Processor system comprising a processor and a memory field for containing a computer interface

• US 5,691,744 A
• Filed: 04/18/1996
• Issued: 11/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke PTT Nederland N.V. (Royal KPN NV)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke PTT Nederland N.V. (Royal KPN NV)
• Inventors: Anstotz, Karin Helene Marie, Coolegem, Karel Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): SARAS, STEVEN J
• Application Number:
  US08/634,370
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 345/115, 345/116, 345/146, 345/163, 345/169, 345/173, 345/902, 395/326, 395/333, 395/334, 395/335, 395/337, 395/338, 395/343, 395/344, 395/345, 395/352, 395/354, 395/682, 370/465, 380/4
• US Class Current: 715/745
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

Known processor systems comprising a processor and memory fields for containing computer interface profiles each having a number of elements each representing a function are static systems. The processor system according to the invention is a dynamic system, by allocating an element parameter to an element, which element parameter is a function of the number of times this element has been activated, for example per time interval, and by comparing this element parameter with a predefined value. In dependence of the comparison result, the element is displayed directly or indirectly.

Claims

1. A processor system comprising a processor and a memory field for containing a computer interface having a number of elements each representing a function, an element being directly displayed on a screen in case this element is entirely displayed all the time and independent of whether or not this element has been activated, and an element being selectively displayable on the screen in case this element is not entirely displayed all the time but is only entirely displayed after this element has been activated, the processor system being adapted for displaying at least one element directly on a screen, the processor system being adapted for

allocating a first element parameter to a first element, the first element parameter being a function of a number of times this first element has been activated,

allocating an element type to the first element,

allocating a second element parameter to a second element, the second element parameter being a function of a number of times this second element has been activated,

allocating an element type to the second element,

comparing the first element parameter with a threshold value and based on a comparison result either directly displaying the first element on the screen or enabling the first element for selective display on the screen,

comparing the second element parameter with another threshold value and based on another comparison result either directly displaying the second element on the screen or enabling the second element for selective display on the screen, and

based on the comparison results either interchanging values of at least two element types or not interchanging values of said at least two element types,

the memory field and the computer interface being adaptable by storing new values of element parameters and of element types.

2. The processor according to claim 1 wherein an element type corresponds to a location in the memory of an element parameter.

3. The processor system according to claim 1 wherein, in the memory field, storage locations are represented by rows and columns, and wherein elements are located at rows and element parameters and element types are located at columns.

4. The processor system according to claim 1 wherein, in the memory field, storage locations are represented by rows and columns, and wherein elements are located at columns and element parameters and element types are located at rows.

5. The processor system according to claim 1, wherein the processor system is adapted for

determining a total number of element types each having the same value,

comparing this total number with yet another threshold value and based on yet another comparison result and on said comparison results either allocating said same value to another element type or interchanging said same value of one of the total number of element types and another value of said another element type.

6. The processor according to claim 5 wherein an element type corresponds to a location in the memory of an element parameter.

7. The processor system according to claim 5 wherein, in the memory field, storage locations are represented by rows and columns, and wherein elements are located at rows and element parameters and element types are located at columns.

8. The processor system according to claim 5 wherein, in the memory field, storage locations are represented by rows and columns, and wherein elements are located at columns and element parameters and element types are located at rows.