Method for visual programming with aid of animation

• US 6,334,211 B1
• Filed: 09/27/1999
• Issued: 12/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kojima, Keiji, Matsuda, Yoshiki, Futatsugi, Seiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Dam, Tuan Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chavis, John Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/405,214
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 717/4
• US Class Current: 717/128
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/967 Visual or iconic programming
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/977 Dynamic icon, e.g. animated or live action
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/978 Audio interaction as part of an operator interface

Abstract

A program making method includes the steps of displaying figures representative of a plurality of objects, inputting a command train which includes a plurality of processing commands each designating at least one of the objects and a processing to be executed for that object and forms a program to be made, executing each processing command so that a processing designated by that command is executed for example data of an object designated by the command each time the command is inputted, and changing the display of a figure representative of an object designated by each of at least some of the processing commands by processing figure data concerning the figure when that command has been executed. Another program making method includes displaying figures which represent a plurality of objects and a figure for program to which a program to be made is allotted, inputting a command train which includes a plurality of processing commands each instructing one of the objects to execute at least one processing and forms the program to be made, and changing the display of the figure for program in the vicinity of a point of time of the input of each processing command so that a figure representative of one object designated by that command can be discriminated.

Claims

1. A method for displaying progress of program execution by using a processing unit coupled with a display device, the method comprising the steps of:

a) displaying on said display device, a first icon indication n object to be operated and a second icon operating said object to be operated;

b) executing a given preset process in response to a designation from an operator of said second icon; and

c) changing an appearance of said second icon, based on a predetermined process for displaying the second icon in accordance with progress of said given process independently from an operator'"'"'s designation for changing a position of said second icon.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said operator'"'"'s designation is performed based on an input voice.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said operator'"'"'s designation is performed by a mouse.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of changing the appearance of icon includes changing the distance between said first icon and said second icon in accordance with progress of said given process.

4. A system for displaying progress of program execution including display means for displaying and means for executing a program, comprising:

a) display control means for displaying on said display means, a first icon indicating an object to be operated and a second icon operating said object to be operated;

b) said program executing means executing a given process in response to a designation from an operator of said second icon; and

c) said display control means changing an appearance of said second icon, based on a predetermined process in accordance with progress of said given process independently from an operator'"'"'s designation for changing a position of said second icon.

6. A system according to claim 4, wherein said icon changing means includes means for changing the distance between said first icon and said second icon in accordance with progress of said given process.

7. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for implementing a method for displaying progress of program execution by using a processing unit couple with a display device, the method comprising the steps of:

a) display on said display device, a first icon indicating an object to be operated and a second icon operating said object to be operated;

b) executing a given preset process in response to a designation from an operator of said second icon; and

c) changing an appearance of said second icon, based on a predetermined process for displaying the second icon in accordance with progress of said given process independently from an operator'"'"'s designation for changing a position of said second icon.

8. A recording medium according to claim 7, wherein said step of changing the appearance of icon includes changing the distance between said first icon and said second icon in accordance with progress of said given process.

9. A computer program for implementing a method for displaying progress of program execution by using a processing unit coupled with a display device, the method comprising the steps of:

a) displaying on said display device, a first icon indicating an object to be operated and a second icon operating said object to be operated;

b) executing a given preset process in response to a designation from an operator of said second icon; and

c) changing an appearance of said second icon, based on a predetermined process for displaying the second icon in accordance with progress of said given process independently from an operator'"'"'s destination for changing a position of said second icon.

10. A computer program according to claim 9, wherein said step of changing the appearance of icon includes changing the distance between said first icon and said second icon in accordance with progress of said given process.