Ergonomic system for control of devices through portable wireless terminals

• US 6,901,272 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2000
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Uniloc 2017 LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Isham, Karl Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Beamer, Temica M.
• Application Number:
  US09/739,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20020077114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,625 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/552.1, 455/557, 455/556.1, 345/157, 345/5
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/10 Integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 Subscriber identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

A network protocol allows small wireless devices to be used for the control of remote systems. Several features promote fast and efficient modification of system parameters despite the small form factor of most wireless devices. First, each card is preferably designed such that the status of a control variable, and a control to permit the variable to be changed, are located on the same card. Second, the menu is structured such that rather than forcing the user through a series of data entry cards for every possible parameter, the user may select only the parameter which requires changing. Third, the interface is structured such that, each time a control variable is set, the user is taken back automatically to the previous card up one level in the menu structure. Fourth, the interface is structured to go back a level when the user opts out of a change. Fifth, when a change is applied and if successful, control returns to the deck from which the change was implemented at its entry point rather than the point at which the change was implemented. Sixth, context is illustrated by displaying status data over multiple levels.

Claims

1. A server program to control the display of a software display and controls, for controlling a system, on a wireless terminal, comprising:

a definition of a procedure for generating a set of display screens each having at least one of a display control, a link control, and a selectable data control;

a first of said display screens having at least one link control, said at least one link control defining a navigational connection between said first display screen and another display screen;

said display control displaying data, and said selectable data control permitting entry by a user of data;

each of said screens being displayable one at a time on said wireless terminal;

said navigational connection defined by said at least one link control defining a hierarchical structure with branches selectable via said at least one control such that respective screens are displayed depending on selections of an operator of said wireless terminal;

a second of said display screens containing a selectable data control corresponding to a parameter of said system and display control to display a current value of said parameter;

said first of said display screens being in an upper echelon with respect said second of said display screens;

said first of said screens displaying said current value of said parameter, wherein each of said screens containing a selectable control corresponding to a controllable parameter of said system displays a current value of said controllable parameter, and wherein said connections are such that the user may select only said parameter for modification without changing any other parameters, irrespective of how deep in said hierarchy said first screen is located.

2. A program as in claim 1, wherein said first of said screens contains two user-selectable controls at least one of which corresponds to a parameter of said system that may be changed by selecting said at least one to invoke a third of said screens that presents a control to permit a selection of a value for said parameter, first of said screens displaying a current value of said parameter.

4. A program as in claim 1, wherein a navigational procedure is defined with respect to said first screen that, when the user changes a current value of said parameter, an effect of said navigational procedure is to replace said first screen with said second screen.

5. A program as in claim 1, wherein a navigational procedure is defined with respect to said second screen whose effect is to return to a highest level screen in said set hierarchy when said system parameters changed by said user during an activation of said first screen are transmitted to said system.

3. A server program to control the display of a software display and controls, for controlling a system, on a wireless terminal, comprising:

a definition of a procedure for generating a set of display screens each having at least one of a display control, a link control, and a selectable data control;

a first of said display screens having at least one link control, said at least one link control defining a navigational connection between said first display screen and another display screen;

said display control displaying data, and said selectable data control permitting entry by a user of data;

each of said screens being displayable one at a time on said wireless terminal;

said navigational connection defined by said at least one link control defining a hierarchical structure with branches selectable via said at least one control such that respective screens are displayed depending on selections of an operator of said wireless terminal;

a second of said display screens containing a selectable data control corresponding to a parameter of said system and display control to display a current value of said parameter;

said first of said display screens being in an upper echelon with respect said second of said display screens;

said first of said screens displaying said current value of said parameter, wherein a navigational procedure is defined with respect to said first screen that provides an escape control to be selected to permit the user to avoid changing a current value of said parameter, an effect of said navigational procedure invoked by said escape control being such as replace said first screen with said second screen.

6. A method of controlling a base device from a wireless terminal connected to receive data from a wireless server, comprising the steps of:

displaying on a first screen first and second link controls permitting modification of respective first and second parameters of said base device;

displaying on said first screen respective current values of said first and second parameters;

in response to a selection of said first link control, displaying on a second screen a data control permitting modification of said first parameter; and

displaying on said second screen said current value of said first parameter.

7. A method as in claim 6, further comprising:

accepting a command to modify said first parameter;

receiving from said base device a confirmation of a modification of said first parameter;

displaying said first screen with a new current, value for said first parameter.

8. A method as in claim 6, further comprising:

said step of displaying on said second screen including displaying a link to a third screen;

selecting said link and displaying said third screen;

said third screen displaying a current value of said first parameter and including a control to permit a modification of said third parameter.

9. A method as in claim 8, further comprising:

actuating an escape control during a display of said third screen and automatically returning to said second screen responsively to said step of actuating.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said steps of displaying comprise displaying said first screen excluding display of said second screen and displaying said second screen excluding display of said first screen.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein said steps of displaying comprise displaying said first screen and said second screen on said wireless terminal.