Method for controlling a multi-state process in a computer system

• US 6,535,231 B1
• Filed: 01/24/1997
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Computer Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Nix, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thomas T.
• Application Number:
  US08/788,669
• Time in Patent Office: 2,244 Days
• Field of Search: 345/348, 345/349, 345/965, 345/970, 345/967, 345/345, 345/339, 345/440, 345/835, 345/839, 345/797, 345/764, 345/781, 364/188, 364/146
• US Class Current: 715/835
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/418 Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible manufacturing systems [FMS], integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] or computer integrated manufacturing [CIM]
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31472 Graphical display of process
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A method of controlling a multi-state process in a computer system includes displaying a series of icons having corresponding titles representing phases in a build process. A main action message bar displays a title indicating an action which corresponds to the title of one of the icons. When the bar is activated the action indicated is performed, and the icon title corresponding to the last performed action is highlighted.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a multi-state process in a computer system comprising the steps of:

displaying a series of icons representing phases in a build process;

displaying a main action message bar indicating an action to be performed in response to activating the bar;

activating the bar to perform the action indicated; and

automatically pausing between each discrete action.

2. The method of controlling a process as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of displaying icons comprises the step of displaying a title corresponding to each icon.

3. The method of controlling a process as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of highlighting the icons which correspond to the completed actions.

4. The method of controlling a process as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of dimming the icons which represent phases of the process which are incomplete.

5. The method of controlling a process as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of dimming the message bar when the process is complete.

6. The method of controlling a process as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of activating a refresh bar to recalculate the state of the process.

7. The method of controlling a process as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of automatically pausing between each discrete action remains paused until activation of the main action message bar.

8. A method of controlling a multi-state process in a computer system comprising the steps of:

displaying a series of icons having corresponding titles representing phases in a build process;

displaying a main action message bar title indicating an action to be performed in response to activating the bar;

activating the bar to perform the action indicated; and

automatically pausing between each discrete action.

9. The method of controlling a multi-state process as defined in claim 8 wherein the step of automatically pausing between each discrete action remains paused until activation of the main action message bar.

10. The method of controlling a process as defined in claim 8 further comprising the step of highlighting the icon titles corresponding to the completed actions.

11. The method of controlling a process as defined in claim 8 further comprising the step of dimming the icon titles which represent phases of the process which are incomplete.

12. The method of controlling a process as defined in claim 8 further comprising the step of dimming the message bar title when the process is complete.

13. The method of controlling a process as defined in claim 8 further comprising the step of activating a refresh bar to recalculate the state of the process.