Dynamic graphical system configuration utility

• US 5,825,361 A
• Filed: 03/29/1996
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellution, Inc. (GE Fanuc Automation North America Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Intellution, Inc. (GE Fanuc Automation North America Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rubin, Stephen E., Vanslette, Paul J., Favreau, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Application Number:
  US08/623,742
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 395/159, 395/161, 395/155, 395/156, 395/157, 395/140, 395/153, 395/349, 395/348, 395/354, 395/965-967, 395/340, 395/352, 395/347, 395/975, 395/969-970 , 395/333-334, 364/188, 364/190, 364/191, 364/192
• US Class Current: 715/839
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0879 Manual configuration through operator
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/965 for process control and configuration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/966 Computer process, e.g. operation of computer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/967 Visual or iconic programming

Abstract

A graphics-oriented technique for enabling a user to configure data processing features of a computer system that includes at least one computer. The data processing features are presented to the user in the form of displayed graphical objects, each of which represents one feature. The user selects a graphical object using an input device of the computer (e.g., a mouse), and is then prompted to enter information associated with the data processing feature represented by the selected object. The computer system is then enabled to use the data processing feature to process data in accordance with the user-specified information. After the configuration information has been entered for at least some of the objects, symbols are added to the display to indicate that the data processing features that the objects represent have been enabled, which presents to the user a comprehensive, easily understood representation of the current configuration state of the system.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a user to configure a computer system that includes at least one computer that can be configured with data processing features and for enabling the user to view graphical representations of the data processing features of the configured computer on a display, comprising the steps of:

displaying, in a first area of the display, a graphical representation of the computer to be configured;

displaying, in a second area of said display, at least one first graphical object, each graphical object representing a different one of said data processing features and enabling the user to select said at least one first graphical object using an input device to configure the computer with the data processing feature represented by the selected one first graphical object;

prompting the user to enter information for configuring an instance of the data processing feature represented by said one first graphical object selected by the user,

responding to the user entering said information by displaying, for each first graphical object selected, a second graphical object, like the first graphical object, within said first area of said display, indicating that said computer has been configured with said instance of said data processing feature, and

enabling said computer system to thereafter use said instance of said data processing feature to process data in accordance with said information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of responding includes displaying each second graphical object within the graphical representation of the computer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said prompting step includes

displaying a field that is associated with said data processing feature represented by said first graphical object selected by the user, said field including at least one record for said information,

enabling said user to enter said information in said record using said input device.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of enabling the user to select said second graphical object using said input device,

responding to the selection of said second graphical object by displaying a field that contains said information that was previously entered for said instance of said data processing feature represented by said second graphical object,

enabling the user to change said information in said field using said input device to modify said instance of said data processing feature, and

enabling said computer system to thereafter use said instance of said data processing feature to process data in accordance with said changed information.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of responding to a subsequent selection of said first graphical object by

prompting the user to enter information for configuring a second instance of said data processing feature, represented by said first graphical object selected by the user,

responding to the user entering said information for said second instance of said data processing feature by displaying another second graphical object in said first area indicating that said computer has been configured with said second instance of said data processing feature, and

enabling said computer system to thereafter use said second instance of said data processing feature to process data in accordance with said information for said second instance of said data processing feature.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said instance of said data processing feature provides for at least one data path for storing data files established during operation of said computer system, said information identifying storage locations for said files.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said instance of said data processing feature enables said computer to communicate with at least one other computer in said computer system over a network, said information including an identification of said other computer.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said instance of said data processing feature processes at least one alarm in response to data processed during operation of said computer system, said information defining conditions for which said alarm will be generated.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said instance of said data processing feature enables said computer to exchange data signals with a device external to said computer system, said information specifying operating conditions of said device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said instance of said data processing feature includes a data processing task that is defined by said information.

