System for displaying different subsets of screen views, entering different amount of information, and determining correctness of input dependent upon current user input

• US 5,008,810 A
• Filed: 09/29/1988
• Issued: 04/16/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aspentech Corporation
• Original Assignee: Process Modeling Investment Corp.
• Inventors: Laclaire, John L., Lui, Andrew L., Kessel, William C., Locke, Michael H., Britt, Herbert I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Application Number:
  US07/251,514
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 364/300, 364/578, 364/188, 364/191, 364/513, 364/518, 364/521
• US Class Current: 715/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

An input software system is used to provide input to a process simulation software device. The input software system includes an expert system which guides the user step by step through required and optional input to successfully create a flow sheet model. The expert system prevents model overspecification and logically inconsistent specifications. The expert system checks for completeness of the model specification and the reasonableness of parameter values.

Claims

1. An input system for a computer-based model process simulation device, the input system comprising:

computer means;

video display means coupled to the computer means;

means for communicating to the computer means;

an ordered series of menus and input forms displayable on the video display and stored in the computer means, each menu having prompts such that the series of menus directs a user to the input forms, each input form having a plurality of input fields for receiving different user selected input data inserted by the user through the means for communicating to the computer means, and providing prompts corresponding to the input fields, the prompts on each form and menu being changeable as a function of input data inserted by the user on the forms;

processor means including software routines coupled to the computer means and having access to the menus and input forms, the processor means for generating an input file from the inserted input data and for each user insertion of input data (i) determining a current amount of completeness of the input forms, for each form, amount of user inserted input data to complete the form changing as a function of content of input data inserted by the user into various input fields and (ii) determining correctness of the inserted input data with respect to input field into which the input data has been currently inserted and input data inserted by the user into other input fields before the current insertion, such that input data determined to be correct is inserted into the input fields of the forms to establish a complete input file for a process simulation device and a highest amount of completeness of the input forms; and

a display data structure coupled to the processor means for generating on the video display a changeable subset of the ordered series of menus and input forms in response to the current amount of completeness determined by the processor means, the menus of the subset directing the user to the forms of the subset, the forms of the subset providing to the user the input fields with corresponding prompts to insert input data necessary for establishing a complete input file, the processor means determining the current amount of completeness with each user insertion of input data on a form, and the display data structure changing the subset of menus and forms in response to each determination of the current amount of completeness by the processor means.

2. An input system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

means for displaying on the video display, upon user command, an indication of possible input data which is correct with respect to an input field.

3. An input system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means for displaying an indication provides a list of predefined acceptable input data with respect to an input field.

4. An input system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means for displaying an indication includes a recall mechanism for recalling input data which was inserted by the user into other input fields and determined by the processor means to be correct.

5. An input system as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a trace routine performed by the processing means to determine correctness of currently inserted input data by comparing the currently inserted input data of one input field with previously inserted input data of other input fields, the currently inserted data being determined to be correct where it matches previously inserted input data of at least one of the other input fields.

6. An input system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a trace routine performed by the processing means to determine correctness of currently inserted input data by comparing the currently inserted input data of one input field with previously inserted input data of other input fields, the currently inserted input data being determined to be correct where it matches previously inserted input data of at least one of the other input fields.

7. An input system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the processor means generates on each menu and input form an indication of the current amount of completeness.

8. An input system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the processor means, after determining currently inserted input data to be incorrect, discards the currently inserted input data and displays on the video display an indication of the incorrectness of the currently inserted input data.

9. An input system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the processor means prevents input data from being inserted into certain input fields depending on input data which was inserted in other input fields and determined to be correct.

