DE102009007397A1 - Computer-assisted, embedded control unit for providing graphical user interface to e.g. device, has user interface control module that is realized on basis of micro controller, where module interprets and implements intermediate code - Google Patents

Abstract

The unit (1) has a memory (20) storing control information (22) i.e. script, that specifies a characteristic of a graphical user interface to be provided. A pre-compiling module (30) pre-translates the control information into a binary intermediate code (26). An user interface control module (40) interprets and implements the binary intermediate code to produce the graphical user interface under controlling of a graphical display unit (2) over the interface. The user interface control module is realized on the basis of a micro controller (10).

Description

Technical area

The The invention relates to a computer-aided, embedded control unit to provide a graphical user interface.

Background of the invention

Out the prior art, different computer systems are known, which in their software and hardware configuration in high Dimensions adapted to their concrete technical application context and are closely involved in it, and which are often controlling, regulating or supervising Perform functions.

Such Systems are common Part of a device they control and are called embedded Systems, also called: Embedded Systems. They form, for example some of mobile phones, home appliances, consumer electronics, Onboard instruments for Vehicles, as well as machinery and laboratory equipment.

Be depending on the application, or to make the operation pleasant, This is often required, full-graphic and color user interfaces (Graphical User Interface - GUI) to provide over a user interacts with the device. It is necessary that such user interfaces a fast and instantaneous Ensuring a user interact with their controls.

Especially, if such systems in high volumes However, it is desirable that the technical Effort for to minimize the user interface to be provided d. H. also, the computing or storage capacity to be provided as far as possible to minimize.

It It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a computer-aided, embedded Indicate a user interface for providing a graphical user interface, which a delay-free and allowing quick interaction with a user while reducing the therefor provided computing capacity.

Overview of the invention

These Task is solved by the subject matter of claim 1.

• – im Speicher Steuerinformationen enthalten sind, welche mindestens ein Merkmal der bereitzustellenden Benutzeroberfläche festlegen,
• – ein Vorkompilierungs-Modul enthalten ist, welches ausgebildet ist zur Vorübersetzung der Steuerinformationen in einen binären Zwischencode,
• – ein Benutzeroberflächen-Steuerungsmodul enthalten ist, welches ausgebildet ist zum Interpretieren und Ausführen des binären Zwischencodes zur Erzeugung der grafischen Benutzeroberfläche unter Ansteuern der grafischen Anzeigeeinheit über die Schnittstelle,
• – ein Mikrocontroller enthalten ist, auf dessen Basis das Benutzeroberflächen-Steuerungsmodul verwirklicht ist.

The invention teaches a computerized embedded operator panel for providing a graphical user interface having a memory and an interface to a graphical display unit.
characterized in that

• In the memory, control information is contained which defines at least one feature of the user interface to be provided,
• A pre-compilation module is included, which is designed to pre-translate the control information into a binary intermediate code,
• A user interface control module is provided, which is designed to interpret and execute the binary intermediate code to generate the graphical user interface by driving the graphical display unit via the interface,
• - A microcontroller is included, based on the user interface control module is realized.

through The control information becomes features (i.e., objects, functions and their properties) of a user interface and thus defines a user interface with user guidance compiled. The objects can For example, graphics, fonts, and audio outputs that contain about in standard file formats on any PC-based Platform may have been created.

By doing the pre-compilation module is configured, the control information in a binary Pre-translate intermediate code, is enabled to prepare the information in a first phase so that they from the user interface control module (as Interpreter of the intermediate code) can be performed in a simpler manner can. For this purpose, the precompilation module can be designed to provide look-up tables for faster Access and avoidance of big ones address jumps to build symbolic identifiers according to table indexes replace and ASCII-encoded strings by following numeric To replace value correspondences.

The User interface control module interprets the binary Intermediate code, leads it controls accordingly, the display unit and generated and thus runs the graphical user interface without unnecessary effort for access, jumps and have to operate decoding.

First this makes it possible To significantly reduce the computing capacity to be provided that the user interface control module through a relatively low-power hardware platform, like the present microcontroller, can be realized.

With the present operating unit, the like Embedded GUI controller (EGC), can equip a device in which the control unit is embedded, in a technically particularly low effort with fully graphical color user interfaces. The EGC takes over the control of the graphical display unit and provides with a scripting language, in which the control information is encoded, a full range of functions for easy creation of complex user interfaces. The connection to the device in which the HMI device is embedded can take place via a serial or other interface. The communication between the EGC and the application can take place through the triggering of actions, the reception of events and the automatic synchronization of data (eg device or process parameters).

The Operating unit can be advantageously developed according to the on Claim 1 referred back Dependent claims.

So may be the user interface control module be configured to determine if the control information has been changed, and in case the control information has been changed, a new pretranslation through the precompilation module.

In embodiments can also realize the pre-compilation module based on the microcontroller which allows both definition and compilation and execution of the user interface be functionally encapsulated by the control unit can, without any external development environment or otherwise external hardware must be used.

Further can at least one reference to a user interface component in the control information be contained, and the pre-compilation module to be under pre-translation Generation of a look-up table, which at least one Assignment of an identification value to a user interface component contains.

there can be the user interface component a window and / or a dialog box and / or a button and / or a text field and / or an input field and / or a text resource and / or a graphics resource and / or an audio resource and / or include a font resource.

refinements can further characterized in that the control information is at least a reference to a procedure and / or at least one reference to a variable and the precompilation module further is formed, at least one assignment of an identification value to a procedure and / or at least one assignment of an identification value to create a variable and include it in the lookup table. The identification values can Be numerical values.

The User interface control module can be formed, the intermediate code using the reference table to interpret. It may also be designed to interpret the To check intermediate codes if a change the feature of the user interface requires a new screen layout of the entire user interface.

The Control information can include at least one alphanumeric string and the precompilation module can be configured to convert the alphanumeric string into binary values.

The computerized Control unit can also be developed to the effect that a second interface to one over the user interface to be operated device is included and also includes a device communication module, which is trained over the interface data from the device to receive and provide to the user interface control module and / or from the user interface control module for the Device provided Data to the device too send.

The Devices communication module may be configured to determine if a change in the user interface control module provided for the device Data is present and, in the event of the change, the data is transmitted to the device.

there can the device device parameters provide and / or process, and the device communication module can be formed, the device parameters to replicate in local storage variables.

In Further developments of the computer-aided operating unit can the data device parameters and / or device Events and / or device actions and / or Include tax information updates.

The Invention will be described below with reference to an embodiment and a drawing briefly explained.

Brief description of the drawings

It shows:

1 a schematic overview of an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description

1 shows a schematic overview of an embodiment of the invention. The computer-aided, embedded control unit 1 is with a display unit 2 Connected and serves as a user interface for the operation of the device 3 by displaying operating parameters of the device and receiving control inputs from a user. In alternative embodiments, the display unit is 2 in the control unit 1 contain.

The operating unit 1 includes a microcontroller 10 which has an integrated memory 20 has a precompilation module (the so-called GUI compiler) 30 and a user interface control module (the so-called GUI application) 40 , These are communicatively connected to one another, for example by means of inter-process communication, by shared memory areas (shared memory), a bus, or the like, and can be realized by program-technical setup or in any other way by hardware and / or software.

The memory 20 contains tax information 22 in the form of a window description source text script that defines elements (objects) of a colored, graphical user interface (GUI) and specifies its features and properties, such as appearance and behavior. There is also a repository in memory 24 which contains the text, graphics, and sound resources needed for the user interface to be displayed in the user interface. In the storage room 24 is also a binary intermediate code 26 (the so-called binary pseudocode) included by the precompilation module 30 based on the control information 22 has been generated and which efficiently by the user interface control module 40 , or through its interpreter 42 , can be processed. This will be explained later.

The precompilation module 30 contains the functional modules preprocessor, lexical analysis, syntax analysis, semantic analysis and pseudocode generator, which are not shown graphically for the sake of clarity and whose function will also be explained later.

The user interface control module 40 has as functional modules an interpreter 42 , a GUI manager 44 , as well as a connection module to the device to be controlled (the so-called device application interface, GAPI) 46 on. The GAPI, which operates as a separate entity, provides a logical interface between the device application and the GUI script, ie, the control information. This interface is based on the three functional elements event, action and data.

As the skilled person readily recognizes, are all in or by the Microcontrollers realized elements communicatively with each other connected as far as its function requires, even if the connection is not explicitly shown or described. Next to the top already mentioned Means come here wired or wireless connections or Bus systems into consideration.

The microcontroller 10 is also via a graphic interface 60 with the display device 2 connected, which in the present example is a color touch screen. There is also a microcontroller 10 via a serial interface 50 , such as RS232 or USB (Universal Serial Bus), with the device 3 for which the graphical user interface is to be provided.

