WO2003000001A2

WO2003000001A2 - Graphic user interface with remote configuration to access computer network

Info

Publication number: WO2003000001A2
Application number: PCT/BR2002/000087
Authority: WO
Inventors: Manuel Steidle; Marcelo Ferreira Guimaraes; Dimitri Eberhardt Prado; Cristiano Kurt Ritzke; Ricardo Antonio Pralon Santos; Eduardo Vieira Borges; Denis Alexander Kohler; Paulo Ricardo Fonseca Blank; Luiz Daniel Mendes De Lima
Original assignee: Fundação Centros De Referência Em Tecnologias Inovadoras - Certi
Priority date: 2001-06-22
Filing date: 2002-06-20
Publication date: 2003-01-03
Also published as: BR0102488A; AU2002311113A1; WO2003000001A3

Abstract

System and device applied by means of a terminal screen aimed at interactive and multi-channel application of user graphic interface with remote configuration to access a computer network, characterized by the association of physical command devices (2, 3, 6 and 7), which are comprised by mechanical keys such as direct access buttons made up of physical keys (6, 7) of direct access, and by electronic keys conformed as virtual keys (2 and 3), when provided with a touch-screen device; of graphic interface comprised by four elements represented by a channel bar (2), a command line (3), a selected or current channel position (4) and display area of the current channel (5), the referred graphic interface being preferably conformed as an 'L' shape; a communication device (18) provided to allow connection to a computer network by means of TCP/IP protocol; an alpha-numerical keyboard device (8) for typing URL addresses and executing functions of the current URL (5), and an application which is intended for the recognition of response instrutions of remote CGI related to the setup of virtual buttons.

Description

" SYSTEM AND DEVICE APPLIED BY MEANS OF A TERMINAL SCREEN, AIMING AT INTERACTIVE AND MULTI-CHANNEL APPLICATION OF GRAPHIC USER INTERFACE WITH REMOTE CONFIGURATION TO ACCESS COMPUTER NETWORK." The invention described herein refers to a system and device which perform by means of a terminal screen aiming at interactive and multichannel application of graphic user interface with remote con iguration to access a computer network. This device is accompanied by a screen or video monitor which can be comprised of a cathodic ray tube (CRT) , liquid crystal display (LCD) , TV, or any other type of display technology, with or without touch-screen, where a graphic interface will be presented from which a channel bar and a command line will be included. This invention also includes a user interface which can be used with a keyboard, touch-screen, mouse, track-ball and communication device such as ADSL, network board or mode .

The channel bar is positioned vertically to the lefthand side of the display.

This channel bar, on its lower portion, near the lower lefthand vertix of the display, indicates the position of the current channel, whereas the command line is placed horizontally, positioned at the bottom of the display and is provided to show the commands related to the current channel. Thus, the channel bar and the command line are arranged in concurrent and orthogonal configuration, together forming a preferred ^ΛΛL" shape application.

These channels and commands are associated with URL addresses which give access to specific contents and are identified by icons or texts. These may be stationary or animated. The button animation may be remotely configurated, thus making the button a channel in itself. The channels referred to in the channel bar of the graphic interface are operated by means of a scrolling device which has a feature of alternating the channels displayed on the lower portion of this bar. This way, the channel of interest is selected and its respective address is called upon and connected with, which leads the corresponding website to be displayed and its respective commands to be presented on the command line, also called choice bar.

These commands shown in the command line give access to the corresponding website's URL sub- addresses, allowing the user to have access to all the content made available on the website, which will take place by means of navigation through the successive hierarchies of the corresponding website highlighted on the display, providing the user with a simple and friendly way of interacting with the address of interest. The selection of such commands is made preferably by physical buttons (direct access keys), placed below the display and lined with the virtual commands presented on the display.

Likewise, the commands in the command bar may also be operated on the display, provided that a touch-screen device is implemented. This operation may also take place using a mouse or a track-ball device, depending on the option chosen.

