Application specific graphical user interface (GUI) that is window programmable and capable of operating above a windows operating system GUI

• US 5,706,456 A
• Filed: 04/18/1995
• Issued: 01/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Inventors: Nagy, Peter K., Dupper, Jerry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KATBAB, ABDOLLAH
• Application Number:
  US08/425,018
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155-161, 395/333, 395/334, 395/335, 395/339, 395/348, 395/349, 395/353
• US Class Current: 715/839
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A desktop programmable Graphical User Interface (GUI) workstation that can be easily programmed to perform a custom applications, without the need of text editor. In other words, programming the desktop programmable GUI workstation does not require the program user to utilize a text editor, create or edit code, or understand any particular programming language. The programmer user can program the workstation in an icon environment from predefined functions stored in libraries. Once programmed the workstation employs a GUI which provides an end user with an easy to use and easy to understand interface to their application specific process. The user interface is structured to organize work tasks by major activities of the application specific process. The workstation allows the user to integrate generic window technology such as word processing into their application specific process.

Claims

1. A method of graphically programming a graphic user interface manager of a computer to provide a plurality of application specific applications under a single collective workspace application comprising the steps of:

opening a generic task window for the purpose of adding tasks to a workspace screen;

selecting for a major activity application specific tasks or routines previously programmed into the computer under a plurality of different application specific programs;

assigning said major activity to one of a plurality of main task function keys for accessing said major activity and said application specific tasks;

assigning said application specific tasks or routines to a plurality of application specific function keys as a subcategory of said main task function key;

entering into said generic task window from a previously programmed library individual main task and application specific task icons and function data for each main task to be displayed; and

closing said generic task window;

whereby a routine of a plurality of application specific tasks may now be performed by selecting a major task to be performed as a new workspace application program.

2. The method of claim 1, which further includes the steps of assigning sub-tasks to a plurality of menu item keys as a predefined subspecific function of said application specific tasks.

3. The method of claim 2, which further includes the steps of selecting a main task function key and an application specific function key, and

simultaneously displaying on said workspace screen a plurality of menu item keys associated with said selected application specific function key.

4. The method of claim 3, further including the step of selecting one of said plurality of menu item keys for the purpose of executing a subspecific function.

5. The method of claim 1, which further includes the step of displaying a plurality of selectable main task function keys in said workspace after closing said generic task window.

6. The method of claim 5, which further includes the steps of selecting one of said plurality of selectable main task function keys, and simultaneously displaying on said workspace a plurality of selectable application specific function keys associated with the major activity of said selected main task function key.

7. The method of claim 2, further including the steps of selecting a main task function key and an application specific function key for the purpose of executing an application specific function.

8. A method of graphically generating a plurality of selectable programs on a graphical user interface display screen, comprising the steps of:

generating a generic edit option task window on a display screen of a computer having a graphic user interface program;

selecting from a plurality of previously programmed application specific programs a plurality of major routines;

displaying on said display screen said major routines as selectable major tasks;

selecting from said application specific programs a plurality of subroutines to be associated with a major routine;

displaying simultaneously with a selectable major task a plurality of selectable subroutine tasks;

assigning said major tasks and said subroutine tasks to function keys of said computer;

entering into said edit option task window icons associated with each said task; and

performing a routine of plurality of specific tasks by selecting a major task to be performed as a new application program.