CA1225475A - Information display system - Google Patents
Information display systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA1225475A CA1225475A CA000433852A CA433852A CA1225475A CA 1225475 A CA1225475 A CA 1225475A CA 000433852 A CA000433852 A CA 000433852A CA 433852 A CA433852 A CA 433852A CA 1225475 A CA1225475 A CA 1225475A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- area
- facility
- sub
- information
- display
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/048—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
- G06F3/0484—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
- G06F3/04842—Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements
Abstract
ABSTRACT
"DISPLAY SYSTEM WITH NESTED INFORMATION DISPLAY"
An information display system which can produce an information display (e.g. on a television monitor) from any one of a plurality of different information sources. The information sources are associated with different facilities such as teletext and viewdata.
For obtaining information from a particular information source the associated facility option is selected. This selection is made from the available facility options by selecting from the television screen "nested" areas which pertain to one or more facility options.
The selection can be effected using a touch-sensitive screen which overlies the television screen. The selection process can involve the display of a number of successive display frames containing "nested" areas, the selection of an area in one frame causing the display of a fresh display frame which re-defines areas which are nested within the selected area.
See Figures (1) and (2).
"DISPLAY SYSTEM WITH NESTED INFORMATION DISPLAY"
An information display system which can produce an information display (e.g. on a television monitor) from any one of a plurality of different information sources. The information sources are associated with different facilities such as teletext and viewdata.
For obtaining information from a particular information source the associated facility option is selected. This selection is made from the available facility options by selecting from the television screen "nested" areas which pertain to one or more facility options.
The selection can be effected using a touch-sensitive screen which overlies the television screen. The selection process can involve the display of a number of successive display frames containing "nested" areas, the selection of an area in one frame causing the display of a fresh display frame which re-defines areas which are nested within the selected area.
See Figures (1) and (2).
Description
, :~2~S~75 21.7.82 1 PHB 32905 "INFORMATION DISPLAY SYSTEM"
This invention ~elates to an information display system of a character which can establish selective connection to a number of different information sources to obtain information therefrom for display on a suitable display device, a particular one of said sources from which information is to be obtained at any time being determined by central processor mPans of the system as a result of the selection of one of a plurality of facility options which pertain respectively to said information sources and which are selectable from interface apparatus by which the central processor means can be accessed.
As presently envisaged, the display device of an information display system of the above character would be a television monitor, but with the current advances in technology ~he possibility does exist for the display device to be of some other form, for instance a li~uid crystal display device.
For establishing the selection connection ta different information sources, an information display system of the above character can have a variety of connection means such as a teletext input for receiving television broadcast CEE~X and ORACLE information, and a viewdata link to a telephone line for access to external da~a-bases, such as the British Post Office PRESTEL service. Each of these facility options has its own information source and can be selected by the central processor means to obtain information from that source for display. Other facility options are, for instance, program software for video games, video art and calculator or computer activities. Information sources, both temporary and permanent, pertaining to such other facility options can be provided by an internal memory of the system.
An information display system of the above character can have its central processor means arranged to function in accordance with a so-called "tree-structured" selection technique for selecting a r 3L 2 ~ 5 ~ 5 21.7.82 2 PHB 32905 facility option from a range of options which are available. For this selection technique, the facility options would be divided into groups, any one of which would be selectable by a first accessing operation performed with the interface apparatus. As a result of this selection, a plurality of individual Eacility options, or possibly a plurality of sub-groups, of the selected group would then be made available for the selection of one of these options or sub~groups by a second accessing operation performed with the interface apparatus.
Thereafter, in the case of sub-group selection, there would be further sub-division by further accessing operations until the required facility option is reached. For each accessing operation, there is provided a display of the facility operations which are available for selection by that accessing operat~ion.
A difficulty that has arisen with the "tree-structured" selection technique is a tendency for a user to get "lost" in the structure.
For instance, a user may not be clear, either how a current point in a selection process being performed has been reached, or what will be the consequences of selecting any of the Opeions now available at that point. If a keyboard is used as the interface apparatus, further difficulties can arise in the association of numbers shown against available options displayed, witn positions on the keyboard, particularly if an unskilled user is using a complex keyboard.
One proposal-for simplifying the implementation of the "tree-structured" selection technique is to provide a keyboard with dedicated function keys which pertain respectively to various facility options.
Such dedicated function keys can be identified by having on them a diagrammatic representation of the facility options to which they pertain.
The present invention provides an alternative proposal for implementing a facility option selection technique. This alternative proposal affords the advantage that, by combining both the display and the selection of the facility options into a single concept, it achieves greater simplicity than hitherto.
According to the invention, there is provided an information display system having connection means for establishing selective 12~5~t7S
21.7.82 3 P~IB 32905 connection to a number of diEEerent information sources to obtain information therefrom for display on the screen of a display device, a particular one of said informationsources from which information is to be obtained at any time being determined by central processor means of the system as a result of the selection of one of a plurality of facility options which pertain respectively to said information sources and which are selectable from interface apparatus by which the central processor means can be accessed, in which information display system the interface ~pparatus is operable to generate signals to represent any selected point on the screen of the display device, and the central processor means includes logic control means for producing on the screen of the display device a display frame of available facility options, and which information display system is characterised in that in respect of the selection of a facility option the logiccontrol means is operable to produce a first display frame defining at least two discrete areas which are identified as pertaining to different facility options, said first display frame further defining within at least one of said discrete areas at least one discrete sub-area which is identified as pertaining to one or more facility 20 options, the logic control means being further operable in response to the selection by said interface apparatus of a point which is in one of said areas but not within a sub-area of that area, or which is in a sub-area, to produce a second display frame which, if said area or sub-area pertains to a single facility option, gives a visual indication of the selection of that facility option, said logic control means then causing said connection means to establish connection to the appereaining information source.
In carrying out the invQntion, the logic control means can be still further operable, when in said first display frame a selected 30 area containing sub-areas pertains to a plurality of facility options, to produce an alternative second display frame which re-defines each sub-area of the selected area as a respective area which is identified as pertaining to at least one facility option. The logic control means can also be still further operable such that said alternative second display frame includes at least one further area which is identified as .` . .~259Lt^~S
21.7.82 ~ PHB 32905 .
pertaining to at least one facility option. In said alternativc second display frame at least one of said areas can have defined within it at least one sub-area which identified as pertaining to at least one facility option.
Alternatively, in carrying out the invention, the logic control means can be still further operable, when in said first display frame a selected sub-area pertains to a plurality of ~acility options, to produce a different alternative second display frame which defines a plurality of areas which pertain to respective facility options or lD to respective pluralities of facility options. The logic control means can then also be still further operable such that at least one of the areas which pertains to a plurality of facility options has defined within it at least one sub-area ~"hich pertains to a single facility option, or to a plurality of related facility options.
An information display system according to the invention thus provides in at least one display frame a "nested" display of facility options which are available for selection. Depending on how many facility options are provided, the logic control means can provide a series of display frames to progressively reduce the number of facility options which are available for selection from successive display frames in a given hierarchial descending order. In each display frame, there is shown only those facility options which are available for selection, so that facility options which are not applicable cannot be selected erroneously, because they simply are not displayed. Single facility options which are likely to be required frequently can be allocated respective sub-areas (which can themselves be within a sub-area) in one or more of the display frames, so that they can be selected directly from any such display frame without having to progress through a number of display frames.
The interface apparatus may be a touch sensitive screen device a light pen or an electronic writing tablet, for generating co-ordinate signals to represent the co-ordinates of any selected point, and thus the point itself, on the screen of the display device. Each of these forms of interface apparatus is known in the art. An example of a touch sensitive screen device is given in U.K. Patent Specification l,528,581.
lZZ5~75 21.7.82 5 PHB 32gO5 In carrying out the invention, the logic control means may be arranged to drive a video signal generator which provides video display signals such that the various areas and sub-areas of the display frames are made distinctive in colour and/or shape and/or size. The video display signals can also provide as part of each display frame, wording or graphics symbols indicative of the facility option(s) to which each area or sub-area of the display frame pertains.
