User interface for display of task specific information

• US 20060161313A1
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobile Productivity, Inc. (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mobile Productivity, Inc. (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Beard, Caleb J., Robertson, John Michael, Rogers, Kevin B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,444,216 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

A graphical user interface is configured to display information related to diagnosis and/or repair of various objects, such as automobiles. The GUI displays relevant reference information, of any type, next to procedure steps of a selected diagnostic or repair procedure. Advantageously, reference information from multiple sources may be automatically selected for display in the GUI according to a current task that is selected by the user. Accordingly, a technician viewing the GUI does not need to access any other reference information, valuable man hours are spared, and efficiency increases. In one embodiment, the layout and immediate availability of relevant reference information may also increase the learning capabilities of the viewing technician. Thus, the layout of information in the GUI as described herein may facilitate increased employee productivity and increased employee learning.

Claims

1. A computer executable program executing on a computing device, wherein the computer executable program is configured to generate a graphical user interface including information related to a vehicle, wherein the graphical user interface comprises:

a procedure pane including procedure information, wherein the procedure information comprises a plurality of sub-procedures describing respective steps of the procedure, and the computer executable program is configured to display one of the plurality of sub-procedures in the procedure pane in response to communication with an input device; and

a reference pane including selectable reference information tabs, each of the reference information tabs being related to the displayed one of the plurality of sub-procedures, wherein the reference information tabs are updated in response to changing which of the one of the plurality of sub-procedures is displayed.

2. The computer executable program of claim 1, wherein the reference information displayed in the reference pane is updated in response to selection of one or the selectable reference information tabs, each of the reference information tabs being associated with different reference information.

3. The computer executable program of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is displayed on a portable computing device wirelessly coupled to a computing system.

4. The computer executable program of claim 1, wherein the procedure information is selected from the group comprising:

an inspection procedure, a diagnostic procedure, and a repair procedure.

5. The computer executable program of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface comprises one or more tabs that, when selected by the input device, initiate change of the sub-procedure displayed in the procedure pane.

6. The computer executable program of claim 1, wherein the information displayed in the reference pane is automatically updated in response to a change in the sub-procedure displayed in the procedure pane, wherein the information displayed in the reference pane is related to the sub-procedure displayed in the procedure pane.

7. The computer executable program of claim 1, wherein the reference pane comprises a history window including one or more selectable areas corresponding to respective information that has previously bee n displayed in the reference pane.

8. The computer executable program of claim 1, wherein the procedure pane and the reference pane are generally rectangular shaped.

9. The computer executable program of claim 1, wherein the first procedure and reference panes are horizontally aligned side by side in the graphical user interface.

10. The computer executable program of claim 1, wherein a link included in the procedure pane indicates a change in reference information displayed in the reference pane.

11. The computer executable program of claim 1, wherein a link included in the procedure pane indicates a change in the procedure information displayed in the procedure pane.

12. A method of displaying information on a display device of a computing system, wherein the information is related to an object, the method comprising:

receiving an input from a user of the computer system indicating a selected object;

receiving an input from the user indicating a selected procedure related to the selected object;

allocating a total display area of the display device into two non-overlapping panes, namely, a procedure pane and a reference pane;

displaying in the procedure pane information related to performing the selected procedure on the selected object; and

displaying in the reference pane information related to the selected object and the selected procedure.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the display device is disposed in a portable computing device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the selected procedure comprises a plurality of sub-procedures.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving an input from a user indicating one of the plurality of sub-procedures; and

updating the information in the reference pane in response to receiving the input indicating the one sub-procedure.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the object comprises a vehicle.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the selected procedure comprises a repair procedure that may be performed on the selected object.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the selected procedure comprises a diagnostic procedure that may be performed on the selected object.

19. A method of selecting information for display on a portable computing device, wherein the information comprises task information displayed in a task pane and reference information displayed in a reference pane, wherein the task and reference information are concurrently displayed on the portable computing device, the method comprising:

selecting a vehicle on which to perform a procedure, wherein the procedure is selected from the group comprising a diagnostic procedure and a repair procedure;

receiving one or more symptoms from an input device; and

determining the procedure that is to be performed on the vehicle based on the selected vehicle and the one or more symptoms.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of selecting is performed by a user interacting with the portable computing device.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of selecting is performed by the portable computing device in response to information receive from an OBD connector of the vehicle.

22. A portable computing device having a display configured to concurrently display:

a procedure pane including procedure information related to a procedure that may be performed on an automobile, wherein the procedure information comprises a plurality of sub-procedures related to steps of the procedure, and the display is configured to display one of the plurality of sub-procedures in the procedure pane in response to communication with an input device, the procedure pane further comprising one or more selectable items each associated with a respective sub-procedure; and

a reference pane including one or more reference information tabs each corresponding to a particular piece of reference information that is related to the displayed one of the plurality of sub-procedures, wherein the one or more reference information tabs are updated in response to changing which of the plurality of sub-procedures is displayed.

23. The portable computing device of claim 22, wherein the selectable items are selected from the group comprising tabs, buttons, icons, and menus.

24. The portable computing device of claim 22, wherein the portable computing device is selected from the group comprising a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a cell phone.

25. A computer executable program executing on a computing device, wherein the computer executable program is configured to generate a graphical user interface including information related to a procedure, wherein the graphical user interface comprises:

a first pane displaying vehicle information regarding a specific vehicle;

a second pane displaying procedure information, wherein the procedure information comprises information for performing a procedure on the specific vehicle and is selected from the group comprising a repair procedure and a diagnostic procedure; and

a third pane displaying reference information regarding the specific vehicle, wherein the vehicle information, the procedure information, and the reference information are each related to the procedure and are each concurrently displayed on a display device.

26. A method of updating a database with information regarding a plurality of procedures corresponding to a vehicle symptom, the method comprising:

receiving information from one or more vehicle service centers rating one or more of the plurality of procedures according to the effectiveness of the respective procedures in reducing the vehicle symptom;

ranking the plurality of procedures according to the information received from the one or more vehicle service centers; and

providing a highest ranked procedure to a vehicle service center in response to a request for a procedure corresponding to the vehicle symptom.