User definable interface system, method, support tools, and computer program product

• US 20070234223A1
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Changetools, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Changetools, Inc.
• Inventors: Diem, Darrell, Kidd, David, Leavitt, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,895,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/762
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/122 Instrument input devices with reconfigurable control functions, e.g. reconfigurable menus
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

In a cursor-based computing environment generating a display, a user-definable interface is configured by a user and activated when needed by a user, wherein the user-definable interface comprises a plurality of buttons. Functions of the buttons are selectable by the user according to his preferences. These preferences may be derived from applications or by functions selected exclusively by the user. An application (ZTool) is also described, this application allowing configuration of a display in accordance with predetermined parameters. These parameters may be related to data base access functions or other types of data access, including logistical support.

Claims

1. A method for communicating data from an application associated with a server to at least one of a plurality of remote computing devices, each said remote computing device having a viewing screen or workspace, said method comprising:

a) in said server, creating a virtual display image representative of said viewing screen or workspace of each of said remote computing devices,

b) in said server, providing a list of graphical components representative of icons, buttons and fields that may be used to populate one or more pases of said virtual display image, with at least some of said icons, buttons and fields operatively associated with functions related to said remote computing device and others of said icons, buttons and fields associated with requests for data from said server,

c) in said server, dragging, dropping and sizing selected ones of said graphical components onto said virtual display image to create a desired said virtual display image page for said remote computing device, a created said page of said virtual display image being functional when retrieved by a user for purposes defined by said graphical components therein,

d) in said server, creating and saving a plurality of developed virtual display image pages for retrieval, display and use for said purposes defined by said graphical components by a user of said remote computing device.

2. A method for communicating data as set forth in claim 1 further comprising providing each of said at least one of a plurality of remote computing devices and said server with an XML parser.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 further comprising defining said plurality of developed virtual display image pages using an XML format so that user communications between said remote computing devices and said server are exclusively in an XML data structure.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 further comprising returning to said server, from a user of one of said plurality of remote computing devices upon which a previously created one of said plurality of virtual display image pages is retrieved, a request for data from at least 1 of a database and an application, said request for data developed by selection of at least one of said graphical components from said previously created one of said plurality of said virtual display image pages.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 further comprising, responsive to said request for data, providing to a user a stored previously created virtual display image page having said data from said at least 1 of said database and application imbedded therein.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising inserting into at least one data field of a previously created said virtual display image page requested data retrieved from said application responsive to selection, by a user of said remote computing device, of one of said graphical components of a retrieved said previously created said virtual display image page.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising allowing a user to retrieve directly from said application, a previously created said virtual display image page upon which a software update is implemented without need to upgrade software in said remote device.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising loading at least one of said plurality of developed virtual display image pages from said server into a personal digital assistant-type device, for retrieval of said data from said application and for operating said personal digital assistant-type device.

9. A method as set forth in claim 7 further comprising loading at least one of said plurality of developed virtual display image pages from said server into a cellular telephone, for retrieval of said data from said application and operation of said cellular telephone.

10. A method for developing and sending at least one predefined, stored screen image page for a plurality of remote computing devices from a server associated with at least one application to a one of said remote computing devices, each of said remote computing devices having a display screen and wherein said at least one screen image page is developed in said server by emulating said display screen of said remote device and dragging and dropping operative icons and fields associated with operations of said remote computing device and said applications from a list of operative icons and fields into an emulated said display screen, said method comprising:

(a) from a one remote computing device of said plurality of remote computing devices, operating said icon or field of a previously said loaded screen image page and requesting a first previously developed said screen image page having at least one of said icons and fields operatively associated with a data request from said server and at least one of said icons and fields operatively associated with operation of said remote device,

(b) responsive to (a), providing a selected said first previously developed screen image page having at least one of said icons and fields operatively associated with said data request from said server and at least one icon operatively associated with operation of said remote computing device to said remote computing device,

(c) in said remote computing device, entering data operatively associated with said data request into said at least one of said icons and fields operatively associated with said data request of a provided said first previously developed screen image page,

(d) sending at least entered said data associated with said data request back to said server by operating at least one of said icons of said icons and fields of said first previously developed screen image page having said data associated with said data request entered thereinto,

(e) returning to said remote computing device a second previously developed said screen image page, with requested said data populating at least one of said fields of said icons and fields operatively associated with said data request, said second previously developed screen image page also populated with at least one of said icons operatively associated with operation of said remote device.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10 further comprising providing said server and each of said remote computing devices with XML parsing logic for enabling sending of said at least one predefined, stored screen image page from said server and for enabling sending of said data request.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 further comprising developing and sending said first screen image page, said second screen image page and said data associated with a data request exclusively in an XML format.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 further comprising providing to said plurality of remote computing devices upgraded software as a said previously developed screen image page, with an upgraded said previously developed screen image page being in an XML format.

14. A method as set forth in claim 12 further comprising sending synchronized data to said remote computing device as a said previously developed screen image page, said previously developed screen image page being in an XML format.

15. A system for managing a flow of information between at least one remote computing device provided with an XML parser and a data server provided with an XML parser, said flow of information being in an XML protocol and a method comprising:

configuring a software tool in said server associated with said information for allowing an operator of said server to develop, in said XML protocol, a plurality of viewing screen images each depicting a display of said at least one remote computing device,

allowing a manager of said server to select, from a list of features, specific said features to be included in each of said plurality of viewing screen images, some of said features operatively associated with operation of said remote computing device and others of said features operatively associated with said information associated with said server,

saving a developed said plurality of viewing screen images for retrieval by said at least one remote computing device,

allowing a user of said remote computing device to retrieve and display selected ones of said plurality of developed said screen images responsive to selection and operation of at least one of said features operatively associated with said information and said features operatively associated with operation of said remote computing device,

whereby said developed screen images that may include data are provided from said server to a user of said remote computing device.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15 further comprising configuring at least some of said plurality of viewing screen images to be retrievable in a predetermined sequence.

17. A method as set forth in claim 15 further comprising imbedding server side script instructions within an XML file sent from said remote computing device to said server.

18. A method as set forth in claim 17 further comprising sending at least one of said developed plurality of screen images containing data to said remote computing device responsive to operation of said imbedded server side script instructions.