Method and system for managing an interface of an automatic system

Abstract

A method for managing an interface of an automatic system comprises: presenting (31) selectable information on the interface; detecting (35) a selection of information by a user of the interface; if the presentation of information has remained unchanged (37) for a predetermined period preceding the selection detection, validating (39) the selection. A computer program product implementing the method and a temperature management system are also described. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig 3

Description

Description Title of the invention: Method and system for managing an interface of an automatic system Technical field

[0001] — The present invention relates to a system and method for managing a interface of an automatic system. State of the art

[0002] = The interaction of a user with an automatic system such as a computer, a A mobile phone or a digital machine tool, for example, uses the most often an information display screen associated with a data input device and information selection. This can be a screen associated with a keyboard and mouse or a touch screen to name the most common interfaces.

[0003] However, these interfaces are increasingly in demand and, in particular, are used to alert the user of new events in the form of notifications displayed in the form small alert windows (often called “pop-ups”).

[0004] — But these alert windows suddenly appearing while the user interacts with the interface can disturb it and cause it to trigger actions that are not desired.

[0005] There is therefore a real need for a method and an interface management system which help avoid these disruptions associated with alert or notification windows. Description of the invention

[0006] To resolve one or more of the drawbacks cited above, according to a first embodiment, a method for managing an interface of an au- automation includes: presentation of selectable information on the interface; detection of a selection of information by a user of the interface; if the presentation of information has remained unchanged for a pre- determined preceding the selection detection, validation of the selection.

[0007] Thus, we are sure that the validation relates to the information that the user wants select.

[0008] — Particular characteristics or embodiments, usable alone or in combination are: if the presentation of information has been modified during the prede- completed, the selection is not validated; if the presentation of information has been modified during the prede- completed, the selection is validated on the presentation of non-information modified; the predetermined duration is between 100 and 500 ms; and / or if the presentation of information has been modified during the predetermined period on a part of the interface, the selection is validated if the se- selected is on the unmodified part of the interface. In a second embodiment, a computer program product downloadable from a communications network and / or recorded on a computer-readable medium and / or executable by a processor, is characterized in that it comprises program code instructions for implementing the above method. In a third embodiment, a system for managing an interface of an automatic system comprises: an interface adapted to present selectable information; associated with a device for selecting information by a user of the interface; connected to a controller adapted to validate the selection made by the device only if the presentation of information has remained unchanged for a pre- determined preceding the selection detection. Brief description of the figures The invention will be better understood by reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended figures in which: [Fig.1] represents a first view of an interface management system according to a first embodiment and in a first state; [Fig.2] represents a second view of the system of [Fig.1] in a second state; [Fig.3] represents a flowchart of the interface management process according to a first embodiment; and [Fig.4] represents a flowchart of the operation of a variant of the process of [Fig.3]. Methods of implementation With reference to [Fig.1], an interface comprises a screen 1 associated with a keyboard 3 and a mouse 5. The screen 1 displays visual information of all kinds such as text, images, videos, etc. Some of this information is selectable by a user via the keyboard 3 or the mouse 5. The interface is connected to a controller 7, for example a computer, which controls the display of the information and receives input from the user via the keyboard 3 and the mouse 5. For example, screen 1 displays a list of HTML (HyperText Markup Language) links 9. Each selected link opens a new file, for example a new HTML page. [Fig. 2] presents the same interface as that of [Fig. 1]. On screen 1, a notification window 11 has appeared hiding part of the links 9, in particular the link "CCCCC". This notification window appears following an event occurring on the computer 7. For example, the arrival of a new email in the user's mailbox can trigger a notification window. However, if the user is selecting the “CCCCC” link when window 11 appears, it is window 11 that is selected, resulting, in the example, in the display of the email that has just arrived in the mailbox instead of the file corresponding to the “CCCCC” link. In fact, there is a neuromuscular delay of a few tenths of a millisecond between the decision to select the link and, for example, the mouse click of selection, and therefore it is possible to find oneself in the following situation: Link selection decision: Displaying the notification window; Selection click: Selecting the notification window. To avoid what the user will consider as an erroneous selection, the interface management is then as follows, [Fig.3]: The computer 7 displays, step 31, on the screen 1, a window comprising selectable information. Computer 7 displays, step 33, on screen |, a notification window. In step 35, the computer 7 receives a selection command from the keyboard 3 or the mouse 5. The time elapsed between the display of the notification screen and the receipt of the command is compared, step 37, to a predetermined duration. This predetermined duration is chosen to take into account the neuromuscular delay discussed above and is between 100 and 500 ms. If the elapsed time is greater than the predetermined duration, then the selection is validated, step 39. In fact, it is considered that the user has had time to see what he has selected. Otherwise, the selection is not validated and the user must make a second selection to indicate their choice to the system, i.e. a return to step 35. [Fig.1] illustrates a system according to certain embodiments. The breakdown presented is for educational purposes to highlight the different functions. However, it is understood that each block can be implemented using different means or combinations thereof, such as hardware components, software, one or more computers and / or electronic circuits. Each of the components may include at least one computer or a control-command unit. At least one memory may be included in each component. The memory may include computer program instructions or software code. The computers can be implemented by any type of data processing device, such as a central computing unit, a signal processing processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a programmable gate array, etc. The computers can be implemented as a single controller, or a plurality of controllers or computers. The various modules are connected to each other by data links adapted to the environment. These can be wired or wireless. For software, the implementation may include modules or units distributed in the form of procedures, functions, etc. Memories can be any type of storage circuit. They can be part of the processor circuit, or separate from it and connected via electrical data links. These can be non-volatile memories, hard disks, random access memories, flash memories, etc. Moreover, the program instructions stored in memory and processed by computers can be any type of program code, for example, a compiled or interpreted program written in a suitable programming language. The computer program instructions stored in the memory are such that, when executed by the computer, the latter carries out one or more of the steps of the methods described above. The invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description. This should be considered as illustrative and given by way of example and not as limiting the invention to this description alone. Numerous alternative embodiments are possible. In a first variant, [Fig.4], rather than asking the user for a second selection, the computer 7 chooses, step 41, to validate the selection as it would have been without the appearance of the notification window, therefore without modification of the display by it. It is also understood that the method described may only be implemented when the selection relates to the area where the notification window appears. The interface described comprises a screen with a keyboard and mouse. These input devices can be replaced by a touch screen, i.e., selection is made by touching the area of ​​the screen to be selected with a finger or a stylus. Thus, the system and method described can easily be applied to a mobile phone or tablet.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for managing an interface of an automatic system including: presentation (31) of selectable information on the interface detection (35) of a selection of information by a user interface editor; if the presentation of information has remained unchanged (37) for a predetermined period of time preceding the detection of selection, validation (39) of the selection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein if the presentation information has been modified during the predetermined period, the selection is not validated.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein if the presentation information has been modified during the predetermined period, the selection is validated on the presentation of unmodified information.

4. A method according to any preceding claim, in wherein the predetermined duration is between 100 and 500 ms.

5. A method according to claim !, wherein if the presentation information has been modified during the predetermined duration on a part of the interface, the selection is validated if the selected information is located on the unmodified part of the interface.

6. Computer program product downloadable from a network communication and / or recorded on a computer-readable medium and / or executable by a processor, characterized in that it comprises program code instructions for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims.

7. System for managing an interface of an automatic system including: an interface (1) adapted to present se- selectable; associated with a device (3, 5) for selecting information by a user interface reader; connected to a controller (7) adapted to validate the selection made by the device only if the presentation of information has remained unchanged for a predetermined period of time prior to selection detection.