File creating method for constructing system environment, system environment constructing method and command start system

• US 5,774,713 A
• Filed: 09/26/1994
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Yokota, Yuko
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Cheryl R.
• Application Number:
  US08/312,477
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: 395/600, 395/575, 395/500, 395/159, 395/129, 395/145, 395/614, 395/601, 395/603, 395/604, 395/611, 395/616, 395/183.01, 364/260
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

A file creation method for constructing a system environment, a system environment constructing method, and a command start system. Prior to using the system, a plurality of application programs are classified into field groups, which are further divided into groups on the basis of functions thereof. The groups are further divided into input items on the basis of command options. Every layer of a hierarchy is ranked. Character strings are assigned to icons, button and data input frame so as to represent names or functions of groups. Files are created for every layer and group so that they contain information on the ranks, icons, and linkages between files. The files are read out and displayed in a top-down manner according to their ranks, so that a specific application program can be designated by selecting at least one icon or option, or entering an input item. Thereafter, the application program will be started.

Claims

1. A method for constructing a system environment relating to a user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

creating first files for hierarchically managing a plurality of application programs, the first files being ranked in accordance with a functional hierarchy of the plurality of application programs;

creating second files for hierarchically managing the plurality of application programs, the second files being ranked in accordance with a set-up option hierarchy of the plurality of application programs; and

storing the first and second files.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the step of creating first files includes the steps of:

classifying the plurality of application programs into a plurality of hierarchical functional groups based upon functions performed by the plurality of application programs, said classifying step being repeated for every layer of the functional hierarchy;

ranking the plurality of hierarchical functional groups according to their layer;

assigning to a predetermined selectable image representing a hierarchical functional group at least one character representing one of name or function of at least one of a plurality of hierarchical functional groups which are in a lower layer and are linked with the hierarchical functional group in a higher layer; and

storing information on the ranks and linkage of the plurality of hierarchical functional groups in the first files.

3. The method as in claim 2, wherein the step of creating second files includes the steps of:

dividing commands for one of starting or running the plurality of application programs into a plurality of components according to a command form to produce a plurality of hierarchical setting groups, said dividing step being executed for every layer of the set-up option hierarchy;

ranking the plurality of hierarchical setting groups according to their layer;

assigning to one of a second predetermined selectable image or a predetermined data input area representing a hierarchical setting group at least one character representing one of name or function of at least one of the plurality of hierarchical setting groups which are in a lower layer and are linked with the hierarchical setting group in a higher layer; and

storing information on the ranks and linkage of the plurality of hierarchical setting groups in the second files.

4. The method as in claim 3, wherein the plurality of hierarchical setting groups constitute lower hierarchical groups to the plurality of hierarchical functional groups.

5. The method as in claim 3, wherein said components of the command form include a program name, a selective option, a value setting option and standard input data.

6. The method as in claim 3, wherein predetermined selectable images are at least one icon or button, and said predetermined data input area is a frame for entering at least one of characters or numbers.

7. The method as in claim 2, wherein said predetermined selectable image is at least one icon or button.

8. The method as in claim 1, wherein the step of creating second files includes the steps of:

dividing commands for one of starting or running the plurality of application programs into a plurality of components according to a command form to produce a plurality of hierarchical setting groups, said dividing step being executed for every layer of the set-up option hierarchy;

ranking the plurality of hierarchical setting groups according to their layer;

assigning to one of a predetermined selectable image or a predetermined data input area representing a hierarchical setting group at least one character representing one of name or function of at least one of the plurality of hierarchical setting groups which are in a lower layer and are linked with the hierarchical setting group in a higher layer; and

storing information on the ranks and linkage of the plurality of hierarchical setting groups in the second files.

9. The method as in claim 8, wherein said components of the command form include a program name, a selective option, a value setting option and standard input data.

10. The method as in claim 8, wherein said predetermined selectable image is at least one icon or button, and said predetermined data input area is a frame for entering at least one of characters or numbers.

11. The method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

classifying the plurality of application programs into a plurality of field groups prior to the steps of creating the first files and creating the second files; and

creating first and second files for every field group.

12. The method as in claim 11, wherein application programs which are concurrently operable are classified into different field groups and application programs which are not concurrently operable are classified into a single field group.

