A method and apparatus for controlling non-computer system devices by manipulating a graphical representation

The graphical control system of the present invention includes a computer (20), a device interface (35) for a non-computer system device (21) having at least one feature control (29a) (or display (29b)), a bus network (28) connecting the computer (20) to the device interface (35), and a visual netwo...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors LUCAS, MARK A, WARMAN, DAVID J, COCO, GEOFFREY P
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
French
German
Published 09.06.1999
Edition6
Subjects
ADVERTISING
ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICESUSING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
CALCULATING
COMPUTING
COUNTING
CRYPTOGRAPHY
DISPLAY
EDUCATION
ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
PHYSICS
SEALS
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:The graphical control system of the present invention includes a computer (20), a device interface (35) for a non-computer system device (21) having at least one feature control (29a) (or display (29b)), a bus network (28) connecting the computer (20) to the device interface (35), and a visual network operating system (78) based on an object-oriented programming paradigm. The device interface (35) connects the non-computer system device (21) to the bus network (28) and provides the mechanism for converting computer-generated commands into signals for controlling the operation of the feature control (29a) of the non-computer system device (21). The visual network operating system (78) is a distributed operating system that is partially stored on the computer (20) and partially stored in the device interface (35). A computer portion causes the computer (20) to generate or create a visual device control (40) that graphically replicates the feature control (29a) normally associated with the non-computer system device (21). The visual device control (40) is operated by a conventional graphical control device, such as a mouse (32), track ball, touch screen, joystick, etc. As the replicated controls are operated, the computer (20) sends messages to the device interfaces (35), which cause the feature control (29a) of the non-computer system device (21) to respond in the same way it would have responded had the feature control been operated manually, electrically or effected by another computer on the bus network (28).
Bibliography:Application Number: EP19990104745