In further considering the nature of the invention reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, of which:-Figure 1 shows diagrammatically an information display systemwith access to a number of different information sources;
Figures 2 to 5 illustrate respective display frames from which facility options afforded by the system of Pigure 1 can be selected;
and Figure 6 shows diagrammatically certain elements of a central processor of the system of Figure 1.
Referring to the drawings, the information display syste~ shown in Figure 1 comprises a central processor 1, an internal memory 2, a television monitor 3, a teletext input apparatus 4 and a viewdata terminal apparatus 5. The teletext input apparatus 4 gives access to broadcast televisionservices for teletext facility options such as CEEFAX and ORACLE, and the viewdata terminal apparatus 5 provides a link to a telephone line for access to external data-bases for viewdata facility options such as PRESTE~. The internal memory 2 is accessed by the central processor 1 over an address/data bus 6 and stores data and program software for further facility options such as a personal diary, a personal computer, video games and video art in respective memory portions PD, PC, VG and VA. The internal memory 2 also includes a general memory portion RAM for storing, as required.information relating to the various facility options.
In the use of the system control of the central processor 1 in respect of any facility option which has been selected can be effected by an appropriate interface apparatus, of which there are provided a keyboard 7, a writing tablet 8 and a toggle or roller-ball 9.
~5~'75 21.7.82 ~ PHB 32905 The television monitor 3 has associated with it a touch sensitive screen device lO having a touch-sensitive transparent screen which overlies the screen of the television monitor 3. This device lO
is not other wise illustrated, but it can take any suitable known form When the transparent screen is touched at any point, the device lO generates co-ordinate signals on leads X and Y to represent that point and thus the corresponding point on the screen of the television monitor 3.
The touch sensitive screen device lO constitutes a further interface apparatus by which the central processor l can be accessed to select any of the available facility options afforded by the system.
The mode of selection for selecting a facility option from those which are available involves inter-action between the central processor l and a user of the device lO. In general, the system provides on the 15 screen of the television monitor 3 an initial display frame which illustrates by a combination of graphics and text in discrete areas the range of facility options which are available. A selection is made by a user touching the screen at any point within an area and the ~Z~254~7~
21.7.82 7 P~IB 32905 r co-ordinate signals for the point are fed to the central processor l on the leads X and Y as selection information identifying that area within which the point lies. The central processor l responds to this selection information either to produce a fresh display frame which contains areas for a further selection to be made, or to produce a final display frame signifying that a specific facility option has been selected, as the case may be.
An example of a range of possible available facility options and a specific selection process for selecting one of these options will now be considered with reference to Figures 2 to 5. For this example, an initial display frame which the system provides on the screen of the television monitor 3 when the system is brought into use is the display frame illustrated in Figure 2. This display frame has a background A within which are located two areas B and C. The area B relates to a group of information facility options, and the area C relates to a group of service facility options, which the system can provide. All the information and service facility options in these two groups, for the example being considered, are listed in the following TABLE I.
TABLE I
(Area B) (Area C) Information facility options Service facility options z5 Teletext - CEEFAX service Personal computer Teletext - ORACLE service Video games Viewdata - PRESTEL service Video art Viewdata - other data base(s) Time alarm clock Personal Diary 30 Personal information in RAM
Three sub-areas Ba, Bb and Bc are nested in the area B. The sub-area Ba relates to a sub-group of facility options which comprises the t~o (or more) viewdata services, the sub-area Bb relates to a sub-group of facility options for the personal diary and the sub-area Bc relates .. . . .
` ~225~75 21.7.82 8 PHB 32905 r to a sub-group of facility options which comprises the two teletext services. Similarly, three sub-area~s Ca, Cb and Cc are nested in the area C. The sub-area Ca relates to a sub-group of facility options for the personal computer, the sub-area Cb relates to a sub-group of facility options which comprise different video games, and the sub-area Cc relates to a sub-group of facility options for video art.
As aforesaid~ a selection of an area (or sub-area) can be made by touching the touch sensitive screen device lO at any point within the area (or sub-area), and the central processor l will respond to provide a fresh display frame. For instance, touching the area B
(outside the sub-areas Ba, Bb and Bc) will result in a fresh display frame as shown in Figure 3. This fresh display frame has the area B
as its background and provides more comprehensive details as to which facility options are provided in the group of information facility options. These details are available in the original sub-areas Ba, Bb and Bc (which become areas in the fresh display frame), in a new area Bd, and in new sub-areas Baa and Bab which are nested in the area Ba. The new area Bd relates to the personal information in RAM, the new sub-area Baa relates only to the viewdata PRESTEL
service, and the new sub-area Bab relates only to viewdata from at least one other data-base. Assuming that in the display frame of Figure 3 the area Bb relating to the personal diary is touch-selected, a fresh display frame as shown in Figure 4 will be produced. This fresh display frame has the area Bb as its background within which Z5 are four sub-areas Bba, Bbb, Bbc and Bbd, which relate respectively to "to-day", "this week", "last week" and "next week" of the personal diary. Touch-selection of the sub-area Bba will result in a final display frame, as illustrated in Figure 5, which indicates that to-day's date facility of the personal diary is now available to the user.
The following TABLE II lists as a summary the various option groups, option sub-groups and individual options to which the different areas and sub-areas pertain, as mentioned above.
1~5~75 21.7.82 9 PHB 32905 TABL~ II
Area or Sub-area Option Group Option Sub-Gro~e Individual Option A - - _ B Information C Services - -Ba - Viewdata Bb Personal Diary Bc - Teletext Bd - RAM Information Baa - - Viewdata-PRESTEL
Bab - - Viewdata-other(s) Bba - - to-day's diary Bbb - - this week's diary Bbc - - last week's diary Bbd - - next week's diary Ca - Personal Computer Cb - Video Games Cc - Video art These various option groups, option sub-groups and individual options can be identified in the different areas and sub-areas by a combination of text and graphics. Also, the different areas and sub-areas can be further distinguished from one another in shape, size and colour.
An area would have the same colour, but possibly a change in both shape and size, in each of the display frames in which it appears.
As regards the shape and size of an area, it is preferred to additionally provide each area with some characteristic feature, such as a cut-off corner, to indicate an active selection area. This would ensure that there is no confusion between other areas containing information and touch-selection areas. The selection process for selecting a desired facility option uses, in general, an improved selection technique in which successive touch-selections provide progressive detailing and display of available facility options towards a desired facility option.
As one aspect of this improved selection technique, it has been found advantagous to touch-select directly from a group of options to a particular individual facility option of 1~25475 21.7.82 10 ~HB 32905 the group in an instance where the individual facility option i5 likely to be required much more frequently than the other Eacility options of the group. To achieve this direct touch-selection of an individual facility option, a sub-area pertaining to it is nested in the area for the relevant group of options in the initial display frame and also i.n each subsequent display frame, so that the individual facility option is available for selection directly from any one of the display frames. As an example of achieving such direct touch-selection, the sub-area Bba for the facility option of "to-day's diary"
is nested in the area B within the sub-area Bb in the initial display frame shown in Figure 2 for direct touch-selection. This sub-area Bba also appears nested in the area Bb in the display frame shown in Figure 3 for direct touch-selection from that display frame also.
Another possible alternative in the display of facility options is represented by the dotted area Bbe in Figure 4. This area Bbe is in respect of an extension of the Personal Diary and relates to, say, a recent year (e.g. 1980), with sub-areas such as Bbea and Bbeb within the area Bbe respectively relating to the months of the year.
Thus, in response to touch-selection of the area Bbe, a fresh display frame which expands the year (1980) appropriately (e.g. into weeks) can be produced, while in response to touch-selection of a sub-area such as Bbea or Bbeb there can be produced a fresh display frame which expands the relevant month into days.
