Data processor controlled display system with a plurality of switchable customized basic function interfaces for the control of varying types of operations

• US 6,232,968 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1998
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jeffcoat, Benjamin Nelson, Alimpich, Claudia, Neuhard, Deborah Elizabeth, Vigil, Luana Linda, Wittig, James Philip John
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thai, Cuong T.
• Application Number:
  US09/053,214
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 345/333, 345/334, 345/335, 345/337, 345/339, 345/336, 345/969, 345/965, 345/349, 345/970, 345/353, 364/188, 709/302
• US Class Current: 715/744
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/965 for process control and configuration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/97 Instrumentation and component modelling, e.g. interactive control panel

Abstract

A data processing controlled display system for the interactive control of a variety of operations is provided which offers to an operator a plurality of selectable sets of basic interactive functions (i.e. an interactive display interface), each set respectively for the control of one of a plurality of types of operations. There are also provided means for switching a selected first one of said plurality of interactive display interfaces to a selected second one of said display interfaces and means for interactively controlling another one of said production control operations through said second selected interface.

Claims

1. A computer controlled display system for the interactive control of a plurality of types of data processor controlled operations, comprising:

means for providing a plurality of user interactive display interfaces for one application program, wherein each user interactive display interface provides a different set of basic interactive functions for the control of one of said plurality of types of application program operations, wherein each user interactive display interface displays a plurality of same basic interactive functions to perform same application program operations and at least two of the user interactive display interfaces include different interactive functions to perform different application program operations, wherein each user interactive display interface provides a separate view of functions to control the application program, and

means for enabling a user to select one of the plurality of user interactive display interfaces to interact with at least one of said sets of basic interactive functions for the interactive control of one of said types of operations for the application.

2. The display system of claim 1, further including:

means for switching from said selected one of said plurality of user interactive displays interfaces providing access to one of said sets of basic interactive functions to a selected second one of said user interactive display interfaces providing access to a second set of basic interactive functions, and

means for interactively controlling another one of said control operations through said second selected user interactive display interface.

3. The display system of claim 1, further including means for customizing the basic interactive functions provided in the user interactive display interfaces to add at least one additional function to one or more of the user interactive display interfaces, whereby said switching means switches between user interactive display interfaces having customized sets of basic interactive functions.

4. The display system of claim 1, further including means for customizing basic interactive functions provided in the user interactive display interfaces by deleting at least one function from one or more of the user interactive display interfaces, whereby said switching means switches between user interactive display interfaces having customized sets of basic interactive functions.

5. The display system of claim 1, wherein at least two of said interfaces require different levels of interactive user skills.

6. The display system of claim 1 wherein said application program operations are production operations.

7. The display system of claim 6 wherein said production operations are printing operations.

8. The display system of claim 7 wherein said printing operations include controlling a plurality of printers.

9. The display system of claim 6 wherein said production operations are chemical processing operations.

10. The display system of claim 6 wherein said production operations are manufacturing operations.

11. The display system of claim 10 wherein said manufacturing operations are integrated circuit manufacturing operations.

12. The display system of claim 6 wherein said production operations are tool and die production operations.

13. The display system of claim 1, further including:

means for providing a dialog box enabling a user to select one of the user interactive display interfaces to display.

14. The display system of claim 1, wherein one user interactive display view is displayed such that the basic set of interactive functions of one user interactive display is not displayed when another user interactive display interface is user selected and displayed.

15. In a computer controlled display system, a method for the interactive control of a plurality of types of data processor controlled operations comprising:

providing a plurality of user interactive display interfaces for one application program, wherein each user interactive display interface provides a different set of basic interactive functions for the control of one of said plurality of types of application program operations, wherein each user interactive display interface displays a plurality of same basic interactive functions to perform same application program operations and at least two of the user interactive display interfaces include different interactive functions to perform different application program operations, wherein each user interactive display interface provides a separate view of functions to control the application program, and

enabling a user to select one of the plurality of user interactive display interfaces to interact with at least one of said sets of basic interactive functions for the interactive control of one of said types of operations for the application.

