Textual HMI DSL for Faster Interface Development
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing HMI development platforms are cumbersome and time-consuming due to their graphical and menu-driven workflow, which limits efficiency for users with limited programming experience.
Innovation Solution
A custom textual domain-specific language (DSL) is introduced for developing HMI applications, allowing users to define display screens, graphical elements, and animations using text-based programming, combining familiar syntax with HMI user domains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If graphical and menu-driven workflows are used for HMI development, then ease of operation is improved, but development time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical graphical user interface with a text-based domain-specific language (DSL) for HMI development. This substitution allows developers to write HMI applications using textual code rather than manipulating graphical elements, significantly reducing development time while maintaining ease of operation through the structured nature of the DSL syntax.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the development interface from graphical to textual. By introducing a domain-specific language that uses text-based syntax, the system transforms the development workflow to be more efficient and less time-consuming, while the compiled output remains compatible with standard HMI execution environments.
2Ease of operation
If graphical and menu-driven workflows are used for HMI development, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex graphical user interface system with a simpler text-based domain-specific language. This substitution reduces the complexity of the development platform by eliminating the need for graphical element libraries, drag-and-drop mechanisms, and menu navigation systems, while maintaining ease of operation through the straightforward textual syntax.
3Productivity
If text-based programming is used for HMI development, then productivity is improved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a domain-specific language that uses text-based syntax tailored specifically for HMI development. This localized programming language combines the productivity benefits of text-based coding with the ease of operation of a specialized syntax that is easier to learn and use compared to general-purpose programming languages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of the programming language from general-purpose to domain-specific. By designing a text-based DSL with syntax optimized for HMI applications, the system achieves both high productivity and ease of operation, as the language structure naturally reflects HMI development requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A human-machine interface (HMI) development system supports a custom textual domain-specific language (DSL) for describing and developing HMI applications. The custom DSL comprises user domain elements corresponding to elements used within the context of a graphical HMI editor, and can be used to describe all aspects of an HMI application in terms of these user domains. Since the DSL is a textual syntax, this approach also allows HMI applications to be developed using any text editor. The DSL can be used to define, using text-based programming, such HMI properties as the graphical elements to be included in the HMI application, element layouts in reference to other graphical elements, element behaviors and actions, commands and custom executable code for specific interactions of the graphics.