Practical considerations also dictate that each display frame (except the first) which the central processor 1 produces has a first control area CA, touch-selection of which causes the central processor 1 to replace the current display frame by the immediately preceding display frame, and a second control area CB, touch-selectian of which causes the central processor 1 to replace the current display frame by the initial display frame.
Once a facility option has been selected and shown to be available by the final display frame, the keyboard 7 or the other interface apparatus 8 and 9 can be used, as appropriate, for the inter-active operation of the system by a user. It would, of course, also be possible to use the touch sensitive screen-device itself for such inter-active operation following the selection of certain of the ~225~S
~1.7.82 11 PHB 32905 facility options. For instance, in the case of the "viewdata-other(s)"
facility option, the final display frame for that facility option could include a key pad for touch-tone dialling of a telephone number for a wanted data-base.
Since the writing tablet 8 and toggle or roller-ball 9 generate co-ordinate signals corresponding to any point on the screen of the television monitor 3, it would be possi~le to dispense with the touch sensitive screen device and to use instead one of these forms of interface apparatus to effect area selection for the selection of a desired facility option. However, this alternative mode of selection i9 not so simple as touch-selection as it involves providing on the screen a movable cursor which under the control of the interface apparatus is moved into an area to select the area. Another possible alternative is to provide a light-pen for the touch-selection.
The central processor elements shown in Figure 6 comprise an analogue-to-digital (A/D) converter 11, a read-only memory (ROM) device 12, a decoder 13 and a video signal generator 14. In response to co-ordinate signals on the leads X and Y from the touch sensitive screen device 10, the A/D converter 11 produces a first digital code which is fed to the ROM device 12 and identifies the point which has ~een touched on the screen. The video signal generator 14 feeds the video signal information for each display frame to the television monitor 3. The video signal generator 14 also feeds to the ROM device 12 a second digital code which identifies the current display frame
This invention ~elates to an information display system of a character which can establish selective connection to a number of different information sources to obtain information therefrom for display on a suitable display device, a particular one of said sources from which information is to be obtained at any time being determined by central processor mPans of the system as a result of the selection of one of a plurality of facility options which pertain respectively to said information sources and which are selectable from interface apparatus by which the central processor means can be accessed.
As presently envisaged, the display device of an information display system of the above character would be a television monitor, but with the current advances in technology ~he possibility does exist for the display device to be of some other form, for instance a li~uid crystal display device.
For establishing the selection connection ta different information sources, an information display system of the above character can have a variety of connection means such as a teletext input for receiving television broadcast CEE~X and ORACLE information, and a viewdata link to a telephone line for access to external da~a-bases, such as the British Post Office PRESTEL service. Each of these facility options has its own information source and can be selected by the central processor means to obtain information from that source for display. Other facility options are, for instance, program software for video games, video art and calculator or computer activities. Information sources, both temporary and permanent, pertaining to such other facility options can be provided by an internal memory of the system.
An information display system of the above character can have its central processor means arranged to function in accordance with a so-called "tree-structured" selection technique for selecting a r 3L 2 ~ 5 ~ 5 21.7.82 2 PHB 32905 facility option from a range of options which are available. For this selection technique, the facility options would be divided into groups, any one of which would be selectable by a first accessing operation performed with the interface apparatus. As a result of this selection, a plurality of individual Eacility options, or possibly a plurality of sub-groups, of the selected group would then be made available for the selection of one of these options or sub~groups by a second accessing operation performed with the interface apparatus.
Thereafter, in the case of sub-group selection, there would be further sub-division by further accessing operations until the required facility option is reached. For each accessing operation, there is provided a display of the facility operations which are available for selection by that accessing operat~ion.
A difficulty that has arisen with the "tree-structured" selection technique is a tendency for a user to get "lost" in the structure.
For instance, a user may not be clear, either how a current point in a selection process being performed has been reached, or what will be the consequences of selecting any of the Opeions now available at that point. If a keyboard is used as the interface apparatus, further difficulties can arise in the association of numbers shown against available options displayed, witn positions on the keyboard, particularly if an unskilled user is using a complex keyboard.
One proposal-for simplifying the implementation of the "tree-structured" selection technique is to provide a keyboard with dedicated function keys which pertain respectively to various facility options.
Such dedicated function keys can be identified by having on them a diagrammatic representation of the facility options to which they pertain.
The present invention provides an alternative proposal for implementing a facility option selection technique. This alternative proposal affords the advantage that, by combining both the display and the selection of the facility options into a single concept, it achieves greater simplicity than hitherto.
According to the invention, there is provided an information display system having connection means for establishing selective 12~5~t7S
21.7.82 3 P~IB 32905 connection to a number of diEEerent information sources to obtain information therefrom for display on the screen of a display device, a particular one of said informationsources from which information is to be obtained at any time being determined by central processor means of the system as a result of the selection of one of a plurality of facility options which pertain respectively to said information sources and which are selectable from interface apparatus by which the central processor means can be accessed, in which information display system the interface ~pparatus is operable to generate signals to represent any selected point on the screen of the display device, and the central processor means includes logic control means for producing on the screen of the display device a display frame of available facility options, and which information display system is characterised in that in respect of the selection of a facility option the logiccontrol means is operable to produce a first display frame defining at least two discrete areas which are identified as pertaining to different facility options, said first display frame further defining within at least one of said discrete areas at least one discrete sub-area which is identified as pertaining to one or more facility 20 options, the logic control means being further operable in response to the selection by said interface apparatus of a point which is in one of said areas but not within a sub-area of that area, or which is in a sub-area, to produce a second display frame which, if said area or sub-area pertains to a single facility option, gives a visual indication of the selection of that facility option, said logic control means then causing said connection means to establish connection to the appereaining information source.
In carrying out the invQntion, the logic control means can be still further operable, when in said first display frame a selected 30 area containing sub-areas pertains to a plurality of facility options, to produce an alternative second display frame which re-defines each sub-area of the selected area as a respective area which is identified as pertaining to at least one facility option. The logic control means can also be still further operable such that said alternative second display frame includes at least one further area which is identified as .` . .~259Lt^~S
21.7.82 ~ PHB 32905 .
pertaining to at least one facility option. In said alternativc second display frame at least one of said areas can have defined within it at least one sub-area which identified as pertaining to at least one facility option.
Alternatively, in carrying out the invention, the logic control means can be still further operable, when in said first display frame a selected sub-area pertains to a plurality of ~acility options, to produce a different alternative second display frame which defines a plurality of areas which pertain to respective facility options or lD to respective pluralities of facility options. The logic control means can then also be still further operable such that at least one of the areas which pertains to a plurality of facility options has defined within it at least one sub-area ~"hich pertains to a single facility option, or to a plurality of related facility options.
An information display system according to the invention thus provides in at least one display frame a "nested" display of facility options which are available for selection. Depending on how many facility options are provided, the logic control means can provide a series of display frames to progressively reduce the number of facility options which are available for selection from successive display frames in a given hierarchial descending order. In each display frame, there is shown only those facility options which are available for selection, so that facility options which are not applicable cannot be selected erroneously, because they simply are not displayed. Single facility options which are likely to be required frequently can be allocated respective sub-areas (which can themselves be within a sub-area) in one or more of the display frames, so that they can be selected directly from any such display frame without having to progress through a number of display frames.
The interface apparatus may be a touch sensitive screen device a light pen or an electronic writing tablet, for generating co-ordinate signals to represent the co-ordinates of any selected point, and thus the point itself, on the screen of the display device. Each of these forms of interface apparatus is known in the art. An example of a touch sensitive screen device is given in U.K. Patent Specification l,528,581.
lZZ5~75 21.7.82 5 PHB 32gO5 In carrying out the invention, the logic control means may be arranged to drive a video signal generator which provides video display signals such that the various areas and sub-areas of the display frames are made distinctive in colour and/or shape and/or size. The video display signals can also provide as part of each display frame, wording or graphics symbols indicative of the facility option(s) to which each area or sub-area of the display frame pertains.