13. A system environment constructing method relating to a user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying information linked with a first file of a first type having a highest rank in a hierarchy constituted by a plurality of files representing at least one second file of said first type or a second type, said information being represented by at least one of a selectable image or a data input area, said first file of the highest rank including links to said at least one second file and said at least one of the selectable image or data input area;

displaying, following a user'"'"'s input with respect to said displayed selectable image or data input area, information representing at least one third file of said first type or said second type corresponding to said selectable image or data input area which is in a lower layer in the hierarchy than said at least one second file;

repeatedly executing said step of displaying information representing the at least one third file for layers in the hierarchy in a top-down manner;

determining at least one application program to be started and starting conditions thereof in accordance with the user'"'"'s input with respect to the displayed selectable images and data input areas; and

starting said at least one determined application program in accordance with the starting conditions;

wherein said files of the first type are created for each of a plurality of application programs that differ in field and function and are hierarchically classified, and said files of the first type are ranked according to the hierarchical layer to which they belong and include at least one selectable image representing linkages thereof with another file of the first type or the second type in a lower layer; and

wherein said files of the second type are created for each of a plurality of application programs that differ in field, function and start command form, and are hierarchically classified, and said files of the second type are ranked according to the hierarchical layer to which they belong and include at least one selectable image or data input area representing linkages thereof with another file of the second type in lower layers.

14. A command start system relating to a user interface, the command start system comprising:

memory means for storing application programs and first and second types of files, said first and second types of files being stored simultaneously with the production of the command start system, said first types being created for a plurality of groups of application programs that differ in field and function and are hierarchically classified, each said first type being ranked on the basis of a layer thereof and including at least one selectable image representing a linkage with at least one first type of file in a different layer, and said second types of files being created for a plurality of groups of application programs that differ in field, function and start command form and are hierarchically classified, each said second type being ranked on the basis of a layer thereof and including at least one of a selectable image or a data input area representing a linkage with at least one of a first type of file or a second type of file in a different layer;

display means for displaying a plurality of selectable images including at least one of icons, buttons, or a data input area such as an input frame;

input means for enabling user input with respect to said selectable image when the selectable image is shown on said display means; and

operating system processing means for processing information, the operating system processing means, in response to activation of said command start system,

allowing said display means to display a screen for entering user identification information;

responsive to the user identification information entered via said input means, allowing said display means to show said selectable image to indicate information representing at least one first file of the first or second type that is linked with a file of the first type having a highest rank in a hierarchy constituted by the files of the first and second types and includes said selectable image;

responsive to user input with respect to the selectable image, allowing said display means to show other information representing at least one second file of the first or second type that is in a lower layer by showing at least one selectable image, said second file of the first or second type in the lower layer being linked with said first file of the first or second type in the higher layer in the hierarchy;

repeatedly executing the foregoing operations for every file of the first or second type in each layer of the hierarchy; and

setting conditions to start at least one application program and starting the at least one application program according to those conditions.

15. A computer comprising:

a central processing unit;

a display device coupled to the central processing unit;

memory coupled to the central processing unit, the memory having a first portion and a second portion;

a plurality of application programs stored in the first portion of the memory; and

a plurality of files stored in the second portion of the memory, the plurality of files being hierarchically ranked and including a plurality of files of a first file type and a plurality of files of a second file type, wherein the plurality of files of the first file type are hierarchically ranked according to a functional hierarchical classification of the plurality of application programs, and wherein the plurality of files of the second file type are hierarchically ranked according to a set-up option hierarchical classification of the plurality of application programs.

16. The computer of claim 15, wherein the plurality of files of the first file type includes first information that allows a particular application program of the plurality of application programs to be selected, and wherein the plurality of files of the second file type include second information that allows at least one of set-up options or data input to be selected and applied to the particular application program prior to running the particular application program.

17. The computer of claim 16, wherein the first information allows selection of the particular application program based upon a hierarchical display of at least one of name and function of the plurality of application programs.

18. The computer of claim 17, wherein the second information allows selection and application of the at least one of set-up options or data input based upon a hierarchical display by one of name or function of at least one of set-up options for the particular application program or data input areas for the particular application program.

19. The computer of claim 15, wherein the plurality of files are grouped into field groups according to a functional field of each of the plurality of application programs, and wherein application programs that are concurrently executable are grouped into different field groups and application programs that are not concurrently executable are grouped into a single field group.

20. The computer of claim 15, wherein each respective file of the first file type includes information linking a selectable image to the respective file of the first file type, the selectable image representing a linkage to at least one corresponding file of the plurality of files, the corresponding file being one of the first file type or the second file type.

21. The computer of claim 20, wherein each respective file of the second file type includes information linking a selectable image to the respective file of the second file type, the selectable image representing a linkage to at least one of set up options or input data of a particular one of the plurality of application programs.