The digitization of information and the people's interest to use a computerized network such as the internet, based on the consultation of information in all levels and fields of knowledge, has originated the need to develop an intuitive way in which to navigate on the internet, one which would allow even the less skilled individuals an opportunity to make full use of the resources available in such an environment. All this in an accurate and interactively easy way, providing the user with a direct access response. Thus, the association of familiar elements in the user interface application with those employed in the automation of bank terminals, along with a simplified internet browser, has presented an easier and more practical navigation solution than those commonly utilized.

The elements related to navigation in a scrolling system applied to cellular phones were already known by state-of-the-art technology, as can be seen in the patent document entitled to Nokia Mobile Phones Limited, patent US 5,889,852 submitted on February 10^th, 1997 and published on March 30^th, 1999, through which telephone numbers are associated with graphic information, stored in memory and accessed through graphic user interface in menus which scroll on the cell phone display.

Likewise, the patent document entitled to Nokia Mobile Phones Limited, US 6,172,673, deposited on April 22^nd,.1997 and published on January 9^th, 2001, presents an interface utilized by multimedia terminal, such as a computer or television. The use of components which facilitate the utilization of terminals by users, such as the rapid access keys used in public bank terminals, are also of public knowledge.

None of the above solutions, however, have contemplated the associated use of such devices to provide the user with direct and facilitated access to a computer network such as the internet, as does the invention presented herein. Thus, the result of such an association is represented in this invention' s system, in which a device is applied by means of a remote terminal screen, aiming at interactive and multi-channel application of a graphic user interface with remote configuration to access a computer network such as the internet, and which presents as an essential characteristic the fact that it offers direct and interactive access to a wide range of users, be they children, elderly or laypeople in the use of the internet. Likewise, this invention foresees the use by visually handicapped individuals, for whom navigation is facilitated through the use of enlarged icons and physical buttons with tactile response incorporating the Braille method.

Many of the known interface models make use of touch-screen technology, which represents a number of disadvantages when applied to products of public use. Some of these disadvantages, among others, are:

- Material sensitivity; - The user does not understand the commands due to a lack of mechanical feedback;

- Difficulty of use by the elderly;

- The high cost of this solution if compared to others such as keys; - Functional instability due to the accumulation of dust on the screen.

The system and device applied by means of a terminal screen, aimed at interactive and multichannel application of graphic user interface, with remote configuration to access a computer network and equipped with a browser, object of this patent request, is more intuitive than the previous techniques and allows the user to visualize the channels and the respective options in the chosen channel which are available for navigation in a straightforward and objective manne .

The main difference regarding the other interfaces is represented by the possibility to configurate the channels and their options by means of consulting a remote data base. This alternative allows for a greater man-machine interaction and the construction of customized information and media. This customization of data is done by the previously contracted client, who will define the referred configuration of his or her interest. This will depend on the type of negotiation undertaken with each of the displayers and sponsors, who may determine specific information and advertisements for the public who will be accessing the system via a terminal.

This content is transmitted according to http network protocols for text, sound and image transmission. The configuration of a certain command is then sent as a comment which common browsers are not able to interpret.

These virtual buttons search for the descriptions of the images to be inserted in a web server via http protocol.

The content made available to the rapid access keys may be in a data base server which will manage the content to be made available and the remote consultation will take place via the get- or-post method of the http/htpps protocol as soon as the user makes his or her choice, This consultation with a remote CGI will get back to the instructions regarding the content setup of the visual buttons, which will be ignored by a regular browser, but which will be read by the application of the patent herein. The data provider (displayer and/or sponsor) defines the applicable instructions together with the server and the center responds to the consultations .

In order to facilitate the comprehension of the invention patent herein, the same will be described with reference to the representative drawings attached, in which;

Figure 01 represents a diagram of the system hardware configuration and device applied by means of a terminal screen, aiming at interactive and multi-channel application of graphic user interface with remote configuration to access a computer network.

Figure 02 represents the instruction matrix framework of the system application and device applied by means of a terminal screen, aiming at interactive and multi-channel application of graphic user interface with remote configuration to access a computer network.

