User-relocatable self-defining buttons to control machinery
First Claim
1. A method for associating a user control in a user interface with a function of a controllable device, the method comprising:
- physically placing, by an individual user, a self-defining user control at a first predefined location of a plurality of predefined locations of a user interface, the self-defining user control including identification information that is readable by a controller for a controllable device, wherein the self-defining user control is designed to be physically locatable and re-locatable by individual users at any of the plurality of predefined locations;
determining, by the controller, the identification information from the self-defining user control at the first predefined location; and
in response to determining the identification information, the controller associating the self-defining user control at the first predefined location with a predefined function for the controllable device.
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Abstract
A method and system associate a user control in a user interface with a function of a controllable device by physically locating a self-defining user control which includes identification information at a first predefined location in a user interface, determining the identification information from the self-defining user control by a controller via a first interconnect, and the controller associating the self-defining user control with a predefined function for a controllable device. The method further detects a user input signal via the self-defining user control at the first predefined location; and activates the predefined function for the controllable device. The self-defining user control is one of a button, switch, knob, or any combination thereof, and is locatable at one of a plurality of predefined locations in the user interface.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for associating a user control in a user interface with a function of a controllable device, the method comprising:
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physically placing, by an individual user, a self-defining user control at a first predefined location of a plurality of predefined locations of a user interface, the self-defining user control including identification information that is readable by a controller for a controllable device, wherein the self-defining user control is designed to be physically locatable and re-locatable by individual users at any of the plurality of predefined locations; determining, by the controller, the identification information from the self-defining user control at the first predefined location; and in response to determining the identification information, the controller associating the self-defining user control at the first predefined location with a predefined function for the controllable device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for associating a user control in a user interface with a function of a controllable device, the system comprising:
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a user interface having a plurality of predefined locations; a self-defining user control designed to be physically locatable and re-locatable by a user at any of the plurality of predefined locations; while physically located at a first predefined location of the plurality of predefined locations of the user interface, the self-defining user control outputting control function information in response to interaction with a user, the self-defining user control also outputting identification information that associates the self-defining user control with a predefined function for a controllable device; a first interconnect, communicatively coupled with the self-defining user control at the first predefined location; and a controller, communicatively coupled with the first interconnect and the self-defining user control at the first pre-defined location, the controller for determining an identification information from the self-defining user control, and, in response thereto, the controller associating the self-defining user control with a predefined function for a controllable device only while the self-defining user control remains physically located at the first predefined location of the user interface. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for controlling a controllable device, comprising:
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a self-defining user control; a controller for determining identification information from the self-defining user control; an electrical interconnect; an electrical circuit for providing an identification information via the electrical interconnect to the controller, the identification information associating the self-defining user control with a predefined function for a controllable device a user interface having a plurality of pre-defined locations; and a modular mechanical interconnect for mechanically locating the self-defining user control in any one of the plurality of pre-defined locations of the user interface, wherein the electrical interconnect is capable of mechanically mating with a separate electrical interconnect located at the any one of the plurality of pre-defined locations in the user interface, and wherein the controller is capable of determining the identification information from the self-defining user control via the electrical interconnect mechanically mated with the separate electrical interconnect located at the any one of the plurality of pre-defined locations in the user interface, thereby the controller being capable of determining the identification information for associating the self-defining user control with a predefined function for the controllable device controlled by the controller. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification