System and method for customizing multiple windows of information on a display

• US 20040210847A1
• Filed: 04/17/2003
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Supersonic Aerospace International LLC
• Original Assignee: Supersonic Aerospace International LLC
• Inventors: Berson, Barry L., Buck, Peter A., Bialecki, Larry J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,484,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/788
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2207/10 Displays which are primarily used in aircraft or display aircraft-specific information
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/08 using a common indicating element for two or more variables
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/324 Display of status information

Abstract

A device for monitoring the status of a plurality of subsystems includes a plurality of mutually exclusive windows on a display device. Each window includes information related to at least one of the subsystems. One or more of the windows includes a common user interface and a common display area for a subset of at least two of the windows. The common user interface includes selectable options for controlling the information displayed in the common display area, and the selectable options allow the user to display more detailed information related to the information displayed in one of the associated windows. Advisory information regarding the status of the subsystems can be included in one or more of the windows, along with a selectable option to display a checklist for the subsystem associated with each advisory message. The display system can be used to monitor operation and status of various types of systems including mobile vehicles, machines, biological organisms, and building facilities.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring the status of a plurality of subsystems in a system, comprising:

a display device operable to display;

a plurality of mutually exclusive windows, wherein each window includes information related to the system; and

a common user interface and a common display area, wherein the common user interface and the common display area are associated with a subset of at least two of the plurality of windows, the common user interface includes a selectable option for controlling the information displayed in the common display area, and the selectable option allows the user to display more detailed information related to the information displayed in at least one of the associated windows.

2. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a processor; and

a user input device configured to transmit user input data to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to communicate with the display device, and the input device is operable to enable a user to select the options.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein:

the common display area is presented in one of the plurality of mutually exclusive windows.

4. The device according to claim 2 further comprising:

computer executable instructions operable to generate for display at least one of the group of;

an option for the user to enter the number, size, and location of each window in the display;

an option to select the information to be displayed in each window; and

an option to allow the user to designate the windows that are associated with the common display area.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein:

the common display area includes a scroll option to allow the user to scroll through the information in the common display area.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein:

one of the plurality of windows includes advisory information regarding the status of the subsystems.

7. The device according to claim 6 further comprising:

a selectable option to acknowledge the advisory information, wherein the advisory information is cleared from the display when the acknowledge option is selected.

8. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a selectable option to display a checklist for at least one of the subsystems.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein:

one of the selectable options allows the user to initiate diagnostic procedures for at least one of the subsystems.

10. The device according to claim 1 wherein:

one of the selectable options allows the user to display operational history for at least one of the subsystems.

11. The device according to claim 1 wherein:

the system is at least one of the group of;

at least one mobile vehicle;

at least one machine;

at least one biological organism; and

at least one building facility.

12. The device according to claim 2 further comprising:

an indicator to signify a selected option.

13. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a selectable option to change the size of one of the windows, and to automatically resize at least some of the other windows to prevent overlap among the windows.

14. The device according to claim 13 further comprising:

a selectable option to restore the previous size of the windows.

15. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:

logic instructions to determine whether the system is in a predefined state, and to display predefined information while the system is in the predefined state.

16. The device according to claim 1 wherein:

the selectable options are activated using at least one of the group of a touch screen, a user-controlled cursor movable among the windows, and a hardware switch.

17. A method for monitoring the status of a plurality of subsystems in a system, comprising:

receiving sensed parameters from the subsystems;

displaying information from the sensed parameters in a plurality of mutually exclusive windows on a display device; and

displaying a common window associated with a subset of at least two of the windows, wherein the common window can be configured to display information related to the information displayed in at least one of the subset of the windows.

18. The method according to claim 17 further comprising:

displaying the common window in a mutually exclusive window.

19. The method according to claim 17 further comprising:

controlling movement of a cursor on the display device via a user input device; and

highlighting a symbol representing an option selected by a user.

20. The method according to claim 17 further comprising:

requiring a user to provide login information before allowing the user to view and access the information via the display device; and

presenting previous window configurations on the display based on the login information from which the user can select a configuration to be used.

21. The method according to claim 17 further comprising:

displaying advisory information regarding the status of the subsystems in one of the windows.

22. The method according to claim 21 further comprising:

displaying a selectable option to allow the user to acknowledge the advisory information, wherein the advisory information is cleared from the display when the acknowledge option is selected.

23. The method according to claim 21 further comprising:

displaying a selectable option to view a checklist related to the advisory information.

24. The method according to claim 17 further comprising:

displaying a selectable option to initiate diagnostic procedures on a selected one of the subsystems.

25. The method according to claim 17 further comprising:

displaying a selectable option to allow a user to display operational history for a selected one of the subsystems.

26. The method according to claim 17 wherein:

the system is at least one of the group of;

at least one mobile vehicle;

at least one machine;

at least one biological organism; and

at least one building facility.

27. The method according to claim 17 further comprising:

displaying a selectable option to change the size of one of the windows; and

automatically resizing at least some of the other windows to prevent overlap among the windows when changing the size of the one of the windows.

28. The method according to claim 27 further comprising:

displaying a selectable option to restore the windows to a previous size.

