Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/048—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
  • G06F3/0484—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
  • G06F3/04845—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/048—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
  • G06F3/0481—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
  • G06F3/04817—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance using icons

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an interface for an interactive display device; it also concerns a set of icons for an interface. It also relates to an information medium, and in particular CD-ROM, presenting such an interface.
• 11 is known, in an interactive display device such as a computer, to display an icon capable of being activated for accessing information; such icons are commonly used in the main operating systems of microcomputers. They typically include an image, associated with a legend, the image being able to be different according to the type of information to which the icon gives access. For example, the files generated by a given software usually all have the same image, regardless of their content.
• EP-A-0 540 925 offers a multiple icon allowing have direct access to various forms of the same document.
• WO-A-89 1 1696 describes particular icons, in which the image is a small-scale version extracted from the information to which the icon allows access. These icons improve the ease of access to information; they do not solve the problem of navigation in a large set of information.
• the HYPERCARD software includes stacks of cards, which the user can scroll through; in these piles, one passes directly from the last card of the pile to the first, and vice versa. Furthermore, the principle of scrolling screens - in English "scrolling" is well known, and is applied in computing in many software and operating systems.
• the invention proposes a solution to technical navigation problems. It applies to all types of information, regardless of their nature. It is therefore not a presentation of specific information, nor a solution to an abstract problem. but of a technical solution to a technical problem.
• the invention makes it possible to provide the user with a constant general vision of the content of the information to be displayed, as well as simple and rapid navigation. It provides the user with good visibility in the presentation of information. It allows him a simple, efficient and fast search, without requiring the learning of specific techniques or tools. It provides the user with great freedom of choice.
• the invention proposes a set of icons intended to be displayed on an interactive display device, and comprising a plurality of icons, each icon being can be activated to access information, and comprising an image, preferably a legend, and also a pictogram representative of the nature of the information accessed when the icon is activated.
• the icons are arranged so that the assembly can be displayed completely in one direction, preferably the vertical direction, in an interactive display device, and cannot be displayed completely in a perpendicular direction, preferably the horizontal direction, in an interactive display device, and in that it preferably has the topological structure of a ring.
• at least one icon includes
• the nature of the information is chosen from: the text, the video, the visit of virtual space or object, the image, the slide show, the sound, the interactive animation, a set of icons or application.
• the invention further provides an interface for an interactive display device, comprising at least two levels each with at least two objects capable of being displayed on the interactive display device, the said at least two objects comprising at least one such set of icons, the interface further comprising means for successively displaying, in the same level, all of the objects of the level, by displaying each object only once.
• the interface further comprises means for displaying an object of another level.
• These means preferably include two activatable zones.
• the means for displaying an object of another level also preferably include an activatable zone.
• the invention also proposes a method for creating an interface for the interactive display of information, comprising the steps of:
• the icons are grouped together preferably in at least two sets of icons, each of these sets comprising at least one icon allowing access to another set.
• the icons and the sets of icons have the structure of a tree having a low number of levels, and preferably equal to three.
• the invention proposes an information medium, and in particular CD-ROM, presenting such an interface, as well as an interactive display device, and in particular a computer, presenting such an interface.
• an icon is a technical object by its very nature, because it is intended to be displayed on an interactive display device, and capable of being activated to access a information. It is a technical object that interacts with a technical device - an interactive display device - to produce a technical result - access to information, ie the variation of the display on the technical device.
• the icon is also a technical object by its content, which is not representative only of the content of the information to which it provides access, but also of the technical nature of this information - text, image, video sequence , etc.
• the interface is a technical object insofar as it is intended to be displayed on an interactive display device, and capable of being activated to access information or to change the information displayed. It is a technical object which interacts with a technical device - an interactive display device - to produce a technical result - the display of information, ie the variation of the display on the technical device.
• the icon is also a technical object by its content, which is not representative only of the content of the information to which it provides access, but is quite independent of the nature of the information; from this point of view, the interface applies to all types of information and does not depend on the content of the information intended to be presented; it therefore does not constitute a simple presentation of information.
• the invention thus proposes a solution to technical problems which prevent the generalization of information media such as CD-ROMs. It is also likely to apply to any other type of display or information storage device, with the same advantages.
• FIG. 1 a schematic view of an icon
• FIG. 2 different examples of pictograms for the icon in Figure 1;
• FIG. 5 a tree showing the organization of icons and icon sets in an interface according to the invention
• FIG. 6 a diagram of the cross navigation between the icons
• FIG. 8 a representation of a navigation tool for the interface of Figure 7.
• a navigation tool for the interface of Figure 7. We give in the following description an example of implementation of the invention. for display in an interactive display device comprising a display surface of 640x480 pixels or pixels, which corresponds to a standard 14 inch screen. Those skilled in the art can easily apply the invention to other sizes or shapes of display devices, mutatis mutandis.
• the icon is first mentioned, before detailing the interface that can advantageously use this icon.
• Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an icon or "slide". Such an icon is intended to be displayed on an interactive display device, and is then capable of being activated to access information.
• an icon can be activated by pressing one of the mouse buttons when the cursor is in an interactive area of the icon.
• the icon of FIG. 1 comprises an image 1 and preferably a legend 2, as well as a pictogram 3, which is representative of the nature of the information which is accessed when the icon is activated.