16. The method of claim 15, further including:

means for switching from said selected one of said plurality of user interactive displays interfaces providing access to one of said sets of basic interactive functions to a selected second one of said user interactive display interfaces providing access to a second set of basic interactive functions, and

means for interactively controlling another one of said control operations through said second selected user interactive display interface.

17. The method of claim 15, further including customizing basic interactive functions provided in the user interactive display interfaces to add at least one additional function to one or more of the user interactive display interfaces, whereby said switching is between user interactive display interfaces having customized sets of basic interactive functions.

18. The method of claim 15, further including customizing basic interactive functions provided in the user interactive display interfaces by deleting at least one function from one or more of the user interactive display interfaces, whereby said switching is between user interactive display interfaces having customized sets of basic interactive functions.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein at least two of said interfaces require different levels of interactive user skills.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said application program operations are production operations.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said production operations are printing operations.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said printing operations include a plurality of controlled printers.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein said production operations are chemical processing operations.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein said production operations are manufacturing operations.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said manufacturing operations are integrated circuit manufacturing operations.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein said production operations are tool and die production operations.

27. The method of claim 15, further including:

means for providing a dialog box enabling a user to select one of the user interactive display interfaces to display.

28. The method of claim 15, wherein one user interactive display view is displayed such that the basic set of interactive functions of one user interactive display is not displayed when another user interactive display interface is user selected and displayed.

29. In a computer controlled display system, a method for the interactive control of a plurality of types of data processor controlled operations comprising:

providing a plurality of sets of basic interactive functions, each set respectively for the control of one of said plurality of types of operations;

enabling a user to select at least one of said sets of basic interactive functions for the interactive control of one of said types of operations;

switching from said selected one of said of sets of basic interactive functions to a selected second one of said sets of basic interactive functions;

interactively controlling another one of said control operations through said second selected set of basic interactive functions;

customizing a plurality of said sets of basic interactive functions to add at least one additional function respectively to each set, whereby said switching is between customized sets of basic interactive functions; and

providing a user interactive display interface for each of said plurality of customized sets of basic interactive functions whereby each of said types of operations may be controlled through said interface.

30. A program implemented on a computer useable medium, wherein the program includes code capable of causing a computer to perform:

providing a plurality of user interactive display interfaces for one application program, wherein each user interactive display interface includes a different set of basic interactive functions for the control of application program operations, wherein each user interactive display interface displays a plurality of same basic interactive functions to perform same application program operations and at least two of the user interactive display interfaces include different interactive functions to perform different application program operations, wherein each user interactive display interface provides a separate view of functions to control the application program, and

a user to select one of said plurality of user interactive display interfaces for interacting with the application program.

31. The program of claim 30, wherein the program code is further capable of causing the computer to perform enabling a user to switch back and forth between the plurality of user interactive display interfaces.

32. The program of claim 30, wherein the program code is further capable of causing the computer to perform:

enabling a user to customize each of the selectable user interactive display interfaces, and

enabling a user to switch back and forth between the plurality of customized user interactive display interfaces.

33. The program of claim 30 wherein there is a separate selectable user interface for a commercial print environment, a product print environment and a network print environment.

34. The program of claim 33 further comprising program code means for enabling a user to switch back and forth between the plurality of user interfaces during a current execution of the program.

35. The program of claim 30 wherein at least two of the user interactive display interface views represent a different operating environment.

36. The program of claim 30, wherein at least two of the user interactive display interface views represent a different skill level of an intended user.

37. The program of claim 30, wherein the program code is further capable of causing the computer to perform:

providing a dialog box enabling a user to select one of the user interactive display interfaces to display.

38. The program of claim 30, wherein one user interactive display view is displayed such that the basic set of interactive functions of one user interactive display is not displayed when another user interactive display interface is user selected and displayed.