WO2002006939A2

WO2002006939A2 - User interface

Info

Publication number: WO2002006939A2
Application number: PCT/EP2001/008243
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marc Christopher Schmidt
Original assignee: Marc Christopher Schmidt
Priority date: 2000-07-18
Filing date: 2001-07-17
Publication date: 2002-01-24
Also published as: AU2001289670A1; WO2002006939A3; DE10034882A1

Abstract

According to a method for providing a user interface for an electronic device or an application program, an application server communicates with a control module, the control module actuates a display (100), the application server informs the control module of at least some of the functions (e.g. 108) and/or objects (e.g. 110) that are to be displayed on the display (100) for selection, and the control module displays, simultaneously or in succession, at least one function panel (102), an object panel (104), and an imaging panel (106) on the display (100), whereby only functions (e.g. 108) are displayed for selection in the function panel (102) and only objects (e.g. 110) are displayed for selection in the object panel (104). A system, an electronic device and an operating element comprise corresponding features. The invention provides a user interface with which electronic devices or software applications can be simply and intuitively controlled.

Description

User interface

The invention relates to the technical field of user interfaces for electronic devices and application programs (application software or "applications" for short). In particular, the invention is intended for the user-friendly operation of electronic devices of all types (e.g. audio or video devices, telecommunications devices, household appliances, etc.) and software applications of all types (e.g. word processing, e-mail programs, Internet programs, etc.).

Due to the rapid technical development, electronic devices and software applications have increasingly complex functions. Accordingly, their operation is becoming more and more complicated. This problem is exacerbated by several additional factors. For example, electronic devices are being produced in increasingly compact sizes, which means that there is little space for display and input elements. Even if the size is not a limiting factor, a relatively small display is often used to save costs. Furthermore, there are practically no uniform operating conventions for electronic devices and also for software applications. The user must therefore not only study the operating instructions carefully when putting the device into operation for the first time, but also whenever he wants to call up a function of the device that is not quite common.

A multi-level graphical user interface is known from German published patent application DE 44 17 588 A1, in which window events are forwarded to several application programs.

The German published translation DE 690 33 397 T2 shows a device with a user interface for handwritten information.

From German published patent application DE: 196 51 270 A1 it is known to use an HTML browser to control an MRI scanner. Here, an HTML server transmits predefined HTML pages to the HTML browser. European patent specification EP 0 702 810 B1 discloses a system and method for interactive dialogue between a user and a telematics server with an interface device which can be connected to the server via a telephone network.

The object of the invention is to avoid the above-mentioned problems at least in part and to provide a user interface (“user guidance”) with which electronic devices or application programs can be controlled simply and intuitively. In preferred embodiments, the user interface should be uniform and scalable in the sense that different electronic devices or software applications, on the one hand, and different operating parts, on the other hand, can interact meaningfully in any combination.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method for providing a user interface with the features of claim 1, by a system with the features of claim 15 and by devices with the features of claims 16 and 17. The dependent claims define preferred embodiments of the invention.

The invention is based on the basic idea of appropriately dividing the functions required for user guidance between the application server and the control module. Essentially, the application server should determine what is displayed, while the control module determines to a large extent how the display is made. For this purpose, a distinction between functions and objects is provided according to the invention. The control module then has the option of displaying both categories in a different way and in particular also separately from one another (for example one after the other). Through this teaching according to the invention, not only the content can be scaled (as is already possible in part in the prior art, see for example the automatic formatting of HTML documents in common Internet browsers), but also the user guidance. The configuration according to the invention enables user guidance, which is particularly well adapted to the size and other properties of the display by the control module. This distinguishes the invention, for example, from the above-mentioned control of a magnetic resonance tomograph using an HTML browser.

In general, HTML browsers are set up so that they display the entire content of an HTML page (after suitable formatting) on the display. As a result, the displays are optimized for certain display sizes. An HTML page that was designed for a normal computer screen can e.g. not meaningful on the display of a mobile phone. However, the present invention is not limited to any particular resolution, but rather provides a scalable user interface that can be used on display devices of any size. All devices that have a display, e.g. Computers, televisions, cell phones or PDAs (personal digital assistants) or at least have a microphone for voice control.