In further considering the nature of the invention reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, of which:-Figure 1 shows diagrammatically an information display systemwith access to a number of different information sources;
Figures 2 to 5 illustrate respective display frames from which facility options afforded by the system of Pigure 1 can be selected;
and Figure 6 shows diagrammatically certain elements of a central processor of the system of Figure 1.
Referring to the drawings, the information display syste~ shown in Figure 1 comprises a central processor 1, an internal memory 2, a television monitor 3, a teletext input apparatus 4 and a viewdata terminal apparatus 5. The teletext input apparatus 4 gives access to broadcast televisionservices for teletext facility options such as CEEFAX and ORACLE, and the viewdata terminal apparatus 5 provides a link to a telephone line for access to external data-bases for viewdata facility options such as PRESTE~. The internal memory 2 is accessed by the central processor 1 over an address/data bus 6 and stores data and program software for further facility options such as a personal diary, a personal computer, video games and video art in respective memory portions PD, PC, VG and VA. The internal memory 2 also includes a general memory portion RAM for storing, as required.information relating to the various facility options.
In the use of the system control of the central processor 1 in respect of any facility option which has been selected can be effected by an appropriate interface apparatus, of which there are provided a keyboard 7, a writing tablet 8 and a toggle or roller-ball 9.
~5~'75 21.7.82 ~ PHB 32905 The television monitor 3 has associated with it a touch sensitive screen device lO having a touch-sensitive transparent screen which overlies the screen of the television monitor 3. This device lO
is not other wise illustrated, but it can take any suitable known form When the transparent screen is touched at any point, the device lO generates co-ordinate signals on leads X and Y to represent that point and thus the corresponding point on the screen of the television monitor 3.
The touch sensitive screen device lO constitutes a further interface apparatus by which the central processor l can be accessed to select any of the available facility options afforded by the system.
The mode of selection for selecting a facility option from those which are available involves inter-action between the central processor l and a user of the device lO. In general, the system provides on the 15 screen of the television monitor 3 an initial display frame which illustrates by a combination of graphics and text in discrete areas the range of facility options which are available. A selection is made by a user touching the screen at any point within an area and the ~Z~254~7~
21.7.82 7 P~IB 32905 r co-ordinate signals for the point are fed to the central processor l on the leads X and Y as selection information identifying that area within which the point lies. The central processor l responds to this selection information either to produce a fresh display frame which contains areas for a further selection to be made, or to produce a final display frame signifying that a specific facility option has been selected, as the case may be.
An example of a range of possible available facility options and a specific selection process for selecting one of these options will now be considered with reference to Figures 2 to 5. For this example, an initial display frame which the system provides on the screen of the television monitor 3 when the system is brought into use is the display frame illustrated in Figure 2. This display frame has a background A within which are located two areas B and C. The area B relates to a group of information facility options, and the area C relates to a group of service facility options, which the system can provide. All the information and service facility options in these two groups, for the example being considered, are listed in the following TABLE I.
TABLE I
(Area B) (Area C) Information facility options Service facility options z5 Teletext - CEEFAX service Personal computer Teletext - ORACLE service Video games Viewdata - PRESTEL service Video art Viewdata - other data base(s) Time alarm clock Personal Diary 30 Personal information in RAM
Three sub-areas Ba, Bb and Bc are nested in the area B. The sub-area Ba relates to a sub-group of facility options which comprises the t~o (or more) viewdata services, the sub-area Bb relates to a sub-group of facility options for the personal diary and the sub-area Bc relates .. . . .
` ~225~75 21.7.82 8 PHB 32905 r to a sub-group of facility options which comprises the two teletext services. Similarly, three sub-area~s Ca, Cb and Cc are nested in the area C. The sub-area Ca relates to a sub-group of facility options for the personal computer, the sub-area Cb relates to a sub-group of facility options which comprise different video games, and the sub-area Cc relates to a sub-group of facility options for video art.
As aforesaid~ a selection of an area (or sub-area) can be made by touching the touch sensitive screen device lO at any point within the area (or sub-area), and the central processor l will respond to provide a fresh display frame. For instance, touching the area B
(outside the sub-areas Ba, Bb and Bc) will result in a fresh display frame as shown in Figure 3. This fresh display frame has the area B
as its background and provides more comprehensive details as to which facility options are provided in the group of information facility options. These details are available in the original sub-areas Ba, Bb and Bc (which become areas in the fresh display frame), in a new area Bd, and in new sub-areas Baa and Bab which are nested in the area Ba. The new area Bd relates to the personal information in RAM, the new sub-area Baa relates only to the viewdata PRESTEL
service, and the new sub-area Bab relates only to viewdata from at least one other data-base. Assuming that in the display frame of Figure 3 the area Bb relating to the personal diary is touch-selected, a fresh display frame as shown in Figure 4 will be produced. This fresh display frame has the area Bb as its background within which Z5 are four sub-areas Bba, Bbb, Bbc and Bbd, which relate respectively to "to-day", "this week", "last week" and "next week" of the personal diary. Touch-selection of the sub-area Bba will result in a final display frame, as illustrated in Figure 5, which indicates that to-day's date facility of the personal diary is now available to the user.
The following TABLE II lists as a summary the various option groups, option sub-groups and individual options to which the different areas and sub-areas pertain, as mentioned above.
1~5~75 21.7.82 9 PHB 32905 TABL~ II
Area or Sub-area Option Group Option Sub-Gro~e Individual Option A - - _ B Information C Services - -Ba - Viewdata Bb Personal Diary Bc - Teletext Bd - RAM Information Baa - - Viewdata-PRESTEL
Bab - - Viewdata-other(s) Bba - - to-day's diary Bbb - - this week's diary Bbc - - last week's diary Bbd - - next week's diary Ca - Personal Computer Cb - Video Games Cc - Video art These various option groups, option sub-groups and individual options can be identified in the different areas and sub-areas by a combination of text and graphics. Also, the different areas and sub-areas can be further distinguished from one another in shape, size and colour.
An area would have the same colour, but possibly a change in both shape and size, in each of the display frames in which it appears.
As regards the shape and size of an area, it is preferred to additionally provide each area with some characteristic feature, such as a cut-off corner, to indicate an active selection area. This would ensure that there is no confusion between other areas containing information and touch-selection areas. The selection process for selecting a desired facility option uses, in general, an improved selection technique in which successive touch-selections provide progressive detailing and display of available facility options towards a desired facility option.
As one aspect of this improved selection technique, it has been found advantagous to touch-select directly from a group of options to a particular individual facility option of 1~25475 21.7.82 10 ~HB 32905 the group in an instance where the individual facility option i5 likely to be required much more frequently than the other Eacility options of the group. To achieve this direct touch-selection of an individual facility option, a sub-area pertaining to it is nested in the area for the relevant group of options in the initial display frame and also i.n each subsequent display frame, so that the individual facility option is available for selection directly from any one of the display frames. As an example of achieving such direct touch-selection, the sub-area Bba for the facility option of "to-day's diary"
is nested in the area B within the sub-area Bb in the initial display frame shown in Figure 2 for direct touch-selection. This sub-area Bba also appears nested in the area Bb in the display frame shown in Figure 3 for direct touch-selection from that display frame also.
Another possible alternative in the display of facility options is represented by the dotted area Bbe in Figure 4. This area Bbe is in respect of an extension of the Personal Diary and relates to, say, a recent year (e.g. 1980), with sub-areas such as Bbea and Bbeb within the area Bbe respectively relating to the months of the year.
Thus, in response to touch-selection of the area Bbe, a fresh display frame which expands the year (1980) appropriately (e.g. into weeks) can be produced, while in response to touch-selection of a sub-area such as Bbea or Bbeb there can be produced a fresh display frame which expands the relevant month into days.
