System and method for defining a user interface

Details System and method for defining a user interface System and method for defining a user interface

1999-05-18

2003-01-07

Huynh, Ba (Department: 2173)

Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system

Display driving control circuitry

Controlling the condition of display elements

C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06504555

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to user interface technology and, more particularly, to a system and method for defining a user configurable user interface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
User interfaces convey information to a user about the status or configuration of a device. User interfaces may take any form, including a visual display or a sound. Conventional user interfaces are pre-defined at the factory where they are manufactured and cannot be configured or modified by a user. The character sets for the user interfaces are conventionally stored in read only memory (ROM) accessible by the device.
The user interface may be provided on the device such as on a display screen or through a speaker. Alternatively, the user interface may be transmitted to another device or output on a printed page.
Since conventional user interfaces cannot be modified or configured by a user, they do not lend themselves to universal localization and they do not have the flexibility of communicating information that is user defined. For example, if a printer is capable of displaying latin characters (such as English), it does not lend itself to conveying traditional character sets for non-latin countries (such as China). Thus, if a user in a non-English speaking country gets the message “Tray 2 Type=Plain*” the user must look the message up in a user's manual to understand what the message means.
To make available to the end user in many non-English speaking countries the user's complete character set for display on a user interface would require an enormous amount of ROM. In addition, a very complex and difficult human interface would have to be designed in order for the user to be able to access the appropriate character (s) in ROM for use at the user interface.
Some user interfaces have made alternate character sets available. However, the alternate character sets have been subsets or alternatives to the native language of a single country.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to principles of the present invention, a system and method define a user interface for a device. The user interface is any form of communication that provides information to the user. The user interface is input to the device. The user interface is stored in a location accessible by the device. The user interface is associated with a device event. When the device event occurs, the user interface is provided to the user.
This invention will enable a user of a device to modify the manner in which the device's user interface communicates. This is accomplished by placing user defined values into the structure of the user interface.
Other objects, advantages, and capabilities of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5937150 (1999-08-01), Phan
patent: 6292271 (2001-09-01), Phan
patent: 0622729 (1994-11-01), None
patent: 0671678 (1995-03-01), None
patent: 0858022 (1998-08-01), None
patent: WO99/49390 (1999-09-01), None

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