The display device 2 shows by way of example a schematized screenshot of the provided user interface, which shows a curve of a connected measuring device 3 shows, as well as one button each to confirm ("OK") or Cancel ("Cancel").

To ensure short response times on a low-cost hardware platform, the control information available as a script code 22 first through the GUI compiler 30 edited, which is the binary intermediate code 26 generated, in turn, by the appropriately adapted interpreter 42 can be processed quickly. The interpreter 42 processes speed-optimized tables that are contained in the binary intermediate code (these tables were created by the GUI compiler 30 generated) and has special processing mechanisms for graphics and procedures.

All Processing takes place on the control unit, without requiring additional Development hardware or software would be required or a separate development platform with cross-compiling.

• – die symbolischen Konstanten durch die entsprechenden numerischen Werte zu ersetzen. Hierdurch muss dies nicht zur Laufzeit durch den Interpreter erledigt werden, und es werden Redundanzen vermieden.
• – die ASCII-codierten Quelltext-Elemente in ihr entsprechendes Binärformat zu wandeln. Somit muss der Interpreter keine Zeichenketten „123” in entsprechende Binärzahlen konvertieren.
• – alle symbolischen Identifier durch numerische Indizes zu ersetzen, und diese in einer Tabelle ihren entsprechenden Inhalten zuzuordnen. Die numerischen Indizes werden somit direkt als Tabellenindizes verwendet und es werden so Stringvergleiche zur GUI Laufzeit reduziert oder vermieden. Dadurch hat der Interpreter schnelleren Zugriff auf Variablen, Fenster- und Objekteigenschaften, Eventhandleradressen und dergleichen.

The GUI compiler 30 is set up to process the control information available as a script by being trained

• - replace the symbolic constants with the corresponding numeric values. As a result, this does not have to be done at runtime by the interpreter, and redundancies are avoided.
• - convert the ASCII encoded source code elements to their corresponding binary format. Thus, the interpreter does not need to convert strings "123" into corresponding binary numbers.
• - replace all symbolic identifiers with numerical indices, and put them in a table ih assigned to corresponding content. The numerical indexes are thus used directly as table indexes and thus string comparisons to the GUI runtime are reduced or avoided. This gives the interpreter faster access to variables, window and object properties, event handler addresses, and the like.

hereby results in the interaction with the interpreter a faster Display of the window contents and execution of the scripts. This process is always done when new GUI data is loaded into the system (eg during the Development phase of a GUI or after an update). The GUI compiler therefore checks the change status the tax information.

The GUI compiler 30 is implemented as a console application directly on the target system (ie, the embedded system itself). It may also be provided on a general-purpose computer, such as a personal computer running Microsoft Windows or Apple MacOS as an external development platform, for simulation purposes during the development phase of a GUI. The GUI creator can then z. B. on the PC prepared and tested GUI control information via FTP upload to the HMI device and then start the compiler run via Telnet.

As the expert recognizes, that is the GUI compiler 30 generated binary intermediate code from the machine code of the microcontroller 10 distinguished. The intermediate code is solely from the interpreter 42 of the user interface control module 40 processed.

Of the preprocessor the GUI compiler allows a #define, #ifdef, #else and #endif conditional compilation. This can also be omitted in embodiments, so defined by #define symbols as all other identifiers stored in the symbol table and have unique names have to.

The lexical analysis transforms the source text of the control information 22 in tokens. Here also the constant references are replaced. Constants are treated like all other identifiers and must have unique names. This is in contrast to the programming language C, where constants are often defined using #define and are replaced by the preprocessor. In addition, the module removes any source code comments.

The Parsing checks the grammatical correctness of the source text, and the semantic Analysis checks the correctness of keywords, Identifiers and operators in a specific context. The pseudocode generator is finally for the Generating the binaries responsible.

Of the GUI compiler works in 2 cycles (2-pass compiler). He is therefore set up in the first pass all in the control information identifiers (such as window names, object names, procedure names, Variable names, text names, constants, etc.); from that the symbol table including symbol categories and data types is created. Furthermore is he set up to determine the file relationships in the first pass, and from the homepage, determine which files (i.e. h., the resources contained in the repository) to be compiled GUI belong. The file associations are determined by iteratively tracking <window name> .Activate method calls.

