d) generating at least one symbol for identifying at least one of a control function, disposition and size of the or each respective user input region; and
e) in accordance with the layout selection information, producing an association file associating at least one selected said set of computer instructions with the or each respective said user input region, and initiating printing of the at least one symbol.
-
-
32. A method of customising a user interface device having user input regions arranged for causing respective sets of computer instructions to be processed on the interface device so as to generate respective command signals for controlling a remote device, the method comprising;
-
a) enabling an operator to identify and select desired said sets of computer instructions corresponding to desired control functions for controlling at least one remote device;
b) causing the selected sets of computer instructions to be transmitted to a user interface device for storage thereon;
c) receiving information relating to a disposition of the user input regions on the user interface device; and
d) printing onto a surface of the user interface device, in alignment with respective ones of said user input regions of the user interface device, symbols respectively corresponding to the selected sets of computer instructions. - View Dependent Claims (33)
-
Specification