Figure 03 represents a perfomance flowchart of system commands and device applied by means of a terminal screen, aiming at interactive and multichannel application of graphic user interface with remote configuration to access a computer network. Figure 04 represents a navigation flowchart through the system and device applied by means of a terminal screen, aiming at interactive and multi-channel application of graphic user interface with remote configuration to access a computer network. Figures 05, 06, 07, 08, 09 and 10 graphically represent navigation through the system and device applied by means of a terminal screen, aiming at interactive and multi-channel application of graphic user interface with remote configuration to access a computer network. Figures 11 and 12 represent a graphic variation of system navigation and device applied by means of a terminal screen, aiming at interactive and multi-channel application of graphic user interface with remote configuration to access a computer network.

As illustrated in Figure 01, the system operation of the Invention patent herein starts with the visualization of the current URL content

(5) on the display, representing the current channel (4) of the channel bar (2) . Should this URL be of the user's interest, he or she will continue to access Its content, otherwise he or she may alter the current URL (4) through a scrolling device (6) which will cause the channels on the channel bar (2) to "scroll"^" down to the current channel position (4), updating the display (1) with the current URL (5) .

Once the user visualizes the URL of interest and remains at it, after a 5 to 10-minute period the channel bar withdraws automatically, as illustrated in Figure 05.

The withdrawing of the channel bar allows for greater visualization and highlighting of the website. In this URL several commands are made available on the command line (3) , which give access to the current URL information hierarchy sub-levels (5) . These commands are accessed by means of the rapid access keys (7).

The scrolling device (β) and the rapid access keys (7) are mechanical or electronic keys connected to a local electronic circuit which identifies the pressing of such keys by means of keyboard scanning. This local electronic circuit may be implemented in two ways. The first one is the connection of the scrolling device (6) and the rapid access keys (7) with the standard PC-AT keyboard (8), which is used for typing of URL addresses or other more complex features offered by the current URL (5) . The keyboard microprocessor (9) is responsible for keyboard scanning and identifies the triggering of the scrolling device (6) and rapid access keys (7) as If they were function keys of the keyboard itself, designating a code value to the pressed keys through an internal table of keyboard codes. The keyboard sends this code to the keyboard controller (10) , which identifies this code as a command. This command is sent from the keyboard controller (10) to the processor (12) through a printed circuit bus (13) . The processor (12) accesses the memory unit

(14) and Informs the application (16), through the operational system (15), that such command has been triggered. The application (16) consults an instruction matrix (17) , which associates commands and actions. The commands correspond to the available keys, that is, rapid access keys (7) and scrolling device ( 6) .

The second form of implementing the local electronic circuit is the connection of the scrolling device (6) and the rapid access keys (7) to a dedicated controller (11), responsible for scanning the keyboard, designating a code and its command to be transmitted to the processor (12) through the following Interfaces :

- PS 2 Interface;

- Serial interface RS-232 (V24) or compatible;

- USB interface or compatible;

- Infra-red interface (IRDA) and compatible; — Interfaces which use radio frequency

(wireless) , such as bluetooth and compatible .

The Instruction matrix (17), Illustrated in

Figure 02, has a structure which associates the command generated by the scrolling device (6) or rapid access key (7), its associated Icon, its generated action in the application and its related URL address.

The instruction matrix (17) is operated in remote configuration through a constant matrix upgrade (17), which corresponds to a reconfiguration.

The matrix's re-configurated content (17) corresponds to new commands, associated icons, actions and related URL's to be consulted, thus altering the configuration of the button commands (6 and 7) through the remote alteration of the instruction matrix's content (17).

This Instruction matrix (17) will be remotely re-configurated under the demand of content suppliers or equipment managers. This is done by means of an alteration in matrix operation (17) .

There is another configuration mode which takes place dynamically, switching the action fields, associated icon and related URL from one instant to the other. To do that, the application (16) , by means of the operational system (15) , sends the processor the commands to trigger the internet connection device (18) which, through http protocol, connects itself to the URL provider (19) which accesses its remote databank base (20) , thus obtaining the information pertinent to the current URL (4) and the configuration of the rapid access keys (7) and scrolling device (6) , as well as the content visualized on the display (1) through the updated application information (16) which, in turn, transmits the data to be displayed by means of the operational system (15) which manages the sequence of the data sent to the processor (12) and from there to the video board (21) where the data is transcoded. to the monitor (12) which transforms the data into image on the display (1) updating the content presented to the user. Figure 02 demonstrates the structure of the instruction matrix (17), along the lines of which the contents are arranged associated to the commands generated by the scrolling device (6) and by the direct access keys (7) . The contents related to each line are separated in the columns and arranged in the following order: - associated icon; related action and URL address.

