User interface system having a separate menu flow software object and operation software object

• US 6,667,749 B2
• Filed: 08/13/1999
• Issued: 12/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Sato, Fumihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): DETWILER, BRIAN J
• Application Number:
  US09/373,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20030058282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 345/825, 345/826, 345/762, 345/810
• US Class Current: 715/762
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces

Abstract

A user interface system, computer program product, and method for displaying an operation menu and transferring the contents thereof based on an operation input received in response to operation menu selection. The display and transfer of the operation menu are achieved using a group of independent software objects that include a menu flow software object that controls the transfer of the contents of the operation menu and a separate operation software object that functions in cooperation with the menu flow software object to control processing of the operation input by a processor. The operation software object includes an operational information memorizing object for storage of the operation software object contents and a separate operation controlling object functioning in cooperation with the operational information memorizing object to create, change, and delete the input operation.

Claims

1. A user interface system, for displaying an operation menu and transferring contents of said operation menu based on an operation input received in response to the operation menu being selected, comprising:

a processor configured to execute a process requirement corresponding to the operation input;

a group of independent software objects configured to display the operation menu and to transfer the contents of said operation menu in response to the operation menu being selected, said group of independent software objects including;

a menu flow software object configured to control the transfer of the contents of the operation menu and to manage menu display layout; and

an operation software object separate from the menu flow software object and functioning in cooperation with the menu flow software object to control processing of the operation input by the processor;

wherein the operation software object comprises;

an operational information memorizing object configured to store contents of the operation software object; and

an operation controlling object separate from the operational information memorizing object and functioning in cooperation with the operational information memorizing object to create, change, and delete the input operation.

2. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the menu flow software object comprises:

a flow information object configured to capture and transfer said contents of the operation menu as static information; and

a flow control object configured to transfer the operation menu based on the operation input, said flow control object being separate from said flow information object and functioning in cooperation with said flow information object.

3. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer storage medium and a computer program code mechanism embedded in the computer storage medium for causing a computer to generate a user interface for displaying an operation menu and transferring the contents of said operation menu based on an operation input received in response to the operation menu being selected, the computer program code mechanism comprising;

a first computer code device configured to display the operation menu and to transfer the contents of said operation menu in response to the operation menu being selected, said first computer code device including;

a second computer code device configured to control the transfer of the operation menu and to manage menu display layout; and

a third computer code device configured to control processing of the operation input, the second and third computer code devices respectively embodying separate software objects functioning in cooperation with each other;

wherein the third computer code device comprises;

an operational information memorizing object configured to store contents of an operation software object; and

an operation controlling object configured to create, change, and delete the input operation, said operation controlling object being separate from the operational information memorizing object and functioning in cooperation with the operational information memorizing object.

4. The computer program product of claim 3, wherein the second computer code device comprises:

a flow information object configured to capture and transfer said operation menu as static information; and

a flow control object configured to transfer the operation menu based on the operation input, said flow control object being separate from said flow information object and functioning in cooperation with said flow information object.

5. A method for processing an input with a user interface, comprising the steps of:

displaying an operational menu and transferring contents of said operation menu based on an operation input received in response to the operation menu being selected, using plural software objects;

controlling the transfer of the operation menu and managing menu display layout using a menu flow software object;

controlling processing of the operation input using an operation software object, the operation software object being separated from the menu flow software object and functioning in cooperation with the menu flow software object; and

executing a requirement process corresponding to the operation input;

wherein the step of controlling processing of the operation input comprises the steps of;

storing contents of the operation software object using an operational information memorizing object; and

creating, changing, and deleting the input operation using an operation controlling object, said operation controlling object being separate from the operational information memorizing object and functioning in cooperation with the operational information memorizing object.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of controlling the transfer of the operation menu comprises the steps of:

capturing and transferring the operation menu as static information, using a flow information object; and

transferring the operation menu based on the operation input, using a flow control object, said flow control object being separate from said flow information object and functioning in cooperation with said flow information object.

7. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for execution on a computer system, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the steps of:

displaying an operation menu and transferring the contents of said operation menu based on an operation input received in response to the operation menu being selected, using plural software objects;

controlling the transfer of the operation menu with a menu flow software object;

controlling processing of the operation input using an operation software object, the operation software object being separate from the menu flow software object and functioning in cooperation with the menu flow software object; and

executing a requirement process corresponding to the operation input;

wherein the step of controlling processing of the operations input comprises the steps of;

storing contents of the operation software object, using an operational information memorizing object; and

creating, changing, and deleting the input operation using an operation controlling object, said operation controlling object being separate from the operational information memorizing object and functioning in cooperation with the operational information memorizing object.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the step of controlling the transfer of the operation menu comprises the steps of:

capturing and transferring the operation menu as static information using a flow information object; and

transferring the operation menu based on the operation input, using a flow control object, said flow control object being separate from said flow information object and functioning in cooperation with said flow information object.