According to the invention, a separation between the application server and the control module is provided. The application server contains the actual application program, while the control module takes over user guidance tasks and in particular largely independently decides how the user interface is shown on the display. The control module does not specify the appearance of the user interface, but only a logical structure. These features also distinguish the invention from prior art systems in which the user guidance is firmly linked to the application. In preferred embodiments, it is provided, for example, that the control module determines to what extent the function panel, the object panel and the imaging panel are displayed on the display simultaneously or in succession. This definition can be made, for example, depending on the scope of the display (in particular the number of pixels referred to as "size") of the display. The aforementioned separation between the application server and the control module also offers the possibility of forming any desired combinations of operating parts on the one hand and electronic devices or software applications on the other. The invention thus provides a universal interface with which users can control a wide variety of electronic devices and also application programs. This is particularly important in the future due to the increasing networking of electronic devices. For example, a software mechanism and / or a line and / or a wireless connection is possible as the communication path between the application server and the control module.

| To the universal usability and manufacturer independence as possible To achieve largely, it is provided in preferred embodiments that the communication between the application server and the control module takes place via a predetermined, manufacturer-independent protocol. Each control module can preferably contact several application servers or at least receive information about several application servers. This measure makes it possible to provide a user interface for several electronic devices or application programs with a single control module. These devices or application programs can be operated in different configurations either by a single control module while the devices or application programs are in operation at the same time, or it can be provided that each control module is only responsible for one device or one application program at a time.

Preferably, in the case of function and object panels displayed simultaneously and in succession, the selection of a function and then the selection of an object is provided as the operating sequence. This results in a language-analogous (ie, oriented to human language) user guidance, which makes operation much easier, especially with small screens. The functions are preferably expressed in the form of a command (imperative), so that a natural, intuitive instruction is given together with the re-placed object (eg "delete subject '," create email " or "copy word"). In alternative versions, the use of the basic form (infinitive) or the partial use of the basic and command form is provided.

The enumeration order of the procedural steps in the independent claims should not be interpreted as a restriction of the scope. Rather, according to the invention, these steps can also be interlocked with one another or can be carried out entirely or partially at the same time or completely or partially in succession. This applies in particular to communication between the application server and the control module. In some embodiments, it can be provided that only the functions are displayed first and then only the available objects.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, it is provided that the information in the object panel is only determined as a function of the selection of a function in the function panel. Furthermore, it can preferably be provided that the communication path between the application server and the control module is established by means of a central module. This includes configurations in which this communication path always runs via the central module. Embodiments in which the central module is set up to activate an application server (or the electronic device containing this application server) are particularly advantageous.

In preferred configurations, the system according to the invention and its components are further developed with features which correspond to those described above and / or defined in the dependent method claims.

Further features, objects and advantages of the invention result from the following detailed description of several exemplary embodiments: Reference is made to the drawings, in which:

1 shows an exemplary representation of the user interface according to the invention on a PC monitor, 2A and 2B show exemplary representations of the user interface according to the invention on a PDA screen,

3A, 3B and 3C show exemplary representations of the user interface according to the invention on the display of a mobile telephone,

4 and FIG. 5 block diagrams of an exemplary system for executing the method according to the invention,

6 shows a flowchart of the method sequence when selecting a function and an object in an exemplary embodiment of the invention,

7 shows a flow chart of the method sequence when adding an application server to a network in an exemplary embodiment of the invention,

8 shows a flowchart of the method sequence when establishing a connection between a control module and an application server to a network in an exemplary embodiment of the invention, and

9 shows an exemplary representation of a configuration file.

An exemplary view of the user interface as shown on a relatively large display 100 (e.g., an ordinary computer screen) is shown in FIG. In the example shown here, the user interface is used to operate an e-mail application. The usable area of the display 100 is divided into three sections, namely a function panel 102, an object panel 104 and an illustration panel 106. In the illustration panel 106, in the present exemplary embodiment of an email client, the currently processed email 116 is a list with folders 112 and a list of headers 114 are displayed.

This large number of panels within the imaging panel 106 is possible because sufficient space is available as a display 100 on a large PC monitor. If in versions, the user interface on a smaller If the PC monitor is to be displayed, the information content of the imaging panel 106 can be reduced, for example, to the actual email 116.