Figure 03 represents a performance flowchart of system commands and device which are the object of the invention request herein, in which the initial command takes place through an input on the access key (22) , which results in a generated code (23) . This code is transformed into an instruction which is followed by the keyboard controller (24) . The operational system accepts this instruction (25) and communicates it to the application (26) , which checks if there is a generated code (27) . If the answer is yes, it executes the command (29), otherwise (28) it re- configurates the channels and commands and shows the re-configurated page (30) . The instruction is coded in the format of an internet URL (31) , the application interprets the instruction (32) and accesses the page corresponding to the URL (33) . The page reconfigurates the icons of the horizontal bar (34), which offer the options of the new channel (35) . The page content is processed by the application (36) . Such content in made available on the video Interface (37). Provided that the URL has optional sound resources, a message will be spoken through the speakers connected to the sound board (38) . A new set of keys are available to continue navigation (39) and return to the beginning (22) .

Figure 04 represents a navigation flowchart through the system and device which are the object of the invention herein, where, initially, the user visualizes the highlighted channel (graphically represented in Figure 06 in the items (4) and (5)); the user visualizes the entry options (graphically represented in Figure 06 in the Item (3) ) ; the user chooses one of the options, otherwise the user triggers the scrolling device (graphically represented in Figure 05 in the item (6)) and highlights another channel returning to the beginning. If affirmative, the user presses the choice button and executes the command for that option (as graphically illustrated in Figure 06, items (3) and (7); the user proceeds with navigation in the selected option (graphically represented in Figure 07, items (3) , (5) and (7) ) . The user may continue navigation through the choice buttons or direct access (graphically represented in Figures 08, 09 and 10 items (3), (5) and (7)). Optionally, this user may proceed with navigation through the website by means of other devices such as mouse, keyboard or touch-screen. Upon finishing navigation through a channel or website, the user closes Its session on the channel. In case he or she wishes no longer to visualize any further information, the user finishes his or her operation, otherwise he or she triggers the scrolling device (graphically represented in Figure 05, item (6)) and re-starts the whole navigation process.

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate another graphic diagram of the concept applied in the invention described herein. Aside from the preferred diagram written on the invention herein, it is clear for a technician that there might be a diversity of other graphic presentations originated from the preferred development, the L" shape being the basis, that is, the essence of the inventive concept of the patent herein, in which the vertical bar contains the channels and the horizontal bar contains the channel options/ screen options/ application in operation.

Claims

1 - System and device applied by means of a terminal screen, aiming at interactive and multichannel application of graphic user interface with remote configuration to access a computer network, characterized by being composed by: a) Physical command devices (2, 3, 6 and 7) which comprise mechanical and /or electronic keys connected to a local electronic circuit which identifies the command operation such as the pressing of a key, by means of keyboard scanning; b)A graphic interface, (I) made up of four distinct elements selectively arranged, represented by a channel bar (2), a command line (3) , selected channel or current channel position (4) and display area of current channel (5); a communication device (18) provided to allow connection to a computer network via TCP/IP protocol; c)An alpha numerical keyboard device (8), used for typing URL address and execution of functions made available by the current URL (5); d)An application which is intended for the recognition of response instructions of the remote CGI, related to the setup of virtual buttons; The system operation is started with the visualization of the current URL content (5) on the display (1) representing the current channel

(4), which is part of the channel bar (2), with the option of being altered by the user by means of the scrolling device (6), operable to change the channels on the channel bar (2) to the current channel position (2) and provide an updating of the display visualization (1) with the content of the new current channel ( 4 ) .

2 - System which, according to claim 1, is characterized by having the physical command devices (6 and 7) configurated as direct access keys and arranged below the displayed aligned with the the virtual commands presented through the command line (3) visualized on the display (1) .

3 - System which, according to claim 2, is characterized by having the direct access keys (6 and 7) allow immediate access to the URL addresses on the hierarchically current website.

