SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ALTERING A USER INTERFACE OF A POWER DEVICE

• US 20100246101A1
• Filed: 03/27/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Rodenhiser, Fred W., Trivedi, Himanshu, Spitaels, James S., Deokar, Vishwas Mohaniraj, Brookshire, Kyle
• Granted Patent: US 8,732,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/601
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/454 Multi-language systems; Localisation; Internationalisation

Abstract

A system and method for altering a user interface of a power device is provided. The user interface includes an interface structure. The method includes acts of receiving user preference information, determining additional configuration information of the power device, adapting the interface structure based at least in part on the user preference information and the additional configuration information and providing at least a portion of the adapted interface structure to a user via the user interface.

Claims

1. A method for altering a user interface of a power device, the user interface having an interface structure, the method comprising:

receiving user preference information;

determining additional configuration information of the power device;

adapting the interface structure based at least in part on the user preference information and the additional configuration information; and

providing at least a portion of the adapted interface structure to a user via the user interface.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the user preference information includes receiving at least one of a display mode preference, a language preference and a menu type preference.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining additional configuration information includes detecting at least one peripheral that is coupled to the power device.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein detecting at least on peripheral includes detecting at least one of a network management card and an external battery.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining additional configuration information includes detecting that the power device is coupled to a remote computer system.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein detecting that the power device is coupled to the remote computer system includes detecting software that is installed on the remote computer system.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein adapting the interface structure includes:

activating elements within the interface structure; and

deactivating elements within the interface structure.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing a portion of the adapted interface structure includes displaying the portion in a display housed in the power device.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising prompting the user to enter at least a portion of the user preference information during the initial configuration of the power device.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

identifying changes to at least one of the user preference information and the additional configuration information; and

adapting the interface structure based at least in part on the changes.

11. A power device comprising:

a housing;

an input to receive power from a power source;

an output operatively coupled to the input and configured to provide power;

a user interface disposed within the housing;

a data storage disposed within the housing;

a controller coupled to the user interface and the data storage and configured to;

receive user preference information;

determine additional configuration information of the power device;

adapt the interface structure based at least in part on the user preference information and the additional configuration information; and

provide at least a portion of the adapted interface structure to a user via the user interface.

12. The power device according to claim 11, wherein the controller configured to receive user preference information is further configured to receive at least one of a display mode preference, a language preference and a menu type preference.

13. The power device according to claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to detect at least one peripheral that is coupled to the power device.

14. The power device according to claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to detect at least one of a network management card and an external battery.

15. The power device according to claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to detect that the power device is coupled to a remote computer system.

16. The power device according to claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to detect software that is installed on the remote computer system.

17. The power device according to claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to:

activate elements within the interface structure; and

deactivate elements within the interface structure.

18. The power device according to claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to display the portion in a display housed in the power device.

19. The power device according to claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to prompt the user to enter at least a portion of the user preference information during an initial power-up of the power device.

20. The power device according to claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to:

identify changes to at least one of the user preference information and the additional configuration information; and

adapt the interface structure based at least in part on the changes.

21. A power device comprising:

a housing;

an input to receive power from a power source;

an output operatively coupled to the input and configured to provide power; and

means for adapting an interface structure of the power device based at least in part on user preference information and additional configuration information.