Practical considerations also dictate that each display frame (except the first) which the central processor 1 produces has a first control area CA, touch-selection of which causes the central processor 1 to replace the current display frame by the immediately preceding display frame, and a second control area CB, touch-selectian of which causes the central processor 1 to replace the current display frame by the initial display frame.
Once a facility option has been selected and shown to be available by the final display frame, the keyboard 7 or the other interface apparatus 8 and 9 can be used, as appropriate, for the inter-active operation of the system by a user. It would, of course, also be possible to use the touch sensitive screen-device itself for such inter-active operation following the selection of certain of the ~225~S
~1.7.82 11 PHB 32905 facility options. For instance, in the case of the "viewdata-other(s)"
facility option, the final display frame for that facility option could include a key pad for touch-tone dialling of a telephone number for a wanted data-base.
Since the writing tablet 8 and toggle or roller-ball 9 generate co-ordinate signals corresponding to any point on the screen of the television monitor 3, it would be possi~le to dispense with the touch sensitive screen device and to use instead one of these forms of interface apparatus to effect area selection for the selection of a desired facility option. However, this alternative mode of selection i9 not so simple as touch-selection as it involves providing on the screen a movable cursor which under the control of the interface apparatus is moved into an area to select the area. Another possible alternative is to provide a light-pen for the touch-selection.
The central processor elements shown in Figure 6 comprise an analogue-to-digital (A/D) converter 11, a read-only memory (ROM) device 12, a decoder 13 and a video signal generator 14. In response to co-ordinate signals on the leads X and Y from the touch sensitive screen device 10, the A/D converter 11 produces a first digital code which is fed to the ROM device 12 and identifies the point which has ~een touched on the screen. The video signal generator 14 feeds the video signal information for each display frame to the television monitor 3. The video signal generator 14 also feeds to the ROM device 12 a second digital code which identifies the current display frame
2~ on the television monitor 3. These first and second digital codes together identify a touched point of a particular display frame. The ROM device 12 functions as a "look-up" ta~le and is responsive to these two codes to provide output data which represents a touched area on the screen for the displayed frame. This output data is fed to the decoder 13 which decodes this data to determine whether the touched area pertains to the final selection of a facility option, or whether the touched area pertains to a further stage in the facility option selection process. In the former case, the decoder 13 provides a "facility select" signal on an output FS to the facility concerned:
in the latter case, the decoder 13 provides a "display frame select"
- ~ZS~175 21.7.82 12 P~IB 32905 signal on an output DS to identify to the ~ideo signal generator 14 the next display frame to be displayed.
As an alternative to the selection process performed by the elements shown in Figure 6, the central processor 1 of the display system may be arranged to perfonn a different selection process which i9 under the control of a suitable software program: for the implementation of this software program the central processor 1 can be a commercially available microprocessor or microcomputer.
For the implementation of the software program, the following stored data would be available.
1. An area description for each area (including sub-areas comprising:
(a) X-start = the point on the X-ordinate of the display screen at which the area starts.
(b) ~-.stop = the point on the X-ordinate of the display screen at which the area stops.
(c) Y-start = the point on the Y-ordinate of the display screen at which the area starts.
(d) Y-stop = the point on the Y-ordinate of the display screen at which the area stops.
(e) ACTION = action to be taken if this area is selected (e.g. select a particular further display for the display frame).
(f) LISTA = a list of area descriptions for the sub-areas (if any) nested within the instant area.
25 z A frame description for each display frame comprising:
(a) LISTF = a list of area descriptions for all the areas (including sub-areas) in the frame.
When a selection is made with the device 10, the X and Y co-ordinate signals which identify the touched point are compared with the X and Y
30 start and stop data in each area description of the displayed frame. If for any area, X ~ X-start and X~ X-stop, and Y~ Y-start and Y4~ Y-stop, then the touched point is within that area. If the area has sub-areas within it, then the X and Y co-ordinate signals are compared in the same way with the X and Y start and stop data in the (sub)-areas description. Further nesting of subareas require further comparisons 25~75 21.7.82 13 P~l~ 32905 to be made in the same way. Once a final area or sub-area has been found the ACTION associated with it is executed.
The program steps for performing the above comparisons involve only known programming techniques, and a person skilled in the art would know readily how to provide these program steps given the above information. Also it will be apparent from the foregoing that a large number of different possible combinations of "nested" touch areas in a variety of display frames can be realised within the scope of the invention by suitable programming of the controt processor.
in the latter case, the decoder 13 provides a "display frame select"
- ~ZS~175 21.7.82 12 P~IB 32905 signal on an output DS to identify to the ~ideo signal generator 14 the next display frame to be displayed.
As an alternative to the selection process performed by the elements shown in Figure 6, the central processor 1 of the display system may be arranged to perfonn a different selection process which i9 under the control of a suitable software program: for the implementation of this software program the central processor 1 can be a commercially available microprocessor or microcomputer.
For the implementation of the software program, the following stored data would be available.
1. An area description for each area (including sub-areas comprising:
(a) X-start = the point on the X-ordinate of the display screen at which the area starts.
(b) ~-.stop = the point on the X-ordinate of the display screen at which the area stops.
(c) Y-start = the point on the Y-ordinate of the display screen at which the area starts.
(d) Y-stop = the point on the Y-ordinate of the display screen at which the area stops.
(e) ACTION = action to be taken if this area is selected (e.g. select a particular further display for the display frame).
(f) LISTA = a list of area descriptions for the sub-areas (if any) nested within the instant area.
25 z A frame description for each display frame comprising:
(a) LISTF = a list of area descriptions for all the areas (including sub-areas) in the frame.
When a selection is made with the device 10, the X and Y co-ordinate signals which identify the touched point are compared with the X and Y
30 start and stop data in each area description of the displayed frame. If for any area, X ~ X-start and X~ X-stop, and Y~ Y-start and Y4~ Y-stop, then the touched point is within that area. If the area has sub-areas within it, then the X and Y co-ordinate signals are compared in the same way with the X and Y start and stop data in the (sub)-areas description. Further nesting of subareas require further comparisons 25~75 21.7.82 13 P~l~ 32905 to be made in the same way. Once a final area or sub-area has been found the ACTION associated with it is executed.
The program steps for performing the above comparisons involve only known programming techniques, and a person skilled in the art would know readily how to provide these program steps given the above information. Also it will be apparent from the foregoing that a large number of different possible combinations of "nested" touch areas in a variety of display frames can be realised within the scope of the invention by suitable programming of the controt processor.
Claims (11)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS
1. An information display system having connection means for establishing selective connection to a number of different information sources to obtain information therefrom for display on the screen of a display device, a particular one of said information sources from which information is to be obtained at any time being determined by central processor means of the system as a result of the selection of one of a plurality of facility options which pertain respectively to said information sources and which are selectable from interface apparatus by which the central processor means can be accessed, in which information display system the interface apparatus is operable to generate signals to represent any selected point on the screen of the display device, and the central processor means includes logic control means for producing on the screen of the display device a display frame of available facility options, and which information display system is characterised in that in respect of the selection of a facility option the logic control means is operable to produce a first display frame defining at least two discrete areas which are identified as pertaining to different facility options, said first display frame further defining within at least one of said discrete areas at least one discrete sub-area which is identified as pertaining to one or more facility options, the logic control means being further operable in response to the selection by said interface apparatus of a point which is in one of said areas but not within a sub-area of that area, or which is in a sub-area, to produce a second display frame which, if said area or sub-area pertains to a single option facility, gives a visual indication of the selection of that facility option, said logic control means then causing said connection means to establish connection to the appertaining information source.
2. An information display system as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the logic control means is still further operable, when in said first display frame a selected area containing sub-areas pertains to a plural-ity of facility options, to produce an alternative second display frame which re-defines each sub-area of the selected area as a respective area which is identified as pertaining to at least one facility option.
