Horizontal Menu Navigation for Building Automation Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Navigating menus in building automation systems can be cumbersome and unwieldy, requiring excessive backtracking and keystrokes, making it difficult for operators to efficiently access and compare device settings.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a horizontal navigation mechanism that allows side-to-side movement between menu elements, enabling direct access to previous and next devices without returning to the original menu, thereby simplifying the navigation process and reducing the need for backtracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional hierarchical menu navigation is used, then menu structure is organized and manageable, but navigation becomes cumbersome and requires excessive backtracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces horizontal navigation as a new dimension to the traditional vertical hierarchical menu structure. This allows operators to move laterally between menu items at the same hierarchical level without traversing up and down the hierarchy, effectively adding a sideways dimension to navigation and eliminating the need for excessive backtracking.
2Ease of operation
If detailed device settings are accessed through hierarchical menus, then complete control is achieved, but the number of keystrokes and steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the horizontal movement capability from the traditional vertical navigation path. By separating the lateral movement function from the hierarchical structure, operators can directly access device settings at the same level through horizontal navigation, removing unnecessary intermediate steps and simplifying the navigation path to detailed settings.
3Adaptability or versatility
If operators navigate through multiple menu levels to compare devices, then all device options are accessible, but the process becomes unwieldy and confusing
Solution Approach 1:
By adding horizontal navigation capability, the patent enables operators to move laterally between different devices at the same hierarchical level for direct comparison. This dimensional addition maintains full access to all device options while dramatically simplifying the comparison process, as operators can now view and compare devices side-by-side without traversing multiple menu levels.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for hierarchical navigation of menus on a screen and particularly from one menu to another menu at the same level of a menu hierarchy. The system may provide side-to-side movement between menu elements to more easily navigate the menu pyramid. It may facilitate access to the details of a list of devices by selecting next and previous devices in the list, without navigating back to the list. The system may provide an operator or user with a simple, convenient method of browsing the details of devices in a list without the need to move back and forth throughout the list. The display may automatically adapt to the disparate properties of each type of device in the list. Also, the displayed details may be unique for a characterization of each device but be rendered in a common format.