The function panel 102 shows all available functions in the form of keys that the user can operate with an input device. As an input device, e.g. use a mouse or a touch-sensitive surface or cursor keys or a voice control. The function designations are used in the command form so that, together with the subsequent selection of an object, the order is in accordance with the language rules. The functions include e.g. "Finish"

"save", "search", "create" or "delete". The latter function is provided with the reference symbol 108 in the figures by way of example. This function was selected by the user in the present example, which is indicated on the display 100 by a suitable highlighting (e.g. inverted representation or thick frame as shown in the figures).

If there is not enough space for the function panel 102 to display all functions at the same time, additional options are available for calling up the functions that are not currently displayed, e.g. Scroll bars with which the series of the displayed functions in the function panel 102 can be moved up and down.

Depending on which function has been selected by the user, the objects to which this function can be applied are displayed in the form of buttons in the object panel 104. For example, in the figures, when the function 108 “delete” is selected, various options are offered in the object panel 104 which can be deleted. In the case of the email 116 displayed in the image panel 106, the address, the subject or the entire message can be deleted. There is also a button in the object panel 104 for deleting the folder selected in the folder list 112 (here the folder "Draft"). In general, it can therefore be provided in some embodiments of the invention that the selection options in the function panel 102 and / or in the object panel 104 depending on the content of the imaging panel 106 (and in particular the sub-panels shown therein).

If the user presses the "Subject" (in the figures as an example of an object with the reference number 110), the content of the subject field in the image panel 106 is deleted. The folder "Draft" in the folder list 112 would be deleted accordingly, when the user presses the "Folder" button in the object panel 104. The order of the objects in the object panel 104 can follow, for example, the alphabet, the value, the frequency of use or the wishes of the user.

In general, the imaging panel 106 represents the main or work window of an application program. If the user interface according to the invention is used to operate a device, the imaging panel 106 (possibly in a sub-panel corresponding to the already described sub-panels 112, 114, 116) contains status information via the device, as is usually shown on a display of the device.

The three panels 102, 104, 106 are interdependent. As already mentioned, the objects displayed in the object panel 104 (e.g. 110) are determined depending on the function selected in the function panel 102 (e.g. 108). If necessary, depending on which object (e.g. 110) has been selected in the object panel 104, an action is triggered in the background which changes the content of the imaging panel 106 and / or the function panel 102. Accordingly, a change on the imaging panel 106 can lead to changes in the content of the function panel 102. Furthermore, elements that are shown in the imaging panel 106 can generate or influence parts of the user interface in the function panel 102 and / or in the object panel 104.

In alternative embodiments, 100 further panels are provided on the display, for example an information panel for information about the program, file name, page, time, etc., or an icon panel via which frequently required functions can be called up directly. The function and / or the object panel 102, 104 can / can also be configured as a context menu. The mapping panel 106 can in turn be subdivided into further logical units, as has already been exemplified by the sub-panels 112, 114, 116.

FIGS. 2A and 2B each show what is shown on the display 100 of an e-mail client similar to that in FIG. 1. In this exemplary embodiment, however, the display 100 has a smaller number of pixels, so that less information can be displayed simultaneously. For example, it can be the display 100 of a PDA (personal digital assistant) or a hand-sized computer (palm-sized computer). Because of the fewer display options of the display 100, in this exemplary embodiment it is provided that in a first operating mode (FIG. 2A) only the imaging panel 106 and in a second operating mode (FIG. 2B) the functional panel 102 and the object panel 104 are displayed simultaneously on the display 100. Furthermore, the display in the image panel 106 is also limited to the actual email 116. However, alternate guide j in training may be provided, the image panel 106 divided into one or more sub-panels, in this case also. ¹

In the first operating mode, as shown in FIG. 2A, the arrangement of the elements in the imaging panel 106 is slightly changed compared to the illustration in FIG. 1 in order to take account of the lower resolution. However, all components (address, subject, message) can still be displayed. Since the message cannot be displayed completely, the user is offered the possibility of viewing the entire message via scroll arrows (only one scroll arrow 200 for shifting the display section downward is shown in FIG. 2A).