3. An information display system as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that said alternative second display frame includes at least one further area which is identified as pertaining to at least one facility option.
4. An information display system as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, characterised in that in said alternative second display frame at least one of said areas has defined within it at least one sub-area which is iden-tified as pertaining to at least one facility option.
5. An information display system as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the logic control means is still further operable when in said first display frame a selected sub-area pertains to a group of facility options, to produce a different alternative second display frame which defines a plurality of areas which pertain to respec-tively facility options or to respective pluralities of facility options.
6. An information display system as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that in said different alter-native second display frame at least one of the areas which pertains to a plurality of facility options has defined within it at least one sub-area which pertains to a single facility option, or to a plurality of related facility options.
7. An information display system as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that said interface apparatus is of a type which can generate co-ordinate signals to represent the co-ordinates of any selected point on the screen of the display device.
8. An information display system as claimed in Claim 7, characterised in that said interface apparatus is a touch sensitive screen device having a touch sensi-tive screen which overlies the screen of the display device.
9. An information display system as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the logic control means is arranged to drive a video signal generator which provides video display signals such that the various areas and sub-areas are made distinctive in colour and/or shape and/or size.
10. An information display system as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that said video display signals further define in respect of each active selection area the same characteristic feature which indicates that the area is an active selection area.
11. An information display system as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that said display device is a television monitor.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8223085 | 1982-08-11 | ||
| GB08223085A GB2126054A (en) | 1982-08-11 | 1982-08-11 | Display system with nested information display |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1225475A true CA1225475A (en) | 1987-08-11 |
Family
ID=10532231
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000433852A Expired CA1225475A (en) | 1982-08-11 | 1983-08-04 | Information display system |
Country Status (8)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4712191A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0103317B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS5949637A (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE28248T1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1225475A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3372415D1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES524827A0 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2126054A (en) |
Families Citing this family (115)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS60157700A (en) * | 1984-01-27 | 1985-08-17 | 日立造船株式会社 | Preventive aid apparatus for ship collision |
| JP2559358B2 (en) * | 1984-10-22 | 1996-12-04 | 株式会社日立製作所 | Menu display control system |
| DE3585279D1 (en) * | 1984-11-14 | 1992-03-05 | Canon Kk | IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM. |
| GB2172177A (en) * | 1985-03-06 | 1986-09-10 | Philips Electronic Associated | Electronic information display systems |
| US4769636A (en) * | 1985-08-14 | 1988-09-06 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Display control method for multi-window system |
| GB2181627B (en) * | 1985-09-10 | 1989-12-28 | Interactive Tech Limited | Information processing system |
| US7130778B1 (en) | 1985-12-06 | 2006-10-31 | Media Digital, Inc. | Computer touch screen radio station control system |
| US6101324A (en) * | 1985-12-06 | 2000-08-08 | Media Touch Systems, Inc. | Computer touch screen radio station control system |
| US5198976A (en) * | 1986-04-09 | 1993-03-30 | Computer Sport Systems, Inc. | Multifunction interactive automatic bowling alley system utilizing a touch screen console |
| USRE38419E1 (en) | 1986-05-13 | 2004-02-10 | Ncr Corporation | Computer interface device |
| US4965765A (en) * | 1986-05-16 | 1990-10-23 | International Business Machines Corp. | Distinguishing nested structures by color |
| IT1203580B (en) * | 1986-06-30 | 1989-02-15 | Italiana Per Lo Sviluppo Dell | PERFECTED RECEIVER FOR TELETEXT TRANSMISSIONS |
| JPS6332684A (en) * | 1986-07-28 | 1988-02-12 | ニツタン株式会社 | Fire alarm |
| JPS6347791A (en) * | 1986-08-15 | 1988-02-29 | 株式会社東芝 | Information display instructor |
| JPH0814785B2 (en) * | 1986-09-24 | 1996-02-14 | 株式会社日立製作所 | Display controller |
| JPS63170780A (en) * | 1986-10-03 | 1988-07-14 | インタランド・コーポレーション | Integrated multi-display type overlay control system communication work station |
| JPS63254513A (en) * | 1987-04-13 | 1988-10-21 | Toshiba Corp | Picture display method |
| JPH0832095B2 (en) * | 1987-04-15 | 1996-03-27 | 中部電力株式会社 | Plant monitoring equipment |
| JPS63265389A (en) * | 1987-04-23 | 1988-11-01 | Nittan Co Ltd | Antidisaster monitoring device |
| US4965558A (en) * | 1987-07-15 | 1990-10-23 | Interand Corporation | Method and apparatus for image retrieval |
| US4890098A (en) * | 1987-10-20 | 1989-12-26 | International Business Machines Corporation | Flexible window management on a computer display |
| JP2674081B2 (en) * | 1988-04-26 | 1997-11-05 | 富士ゼロックス株式会社 | Recording device display |
| US5271097A (en) * | 1988-06-30 | 1993-12-14 | International Business Machines Corporation | Method and system for controlling the presentation of nested overlays utilizing image area mixing attributes |
| US5046001A (en) * | 1988-06-30 | 1991-09-03 | Ibm Corporation | Method for accessing selected windows in a multi-tasking system |
| US5065347A (en) * | 1988-08-11 | 1991-11-12 | Xerox Corporation | Hierarchical folders display |
| WO1990008372A1 (en) * | 1989-01-23 | 1990-07-26 | Grant Lee H | Universal image programmable keyboard |
| CA1326563C (en) * | 1989-03-15 | 1994-01-25 | Anthony Hoeber | Method and apparatus for selecting and executing defaults in a window based display system |
| FR2644604B1 (en) * | 1989-03-20 | 1994-08-12 | Marc Simoncini | METHOD FOR MANAGING A CURSOR ON THE SCREEN OF A TELEMATIC TERMINAL BY REPRODUCING THE POSITION ON A MAP OF A MOBILE SYSTEM AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS METHOD |
| JPH0326639U (en) * | 1989-07-25 | 1991-03-18 | ||
| JP2781035B2 (en) * | 1989-12-12 | 1998-07-30 | 富士通株式会社 | Hierarchical editing command menu display method |
| JPH03184113A (en) * | 1989-12-13 | 1991-08-12 | Fuji Xerox Co Ltd | System for registering operation key |
| JPH0816956B2 (en) * | 1990-01-18 | 1996-02-21 | 株式会社日立製作所 | Fault tree display method, fault tree display device and process diagnosis support system |
| JPH03218160A (en) * | 1990-01-24 | 1991-09-25 | Fuji Xerox Co Ltd | Manual sheet generation and utilizing device |
| EP0439087B1 (en) * | 1990-01-25 | 1996-12-11 | Radius Inc. | Method for resizing and moving computer display windows |
| US5388202A (en) * | 1990-02-02 | 1995-02-07 | Viacom International Inc. | Method and apparatus for generating window borders having pictorial frame elements |
| EP0462565B1 (en) * | 1990-06-19 | 1995-12-27 | Fujitsu Limited | Multiwindow display control method and apparatus |
| KR960000368Y1 (en) * | 1990-06-30 | 1996-01-06 | 삼성전자 주식회사 | Multi page display device of teletext receiving system |
