Systems and methods for providing an indicator of detection of input related to an element of a user interface

• US 8,661,344 B1
• Filed: 01/17/2012
• Issued: 02/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Inventors: Torgerson, Jay Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Augustine, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US13/351,990
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 715/710, 715/711, 715/780, 715/817, 715/818, 715/859
• US Class Current: 715/710
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for detecting an action providing input associated with an element of a user interface (UI) and/or graphical model, and providing an indicator to indicate the action has been detected. The UI and graphical model may provide elements that may be editable or otherwise changeable. The action may provide input that may change a value of the editable element of the UI or alter an element of the graphical model. Upon detection of the action, an indicator is provided in the UI or the graphical model in a manner associated with the detected changed element. The indicator may be a visual indicator or any other sensory indicator, such as a sound, force, or tactile indicator. The indicator provides a prompt to a user that one or more elements of the UI or graphical model may need to be saved, applied, or any changes canceled.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing an indicator to indicate a detection of an editing action associated with at least one editable element of the user interface, the method comprising:

displaying the user interface on a display device, where the user interface;

is associated with an executable block diagram model, and

includes one or more editable elements;

implementing the editing action on the at least one editable element among the one or more editable elements of the user interface, where the editing action;

modifies a value of the at least one editable element of the user interface, and

alters an execution of the executable block diagram model;

displaying, on the displayed user interface, the indicator associated with the editing action, the indicator representing existence of a difference between;

the at least one editable element as modified by the editing action and a saved version of the at least one editable element, or

the at least one editable element as modified by the editing action and a version of the at least one editable element where the editing action is applied; and

removing the indicator from the displayed user interface upon saving the at least one editable element as modified by the editing action or upon applying the editing action to the at least one editable element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the editing action is performed by an executable instruction or in response to use of an input device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one editable element comprises one of a text field, an edit box, a choose list, a combo box, a check list, and a radio button.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the editing action includes one of entering of a character into the at least one editable element, and selecting of the value of the at least one editable element.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator includes one of a font color, font type, a font style and a background color that is distinguishable from one of a font color, font type, font style and background color of the at least one editable element.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the indicator includes changing display of at least one of a font color, font type, a font style and a color of the at least one editable element.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator provides one or more of the following:

a highlight, an animation, a symbol, an alphanumeric character, a sound, a force feedback, and a tactile feedback.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a graphical user interface or a text-based user interface.

9. A computer-implemented method for providing an indicator to indicate a detection of an action associated with an executable block diagram model, the method comprising:

displaying an executable block diagram model via a user interface on a display device, where the executable block diagram model is editable;

detecting an editing action associated with the executable block diagram model, where the editing action;

adds an element to the executable block diagram model,

removes an element from the executable block diagram model, or

modifies a property of an element in the executable block diagram model;

displaying, on the displayed executable block diagram model, an indicator associated with the editing action, the indicator representing existence of a difference;

between the executable block diagram model as edited and a saved version of the executable block diagram model, or

between the executable block diagram model as edited and a version of the executable block diagram model where the editing action is applied;

removing the indicator from the displayed executable block diagram model upon saving the executable block diagram model as modified by the editing action or upon applying the editing action to the executable block diagram model.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the editing action is performed by an executable instruction or in response to use of an input device.

11. The method of claim 9, where the element comprises one or more of a block, a line, a parameter, a signal label or an annotation.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the indicator includes one of a font color, font type, a font style and a background color that is distinguishable from one of a font color, font type, font style and background color of the element.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the displaying of the indicator includes changing display of at least one of a font color, font type, a font style and a color of the element.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the indicator provides one or more of the following:

a highlight, an animation, a symbol, an alphanumeric character, a sound, a force feedback, and a tactile feedback.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that when executed on a processor cause the processor to:

display a user interface on a display device, where the user interface;

is associated with an executable block diagram model, and

includes one or more editable elements;

implement an editing action on at least one editable element of the user interface, where the editing action;

modifies a value of the at least one editable element of the user interface, and

alters an execution of the executable block diagram model;

display, on the displayed user interface, an indicator associated with the editing action, the indicator representing existence of a difference between;

the editable element as modified by the editing action and a saved version of the editable element, or

the editable element as modified by the editing action and a version of the editable element where the editing action is applied; and

remove the indicator from the displayed user interface model upon saving the editable element as modified by the editing action or upon applying the editing action to the editable element.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein the editing action is performed by an executable instruction or in response to use of an input device.

