Universal controller and graphical user interface

• US 20050240831A1
• Filed: 03/31/2004
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Doany, Ziyad H., Jackson, Jerry D., Willson, Corey M., Balkman, William D.
• Application Number:
  US10/815,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20050240831A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/025 concerning dedicated user interfaces, e.g. GUI, or dedicated keyboards G01R31/31912 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/125 for digital multimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/31912 Tester/user interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2736 using a dedicated service processor for test

Abstract

A graphical user interface (GUI) processor to control one of multiple different test devices. A user provides instructions via an input interface. The GUI processor includes a translator to receive the instructions input by the user and may also receive a signal indicating the type of test processor. The instructions input by the user are translated into test device commands based on the type of test device. The test device commands are transmitted to the test device, and test results are received from the test device and converted into display controls. A display engine is coupled to receive the display controls and drives a display to display the test results. In one exemplary embodiment, the display is adjustable based on the type of test device to only provide the user with options that correspond to the capabilities available on the test device.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface (GUI) processor for selective connection to one of at least two different test devices, the GUI processor comprising:

an input interface for receiving instructions from a user;

a translator adapted to;

receive the instructions input by the user;

translate the instructions input by the user into test device commands based on a type of test device connected to the GUI processor;

transmit the test commands to the test device and receives test results from the test device; and

convert the test results received from the test device into display controls; and

a display engine that receives the display controls from the translator and causes a display to display the test results.

2. The GUI processor of claim 1 in combination with a test device that receives test commands and provides test results, the test device being communicatively coupled to the GUI processor by a wired or wireless communication link.

3. The GUI processor of claim 2, wherein the test device is adapted to perform a suite of tests on a cable.

4. The GUI processor of claim 3, wherein the suite of tests that can be performed by the test device is a fall suite of telecommunications tests.

5. The GUI processor of claim 3, wherein the suite of tests that can be performed by the test device is a subset of a full suite of telecommunications tests.

6. The GUI processor of claim 1, wherein the translator receives a signal indicative of the type of test device connected to the GUI processor.

7. The GUI processor of claim 6, wherein the display engine receives the signal indicative of the type of test device connected to the GUI processor and causes the display to present options to the user that correspond only to capabilities that are available on the test device that is connected to the GUI processor.

8. The GUI processor of claim 1, further including signal communication and logic circuitry for communicating with the test device connected to the GUI processor and determining the test device type.

9. The GUI processor of claim 1, wherein the translator employs a first lookup table to translate the instructions input by the user into test device commands, the first lookup table being selected from a first plurality of lookup tables based on the type of test device connected to the GUI processor.

10. The GUI processor of claim 9, wherein the translator employs a second lookup table to convert the test results received from the test device into display controls, the second lookup table being selected from a second plurality of lookup tables based on the type of test device connected to the GUI processor.

11. The GUI processor of claim 1, wherein the translator employs a lookup table to convert the test results received from the test device into display controls, the lookup table being selected from a plurality of lookup tables based on the type of test device connected to the GUI processor.

12. The GUI processor of claim 1, wherein the translator executes software to translate the instructions input by the user into test device commands based on the type of test device connected to the GUI processor.

13. The GUI processor of claim 1, wherein the translator executes logic software to convert the test results received from the test device into display controls based on the type of test device connected to the GUI processor.

14. The GUI processor of claim 1, wherein the translator translates instructions into test device commands for telecommunications test devices configured to perform tests on telecommunications cables.

15. A method of controlling a test device selected from a plurality of test devices, the method comprising:

receiving instructions from a user;

translating the instructions input by the user into test device commands based on a type of test device being controlled;

transmitting the test device commands to the test device;

receiving test results from the test device; and

displaying the test results.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a signal indicative of the type of test device being controlled.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

interrogating the test device being controlled to generate the signal indicative of the type of test device being controlled.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein displaying the test results comprises:

converting the test results into display controls; and

driving a display with the display controls to display the test results.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

adjusting the display based on the type of test device being controlled to provide only options to the user that correspond to capabilities available on the type of test device being controlled.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein translating the instructions input by the user into test device commands is performed by employing a lookup table selected from a plurality of lookup tables based on the type of test device being controlled.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein converting the test results into display controls is performed by employing a lookup table selected from a plurality of lookup tables based on the type of test device being controlled.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein translating the instructions input by the user into test device commands is performed by executing logic software based on the type of test device being controlled.

23. The method of claim 15 wherein converting the test results into display controls is performed by executing logic software based on the type of test device being controlled.

24. A telecommunications testing system for performing at least one test on a telecommunications cable, comprising:

a test device for performing a suite of tests on the telecommunications cable and generating test results; and

a controller coupled to the test device, the controller;

determining the type of test device coupled to the controller;

providing a graphical user interface (GUI) and a display that represents only test capabilities available for the type of test device that is determined to be coupled to the controller;

initiating performance of one of the suite of tests by the test device in response to user instructions;

receiving the test results from the test device; and

causing the display to display the test results.

25. The telecommunications testing system of claim 24, wherein the controller is coupled to the test device by a wired connection.

26. The telecommunications testing system of claim 24, wherein the controller is coupled to the test device by a wireless connection.

27. The telecommunications testing system of claim 24, wherein the controller includes communication and logic circuitry to determine the type of test device coupled to the controller by interrogating the test device.

28. The telecommunications testing system of claim 24, wherein the suite of tests that can be performed by the test device is a full suite of telecommunications tests.

29. The telecommunications testing system of claim 24, wherein the suite of tests that can be performed by the test device is a subset of a full suite of telecommunications tests.