Of the GUI compiler is about it trained, in the second pass the index tables for texts, File names, procedures and variables, etc. build and the binary intermediate code to create.

In the generated intermediate code 26 All structures are designed to achieve optimum user interaction response time when the intermediate code in the UI control module 40 processed and provided according to a user interface. The GUI compiler 30 is therefore designed to generate the intermediate code so that everywhere where direct access to individual elements is required, in addition indexed lists are created in addition to linked lists, so that user interface elements, such. Windows, as well as procedures or (possibly language-dependent) text resources can be addressed with only a small number of indirections, regardless of the size and complexity of the user interface as a whole.

In the UI control module 40 are the function blocks or modules interpreter 42 , GAPI 46 and GUI Manager 44 summarized.

Due to the preprocessing of the control information available as a script by the GUI compiler 30 to binary intermediate code 26 can the interpreter 42 Use fast table accesses to efficiently process procedures, trigger graphic functions in the GUI Manager and forward communication tasks to the GAPI. The interpreter is able to perform nested procedures due to a call stack (procedure in procedure).

Regarding the graphic structure is the interpreter 42 For the purpose of performance optimization, it is designed to check whether certain changes to object properties create a new image construction, or whether only an update of the changed object is required. In the present embodiment, the control information may also contain mathematical operations and functions, which may also be performed by the interpreter.

In the GUI Manager 44 is the human-machine interface realized. It ensures the fast image structure and monitors the inputs of the user z. B. by a touch screen and then provides the necessary activation of the interpreter.

in the Unlike usual graphical frontends (Embedded Window Systems, Web Browser o. Ä.) Is the Manager on the fast image construction, and thus on a fast Response of user input optimized. This is achieved under through caching mechanisms for fonts and Graphics. The caches are designed to work memory the EGC optimally and a call statistics of the font or the Graphic by the the binary Run intermediate code Perform interpreter, so as to keep the most used content resident in memory and to bring directly to the display.

Here is the GUI manager 44 set up to process the usual graphics, font and audio formats to enable cost-effective GUI development with standard software.

The GAPI (Device Application Interface) 46 forms the link of the operating unit to the device (here control unit), for which the operating unit works. The communication between the GUI and the control unit via the GAPI is basically event- and action-controlled. The "device" actions are always based on the GUI, "device" events are processed by him. A reserved variable area is available for exchanging data.

• 1. Kommunikation mit dem Steuergerät
• 2. Weiterleitung von (Geräte-) Ereignissen an die GUI
• 3. Weiterleitung von (Geräte-) Aktionen von der GUI an das Gerät
• 4. Aktualisierung der Geräteparametertabelle vom Gerät (z. B. Betriebsdatenerfassung)
• 5. Übermittlung geänderter Geräteparameter zum Steuergerät (z. B. Parameteränderungen via GUI)
• 6. Empfang der Updatedaten vom Gerät und Weiterleitung an die Update Engine

In particular, it is set up to perform the following tasks:

• 1. Communication with the control unit
• 2. Forwarding of (device) events to the GUI
• 3. Forwarding (device) actions from the GUI to the device
• 4. Updating the device parameter table from the device (for example, operational data acquisition)
• 5. Transmission of changed device parameters to the ECU (eg parameter changes via GUI)
• 6. Reception of the update data from the device and forwarding to the update engine

embedded (embedded) systems have in usually not over the capacity, complex high-resolution GUIs in addition to the actual device function to realize. The complex fast image construction, user actions and the simple GUI development are through the components, GUI Compiler, GUI Interpreter and GUI Manager solved, for the simple, high-performance and data-reduced communication, the GAPI is responsible.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the GAPI accesses a serial interface via which virtually every embedded system (in this case the host system) is available today. The GAPI 46 Reduces complex processes to actions and events for the solution on a logical level. In addition, the GAPI is set up to carry out the variable comparison between host and operating unit and to respond flexibly to host information. Through this system, the host has "in hand" when and how often he can provide the necessary information to the user, without the need to present the user cyclically complex image information.

In summary let yourself notice that the Embedded GUI Controller (EGC) is embedded Device Applications easily equip with fully graphical colored user interfaces to let. The EGC takes over the control of the graphic display and provides a complete range of functions for easy creation of complex user interfaces for Available.

through A script language is used to compose objects into a user interface and over Functions the user guidance realized. The objects are defined by graphics, fonts and Audio output in standard file formats on any PC-based platform can be created.

