Extensible user interface

• US 20020145627A1
• Filed: 04/10/2001
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Hertling, William, Whitmarsh, Michael D., Dovi, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,500,197 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/745
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces

Abstract

An extensible, network-based user interface allows remotely located resources to serve multiple clients. The user interface can be upgraded as improvements in resource capabilities are made, and as new products become available. The user interface includes a controller and other processing units and databases that collect, collate and process product and user information to dynamically construct client-specific user interfaces. The user interfaces may be used to select and control print options for networked printers. The network may be a local area network or the Internet. The user interface may maintain statistical information that is useable to predict technology trends, identify user preferences, and plan for maintenance and upgrade operations.

Claims

1. A user interface system, comprising:

a register configured to collect resource information from one or more resources coupled to a communications network;

an options module configured to provide resource options based on the collected resource information;

a user profiler configured to construct profiles for clients coupled to the network; and

a user interface builder configured to construct user interfaces based on the user profiles and the resource options, wherein the user interface builder may be configured to construct a unique user interface for each of the clients coupled to the network.

2. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the unique user interface is provided to the client.

3. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the unique user interface is retained by the user interface system.

4. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the user interface system exists as a node in a local area network.

5. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the user interface system exists as an Internet web site.

6. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein one client of the clients is a local area network, the local area network comprising a plurality of network computers, and wherein the user interface builder is configured to provide a unique user interface for one or more of the network computers.

7. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a user interface to a printer driver.

8. The user interface system of claim 7, wherein the user interface comprises a hierarchical menu of printer option screens, wherein one or more of the printer option screens is provided dynamically based on user preferences, printer capabilities, and user print option selection.

9. A method for controlling usage of resources in a computer network, comprising:

receiving a job request from a client in the network;

selecting a customized user interface, wherein the user interface is based on preferences of the client; and

returning all or part of an application program to the client, the application program used for controlling a resource, the application program based on the user preferences and capabilities of the resources in the network, wherein the customized user interface provides user access to the application program.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the resources are printers, and wherein the application program is a printer driver.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the user interface is an interface to a printer driver.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining if the client is a new client; and

sending a default user interface to the new client.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the job request is received at an Internet web site.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the job request is received at a node in a local area network.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sending the customized user interface to the client;

receiving a modification to the client preferences; and

sending a modified user interface to the client, wherein the modified user interface is based on the modification to the client preferences.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

recording selected client preferences; and

determining a set of usage metrics based on the recorded client preferences.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the customized user interface is based on preferences of the client.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising recording the client preferences as usage metrics.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising selecting a printer to complete the print request.

17. A method for controlling printing functions in a distributed computer network, the network comprising a plurality of clients and one or more print devices, comprising:

receiving a print request from a client;

determining if the client is a new client;

sending a user interface to the client, wherein if the client is a new client, the user interface is a default user interface, and wherein if the client is not a new client, the user interface is a customized user interface;

receiving changes to the user interface; and

returning the changed user interface to the client.

21. A computer-readable program storage device, tangibly embodying a program of instruction executable by a computer to perform method steps in a computer network for providing an extensible use interface, the method steps, comprising:

receiving a job request from a client in the network;

selecting a customized user interface, wherein the user interface is based on preferences of the client; and

returning all or part of an application program to the client, the application program used for controlling a resource, the application program based on the user preferences and capabilities of the resources in the network, wherein the customized user interface provides user access to the application program.

22. The computer-readable program storage device of claim 21, wherein the method steps further comprise:

determining if the client is a new client; and

sending a default user interface to the new client.

23. The computer-readable program storage device of claim 21, wherein the method steps further comprise:

sending the customized user interface to the client;

receiving a modification to the client preferences; and

sending a modified user interface to the client, wherein the modified user interface is based on the modification to the client preferences.

24. The computer-readable storage device of claim 21, wherein the method steps further comprise:

recording selected client preferences; and

determining a set of usage metrics based on the recorded client preferences.

25. A user interface system, comprising:

means for collecting resource information from one or more resources coupled to a communications network;

means for providing resource options based on the collected resource information;

means for constructing profiles for clients coupled to the network; and

means for constructing user interfaces based on the user profiles and the resource options, wherein the means for constructing the user interfaces construct a unique user interface for each of the clients coupled to the communications network.