29. The method according to claim 17 further comprising:

determining whether the system is in a predefined state; and

displaying predefined information while the system is in the predefined state.

30. The method according to claim 29 further comprising:

displaying the predefined information in a prespecified location on the display.

31. The method according to claim 29 further comprising:

displaying the predefined information in a prespecified size on the display.

32. An apparatus comprising:

computer executable instructions operable to generate;

a plurality of mutually exclusive windows for displaying information on a display device;

a common display area associated with a subset of at least two of the windows, wherein the common window occupies one of the plurality of mutually exclusive windows, and the common display area can be customized by the user to display detailed information related to the information displayed in a selected one of the subset of the windows;

a selectable option to change the size of one of the windows;

instructions for automatically resizing at least some of the other windows and the common window to prevent overlap among the windows, upon selection of the option to change the size of the one of the windows; and

a selectable option to restore the windows to their previous size before selection of the option to change the size of the one of the windows.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32 further comprising:

computer executable instructions operable to determine whether a system associated with the information is in a predefined state; and

computer executable instructions operable to display predefined information in a predefined window on the display while the system is in the predefined state.

34. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the combination of the windows and the common display area cover the entire display area of the display device without overlap.

35. An apparatus for monitoring the operation of an aircraft and the aircraft'"'"'s subsystems, comprising:

a display device operable to display a plurality of mutually exclusive windows, wherein the windows include information about the aircraft and the subsystems; and

computer executable instructions operable to;

generate a common display area associated with a subset of at least two of the windows, wherein the common display area can be customized by the user to display detailed information related to the information displayed in the associated subset of windows.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35 further comprising computer executable instructions operable to allow the user to:

drag a selected portion of information in one of the windows; and

drop the selected portion of information to the common display area to cause additional information regarding the selected portion of information to be presented in the common display area.

37. The apparatus according to claim 35 further comprising computer executable instructions operable to:

generate an advisory information display regarding the status of the subsystems in one of the windows.

38. The apparatus according to claim 37 further comprising computer executable instructions operable to:

generate a selectable option to allow the user to acknowledge the advisory information, wherein the advisory information is cleared from the display when the acknowledge option is selected.

39. The apparatus according to claim 35 further comprising computer executable instructions operable to:

generate a selectable option to view a checklist.

40. The apparatus according to claim 35 further comprising computer executable instructions operable to:

generate a selectable option to initiate diagnostic procedures on a selected one of the subsystems.

41. The apparatus according to claim 35 further comprising computer executable instructions operable to:

generate a selectable option to display operational history for a selected one of the subsystems.

42. The apparatus according to claim 35 wherein:

the system is at least one of the group of;

at least one mobile vehicle;

at least one machine;

at least one biological organism; and

at least one building facility.

43. The apparatus according to claim 35 further comprising computer executable instructions operable to:

determine whether the aircraft is in a predefined state; and

display predefined information in at least one of the windows while the aircraft is in the predefined state.

44. A method for configuring windows in a display comprising:

presenting options to enter the number, size, and location of each window in the display;

presenting options to select the information to be displayed in each window; and

presenting an option to allow the user to designate a window that is common to at least two other windows.

45. The method according to claim 44 further comprising at least one of:

associating at least one window configuration with a user'"'"'s login information;

presenting an option to allow the user to select from among existing configurations; and

presenting an option to allow the user to enter a new window configuration.

46. The method according to claim 44 further comprising:

presenting options that can be included in each window, wherein the options can be displayed in the common window associated with each window.

47. The method according to claim 44 further comprising:

assigning certain types of information to a particular window based on the purpose for which the display will be used.

48. The method according to claim 44 further comprising:

sharing login information and configurations across a network to allow the user to access saved configurations from any display system connected to the network.

49. An apparatus for monitoring and controlling a system, comprising:

a display device operable to display a plurality of mutually exclusive windows, wherein the windows include information about the system;

computer executable instructions operable to;

generate a common display area associated with a subset of at least two of the windows, wherein the common display area can be customized by the user to display detailed information related to the information displayed in the associated subset of windows; and

generate a default window configuration for the user based on the user'"'"'s role in monitoring and controlling the system.

50. The apparatus according to claim 49 further comprising computer executable instructions operable to allow the user to:

display options for the user to select between different roles the user can assume.

51. The apparatus according to claim 50 further comprising computer executable instructions operable to:

automatically replace the information displayed on the operator'"'"'s display with the default window configuration for the selected role when the user switches roles.

52. The apparatus according to claim 51 further comprising computer executable instructions operable to:

display information that is relevant to the user'"'"'s new role.

55. The apparatus according to claim 50 further comprising computer executable instructions operable to:

automatically log the user off the apparatus after a pre-specified period of non-use.

56. The apparatus according to claim 50 further comprising computer executable instructions operable to:

allow the user to preconfigure and store a plurality of window configurations to display information and options that are preferred by the user when performing each of a plurality of roles.

53. The apparatus according to Claim cartridge read/write drive 50 wherein further comprising computer executable instructions operable to:

at least one of the roles can control and monitor aspects of the system that at least some of the other roles can not.

54. The apparatus according to claim 53 further comprising computer executable instructions operable to:

associate login information for a particular user with the roles the user is allowed to assume.