Control for a graphical user interface supporting coupled variables and method of operation thereof

• US 7,080,324 B1
• Filed: 10/11/2000
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies Europe BV (Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Nelson, Alan C., Ryles, Janice G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Mylinh
• Application Number:
  US09/686,588
• Time in Patent Office: 2,106 Days
• Field of Search: 345/786, 345/771, 345/700, 345/833, 345/843, 345/845, 345/974, 715/700, 715/771, 715/786, 715/833, 715/843, 715/974
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/974 Slider control as on-screen object in operator interface

Abstract

A variable control displayed through a graphical user interface and linked to a control element. The variable control has graphical representations of readily identifiable and easy to use controls. These controls include at least one text box to display a value. The displayed value can be set by default, or to show the current state of the control element. The variable control also includes at least one range box for assigning a range unit that corresponds to the text box. The variable control also includes a slider control that is linked to the text box and is used to make coarse adjustments to the value displayed in the text box. A spinner is also linked to the text box and is used to make fine adjustments to the displayed value. In a preferred embodiment, the user can select a digit or several digits within the displayed value and adjust only the user-selected digit or digits. Also in a preferred embodiment, the range box automatically updates the range unit when the displayed value is adjusted beyond a predetermined range limit.

Claims

1. A variable control displayed through a graphical user interface, said variable control comprising:

a text box for displaying a value;

a slider control linked to said text box, said slider control for coarse adjustments to said displayed value;

a spinner linked to said text box, said spinner for fine adjustments to said displayed value; and

a range box functionally linked to said text box, said range box for assigning a range unit to said displayed value.

2. The variable control of claim 1 wherein said range box is a pull-down menu having a plurality of predetermined range units listed therein.

3. The variable control of claim 1 wherein said range unit automatically updates when said displayed value is adjusted beyond a predetermined range limit.

4. The variable control of claim 1 wherein said slider position automatically updates when said displayed value is adjusted by a means other than by said slider.

5. The variable of control of claim 1 further comprising limits displayed at either end of said slider control, wherein said limits are automatically updated when said range unit is changed.

6. The variable control of claim 1 wherein said value displayed in said text box corresponds to a frequency setting for a spectrum analyzer which is linked to said variable control.

7. The variable control of claim 1 wherein said text box is selectable for keyboard entry of said displayed value.

8. The variable control of claim 1 wherein said displayed value is a numerical value.

9. The variable control of claim 1 wherein said displayed value is a character string value.

10. The variable control of claim 1 wherein selection of a digit of said displayed value limits the fine adjustments by said spinner to said selected digit.

11. The variable control of claim 1 wherein said spinner is an arrow pair.

12. A variable control displayed through a graphical user interface to adjust frequency settings on a pulse generator linked to said variable control, said variable control comprising:

a plurality of text boxes, each of said plurality of text boxes displaying a numerical value corresponding to one of said frequency settings of said pulse generator;

at least one range box corresponding to said plurality of text boxes, said at least one range box displaying a range unit therein;

a slider control linked to said plurality of text boxes, said slider control for coarsely adjusting a selected one of said displayed numerical values when said slider control is operated;

at least one spinner for finely adjusting a selected one of said displayed numerical values, whereby said frequency settings of said pulse generator are adjustable with said variable control.

13. The variable control of claim 12 wherein said at least one spinner is a plurality of spinners, each of said spinners being functionally linked to a different one of said plurality of text boxes and each of said spinners finely adjusting one of said displayed numerical values when said displayed numerical value is selected and said linked spinner is operated.

14. The variable control of claim 12 wherein said slider control further comprises a handle, said handle movable to operate said slider control.

15. The variable control of claim 12 further comprising a plurality of range boxes, each of said plurality of range boxes corresponding to at least one of said plurality of text boxes.

16. The variable control of claim 12 wherein said range unit is automatically updated when said displayed numerical value is adjusted beyond a predetermined range limit.

17. The variable control of claim 12 wherein said displayed numerical value is received by said text box from a keyed entry.

18. The variable control of claim 12 wherein a user-selected digit of said selected displayed numerical value is adjustable.

19. The variable control of claim 12 further including a real time measurement selector linked to said pulse generator.

20. A method for adjusting a parameter of a control element, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying a value through a graphical user interface, said value corresponding to said parameter of said control element;

changing said displayed value by coarse increments in response to input at a slider control displayed through said graphical user interface;

changing said displayed value by fine increments in response to input at a spinner displayed through said graphical user interface;

transmitting said changed value to said control element; and

assigning a range unit to said displayed value in response to input at a range box displayed through said graphical user interface.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of:

automatically updating said range unit and the limits of said slider control when said displayed value is changed beyond a predetermined range limit; and

automatically updating the position of said slider control when said displayed value is adjusted by another means.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein adjusting said value by another means is performed elsewhere on a network.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein at least one of the steps of changing said displayed value changes a selected digit of said displayed value.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of transmitting said changed value to said control element is in real-time.

25. The method of claim 20 further including the step of receiving a request to apply said changed value, wherein the step of transmitting said changed value to said control element occurs only after said request to apply said changed value is received.