11. A method for enabling a user to configure a computer system that includes a plurality of computers, each of which computer can be configured with data processing features and for enabling a user to view graphical representations of data processing features for each configured computer on a display, comprising the steps of:

displaying, in a first area of the display, a graphical representation of each of the configurable plurality of computers, enabling the selection of one of the computers for configuration;

displaying, in a second area of the display, a graphical representation of a selected one of the configurable computers;

displaying, in a third area of said display, a plurality of first graphical objects, each of which represents one of said data processing features;

enabling the user to select any of said first graphical objects using an input device for configuring the selected computer with data processing features represented by the selected first graphical objects,

prompting the user to enter information for configuring an instance of each of the data processing features represented by said first graphical objects selected by the user,

responding to the user entering said information for said instances of said data processing features by displaying one second graphical object for each selected first graphical object within the second area of said display indicating that said selected computer has been configured with said instances of said data processing features, and

enabling said computer system to thereafter use said instances of said data processing features to process data in accordance with said information for said instances of said data processing features.

12. Apparatus for enabling a user to configure a computer system that includes at least one computer that can be configured with data processing features and for enabling the user to view graphical representations of the computer configured with data processing features on a display comprising:

means for displaying, in a first area of the display, a graphical representation of each configurable computer, one of which can be selected by a user for configuring;

means for displaying, in a second area of the display, a graphical representation of a computer selected for configuration;

means for displaying, in a third area of said display, a plurality of first graphical objects, each of which represents one of said data processing features,

means for enabling the user to select any of the first graphical objects using an input device of said computer,

means for prompting the user to enter information for configuring an instance of a data processing feature represented by said first graphical object selected by the user,

means for responding to the user entering said information by displaying a second graphical object for each selected first graphical object in the second area of said display indicating that said selected computer has been configured with said instance of said data processing feature, and

means for enabling said computer system to thereafter use said instance of said data processing feature to process data in accordance with said information.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein

said means for responding includes displaying each second graphical object within the graphical representation of the selected computer.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for prompting includes

means for causing said display to display a field that is associated with said data processing feature represented by said first graphical object selected by the user, said field including at least one record for said information,

means for enabling said user to enter said information in said record using said input device.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein

said means for enabling enables the user to make a second selection of any first graphical object,

said means for prompting responds to said second selection by prompting the user to enter information for configuring a second instance of said data processing feature represented by said first graphical object,

said means for responding responds to the entry of said information for said second instance of said data processing feature by displaying another second graphical object in the second area of said display indicating that said selected computer has been configured with said second instance of said data processing feature, and

said means for enabling enables said computer system to thereafter use said second instance of said data processing feature to process data in accordance with said information for said second instance of said data processing feature.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said instance of said data processing feature provides for at least one data path for storing data files established during operation of said computer system, said information identifying storage locations for said files.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said instance of said data processing feature enables said computer to communicate with at least one other computer in said computer system over a network, said information including an identification of said other computer.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said instance of said data processing feature processes at least one alarm in response to data processed during operation of said computer system, said information defining conditions for which said alarm will be generated.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein said instance of said data processing feature enables said computer to exchange data signals with a device external to said computer system, said information specifying operating conditions of said device.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said instance of said data processing feature includes a data processing task that is defined by said information.

21. A computer readable medium encoded with a computer program for use on a general purpose computer comprising:

a mechanism for displaying, in a first area of a computer display, a selected configurable computer;

a mechanism for displaying, in a second area of the display, a plurality of iconic symbols representing a plurality of features with which the selected computer can be configured;

a mechanism for allowing a user of said general purpose computer to select a single iconic symbol to configure the selected computer with a feature represented by the selected single iconic symbol;

a mechanism for allowing the user to enter configuration information about said feature represented by the selected single iconic symbol;

a mechanism for displaying a copy of said selected single iconic symbol in the first area of said display, in response to said user entering said configuration information about said feature indicating that the selected computer has been configured with said feature and configuration information.

22. A computer display system for enabling a user to graphically configure computers with features, wherein the computers are networked to monitor and control equipment in an industrial process control environment, comprising:

a mechanism for displaying, in a first area of a display, a computer selected for configuration;

a mechanism for displaying, in a second area of the display, iconic representations of the features with which the selected computer can be configured;

a mechanism to configure the selected computer with any feature by allowing a user to select an iconic representation of any of the features, and enter configuration information about that feature;

a mechanism to display a second iconic representation of each selected feature within the first area of the display.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the second iconic representation of each feature is substantially identical to the first iconic representation of that feature.