4 - System which, according to claims 2 or 3, , is characterized by having the direct access keys (6 and 7) configurated preferentially as mechanical return keys.

5 - System which, according to claim 1, is characterized by the fact that the physical command devices (2 and 3) can be included optionally on the channel bar itself (2) and the command line (3), when properly Implemented with a touch-screen device operable through the display (1) .

6 - System which, according to claim 1, is characterized by having a graphic user interface to access a computer network provided as a remotely configurated user-friendly multi-channel interactive application in the form of a channel bar (2), a command line (3), a highlighted position of selected or current channel (4) and a display area (5) of channel content (4) .

7 - System which, according to claim 1, is characterized by having the channel bar withdraw automatically upon the visualization by the user of the URL of interest (4) on the display area (5) for a period of 5 to 10 seconds, thus providing better visualization of the data made available on the display area (5) .

8 - System which, according to claim 1, is characterized by having the communication device

(18) provided to issue a connection to a computer network, through TCP/IP protocol, and being optionally comprised by modem, ADSL or network board.

9 - System which, according to claim 1, is characterized by having the alpha-numerical keyboard (8) comply with standard PC-AT, with the possibility of being connected to the scrolling device (6) and the rapid access keys (7) .

10 - System which, according to claim 9, is characterized by the keyboard (8) having a microprocessor (9), responsible for keyboard scanning and identification of the triggering of the scrolling device (6) and of the rapid access keys (7), which serve as function keys of the keyboard itself through the attribution of a code value to the pressed keys; the keyboard sends this code to the keyboard controller (10) , which identifies this code as a command.

11 - System which, according to claim 1, is characterized by having an application which generates graphic interface (I) equipped with a channel bar and (2) command line (3) , the referred channels and commands being selected by means of direct access keys (7) and/or scrolling device (6), generating commands which are sent from the keyboard controller (10) to the processor (12) through printed circuit bus (13) ; the processor

(12) accesses the memory unit (14), which informs the triggering of such commands to the referred application (16) through the operational system (15); the application (16) consults an instruction matrix (17) which associates commands and actions and the related URL address; the referred matrix (17) Is operated In dynamic remote configuration, altering the atrix content (17); by means of the Internet connection device (18) which connects to the URL provider (19) which, in turn, accesses its remote data base (20) obtaining information from the current URL (4) , as well as the configuration of the rapid access keys (7) and of the scrolling device (6); the updated data are sent by the application (16) to the display (1) through the operational system (15) which manages the data sequence sent to the processor (12) and from there to the video board (21 which transcodes the data into images.

12 - System which, according to claim 11, is characterized by having the application (16) consult the instruction matrix (17) comprised by lines, representing the scrolling device (6) and direct access keys (7), nd by columns representing the commands, the associated icons, the actions and the related URL addresses.

13 - System which, according to claim 11, i_s characterized by having the application (16) promote the selection of user choice by connecting to the provider through the get or post method of the http/htpps protocol, for text, sound and image transmission.

14 - System which, according to claim 11, is character!zed by the application (16) being intended for the recognition of the instructions related to content setup of the virtual buttons (2, 3), resulting from the consultation with a remote CGI .

15 - Device for operationalization of the system described in claim 1, characterized by a graphic interface comprised by a channel bar (2) arranged on the vertical lefthand side of the display (5) on the screen (1), and by a command line (3) horizontally located at the bottom part of the referred display (5), with the channel bar (2) and command line (3) arranged in concurrent and orthogonal configuration, in an L" shape application. The channel bar (2), on its lower position close to the low left vertix of the display (5) or screen (1) , shows the position of the current channel (4) ; the referred device comprising associated direct access keys (6, 7) by means of physical buttons of mechanical response or of virtual buttons incorporated by the channel bar itself (2) and command line (3) through the implementation of a touch-screen mechanism.

16 -Device which, according to claim 15, is characterized by having the access keys (6,7) comprised of physical buttons with tactile response incorporating the Braille method associated with the return of sound.

17 - Device which, according to claim 15, is characterized by the data input being promoted by means of keyboard and mouse, or track-ball or touch-screen.