Result-oriented configuration of performance parameters
View Patent ↗A plurality of configuration parameters for setting a device are determined by setting one or more performance parameters. The performance parameters are end-results of configuration that a user desires to achieve by setting the configuration parameters on a device. By setting the performance parameters instead of multiple configuration parameters, the user can conveniently achieve desired performance on the device without having to try many combinations of configuration parameters. When the user sets a performance parameter value, a set of configuration parameters corresponding to the performance value is computed or retrieved. The performance parameters may be set using a user interface element such as a slider that is intuitive and easy to manipulate.
1. A method of configuring an asset tracking device, comprising:
displaying at least two user interface elements, each user interface element having an indicator movable in two different directions;
receiving user input to move a first indicator of a first user interface element of the at least two user interface elements in a first direction or a second direction, moving the first indicator in the first direction representing increase of a first performance parameter of the asset tracking device and moving the first indicator in the second direction indicating decrease of the first performance parameter of the asset tracking device;
receiving user input to move a second indicator of a second user interface element of the at least two user interface elements in a first direction or a second direction, moving the second indicator in the first direction representing increase of a second performance parameter of the asset tracking device and moving the second indicator in the second direction indicating decrease of the second performance parameter of the asset tracking device;
generating and storing a mapper table by:
(i) defining sets of configuration parameters of the asset tracking device wherein the sets of configuration parameters comprise at least two of (a) frequency of message transmittal by the asset tracking device, (b) processing speed of a processor in the asset tracking device, (c) light intensity of a display device of the asset tracking device, (d) strength of transmission signal, (e) enabling or disabling of functions of the asset tracking device, and (f) configuration of global positioning system receivers of the asset tracking device,
(ii) computing a performance parameter value for each set of configuration parameters,
(iii) selectively discarding one or more sets of configuration parameters that each map to a particular performance parameter value, and thereby prevent the discarded sets of configuration parameters from being stored in the mapper table, and
(iv) storing remaining performance parameters and associated sets of configuration parameters on a computer readable storage device;
determining, using the mapper table, configuration parameters corresponding to the performance parameters set by moving the indicators, wherein there are more configuration parameters than interface elements;
configuring the asset tracking device according to the determined configuration parameters.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying at least one of the performance parameters corresponding to the movement of at least one of the indicators; and
displaying the configuration parameters corresponding to the set performance parameter.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the asset tracking device comprises at least one sensor for sending location or state of an asset associated with the asset tracking device.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface element comprises a control mechanism comprising a continuous path extending between two end points, wherein the indicator is movable along the path between the two end points, a lower one of the two end points corresponds to a lower extreme of a value range of the performance parameter, an upper one of the two end point corresponds to an upper extreme of the value range of the performance parameter.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the control mechanism comprises a slider control or a rotatable dial control.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the sets of configuration parameters comprises identifying a set of configuration parameters corresponding to the performance parameter from the mapper table.
7. A computer system for presenting configuration options to a user, comprising:
a display screen configured to display at least two user interface elements, each user interface element having an indicator movable in two different directions;
an input module selected from the group consisting of a keypad, a touchscreen, and a tracking device, the input module being configured to receive user input to move:
a first of the indicators in a first direction or a second direction, moving the first indicator in the first direction representing increase of a first performance parameter of an asset tracking device and moving the first indicator in the second direction indicating decrease of the first performance parameter of the asset tracking device;
a second of the indicators in a first direction or a second direction, moving the second indicator in the first direction representing increase of a second performance parameter of the asset tracking device and moving the second indicator in the second direction indicating decrease of the second performance parameter of the asset tracking device;
a computer readable storage device having stored thereon a mapper table generated by:
(i) defining sets of configuration parameters of the asset tracking device wherein the sets of configuration parameters comprise at least two of (a) frequency of message transmittal by the asset tracking device, (b) processing speed of a processor in the asset tracking device, (c) light intensity of a display device of the asset tracking device, (d) strength of transmission signal, (e) enabling or disabling of functions of the asset tracking device, and (f) configuration of global positioning system receivers of the asset tracking device,
(ii) computing a performance parameter value for each set of configuration parameters,
(iii) selectively discarding one or more sets of configuration parameters that each map to a particular performance parameter value, and thereby prevent the discarded sets of configuration parameters from being stored in the mapper table, and
(iv) storing remaining performance parameters and associated sets of configuration parameters; and
a processor configured to:
determine, using the mapper table, configuration parameters corresponding to the performance parameters set by moving the indicators, wherein there are more configuration parameters than interface elements; and
configure the asset tracking device according to the determined configuration parameters.
8. The computer system of claim 7 , wherein the display screen is further configured to:
display the performance parameter corresponding to movement of the indicator; and
display the configuration parameters corresponding to the set performance parameter.
9. The computer system of claim 7 , wherein the user interface element comprises a control mechanism comprising a continuous path extending between two end points, wherein the indicator is movable along the path between the two end points, a lower one of the two end points corresponds to a lower extreme of a value range of the performance parameter, an upper one of the two end point corresponds to an upper extreme of the value range of the performance parameter.
10. The computer system of claim 9 , wherein the control mechanism comprises a slider control or a rotatable dial control.
11. The computer system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the sets of configuration parameters by identifying a set of configuration parameters corresponding to the performance parameter from the mapper table.
12. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium structured to store instructions executable by a processor in a computing device, the instructions, when executed causing the processor to:
generate and store a mapper table by:
(i) defining sets of configuration parameters of the asset tracking device wherein the sets of configuration parameters comprise at least two of (a) frequency of message transmittal by the asset tracking device, (b) processing speed of a processor in the asset tracking device, (c) light intensity of a display device of the asset tracking device, (d) strength of transmission signal, (e) enabling or disabling of functions of the asset tracking device, and (f) configuration of global positioning system receivers of the asset tracking device,
(ii) computing a performance parameter value for each set of configuration parameters,
(iii) selectively discarding one or more sets of configuration parameters that each map to a particular performance parameter value, and thereby prevent the discarded sets of configuration parameters from being stored in the mapper table, and
(iv) storing remaining performance parameters and associated sets of configuration parameters on a computer readable storage device;
display at least two user interface elements, each user interface element having an indicator movable in two different directions;
receive user input to move:
a first of the indicators in a first direction or a second direction, moving the first indicator in the first direction representing increase of a first performance parameter of an asset tracking device and moving the first indicator in the second direction indicating decrease of the first performance parameter of the asset tracking device; and
a second of the indicators in a first direction or a second direction, moving the second indicator in the first direction representing increase of a second performance parameter of the asset tracking device and moving the second indicator in the second direction indicating decrease of the second performance parameter of the asset tracking device;
determine, using the mapper table, configuration parameters corresponding to the performance-parameters set by moving the indicators, wherein there are more configuration parameters than interface elements; and
configure the asset tracking device according to the determined configuration parameters.
13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12 , further comprising instructions to:
display the performance parameter corresponding to movement of the indicator; and
display the configuration parameters corresponding to the set performance parameter.
14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the user interface element comprises a control mechanism comprising a continuous path extending between two end points, wherein the indicator movable along the path between the two end points, a lower one of the two end points corresponds to a lower extreme of a value range of the performance parameter, an upper one of the two end point corresponds to an upper extreme of the value range of the performance parameter.
15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the control mechanism comprises a slider control or a rotatable dial control.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the performance parameter comprises at least one of a battery life of the asset tracking device, used memory space, responsiveness of the asset tracking device, extent of sensor signal processing, and accuracy of location determination.