17. The medium of claim 15, wherein the at least one editable element comprises one of a text field, edit box, choose list, combo box, check list, and a radio button.

18. The medium of claim 15, wherein the editing action includes one of entering of a character into the at least one editable element, and selecting of the value of the at least one editable element.

19. The medium of claim 15, wherein the indicator includes one of a font color, font type, a font style and a background color that is distinguishable from one of a font color, font type, font style and background color of the at least one editable element.

20. The medium of claim 15, wherein the displaying of the indicator includes changing display of at least one of a font color, font type, a font style and a color of the at least one editable element.

21. The medium of claim 15, wherein the indicator provides one or more of the following:

a highlight, an animation, a symbol, an alphanumeric character, a sound, a force feedback, and a tactile feedback.

22. The medium of claim 15, wherein the user interface comprises a graphical user interface or a text-based user interface.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that when executed on a processor cause the processor to:

display an executable block diagram model via a user interface on a display device, where the executable block diagram model is editable;

detect an editing action associated with the executable block diagram model, where the editing action;

adds an element to the executable block diagram model,

removes an element from the executable block diagram model, or

modifies a property of an element in the executable block diagram model;

display, on the displayed executable block diagram model, an indicator associated with the editing action, the indicator representing existence of a difference;

between the executable block diagram model as edited and a saved version of the executable block diagram model, or

between the executable block diagram model as edited and a version of the executable block diagram model where the editing action is applied; and

remove the indicator from the displayed executable block diagram model upon saving the executable block diagram model as modified by the editing action or upon applying the editing action to the executable block diagram model.

24. The medium of claim 23, wherein the editing action is performed by an executable instruction or in response to use of an input device.

25. The medium of claim 23, where the element comprises one or more of a block, a line, a parameter, a signal label or an annotation.

26. The medium of claim 23, wherein the indicator includes one of a font color, font type, a font style and a background color that is distinguishable from one of a font color, font type, font style and background color of the element.

27. The medium of claim 23, wherein the displaying of the indicator includes changing display of at least one of a font color, font type, a font style and a color of the element.

28. The medium of claim 23, wherein the indicator provides one or more of the following:

a highlight, an animation, a symbol, an alphanumeric character, a sound, a force feedback, and a tactile feedback.

29. A system for providing an indicator to indicate a detection of an editing action associated with an editable element of a user interface, the system comprising:

a display device for displaying a user interface associated with an executable block diagram model, the user interface including one or more editable elements; and

a processor executing instructions for;

implementing an editing action on at least one editable element of the user interface, where the editing action;

modifies a value of the at least one editable element of the user interface, and

alters an execution of the executable block diagram model;

displaying, on the displayed user interface, an indicator associated with the editing action, the indicator representing existence of a difference between;

the editable element as modified by the editing action and a saved version of the editable element, or

the editable element as modified by the editing action and a version of the editable element where the editing action is applied; and

removing the indicator from the displayed user interface model upon saving the editable element as modified by the editing action or upon applying the editing action to the editable element.

30. A system for providing an indicator to indicate a detection of an action associated with an executable block diagram model, the system comprising:

a display device for displaying an executable block diagram model via a user interface, where the executable block diagram model is editable; and

a processor executing instructions for;

detecting an editing action associated with the executable block diagram model, where the editing action;

adds an element to the executable block diagram model,

removes an element from the executable block diagram model, or

modifies a property of an element in the executable block diagram model,

displaying, on the displayed executable block diagram model, an indicator associated with the editing action, the indicator representing existence of a difference;

between the executable block diagram model as edited and a saved version of the executable block diagram model, or

between the executable block diagram model as edited and a version of the executable block diagram model where the editing action is applied, and

removing the indicator from the displayed executable block diagram model upon saving the executable block diagram model as modified by the editing action or upon applying the editing action to the executable block diagram model.