10. An input system for a model process simulation device, the model process simulation device controlled by computer means and having (i) a video display coupled to the computer means and (ii) means for communicating to the computer means, the input system comprising:

an ordered series of screen views supported by the computer means and displayable on the video display for user viewing therefrom, the ordered series of screen views providing an arranged course for user entry of desired data to form a complete input file, amount of user entered data to form a complete input file being a function of content of data entered by the user along the arranged course, each screen view providing to a user a state of completeness of the input file and prompts directing the user through the arranged course, at least one screen view providing input fields for receiving data provided by the user through the means for communicating to the computer means and prompts corresponding to the input fields;

processor means including software routines, coupled to the computer means and having access to the screen views, for forming an input file from user provided data, the processor means determining correctness of data currently provided by the user for one input field according to data which was provided by the user for other input fields and if correct, updating the state of completeness provided by each screen view according to both currently and previously user provided data, a complete state being established upon the formation of a complete input file; and

a display data structure coupled to the processor means for enabling on the video display a display of a changeable subset of the ordered series of screen views in response to the updated state of completeness, the subset providing that portion of the arranged course for user entry of data necessary to enable a complete input file to be formed from data provided by the user thus far, the processor means updating the state of completeness with each user entering of data in a screen view of the subset, and the display data structure enabling change of the subset in response to each updating of the state of completeness by the processor means.

11. An input system as claimed in claim 10 further comprising means for displaying on the video display, upon user command, an indication of possible data which is correct with respect to an input field.

12. An input system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the means for displaying an indication provides a listing of predefined acceptable data with respect to an input field.

13. An input system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the means for displaying an indication includes a recall mechanism for recalling user provided data which was provided for other input fields.

14. An input system as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a trace routine performed by the processor means to determine correctness of currently user provided data by comparing the currently provided data of one input field with previously user provided data of other input fields, the currently provided data being determined to be correct where it matches previously user provided data of at least one of the other input fields.

15. An input system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the processor means, upon determining currently user provided data to be incorrect, discards the currently user provided data and displays on the video display an indication of incorrectness in the screen view which was displayed during user provision of the currently user provided data.

16. An input system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the processor means prevents data from being provided for certain input fields depending on data which has been provided for other input fields and determined to be correct.

17. A method of forming an input file for a computer controlled model process simulation device, the steps comprising:

displaying on a video display, controlled by computer means, an ordered series of menus and input forms such that the ordered series of menus directs a user to the input forms;

providing on the forms input fields for receiving different user selected input data provided by the user through an input device coupled to the computer means;

for each user provision of input data, (i) checking correctness of the provided input data with respect to the input field for which the input data was provided and input data provided by the user for other input fields, (ii) determining a current state of completeness of the input forms, a complete state being determined upon provision of acceptable input data for respective input fields such that a complete input file is formed from the provided input data, for each form, number of input fields for which user provision of input data is needed to complete the form changing as a function of content of input data provided by the user for various input fields, and (iii) changing a changeable subset of the ordered series of menus and input forms such that the menus of the subset direct a user to the forms of the subset, the forms of the subset providing to the user input fields for input data necessary for forming a complete input file; and

displaying on the video display the changeable subset upon user command.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

providing prompts on the menus and input forms; and

changing prompts on the menus and input forms as a function of input data provided by the user on the forms.

19. A method of forming an input file for a computer controlled model process simulation device, comprising the steps of:

displaying on a video display, controlled by computer means, an ordered series of screen views to provide an arranged course for user entry of data for forming a complete input file, at least one screen view providing input fields for receiving data entered by the user through an input device coupled to the computer means;

providing to a user on each screen view a state of completeness and prompts directing the user through the arranged course;

determining correctness of data currently entered by the user for one input field according to data which was entered by the user for other input fields, and if correct, updating the state of completeness provided by each screen view, a complete state being established when a complete and error free input file is formable from the user entered data, amount of user entered data to form a complete input file being a function of content of data entered by the user along the arranged course;

forming a changeable subset of the ordered series of screen views in response to the updating of the state of completeness, the subset providing that portion of the arranged course for user entry of data necessary to enable a complete input file to be formed with data entered by the user thus far;

displaying the subset upon user command;

updating the state of completeness with each user entry of data in a screen view of the subset; and

changing the subset in response to each updating of the state of completeness.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 further comprising:

providing on said at least one screen view prompts corresponding to any input fields thereon; and

changing the prompts as a function of user entered data.