Graphical user interface control for providing both automatic and manual data input

• US 5,604,516 A
• Filed: 06/30/1994
• Issued: 02/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Klein, John, Beach, Robert, Herrod, Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): Weldon, Ulysses
• Application Number:
  US08/269,242
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/168, 235/462, 235/470, 395/500, 341/26
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces

Abstract

A scan-aware custom control for use in designing a graphical user interface is capable of being provided with both scanned input from a bar code reading device as well as standard keyboard input when desired by the operator. The scan-aware custom control is implemented by an applications developer in a similar fashion to standard text controls, and has custom properties to allow data entry parameters to be set at the time the interface is designed. The scan-aware custom control reads the custom property values from a preloaded properties file in order to configure the scanner interface in accordance with the desired symbologies to be decoded. The scan-aware custom control is implemented on a graphical user interface resident on a data entry terminal in order to facilitate data entry in both automatic and manual modes of entry.

Claims

1. A method of providing for entry of data by an operator from a bar code scanning device or from a manual keyboard device into a single scan-aware control field on a graphical user interface comprising the steps of:

(a) implementing a polling loop to detect if the operator has selected a key on the manual keyboard device;

(b) selectively inputting into the scan-aware control field, when said polling loop has detected that the operator has selected a key on the manual keyboard device, data indicative of the selected key;

(c) implementing said polling loop with a check scanner routine to detect if bar code data should be entered into said scan-aware control field, said check scanner routine comprising the step of;

i) reading a drive property and exiting said check scanner routine if said drive property indicates that scanning input has not been preselected for said control;

ii) reading an entry mode property to determine if a data lock option has been preselected for said control;

iii) disabling scanning input to said control and exiting said check scanner routine when said data lock out option has been preselected and data is present in said control field otherwise enabling scanning input to said control;

iv) checking a scanner interface buffer to determine if scanner data is present due to the operator scanning a bar code, and exiting said check scanner routine when scanned data is not present otherwise;

v) entering scanned data from said scanner interface buffer to said scan-aware control field when bar code data is present.