| US5305435A (en) * | 1990-07-17 | 1994-04-19 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Computer windows management system and method for simulating off-screen document storage and retrieval |
| WO1992004678A1 (en) * | 1990-09-10 | 1992-03-19 | Lotus Development Corporation | Apparatus and method for reformattable spreadsheet |
| DK0551433T3 (en) * | 1990-10-01 | 2001-07-30 | Thomas A Bush | transaction Processing System |
| JPH0511962A (en) * | 1990-10-10 | 1993-01-22 | Fuji Xerox Co Ltd | Window management device |
| US6225983B1 (en) * | 1990-10-11 | 2001-05-01 | Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd | Operation key registration system for a coordinate input device |
| US5463727A (en) * | 1990-10-16 | 1995-10-31 | Advanced Systems, Inc. | Window selection method and system for an interactive display |
| FR2693810B1 (en) * | 1991-06-03 | 1997-01-10 | Apple Computer | USER INTERFACE SYSTEMS WITH DIRECT ACCESS TO A SECONDARY DISPLAY AREA. |
| EP0529121A1 (en) * | 1991-08-24 | 1993-03-03 | International Business Machines Corporation | Graphics display tool |
| JPH071476B2 (en) * | 1991-08-27 | 1995-01-11 | インターナショナル・ビジネス・マシーンズ・コーポレイション | Method and system for automatically locating an object on a display screen |
| US5396546A (en) * | 1991-10-03 | 1995-03-07 | Viscorp | Apparatus and method for automatic and user configurable information appliance |
| US5490208A (en) * | 1991-10-03 | 1996-02-06 | Viscorp | Apparatus and method for voice mode and data mode television-to-television communication |
| US5404393A (en) * | 1991-10-03 | 1995-04-04 | Viscorp | Method and apparatus for interactive television through use of menu windows |
| WO1993015455A1 (en) * | 1992-01-24 | 1993-08-05 | Interactive Media Corporation | System for performing function on second portal upon activation of related first portal |
| US5721900A (en) * | 1992-07-20 | 1998-02-24 | International Business Machines Corp | Method and apparatus for graphically displaying query relationships |
| JP2549247B2 (en) * | 1992-07-20 | 1996-10-30 | インターナショナル・ビジネス・マシーンズ・コーポレイション | Display device and method for database |
| US6002798A (en) * | 1993-01-19 | 1999-12-14 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Method and apparatus for creating, indexing and viewing abstracted documents |
| US5671379A (en) * | 1993-01-29 | 1997-09-23 | International Business Machines Corporation | System and method for managing windows |
| JP2788850B2 (en) * | 1993-02-18 | 1998-08-20 | 日本電気株式会社 | Optimal menu inquiry method and editing method of structural data by hierarchical menu inquiry |
| US6323894B1 (en) | 1993-03-12 | 2001-11-27 | Telebuyer, Llc | Commercial product routing system with video vending capability |
| US5495284A (en) | 1993-03-12 | 1996-02-27 | Katz; Ronald A. | Scheduling and processing system for telephone video communication |
| US7019770B1 (en) | 1993-03-12 | 2006-03-28 | Telebuyer, Llc | Videophone system for scrutiny monitoring with computer control |
| US20030185356A1 (en) | 1993-03-12 | 2003-10-02 | Telebuyer, Llc | Commercial product telephonic routing system with mobile wireless and video vending capability |
| GB2276520A (en) * | 1993-03-23 | 1994-09-28 | Us West Advanced Tech Inc | Computer interface method and system |
| US5524195A (en) * | 1993-05-24 | 1996-06-04 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Graphical user interface for interactive television with an animated agent |
| EP0626635B1 (en) | 1993-05-24 | 2003-03-05 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Improved graphical user interface with method for interfacing to remote devices |
| US5583984A (en) | 1993-06-11 | 1996-12-10 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Computer system with graphical user interface including automated enclosures |
| US5956030A (en) * | 1993-06-11 | 1999-09-21 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Computer system with graphical user interface including windows having an identifier within a control region on the display |
| JP2606083B2 (en) * | 1993-06-11 | 1997-04-30 | 日本電気株式会社 | Window control method |
| EP0640915A1 (en) * | 1993-08-27 | 1995-03-01 | International Business Machines Corporation | Method and system for presenting contents of a container object within a graphical user interface in a data processing system |
| US5704051A (en) * | 1993-11-19 | 1997-12-30 | Lane; Ronald S. | Hierarchical menu bar system with dynamic graphics and text windows |
| US5500794A (en) * | 1994-03-31 | 1996-03-19 | Panasonic Technologies, Inc. | Distribution system and method for menu-driven user interface |
| US5598523A (en) * | 1994-03-31 | 1997-01-28 | Panasonic Technologies, Inc. | Method and system for displayed menu activation using a matching distinctive arrangement of keypad actuators |
| US5602596A (en) * | 1994-04-08 | 1997-02-11 | U S West Technologies, Inc. | Method for navigating a complex multimedia structure at an interactive user station |
| US7336279B1 (en) | 1994-12-16 | 2008-02-26 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Intuitive hierarchical time-series data display method and system |
| US5721853A (en) * | 1995-04-28 | 1998-02-24 | Ast Research, Inc. | Spot graphic display element with open locking and periodic animation |
| WO1997030397A1 (en) * | 1996-02-16 | 1997-08-21 | Cyber Marketing, Inc. | Remote interactive multimedia preview and data collection kiosk system |
| US5736985A (en) * | 1996-07-02 | 1998-04-07 | International Business Machines Corp. | GUI pushbutton with multi-function mini-button |
| US6037944A (en) * | 1996-11-07 | 2000-03-14 | Natrificial Llc | Method and apparatus for displaying a thought network from a thought's perspective |
| US5956035A (en) * | 1997-05-15 | 1999-09-21 | Sony Corporation | Menu selection with menu stem and submenu size enlargement |
| US5956025A (en) * | 1997-06-09 | 1999-09-21 | Philips Electronics North America Corporation | Remote with 3D organized GUI for a home entertainment system |
| FR2772881B1 (en) | 1997-12-24 | 2000-01-14 | Alpes Systeme Automation | DEVICE FOR DISTRIBUTING A WORKING GAS AND INSTALLATION FOR PROVIDING A WORKING GAS EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A DEVICE |
| US6104398A (en) * | 1998-02-13 | 2000-08-15 | International Business Machines Corporation | Fast and efficient means for grouped object selection and deselection |
| US6188399B1 (en) | 1998-05-08 | 2001-02-13 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Multiple theme engine graphical user interface architecture |
| GB2352858A (en) * | 1999-07-29 | 2001-02-07 | Ibm | Television equipped with a touch sensitive display |
| US7028264B2 (en) * | 1999-10-29 | 2006-04-11 | Surfcast, Inc. | System and method for simultaneous display of multiple information sources |
| US7987431B2 (en) | 1999-10-29 | 2011-07-26 | Surfcast, Inc. | System and method for simultaneous display of multiple information sources |
| US6724403B1 (en) | 1999-10-29 | 2004-04-20 | Surfcast, Inc. | System and method for simultaneous display of multiple information sources |
| DE10005832B4 (en) * | 2000-02-10 | 2007-04-19 | Gantenhammer, Andreas | Method for selecting products |
| US7210093B1 (en) | 2000-03-09 | 2007-04-24 | International Business Machines Corporation | Method, system, and program for displaying pages downloaded from over a network in an application window |
| US6850257B1 (en) * | 2000-04-06 | 2005-02-01 | Microsoft Corporation | Responsive user interface to manage a non-responsive application |
| WO2002005081A1 (en) * | 2000-05-11 | 2002-01-17 | Nes Stewart Irvine | Zeroclick |
| GB2367991A (en) * | 2000-10-12 | 2002-04-17 | Kubix Com | Touch sensitive display screen |
| US7013432B2 (en) * | 2001-04-30 | 2006-03-14 | Broadband Graphics, Llc | Display container cell modification in a cell based EUI |
| US7313765B2 (en) * | 2001-04-30 | 2007-12-25 | Broadband Graphics Llc | Cell based EUI methods & apparatuses |
| US20060200779A1 (en) * | 2001-04-30 | 2006-09-07 | Taylor Steve D | Cell based end user interface having action cells |
