IP Library › Patent Application 11840601
Patent Application
App. No. 11/840,601

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING A USER INTERFACE

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
11/840,601
Abstract

The present disclosure provides for systems and methods for facilitating the design, creation and/or implementation of a user interface for processor programs. More particularly, the present disclosure provides for systems and methods for creating at least one user interface for processor programs for controlling devices and/or for controlling (e.g., managing or playing) or utilizing media or data files. In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides for systems and methods for creating at least one user interface for control systems or automation systems or the like.

Claims (66)

1 . A system for creating a user interface, comprising:

at least one first processor;

at least one controlled device in communication with the at least one first processor, wherein the at least one controlled device is a processor in communication with (i) at least one media file and (ii) at least one application for managing or playing the at least one media file;

at least one application running on the at least one first processor, wherein the at least one application is programmed to be automatically populated with media-related information associated with the at least one controlled device; and

wherein the at least one application is further programmed to automatically generate at least one file that is configured for creation of at least one user interface that is based at least in part on the media-related information associated with the at least one controlled device.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one user interface is a graphical user interface.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one media file is selected from the group consisting of digitally stored music, videos, movies, photographs, sound records, live video, camera images, graphics, album cover graphics and combinations thereof.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one file to create the at least one user interface is a configuration file.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one user interface is installed and displayed on the at least one first processor, and wherein the at least one first processor interfaces through at least one application program interface associated with the at least one controlled device to automatically populate the at least one user interface with media-related information associated with the at least one media file to allow a user to utilize the at least one user interface to control the at least one media file.

6 . The system of claim 1 , further including at least one second processor, wherein the at least one file to create the at least one user interface is transferred from the at least one first processor to the at least one second processor;

wherein the at least one user interface is installed and displayed on the at least one second processor; and

wherein the at least one second processor interfaces through at least one application program interface associated with the at least one controlled device to automatically populate the at least one user interface with media-related information associated with the at least one media file to allow a user to utilize the at least one user interface to control the at least one media file.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one second processor is a touchscreen processor.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one file to create the at least one user interface is transferred from the at least one first processor to the at least one controlled device;

wherein the at least one user interface is installed and displayed on the at least one controlled device; and

wherein the at least one controlled device interfaces through at least one application program interface associated with the at least one controlled device to automatically populate the at least one user interface with media-related information associated with the at least one media file to allow a user to utilize the at least one user interface to control the at least one media file.

9 . A system for creating a user interface comprising:

at least one first processor;

at least one controlled device in a control system, wherein the control system controls at least one controlled space and wherein the at least one controlled device is controlled by at least one control device;

wherein the at least one controlled space includes at least one area;

at least one controller capable of transmitting command signals to the at least one control device to change the status of the at least one controlled device;

at least one application running on the at least one first processor, wherein the at least one application is programmed to allow a user to define a hierarchy representing the at least one controlled space;

wherein the hierarchy defines a hierarchical relationship for the at least the at least one area, the at least one controlled device, and the at least one control device of the control system; and

wherein the at least one application is further programmed to automatically generate at least one file that is configured for creation of at least one user interface that is based at least in part on the hierarchy representing the at least one controlled space.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one user interface is a graphical user interface.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one file to create the at least one user interface is a configuration file.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one user interface is installed and displayed on the at least one first processor, and

wherein the at least one user interface is utilized by a user to send signals to the at least one controller or to the at least one control device to change the status of the at least one controlled device.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one user interface is utilized by a user to send signals to the at least one controller or to the at least one control device to change the status of the at least one controlled device by manipulating a virtual control button or icon on the at least one user interface.

14 . The system of claim 9 , further including at least one second processor, wherein the at least one file to create the at least one user interface is transferred from the at least one first processor to the at least one second processor;

wherein the at least one user interface is installed and displayed on the at least one second processor; and

wherein the at least one user interface is utilized by a user to send signals to the at least one controller or to the at least one control device to change the status of the at least one controlled device.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one second processor is a touchscreen processor.