To perform machining operations, the user calls the second operating mode shown in FIG. 2B, in which the function and object panels 102, 104 are shown together on the display 100. If the user wants to delete the subject, for example, he selects the "delete" button (function 108) in the function panel 102. All objects that can be deleted are then displayed in the object panel 104. There is no button for deleting a folder here, since the no folder list (sub-panel 112 in FIG. 1) is also displayed. For example, if the user presses the "Subject" key (object 110), the content of the "Subject" field is deleted from the imaging panel 106 in FIG. 2A. To confirm this result, the imaging panel 106 is displayed again immediately after the deletion process.

3A, 3B and 3C show the user interface on a display 100 with an even smaller number of pixels, for example the display 100 of a mobile telephone. Here the different panels are displayed individually and in chronological order. FIG. 3A shows the imaging panel 106, in which, because of the small display size, only a part of the illustration from FIG. 1 can be shown (the subject field in FIG. 3A). Other areas in the imaging panel 106 may e.g. can be addressed via the scroll arrows 300.

Again, to perform a function, the user first switches to the function panel 102 (FIG. 3B), in which the available functions are shown. The area of the function list visible on the display can be moved by scrolling arrows 302. To delete the subject, for example, the user first selects the "delete" function (function 108) in the function panel 102. Thereupon the various deletable objects are displayed to the user in the representation of FIG. 3C. The selection of objects that can be deleted is further restricted here, since the message and the address are not visible and therefore scroll arrows can be omitted. By selecting the object "Subject (object 110), the content of the field" Subject is deleted from FIG. 3A, and the display 100 switches back to a representation of the image panel 106.

4 and 5 each show a structure of a system for executing the method according to the invention. In the system of FIG. 4, a single computer 400 is provided, from which the components of the system according to the invention are executed as software modules. The system of FIG. 5, on the other hand, is provided for operating an electronic device 500 by means of an external control unit 502. However, the internal components of both systems are the same. The computer 400 in the system of FIG. 4 is connected in a conventional manner to the display 100 (for example a screen) and input means 402 (for example a keyboard and a mouse). The computer 400 continuously executes a variety of processes, among which a control module 404 and an application server 406 are of interest for the present invention. A communication path 408 is used for data exchange between the control module 404 and the application server 406. The communication path 408 can be implemented, for example, as a shared memory area or by suitable operating system services. Communication between the control module 404 and the

Application server 406 takes place in both directions via a special protocol, which in turn is based on a standard protocol such as e.g. TCP / IP can be supported.

The protocol just mentioned, which is responsible for communication between the control module 404 and the application server 406, is to be made publicly accessible and is preferably to be standardized. This enables the developer to develop an application server 406 without knowing which control module 404 the application server 406 is used with. In particular, this standardization is intended to prevent developers from having to provide different versions of the application server 406 for different control modules 404, as is the case, for example, in the Internet area (because of the differences between the common HTML browsers).

The control module 404 is roughly comparable to an HTML browser, although the control module 404 has many more functions (in particular with regard to the independent determination of the information displayed on the display 100) than an ordinary HTML browser. In the classic sense, the control module 404 is a client and the application server 406 is a server.

Conceptually, the application server 406 can be divided into a driver library 410 and an application program 412. The driver library 410 provides one A large number of generic auxiliary functions are available and ensure a certain basic functionality of the application server 406. In addition, the driver library 410 ensures the conversion of the protocol used on the communication path 408 into commands that can be interpreted by the application program 412. Similar conversion routines are also provided in the control module 404.

In the exemplary embodiment described here, the communication path 408 between the control module 404 and the application server 406 is established via a central module 414. All application servers 406 are registered in this central module 414. This registration takes place when an application server 406 is added to the system. The central module 414 checks at regular intervals whether the already registered application servers 406 are still available. Furthermore, the central module 414 can also search for newly added application servers 408 and / or control modules 404 at regular intervals. The central module 414 itself is a software module that can run in different design variants on the computer 400 (FIG. 4), on a separate computer, on the electronic device 500 (FIG. 5) or also on the external control unit 502.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a single computer 100 was used. In alternative embodiments, an embedded system, such as a cell phone, is used instead of the computer 100, in which the display 100 and the input means 402 are already integrated. In particular with embedded systems (such as cell phones), a central module 414 will generally not be available. In such configurations, which do not have a central module 414, the communication path 408 runs directly between the control module 404 and the application server 406, and the control module 404 only initializes contact with those application servers 406 that are already active.