| US7444599B1 (en) | 2002-03-14 | 2008-10-28 | Apple Inc. | Method and apparatus for controlling a display of a data processing system |
| US7117450B1 (en) * | 2002-03-15 | 2006-10-03 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Method and apparatus for determining font attributes |
| CA2527328C (en) * | 2003-05-29 | 2013-04-02 | Eat.Tv, Llc | System for presentation of multimedia content |
| US7983835B2 (en) | 2004-11-03 | 2011-07-19 | Lagassey Paul J | Modular intelligent transportation system |
| US9552141B2 (en) | 2004-06-21 | 2017-01-24 | Apple Inc. | Methods and apparatuses for operating a data processing system |
| KR20060012200A (en) * | 2004-08-02 | 2006-02-07 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Display device and driving method thereof |
| JP4890459B2 (en) * | 2004-10-29 | 2012-03-07 | イーエイティー．ティーブイ、インコーポレイテッド | A system for enabling video-based interactive applications |
| CN101303645B (en) * | 2007-05-10 | 2012-05-02 | 宏达国际电子股份有限公司 | Establishing and operating method of graphic menu interface |
| TWI356335B (en) | 2007-05-10 | 2012-01-11 | Htc Corp | Handheld electronic device, graphical menu interfa |
| US8595642B1 (en) | 2007-10-04 | 2013-11-26 | Great Northern Research, LLC | Multiple shell multi faceted graphical user interface |
| US20090125846A1 (en) * | 2007-11-08 | 2009-05-14 | Anderson Mark A | Facility to Show Secondary Relationships in a Topological Graph Using an Associated View |
| US20100073160A1 (en) * | 2008-09-25 | 2010-03-25 | Microsoft Corporation | Alerting users using a multiple state status icon |
| US9436685B2 (en) | 2010-12-23 | 2016-09-06 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Techniques for electronic aggregation of information |
| US20120166953A1 (en) * | 2010-12-23 | 2012-06-28 | Microsoft Corporation | Techniques for electronic aggregation of information |
| US9679404B2 (en) | 2010-12-23 | 2017-06-13 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Techniques for dynamic layout of presentation tiles on a grid |
| USD667419S1 (en) * | 2011-03-09 | 2012-09-18 | Microsoft Corporation | Display screen with user interface |
| US9715485B2 (en) | 2011-03-28 | 2017-07-25 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Techniques for electronic aggregation of information |
| US9558278B2 (en) | 2012-09-11 | 2017-01-31 | Apple Inc. | Integrated content recommendation |
| US9218118B2 (en) | 2012-09-11 | 2015-12-22 | Apple Inc. | Media player playlist management |
| JP2015102567A (en) * | 2013-11-21 | 2015-06-04 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Multi-vision display control device and multi-vision system |
| GB201509008D0 (en) * | 2015-05-26 | 2015-07-08 | Giroux Verreault Mathieu And Tourigny Gilles Jr | Interactive clothing incorporating electronic components |
| FR3039669B1 (en) * | 2015-07-31 | 2019-08-02 | Air Liquide Electronics Systems | SWIVEL TOUCH SCREEN FOR GAS DISTRIBUTION FACILITY. |
| JP6894066B2 (en) | 2015-10-07 | 2021-06-23 | マクエット カルディオプルモナリー ゲーエムベーハー | User interface |
Family Cites Families (15)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3597759A (en) * | 1968-07-29 | 1971-08-03 | Bell Telephone Labor Inc | Display system utilizing ordered data structure |
| US3771156A (en) * | 1972-09-25 | 1973-11-06 | Sanders Associates Inc | Communication apparatus |
| US4001807A (en) * | 1973-08-16 | 1977-01-04 | Honeywell Inc. | Concurrent overview and detail display system having process control capabilities |
| JPS5534628B2 (en) * | 1974-05-17 | 1980-09-08 | ||
| US4202041A (en) * | 1977-07-11 | 1980-05-06 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Dynamically variable keyboard terminal |
| GB2056228B (en) * | 1979-07-04 | 1983-04-20 | New Nippon Electric Co | Cathode-ray tube display device |
| JPS5664385A (en) * | 1979-10-30 | 1981-06-01 | Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co | Method of selecting screen of crt display device |
| DE2952482A1 (en) * | 1979-12-27 | 1981-07-02 | Renault | Machine data acquisition control terminal system - manipulates instructions using hierarchical structure and permits dialogue with user |
| JPS56119185A (en) * | 1980-02-23 | 1981-09-18 | Fujitsu Fanuc Ltd | Picture display system |
| SE441870B (en) * | 1980-04-16 | 1985-11-11 | Western Electric Co | SOUND SENSITIVE DEVICE FOR USE WITH A SIGNAL CELL |
| US4521870A (en) * | 1981-04-09 | 1985-06-04 | Ampex Corporation | Audio/video system having touch responsive function display screen |
| CA1177969A (en) * | 1981-04-09 | 1984-11-13 | John H. Babbel | Audio/video editing system having touch responsive function display screen |
| US4481603A (en) * | 1981-05-18 | 1984-11-06 | International Business Machines Corporation | File processing method using expanding display windows for selected records and text fields |
| US4431870A (en) * | 1982-02-25 | 1984-02-14 | May George A | Telephone system with computer generated dial pad and automatic dialing |
| US4516156A (en) * | 1982-03-15 | 1985-05-07 | Satellite Business Systems | Teleconferencing method and system |
-
1982
- 1982-08-11 GB GB08223085A patent/GB2126054A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1983
- 1983-07-22 US US06/516,020 patent/US4712191A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1983-08-01 DE DE8383201134T patent/DE3372415D1/en not_active Expired
- 1983-08-01 AT AT83201134T patent/ATE28248T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1983-08-01 EP EP83201134A patent/EP0103317B1/en not_active Expired
- 1983-08-04 CA CA000433852A patent/CA1225475A/en not_active Expired
- 1983-08-09 ES ES524827A patent/ES524827A0/en active Granted
- 1983-08-10 JP JP58145146A patent/JPS5949637A/en active Granted
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH0410651B2 (en) | 1992-02-26 |
| EP0103317A2 (en) | 1984-03-21 |
| ES8501544A1 (en) | 1984-11-16 |
| EP0103317B1 (en) | 1987-07-08 |
| JPS5949637A (en) | 1984-03-22 |
| EP0103317A3 (en) | 1984-12-27 |
| US4712191A (en) | 1987-12-08 |
| GB2126054A (en) | 1984-03-14 |
| ATE28248T1 (en) | 1987-07-15 |
| DE3372415D1 (en) | 1987-08-13 |
| ES524827A0 (en) | 1984-11-16 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CA1225475A (en) | Information display system | |
| JPH024028A (en) | Searching control enabling user one entry among a plurality of entries by using keyboard and display | |
| US6067070A (en) | Display control apparatus having a display of text data and image data and display control method for the same | |
| JP2000132311A (en) | Character input method/device | |
| KR100687962B1 (en) | Control unit with variable visual indicator | |
| US11625150B2 (en) | Adapting order of menu, submenus and cards in user interface based on particular customer usage | |
| KR100271375B1 (en) | Apparatus for inputting characters with restricted keys, method and telephone terminal using same | |
| KR101046660B1 (en) | Character input and output device and method | |
| CN102946568A (en) | Character input method and character input device | |
| KR20030021776A (en) | Short cut setting method for mobile communication device | |
| JPS5917454B2 (en) | Kanji input method | |
| JPH0135353B2 (en) | ||
| CN113986030A (en) | Mouse-based character input method, device and medium | |
| KR100618963B1 (en) | Method for inputting the button in portable terminal | |
| KR100409278B1 (en) | Character input method | |
| KR20230121558A (en) | PC keyboard and keyboard for game including Japanese characters inputting device | |
| JPH03222071A (en) | Information selection method | |
| KR100844934B1 (en) | Charactor inputting device | |
| JPS5922255B2 (en) | Kanji input method | |
| CN112463014A (en) | Input panel display method, related equipment and readable storage medium | |
| KR20010081197A (en) | Character code input method of the phone | |
| JPH0567955B2 (en) | ||
| KR960039862A (en) | Korean Title Display System of Camcorder | |
| JPS63223820A (en) | Input control system in data processor | |
| JPS62251870A (en) | Character input device |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |