Status driven menu system
First Claim
1. A method for adjusting the operating state of an instrument of the type having display means for displaying menus and memory means for storing data including configuration parameters, the operating state of the instrument being determined according to values of configuration parameters stored in said memory means, the method comprising the steps of:
- storing in said memory means menu data describing a plurality of menus each having a selectable menu item, said menu data including first instructions for selecting subsets of said plurality of menus for display by said display means according to values of said configuration parameters, and second instructions for modifying values of said configuration parameters in response to operator selection of the selectable menu item from said plurality of menus;
causing said display means to display a first subset of said plurality of menus;
modifying values of said configuration parameters according to said second instructions in response to operator selection of the menu item of the displayed first subset of said plurality of menus;
automatically selecting a second subset of said plurality of menus according to said first instructions and modified values of said configuration parameters; and
causing said display means to display said second subset of said plurality of menus.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Menus displayed on a screen of an instrument permit an operator to adjust and monitor the operating state of the instrument. Various menus are added and removed from the display in response to changes in the operating state of the instrument so that those menus appropriate for the operating state of the instrument are automatically displayed while inappropriate menus are automatically removed from the display. Displayed menu items may be added, removed or modified in response to changes in the operating state of the instrument, as evidenced by changes in the configuration parameters, so that only those menu items which are appropriate to a given operating state are displayed.
-
Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A method for adjusting the operating state of an instrument of the type having display means for displaying menus and memory means for storing data including configuration parameters, the operating state of the instrument being determined according to values of configuration parameters stored in said memory means, the method comprising the steps of:
-
storing in said memory means menu data describing a plurality of menus each having a selectable menu item, said menu data including first instructions for selecting subsets of said plurality of menus for display by said display means according to values of said configuration parameters, and second instructions for modifying values of said configuration parameters in response to operator selection of the selectable menu item from said plurality of menus; causing said display means to display a first subset of said plurality of menus; modifying values of said configuration parameters according to said second instructions in response to operator selection of the menu item of the displayed first subset of said plurality of menus; automatically selecting a second subset of said plurality of menus according to said first instructions and modified values of said configuration parameters; and causing said display means to display said second subset of said plurality of menus. - View Dependent Claims (2)
-
-
3. A method for adjusting the operating state of an instrument of the type having display means for displaying menus including operator selectable menu items, and having memory means for storing data including confiuration parameters, the operating state of the instrument being determined according to values of configuration parameters stored in said memory means, the method comprising the steps of:
-
storing in said memory means menu template data describing a plurality of menus having operator selectable menu items, said menu template data including first instructions for selecting menus from among said plurality of menus and for displaying at least one of the selected menus according to values of said configuration parameters stored in said memory means, and second instructions for modifying configuration parameter values stored in said memory means in response to operator selection of at least one selectable menu item of said plurality of menus; storing in said memory means menu format data describing a first subset of said plurality of menus selected according to said first instructions; selecting at least one of said first subset of said plurality of menus for display according to said first instructions; and causing said display means to display said at least one menu of said first subset selected according to said menu format data. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method for adjusting the operating state of an instrument of the type having display means for displaying menus, and having memory means for storing data including configuration parameter values, the operating state of the instrument being determined according to said configuration parameter values, comprising the steps of:
-
storing menu data in said memory means describing characteristics of a plurality of menus, each menu having an operator selectable menu item, said menu data including instructions associated with the operator selectable menu item for displaying the associated menu and for altering configuration parameter values when an operator selects the selectable menu item of the associated menu; automatically selecting a first menu from among said plurality of menus according to the configuration parameter values stored by said memory means; causing said display means to display said first menu according to said instructions included in said menu data; adjusting configuration parameter values stored by said memory means according to said instructions included in said menu data in response to operator selection of the selectable menu item of the displayed first menu; selecting a second menu from among said plurality of menus for display by said display means according to the adjusted configuration parameter values; and causing said display means to display said second menu according to said instructions included in said menu data.
-
-
8. A method for adjusting the operating state of an instrument of the type having display means for displaying menus, and having memory means for storing data including configuration parameter values, the operating state of the instrument being determined according to said configuration parameter values, comprising the steps of:
-
storing menu data in said memory means describing characteristics of a plurality of menus, each menu having an operator selectable menu item, said menu data including instructions associated with the operator selectable menu item for displaying the associated menu and for altering configuration parameter values when an operator selects the selectable menu item of the associated menu, for determining according to configuration parameter values which of said plurality of menus are to be displayed, and for selecting menu items to be included in each of said plurality of menus when displayed according to configuration parameter values; selecting a first menu from among said plurality of menus according to the configuration parameter values stored by said memory means; causing said display means to display said first menu according to said instruction included in said menu data; and adjusting configuration parameter values stored by said memory means according to said instructions included in said menu data in response to operator selection of the selectable menu item of the displayed first menu. - View Dependent Claims (9)
-
Specification