In further alternative embodiments, it is provided that the control module 404 be executed by a first computer and the application server 406 by a second computer. The communication path 408 then runs over a network, for example a local network or an intranet or also a global one Network like the internet. In any case (and also when implemented on a single computer 100) there is a clear separation between the control module 404 and the application server 406, the changeover between a local communication path 408 and communication via a computer network presents no technical difficulties. Again, one of the two computers (or both) can be replaced by a compact, embedded system such as a cell phone or a remote control.

As already mentioned, the system components shown in FIG. 5 correspond to the components of the system of FIG. 4. However, the display 100, the input means 402 and the control module 404 are integrated in an operating unit 502 here. The control unit 502 can be, for example, a computer (in particular a laptop or palm top computer) or a PDA or a cell phone or a television or a remote control. In particular, a keyboard (keypad) or a touch-sensitive surface (possibly combined with the display 100) or a speech recognition module can serve as input means 402.

The application server 406 is part of the electronic device 500. The latter naturally has a number of further components which, however, as such do not belong to the present invention. The electronic device 500 may e.g. be a cell phone, fax machine, music system, television, VCR or DVD player. The electronic device 500 can in turn also be a computer on which a suitable application program 412 (for example an e-mail program or a search engine) is executed. The communication between the control unit 502 and the electronic device 500 also runs here via a communication path 408, for example an electrical line or a wireless data transmission path by radio or light signals.

Also in the system shown in FIG. 5, a central module 414 is provided in the exemplary embodiment described here, which takes over the same functions as in the system of FIG. 4 and in particular the connection between the control unit 502 and the electronic device 500 via the communication path 408 builds. Such a central module 414 is not provided in alternative embodiments of the system of FIG. 5. The control unit 502 can then only establish a connection to those active electronic devices 500 which are already active at the time of switching on.

In the flowchart of FIG. 6, the sequence of the selection of a function and an object by the user is shown again in more detail. In this regard, reference is also made to FIGS. 1 to 3C and the associated description. In step 602, the user first selects a function displayed in the function panel 102 (e.g. the function 108 "delete"). The control module 404 then determines in query 604 whether the application program 412 should specify objects. If there are application-specific objects, these are flagged as objects to be displayed in the object panel 104 for selection (step 606). The control module 404 then determines in query 608 whether there are control-specific objects. If this is the case, these objects are also marked for display in the object panel 104 (step 610).

After all objects have been detected, they are sorted in step 612. The order of the objects can be according to the alphabet, the value, the frequency of use or the wishes of the user. Only now are the objects displayed in the object panel 104 and are thus made available to the user for selection (step 614).

After the user has selected an object (for example the object 110 “subject), it is determined in query 616 whether it is an application-specific object. If this is the case, the instruction in step 618 is passed to the application program 412. Otherwise, the control module 404 processes the instruction directly in step 620. In the case of an e-mail program, for example, an application-specific object is the object “e-mail.” If this object is to be deleted, this must first be confirmed by the application program 412. An example of a tax-specific object is object 110 "subject. If the user wishes to delete the subject, the application program 412 need not be informed. Through this Differentiation is relieved of the communication path 408 because the application server 406 does not always have to be contacted (namely not for processing tax-specific objects). In contrast, alternative embodiments provide for treating all objects as application-specific objects, so that the control module 404 need not have any knowledge of details of the application program 412 executed by the application server 406.

The flowchart in Figure 7 shows how an application server 406 responds when added to the network. First, application server 406 is installed in step 702. The application server 406 then checks in step 704 whether a central module 414 (referred to in FIG. 7 as "central unit") is present. If the central module 414 is present ("yes" branch in step 706), the application server 406 sends configuration data to the central module 414 as a new component (step 708). The configuration data include the location of the new component and identification. This is necessary later so that the central module 414 can display a list of all available application servers 406 to the control module 404. The central module 414 then checks at regular intervals whether the application server 406 just added is still available (step 710).