The Connection to the device application over a serial interface. The communication between the EGC and the application happens by the triggering of actions, the reception events and automatically synchronizing data (e.g. Eg device or process parameters).

• – einfache Erstellung komplexer Benutzeroberflächen
• – einfache Anbindung an bestehende Embedded Geräte-Applikationen
• – objektorientierte Scriptsprache zur freien Definition von Texten, Grafiken, Bildern, Schaltflächen und Anzeigeelementen
• – vollständige Touchpanel-Integration
• – Audiowiedergabe
• – Verwendung von Standard Grafik-, True-Type-Font- und Audio-Formaten
• – umfassende Unterstützung der Mehrsprachenfähigkeit durch sprachdifferenzierende Text- und Grafiktabelle
• – einfache Updatefähigkeit
• – keine speziellen Entwicklungstools erforderlich
• – Unterstützung von Displays mit einer Auflösung bis zu 640×480 Pixel (VGA) und einer Farbtiefe bis zu 16,7 Mio. Farben

The following properties are thus provided:

• - easy creation of complex user interfaces
• - easy connection to existing embedded device applications
• - Object-oriented scripting language for the free definition of texts, graphics, pictures, buttons and display elements
• - complete touch panel integration
• - Audio playback
• - Use of standard graphics, True-Ty pE font and audio formats
• - Comprehensive multilingual support through language-differentiating text and graphics tables
• - easy update capability
• - No special development tools required
• - Supports displays with a resolution of up to 640 × 480 pixels (VGA) and a color depth of up to 16.7 million colors

1

operating unit

2

display unit

3

device

10

microcontroller

20

Storage

22

tax information

24

repository

26

binary intermediate code

30

Vorkompilierungs module

40

UI control module

42

interpreter

44

GUI manager

46

Connection module, GAPI

50

serial interface

60

Graphics interface

Claims (14)

Computer-aided, embedded control unit ( 1 ) for providing a graphical user interface, with a memory ( 20 ) and an interface ( 46 . 60 ) to a graphical display unit ( 2 ), characterized in that - in the memory control information ( 22 ), which define at least one feature of the user interface to be provided, - a pre-compilation module ( 30 ), which is designed to pre-translate the control information into a binary intermediate code ( 26 ), - a user interface control module ( 40 ), which is designed to interpret and execute the binary intermediate code for generating the graphical user interface under control of the graphical display unit via the interface, - a microcontroller ( 10 ) based on which the user interface control module is implemented. computerized Operating unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the UI control module is configured to determine if the control information has been changed, and in case the control information has been changed, a new pretranslation caused by the precompilation module. computerized Operating unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one reference to a user interface component in the control information is included, and the pre-compilation module is formed, the pre-translation performing a look-up table that includes at least one Assignment of an identification value to a user interface component contains. computerized Operating unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the User interface component a window and / or a dialog box and / or a button and / or a text field and / or an input field and / or a text resource and / or a graphics resource and / or an audio resource and / or includes a font resource. computerized Operating unit according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the control information at least one reference to a procedure and / or at least one reference to a variable and the pre-compilation module is further configured to have at least one Assignment of an identification value to a procedure and / or at least one assignment of an identification value to a variable to generate and include in the lookup table. computerized Operating unit according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the identification values are numerical values. computerized Operating unit according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the user interface control module is formed is to interpret the intermediate code using the lookup table. computerized Operating unit according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the user interface control module is formed is to check for a change when interpreting the intermediate code the feature of the user interface requires a new screen layout of the entire user interface. computerized Operating unit according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the control information is at least one alphanumeric string comprise and the precompilation module is formed, the alphanumeric String in binary values to convert. Computer-aided operating unit according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a second interface is included to a device to be operated via the user interface and further enthal a device communication module is configured to receive data from the device via the interface and to provide it to the user interface control module and / or to send data provided by the user interface control module for the device to the device. computerized Operating unit according to claim 10, characterized in that the Devices communication module is configured to determine whether a change in the data provided by the user interface control module for the device and in case of change the data is transmitted to the device. computerized Control unit according to claim 10 or 11, characterized that the device device parameters provides and / or processes, and the device communication module formed is, the device parameters to replicate in local storage variables. computerized Control unit according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized that the data device parameters and / or device events and / or device actions and / or tax information updates include. computerized Control unit according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized that also includes the precompilation module based on the microcontroller is realized.