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one user interface is utilized by a user to send signals to the at least one controller or to the at least one control device to change the status of the at least one controlled device by manipulating a virtual control button or icon on the at least one user interface.

17 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one application is further programmed to allow a user to select or de-select at least the at least one area, the at least one controlled device, and the at least one control device and to automatically generate at least one file that is configured for creation of at least one user interface that is based at least in part on the user-selected hierarchy.

18 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the hierarchy further includes at least one sub-area and at least one object, and wherein the at least one application allows a user to identify each at least one sub-area, each at least one object, each at least one control device, and each at least one controlled device associated with each at least one area.

19 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one controlled device is selected from the group consisting of electrical devices, loads, lights, lighting equipment, computers, processors, computing equipment, processing equipment, HVAC equipment, motors, shades, fans, outlets, security systems, electronics, electronic equipment, distributed audio systems, televisions, audio/video equipment and combinations thereof.

20 . A method for creating a user interface comprising:

providing at least one first processor;

providing at least one controlled device in a control system, wherein the control system controls at least one controlled space and wherein the at least one controlled device is controlled by at least one control device;

wherein the at least one controlled space includes at least one area;

providing at least one controller capable of transmitting command signals to the at least one control device to change the status of the at least one controlled device;

running at least one application on the at least one first processor, wherein the at least one application is programmed to allow a user to define a hierarchy representing the at least one controlled space;

wherein the hierarchy defines a hierarchical relationship for the at least the at least one area, the at least one controlled device, and the at least one control device of the control system;

wherein the at least one application is further programmed to automatically generate at least one file that is configured for creation of at least one user interface that is based at least in part on the hierarchy representing the at least one controlled space; and

generating at least one file that is configured for creation of at least one user interface that is based at least in part on the hierarchy representing the at least one controlled space.

21 . A system for creating a user interface, comprising:

at least one first processor;

at least one controlled device in communication with the at least one first processor, wherein the at least one controlled device is a processor in communication with at least one web server and wherein the at least one web server includes at least one data file;

at least one application running on the at least one first processor, wherein the at least one application is programmed to be automatically populated with web-based information associated with the at least one controlled device; and

wherein the at least one application is further programmed to automatically generate at least one file that is configured for creation of at least one user interface that is based at least in part on the web-based information associated with the at least one controlled device.

22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the at least one user interface is a graphical user interface.

23 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the at least one data file is selected from the group consisting of HTML files, flash files, java applets, .xml files, text files, binary files and combinations thereof.

24 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the at least one file to create the at least one user interface is a configuration file.

25 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the at least one user interface is installed and displayed on the at least one first processor, and

wherein the at least one user interface is utilized by a user to utilize data associated with the at least one data file.

26 . The system of claim 25 , wherein the at least one user interface is utilized by a user to utilize data associated with the at least one data file to interact with the at least one web server.

27 . The system of claim 21 , further including at least one second processor, wherein the at least one file to create the at least one user interface is transferred from the at least one first processor to the at least one second processor;

wherein the at least one user interface is installed and displayed on the at least one second processor; and

wherein the at least one user interface is utilized by a user to utilize data associated with the at least one data file.

28 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the at least one user interface is utilized by a user to utilize data associated with the at least one data file to interact with the at least one web server.

29 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the at least one second processor is a touchscreen processor.

30 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the at least one file to create the at least one user interface is transferred from the at least one first processor to the at least one controlled device;

wherein the at least one user interface is installed and displayed on the at least one controlled device; and

wherein the at least one user interface is utilized by a user to utilize data associated with the at least one data file.

31 . The system of claim 30 , wherein the at least one user interface is utilized by a user to utilize data associated with the at least one data file to interact with the at least one web server.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Jun 24, 2009
From: VANTAGE CONTROLS, INC.
To: LEGRAND HOME SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 022856/0956 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2007
From: WHATCOTT, MICHAEL EVERETT; TAYLOR, PETER L.; MCDANIEL, JOHN; KNOWLTON, RYAN
To: VANTAGE CONTROLS, INC.
Reel/Frame 019906/0504 →