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User interface simulation and management for program-controlled apparatus

  • US 4,870,561 A
  • Filed: 07/20/1987
  • Issued: 09/26/1989
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1986
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of simulating a user interface for an apparatus, the apparatus including input and output means and a control program, the interface having a plurality of states, each state including at least one of a user-perceptible output provided by the output means and a user-selectable input receivable by the input means, the method comprising the steps of:

  • generating and storing an application network model representing the control program, the model comprising a plurality of application elements, at least one such element depicting an apparatus function controlled by the program, each such function being depicted by one such element, and at least one such element depicting a user interaction session, each such session being depicted by one such element;

    generating and storing at least one dialogue network model, one such model representing each user interaction session, each dialogue model comprising at least one dialogue element, each such element having an associated interface parameter specifying a state of the user interface; and

    after generating and storing the models;

    advancing through the elements of the application model,upon encountering any element which depicts a user interaction session, branching to the dialogue model which represents said user interaction session and advancing through the elements of said dialogue model,using any interface parameter encountered while advancing through the elements of said dialogue model to simulate the state of the user interface specified by said parameter, andafter advancing through the elements of said dialogue model, branching back to the application model and continuing to advance through the elements of the application model.

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