The flowchart in FIG. 8 shows how a control module 404 connects to an application server 406. After the control module 404 has been started (step 802), it searches in step 804 for a central module 414 via a specific port (referred to as "central unit" in FIG. 8). If the search is negative ("no" branch in step 806), the control module 404 searches directly for active application servers 406 (step 808). All application servers 406 found in the process are displayed to the user in a list.

After the user has selected the desired application server 406 from this list, a connection to the application server 406 is established (step 810). The application server 406 then sends a basic configuration to the control module 404 (step 812). In this basic configuration there is information about the various panels (including function and Object panel) included. In preferred embodiments, not only general configurations are sent, but special versions created by the user. After the control module 404 receives the configuration, the user can work with the application server 406 (step 814).

If a central module 414 is present ("yes" branch in step 806), it sends a list of all possible application servers 406 to the control module 404 (step 816). The user then selects an application server 406 via the control module 404 (step 820). If the selected application server 406 is not active, it is started via the central module 414 (step 816). Central module 414 enables the user to use application servers 406 that are not currently active but are present.

9 shows an example of the structure of a configuration file. The data contained in the configuration file enable the control module 404 to independently set the appearance of an application server 406. A configuration file can be roughly divided into three sections. First, there is a header 900 with various general data. Second, there are containers 914. In these containers 914, an application is subdivided into logical units. An email program can e.g. into the logical units,

Send email, receive email and settings are broken down. Finally, there are screens 948 which indicate which panels 938 are to be displayed together. A Screen 948 is only interesting in connection with a larger screen.

The head part 900 consists of various components. The name of the application server 406 is recorded in the field 902 ("application"). Since different application servers 406 can have the same name (content of field 902), the type of application server 406 is also recorded in field 904 and the manufacturer of the application server 406 in field 906. Field 908 ("Language") expresses the language in which the verbs (field 922 "Function"), objects (field 924), element names (field 932) and the panel names (field 944) are contained in the configuration file are. If an application server 406 is started, the driver library 410 reads out the configuration file and sends this configuration file to the control module 404 in a modified form. If the configuration file is not in the user's preferred language (field 908), the driver library 410 can use the verbs (field 922 "Function"), the objects (field 924), the element names (field 932) and the panel - Identify names (field 944) by the language specified in field 908 and convert them into another language. This is realized by another software module in which the verbs (field 922 "Function"), the objects (field 924), the element names (field 932) and the panel names (field 944) are saved in other languages are. The driver library 410 then sends the configuration file in the preferred language directly to the control module 404.

Since each user or group can have their own configuration file, the owner of the file is saved in field 910 ("User"). The basic configuration has the type "Defaulf" as user 908. Finally, field 912 ("time") records when the configuration file was created.

With the container 914, the functionality of the application server 406 is divided into logical units. A container 914 is in turn subdivided into a menu structure (field 916 "menu"), elements (field 928) and panels (field 938). Field 918 ("Active") indicates whether a menu item is displayed or not. In this way, users can be given different rights, for example. If the field 920 ("Display") contains the value "yes" for a menu item, this menu item is displayed. The various functions (field 922) and objects (field 924) are displayed in the function panel 102 and the object panel 104. If the user has selected a menu item, the application server 406 is not informed of the function (content of field 922) or the object (content of field 924), but rather the menu ID (field 926). This relieves the network. Each element (field 928) is assigned a specific element type in field 930. This element type can be, for example, number, string or date. With this specification, the control module 404 can correctly represent the elements 928. The element designation in field 932 is displayed to the user. The application server 406 identifies an element (field 928) by its element ID (field 934). The default setting in field 936 specifies the value of the element in field 928 at the beginning. The driver library 410 does not send this presetting (field 936) to the control module 404, but to the application program 412 on request.

One or more elements (field 928) are displayed in a panel (field 938). The panel type in field 940 indicates whether it is e.g. is a list display or a form. Then all elements (field 928) in this panel (field 938) are recorded in an element list (field 942). So that the user knows in which panel (field 938) he works, each panel (field 938) has a heading, which is saved in field 944 ("Panel designation"). For its part, the program is able to identify a panel (field 938) using the panel ID stored in field 946.

