Patent Application
20090070701
In general, applications are programs used to automate tasks that were previously carried out by specially trained employees. Examples of applications are programs used for word processing, record keeping, numerical spreadsheet-like analysis and other business needs. Each application is usually tailored to automate a specific task or a group of related tasks. Therefore, a typical application includes one primary user interface (UI) view (usually a default view that is displayed when the application starts or is switched to), and any changes to the primary UI view occur within a contained scope set by the primary UI view. Such a primary UI view, along with any changes to the primary UI view that can occur within a contained scope set by the primary view, are collectively referred to herein as a UI paradigm. For example, a typical word processing application includes a single UI paradigm having a primary document view and search views, help views, etc., that are substantially contained within (or within the scope of) the primary document view. Such a configuration of a UI may not be optimal for certain applications.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Embodiments disclosed in the application relate to a user interface (UI). The UI includes multiple (two or more) UI paradigms, each of which is substantially different from the other UI paradigm(s). The substantially different UI paradigms are within a single application. A switching mechanism, which is also a part of the single application, enables a user to relatively rapidly switch between the different UI paradigms.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form which are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background.
While the above-identified figures set forth one or more embodiments of the UI, other embodiments are also contemplated, as noted in the disclosure. In all cases, this disclosure presents the UI by way of representation and not limitation. It should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art which fall within the scope and spirit of the principles of this disclosure.
Disclosed are embodiments that enable switching between at least two substantially different user interface (UI) paradigms within a single application. Several exemplary embodiments are described below in connection with
As can be seen in
Each switching tab 204, 206 is a clickable (or, in general, selectable) region, by mouse, keyboard, touch, or any other suitable mechanism/technique, and may contain tool tips for user assistance. In addition, the switching tab 204, 206 may contain a text, image, or both to communicate its usage to the user. Further, individual tabs 204, 206 can have a disabled appearance when the UI paradigm represented by the tab 204, 206 is not available to the user. When a switching tab 204, 206 is clicked (or otherwise selected or enabled), the application switches to that UI paradigm and the selected tab 204, 206 changes appearance to indicate the currently active UI paradigm or application view.
As noted above, application command buttons are also included in panel 200. The command buttons are used to invoke application functionality within the currently selected UI paradigm or view. The command buttons are also mouse, keyboard, and touch enabled. Of course, other suitable mechanisms/techniques can be employed to enable the command buttons. Also, in some embodiments, the command buttons change appearance briefly when clicked and may support tool tips for user assistance. Further, in some embodiments, the command buttons can also change appearance when “rolled over” (i.e., when the mouse cursor is on the button, but the user has not clicked the mouse button). In the specific embodiment of
The example POS application has two distinct UI paradigms or application views—a touch-optimized view 300, shown in
As indicated above, in
When the user touches or clicks, for example, switching tab 206 to show management view 350, the POS application performs a fast-switch and the management view 350 becomes the active view as shown in
When performing a switch, the POS application maintains a state of the original view so that if the user returns to that view, it appears the same as when he or she left. For example, if the user were to change their view from a list of items 352 in the management view depicted in
The state of the view, whether in the touch-optimized or management view, is cached in order to support the switch. As described generally in connection with
In one embodiment, developing multiple UI paradigms comprises developing multiple point of sale UI paradigms. The multiple point of sale user paradigms can include a management view and a transaction view. In a particular embodiment, developing a switching mechanism comprises developing a switching panel that comprises a fast switching feature and a program tray.
Embodiments may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computer. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Some embodiments are designed to be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules are located in both local and remote computer storage media including memory storage devices.
With reference to
Computer 510 typically includes a variety of computer readable media. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by computer 510 and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes both volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by computer 510. Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer readable media.
The system memory 530 includes computer storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM) 531 and random access memory (RAM) 532. A basic input/output system 533 (BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within computer 510, such as during start-up, is typically stored in ROM 531. RAM 532 typically contains data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presently being operated on by processing unit 520. By way of example, and not limitation,
The computer 510 may also include other removable/non-removable volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only,
The drives and their associated computer storage media discussed above and illustrated in
A user may enter commands and information into the computer 510 through input devices such as a keyboard 562, a microphone 563, and a pointing device 561, such as a mouse, trackball or touch pad. Other input devices (not shown) may include a joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. Still other input devices (not shown) can include non-human sensors for temperature, pressure, humidity, vibration, rotation, etc. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit 520 through a user input interface 560 that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other interface and bus structures, such as a parallel port, game port or a USB. A monitor 591 or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus 521 via an interface, such as a video interface 590. In addition to the monitor, computers may also include other peripheral output devices such as speakers 597 and printer 596, which may be connected through an output peripheral interface 595.
The computer 510 is operated in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer 580. The remote computer 580 may be a personal computer, a hand-held device, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the computer 510. The logical connections depicted in
When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 510 is connected to the LAN 571 through a network interface or adapter 570. When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 510 typically includes a modem 572 or other means for establishing communications over the WAN 573, such as the Internet. The modem 572, which may be internal or external, may be connected to the system bus 521 via the user input interface 560, or other appropriate mechanism. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer 510, or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. By way of example, and not limitation,
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.
