SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING A USER INTERFACE

• US 20090055760A1
• Filed: 08/17/2007
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Legrand Home Systems Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Vantage Controls, Inc. (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: McDaniel, John, Knowlton, Ryan, Whatcott, Michael Everett, Taylor, Peter L.
• Application Number:
  US11/840,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20090055760A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4363 Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4431 characterized by the use of Application Program Interface [API] libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for systems and methods for facilitating the design, creation and/or implementation of a user interface for processor programs. More particularly, the present disclosure provides for systems and methods for creating at least one user interface for processor programs for controlling devices and/or for controlling (e.g., managing or playing) or utilizing media or data files. In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides for systems and methods for creating at least one user interface for control systems or automation systems or the like.

Claims

1. A system for creating a user interface, comprising:

at least one first processor;

at least one controlled device in communication with the at least one first processor, wherein the at least one controlled device is a processor in communication with (i) at least one media file and (ii) at least one application for managing or playing the at least one media file;

at least one application running on the at least one first processor, wherein the at least one application is programmed to be automatically populated with media-related information associated with the at least one controlled device; and

wherein the at least one application is further programmed to automatically generate at least one file that is configured for creation of at least one user interface that is based at least in part on the media-related information associated with the at least one controlled device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one user interface is a graphical user interface.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one media file is selected from the group consisting of digitally stored music, videos, movies, photographs, sound records, live video, camera images, graphics, album cover graphics and combinations thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one file to create the at least one user interface is a configuration file.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one user interface is installed and displayed on the at least one first processor, and wherein the at least one first processor interfaces through at least one application program interface associated with the at least one controlled device to automatically populate the at least one user interface with media-related information associated with the at least one media file to allow a user to utilize the at least one user interface to control the at least one media file.

6. The system of claim 1, further including at least one second processor, wherein the at least one file to create the at least one user interface is transferred from the at least one first processor to the at least one second processor;

wherein the at least one user interface is installed and displayed on the at least one second processor; and

wherein the at least one second processor interfaces through at least one application program interface associated with the at least one controlled device to automatically populate the at least one user interface with media-related information associated with the at least one media file to allow a user to utilize the at least one user interface to control the at least one media file.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one second processor is a touchscreen processor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one file to create the at least one user interface is transferred from the at least one first processor to the at least one controlled device;

wherein the at least one user interface is installed and displayed on the at least one controlled device; and

wherein the at least one controlled device interfaces through at least one application program interface associated with the at least one controlled device to automatically populate the at least one user interface with media-related information associated with the at least one media file to allow a user to utilize the at least one user interface to control the at least one media file.

9. A system for creating a user interface comprising:

at least one first processor;

at least one controlled device in a control system, wherein the control system controls at least one controlled space and wherein the at least one controlled device is controlled by at least one control device;

wherein the at least one controlled space includes at least one area;

at least one controller capable of transmitting command signals to the at least one control device to change the status of the at least one controlled device;

at least one application running on the at least one first processor, wherein the at least one application is programmed to allow a user to define a hierarchy representing the at least one controlled space;

wherein the hierarchy defines a hierarchical relationship for the at least the at least one area, the at least one controlled device, and the at least one control device of the control system; and

wherein the at least one application is further programmed to automatically generate at least one file that is configured for creation of at least one user interface that is based at least in part on the hierarchy representing the at least one controlled space.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one user interface is a graphical user interface.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one file to create the at least one user interface is a configuration file.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one user interface is installed and displayed on the at least one first processor, and

wherein the at least one user interface is utilized by a user to send signals to the at least one controller or to the at least one control device to change the status of the at least one controlled device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one user interface is utilized by a user to send signals to the at least one controller or to the at least one control device to change the status of the at least one controlled device by manipulating a virtual control button or icon on the at least one user interface.

14. The system of claim 9, further including at least one second processor, wherein the at least one file to create the at least one user interface is transferred from the at least one first processor to the at least one second processor;

wherein the at least one user interface is installed and displayed on the at least one second processor; and

wherein the at least one user interface is utilized by a user to send signals to the at least one controller or to the at least one control device to change the status of the at least one controlled device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one second processor is a touchscreen processor.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one user interface is utilized by a user to send signals to the at least one controller or to the at least one control device to change the status of the at least one controlled device by manipulating a virtual control button or icon on the at least one user interface.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one application is further programmed to allow a user to select or de-select at least the at least one area, the at least one controlled device, and the at least one control device and to automatically generate at least one file that is configured for creation of at least one user interface that is based at least in part on the user-selected hierarchy.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein the hierarchy further includes at least one sub-area and at least one object, and wherein the at least one application allows a user to identify each at least one sub-area, each at least one object, each at least one control device, and each at least one controlled device associated with each at least one area.

19. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one controlled device is selected from the group consisting of electrical devices, loads, lights, lighting equipment, computers, processors, computing equipment, processing equipment, HVAC equipment, motors, shades, fans, outlets, security systems, electronics, electronic equipment, distributed audio systems, televisions, audio/video equipment and combinations thereof.

20. A method for creating a user interface comprising:

providing at least one first processor;

providing at least one controlled device in a control system, wherein the control system controls at least one controlled space and wherein the at least one controlled device is controlled by at least one control device;

wherein the at least one controlled space includes at least one area;

providing at least one controller capable of transmitting command signals to the at least one control device to change the status of the at least one controlled device;

running at least one application on the at least one first processor, wherein the at least one application is programmed to allow a user to define a hierarchy representing the at least one controlled space;

wherein the hierarchy defines a hierarchical relationship for the at least the at least one area, the at least one controlled device, and the at least one control device of the control system;

wherein the at least one application is further programmed to automatically generate at least one file that is configured for creation of at least one user interface that is based at least in part on the hierarchy representing the at least one controlled space; and

generating at least one file that is configured for creation of at least one user interface that is based at least in part on the hierarchy representing the at least one controlled space.

21. A system for creating a user interface, comprising:

at least one first processor;

at least one controlled device in communication with the at least one first processor, wherein the at least one controlled device is a processor in communication with at least one web server and wherein the at least one web server includes at least one data file;

at least one application running on the at least one first processor, wherein the at least one application is programmed to be automatically populated with web-based information associated with the at least one controlled device; and

wherein the at least one application is further programmed to automatically generate at least one file that is configured for creation of at least one user interface that is based at least in part on the web-based information associated with the at least one controlled device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one user interface is a graphical user interface.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one data file is selected from the group consisting of HTML files, flash files, java applets, .xml files, text files, binary files and combinations thereof.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one file to create the at least one user interface is a configuration file.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one user interface is installed and displayed on the at least one first processor, and

wherein the at least one user interface is utilized by a user to utilize data associated with the at least one data file.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the at least one user interface is utilized by a user to utilize data associated with the at least one data file to interact with the at least one web server.

27. The system of claim 21, further including at least one second processor, wherein the at least one file to create the at least one user interface is transferred from the at least one first processor to the at least one second processor;

wherein the at least one user interface is installed and displayed on the at least one second processor; and

wherein the at least one user interface is utilized by a user to utilize data associated with the at least one data file.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the at least one user interface is utilized by a user to utilize data associated with the at least one data file to interact with the at least one web server.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the at least one second processor is a touchscreen processor.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one file to create the at least one user interface is transferred from the at least one first processor to the at least one controlled device;

wherein the at least one user interface is installed and displayed on the at least one controlled device; and

wherein the at least one user interface is utilized by a user to utilize data associated with the at least one data file.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the at least one user interface is utilized by a user to utilize data associated with the at least one data file to interact with the at least one web server.