Method for using guiscript and providing a universal client device

• US 6,043,815 A
• Filed: 09/30/1997
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Fontenot, Larry A., Simonoff, Adam J., Taft, Robert L., McLintock, Brian T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John E.
• Application Number:
  US08/941,256
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 345/326-358, 709/201, 709/200, 709/203, 707/513, 707/501
• US Class Current: 715/744
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45512 Command shells

Abstract

A method for operating a computer architecture independent device for genting and displaying a graphic user interface (GUI) includes steps for generating scripts defining respective GUI objects, generating a GUI script defining the GUI, storing one of the scripts and the GUI script, deciphering one of the scripts and the GUI script, scripting behavior of a program responsive to operator interaction with one of the GUI objects, and presenting a plurality of GUI objects to thereby form the GUI.

Claims

1. A method for operating a computer architecture independent device for generating and displaying a graphic user interface (GUI), the method comprising steps for:

generating a GUIScript defining said GUI;

generating said GUI responsive to said GUIScript;

generating and storing scripts defining respective GUI objects;

scripting behavior of a program responsive to operator interaction with one of said GUI objects; and

presenting at least one of said GUI objects to thereby form an updated GUI.

2. An operating method for a computer comprising steps for:

(a) storing a document written in hypertext markup language (HTML), said HTML document including an applet tag for invoking a Universal Client device and computer readable instructions for generating said Universal Client device;

(b) storing computer readable instructions providing a World Wide Web browser having a JAVA™

virtual machine;

(c) executing said World Wide Web browser to thereby generate said JAVA™

virtual machine; and

(d) executing said Universal Client device on said computer using said JAVA™

virtual machine to thereby generate predetermined graphical user interface (GUI) objects and display said GUI objects on said computer responsive to a GUIScript.

3. The operating method for the computer as recited in claim 2, said method further comprising the step of:

(e) generating a script defining said predetermined GUI objects;

wherein said Universal Client device generates said predetermined GUI objects defined by said script during said step (d).

4. The operating method for the computer as recited in claim 3, wherein said step (e) is performed prior to performance of said step (d).

5. The operating method for the computer as recited in claim 2, wherein said step (a) further comprises storing a document written in hypertext markup language (HTML), said HTML document including an applet tag for invoking a Universal Client device, the computer readable instructions for generating said Universal Client device, and predetermined GUI objects, and wherein said operating method further comprises the step for;

(e) generating a script defining interaction between said Universal Client device and said predetermined GUI objects during said step (d).

6. The operating method for the computer as recited in claim 2, wherein said step (a) further comprises storing a document written in hypertext markup language (HTML), said HTML document including an applet tag for invoking said Universal Client device, said computer readable instructions for generating said Universal Client device, said predetermined GUI objects, and predetermined JAVA™

objects.

7. The operating method for the computer as recited in claim 6, wherein:

one of said predetermined JAVA™

objects comprises a timer for determining time separation between display of a selected one of said predetermined GUI objects and operator response thereto, wherein said method further comprises a step for;

(g) activating said timer to thereby provide a measurement of operator response, wherein

said step (g) is performed one of simultaneous with performance of said step (d) and following initiation of said step (d).

8. The operating method for the computer as recited in claim 2, further comprising a step for:

(h) generating said GUIScript including a plurality of scripted instructions, wherein, during said step (d);

said Universal Client device executes said scripted instructions included in said GUIScript, and said Universal Client drvice executes a second one of said scripted instructions before execution of a first one of said scripted instructions has been completed.

9. The operating method for the computer as recited in claim 2, wherein said step (a) further comprises storing a document written in hypertext markup language (HTML), said HTML document including an applet tag for invoking said Universal Client device and computer readable instructions for generating said Universal Client device, predetermined GUI objects, and training script, and wherein, during said step (d) said Universal Client device interacts with said predetermined GUI objects responsive to said training script to thereby display a training sequence comprising said predetermined GUI objects.

10. The operating method for the computer as recited in claim 9, wherein one of said predetermined GUI objects comprises a MultiMedia presentation.

11. An operating method for a computer comprising steps for:

(a) storing a document written in hypertext markup language (HTML), said HTML document including an applet tag for invoking a Universal Client device.

(b) storing computer readable first instructions for generating said Universal Client device;

(c) storing computer readable second instructions for permitting said computer to utilize a virtual machine; and

(d) executing said Universal Client device on said computer using said virtual machine to thereby generate predetermined graphical user interface (GUI) objects and display said GUI objects on said computer responsible to a GUIScript.

12. The operating method for the computer as recited in claim 11, wherein said virtual machine comprises a JAVA™

virtual machine.

13. The operating method for the computer as recited in claim 11, further comprising steps for:

(e) defining said predetermined GUI objects sing a scrit; and

(f) storing said script, wherein;

said step (e) and (f) are performed prior to performance of said step (d); and

said Universal Client device generates said predetermined GUI objects responsive to one of said script and said GUIScript during performance of said step (d).

14. The operating method for the computer as recited in claim 11, further comprising steps for:

(g) storing said predetermined GUI objects; and

(h) generating a script defining interaction between said predetermined GUI objects and said Universal Client device;

wherein;

said steps (g) and (h) are performed prior to performance of said step (d); and

said Universal Client device interacts with said predetermined GUI objects responsive to a script during performance of said step (d).

15. The operating method for the computer as recited in claim 11, wherein one of said predetermined GUI objects comprises a MultiMedia presentation.

16. The operating method for the computer as recited in claim 11, wherein said step (b) further comprises storing said first instructions for generating said Universal Client device, said predetermined GUI objects, and predetermined JAVA™

objects.

17. The operating method for the computer as recited in claim 16, wherein one of said predetermined JAVA™

objects comprises a timer for determining time separation between display of a selected one of said predetermined GUI objects and an operator response thereto, wherein said method further comprises a step for;

(g) activating said timer to thereby provide a measurement of operator response, and

wherein said step (g) is performed one of simultaneous with performance of said step (d) and following initiation of said step (d).

18. The operating method for the computer as recited in claim 11, further comprising a step for :

(i) generating said GUIScriot including a plurality of scripted instructions, wherein, during said step (d);

said Universal Client device executes said scripted instructions included in said GUIScripted, and

said Universal Client device executes a second one of said scripted instructions before execution of a first one of said scripted instructions has been completed.

19. The operating method for the computer as recited in claim 11, wherein said step (b) further comprises storing said first instructions for generating said Universal Client device, predetermined GUI objects, and a training script, and wherein, during said step (d) said Universal Client device interacts with said predetermined GUI objects responsive to said training script to thereby display a training sequence comprising said predetermined GUI objects.

20. The operating method for the computer as recited in claim 19, wherein one of said predetermined GUI objects comprises a MultiMedia presentation.