A screen (field 948) indicates which panels (field 938) are to be displayed together. A screen (field 948) is only registered by the control module 404 if a plurality of panels 938 (field 938) can be displayed together in the imaging panel 408. In addition to the panels identified in field 950, which must be known to a screen (field 948), the size (field 952) and the location (field 954) are also important.

The details contained in the above description of exemplary embodiments are not to be interpreted as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as examples of preferred embodiments. Many other modifications are possible and obvious to the person skilled in the art. The scope of the invention should therefore not be determined by the exemplary embodiments shown, but rather by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

claims

1. A method for providing a user interface for an electronic device (500) or an application program (412), in which: an application server (406) communicates with a control module (404), the control module (404) controls a display (100) that Application server (406) notifies the control module (404) of at least some of the functions (for example 108) and / or objects (for example 110) to be displayed on the display (100) for selection, and the control module (404) at least one function panel (102) Displays object panel (104) and an imaging panel (106) on the display (100) simultaneously or in succession, with functions (e.g. 108) essentially exclusively in function panel (102) and essentially exclusively objects (e.g. 110 in object panel (104) ) can be displayed for selection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the control module (404) independently of the application server (406) determines to what extent the function panel (102), the object panel (104) and the imaging panel (106) on the display (100) simultaneously or are displayed one after the other.

/ 3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the determination of the extent to which the function panel (102), the object panel (104) and the imaging panel (106) are displayed on the display (100) simultaneously or in succession, depending on a display scope of the display (100).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the imaging panel (106) is divided into a plurality of sub-panels (112, 114, 116), the subdivision being influenced by the scope of the display (100).

5. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, in which the functions (for example 108) shown in the function panel (102) and / or the objects (for example 110) shown in the object panel (104) depending on the content of the imaging panel (106 ) can be determined.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the operating sequence is first the selection of a function (e.g. 108) via the function panel (102) and then the selection of an object (e.g. 110) via the object panel (104). 0

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the control module (404) after selecting a function (eg 108) transmits this selected function (eg 108) to the application server (406) and the application server (406) then at least to the control module (404) communicates some 15 of the objects (e.g. 110) to which the selected function (e.g. 108) is applicable.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the control module (404) displays at least the objects communicated by the application server (406) 0 (eg 110) in the object panel (104) and then an object selected by the user (eg 110) to the application server (404) transmitted.

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9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, 5 in which the display (100) first shows the function panel (102) and then, after the user has selected a function (e.g. 108), the

Object panel (104) is displayed.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, 0 in which feedback information and / or status information and / or processing information are displayed in the imaging panel (106).

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the communication between the application server (406) and the control module (404) takes place via a predetermined protocol which allows the interaction of application servers (406) and control modules (404) from different manufacturers.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control module (404) contacts (808) multiple application servers (406) or receives (816) information about multiple application servers (406) in order to provide a user interface for a plurality of electronic devices ( 500) or application programs (412).

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a communication path (408) between the application server (406) and the control module (404) is established by means of a central module (414).

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the central module (414) activates (820) an application server (406) selected by the control module (404) or a user.

15. System, in particular for executing a method according to one of claims 1 to 14, comprising an electronic device (500) and an operating unit (502), by means of the interaction of which takes place via a communication path (408), a user interface for the electronic device ( 500) is provided, in which: _ 'the electronic device (500) has an application server (406), the control unit (502) has a control module (404) and a display (100) driven by the control module (404), - The control unit (502) and the electronic device (500) are set up to communicate with one another via the communication path (408), the application server (406) is set up to notify the control module (404) of at least some of the functions (for example 108) and / or objects (for example 110) to be shown on the display (100) for selection, and the control module (404) is set up for this to display at least one function panel (102), an object panel (104) and an imaging panel (106) on the display (100) simultaneously or in succession, with only functions (for example 108) in the function panel (102) and in the object panel (104) only objects (e.g. 110) are displayed for selection.

16. Electronic device (500), which is set up to form a system according to claim 15 together with a suitable control unit (502).

17. Control unit (502), which is set up to form a system according to claim 15 together with a suitable electronic device (500).