• an icon is shown allowing access to a slideshow, ie to a series of images or slides. The size of the icon is for example 128x96 pixels, or 1/25 of the total screen area.
• FIG. 1 shows an icon also presenting a frame 4. surrounding the image 1, and on which the legend 2 and the pictogram 3 are arranged.
• the icon also includes an indication representative of the size of the information which is accessed when the icon is activated, said size being calculated as a function of the nature of the information.
• this indication corresponds to the number nine, which indicates the existence of nine slides in the slideshow to which the icon allows access.
• the icon can also include an indication representative of the place of storage of the information which is accessed when the icon is activated. This is particularly advantageous when the icon is used for a computer operating system, or even for an interface common to several CD-ROMs.
• image 1 comprises a representation on a reduced scale of an image extracted from the information which is accessed when the icon is activated.
• the display of all information corresponds to an image; the invention proposes to use as image 1 for an icon making it possible to access information, a representation on a reduced scale of an image extracted from the information to which the icon makes it possible to access.
• image 1 could be a scaled-down representation of one of the images in the slideshow.
• the image of the icon can include a representation extracted from the information which is accessed when the icon is activated. It can be a reduced image, as we have just explained, or a particularly significant extract from an image or a video sequence.
• the icon allows quick and mnemonic identification of the information to which it provides access. It has, compared to the known icons conventionally used in computers, the advantage of associating in a simple and synthetic way all the characteristics of the information to which the icon allows access, and not only a legend and an image. simple.
• Figure 2 shows different examples of pictograms for the icon in Figure 1.
• pictograms are representative of the technical nature of the information to which the icon provides access. Thanks to the icon, you can access - text, pictogram 10; the size can then be calculated in number of pages or in number of texts, in the case of a monograph:
• the size can then be calculated by the duration of the video sequence; - the visit of space or virtual object, pictogram 12; the size can then be calculated by the number of nodes or points of view in the visit;
• pictogram 14 the size can indicate the number of images in the slideshow; - the sound. pictogram 15; the size then indicates for example the length of the sound sequence:
• pictogram 16 the size can again indicate the time.
• pictogram 18 in particular when the icon is used in an operating system.
• the information that can be accessed can also be more complex, and for example consist of a set of icons, as explained below; in this case, a specific pictogram can be provided, such as for example pictogram 17 in FIG. 2
• a means of navigation or rapid interruption such as a stop key or a bar drop-down depending on the progress of the sequence.
• the user can thus freely accelerate or skip passages, go back, etc.
• FIG. 3 shows a set of icons or "board” according to the invention; this set consists of a plurality of icons intended to be displayed on the display device.
• the set 20 comprises 80 icons, which are arranged so that the set can be displayed completely. in the vertical direction in an interactive display 21. and cannot be displayed completely in the horizontal direction in an interactive display.
• this corresponds to four rows of twenty icons; with the pixel values mentioned above, one or two horizontal bands are left free on the display device, to allow the display, for example, of navigation information.
• the scrolling symbolized by the arrow 22 makes it possible to view the various icons of the assembly.
• the icons of the icon set could also be arranged such that the set can be displayed completely in the horizontal direction in an interactive display 21. and not cannot be displayed completely in the vertical direction: this could be advantageous in particular for users accustomed to vertical reading.
• the set of icons has the topological structure of a ring: that is to say that the lateral ends of 23 and 24 of the set of icons are combined.
• the side scrolling can be obtained by an action of the mouse cursor or the trackpad on one side or the other of the screen.
• the invention further proposes that the set of icons comprises at least one icon allowing access to information consisting of another set of icons. This provides easy access and navigation from one set of icons to another, as explained in more detail below. As an alternative or in combination, you can use the navigation tool in Figure 8.
• FIG. 4 shows a simplified flowchart of the interface creation method according to the invention.
• a first step 40 the information to be displayed is separated according to its nature.
• the information thus separated is associated with icons of the kind described above.
• the icons are grouped as a function of their information content, to constitute at least one set of icons of the kind described in FIG. 3. This gives at least one set of icons capable of be displayed on an interactive display device.
• each set can be provided with one or more icons allowing access to another set.
• We can also provide specific navigation icons, for example to stop the display of information, or giving access to interactive help.
• the "navigation”, ie the research and the identification of information is carried out in the following way.
• a set of icons which can scroll sideways on the interactive display device.
• Activating an icon allows you either to access information or to access another set of icons.
• the sets of icons and the icons form a tree, of a shallow depth, for example three.
• the set of icons initially displayed - which constitutes the root of the tree or its first level - one can either access information by activating icons, or access sets of icons which form a second level of the tree.
• this transverse navigation is carried out on a loop, so as to avoid the syndrome of the maze.
• a similar transversal navigation can be provided between the sets of icons of the same level.
• Figure 5 shows a tree like the one just described.
• the set of icons 50 displayed initially or root of the tree.
• this set includes icons 51, 52, 53 enabling the display of information 54, 55, 56 such as texts, video, etc.
• the set 50 also has icons 57, 58 allowing access to the display of sets of icons 59. 60. These include icons allowing access to information, which constitute the sheets or the third level of the tree.
• the transverse navigation between the sets of icons 59, 60 is symbolized by the arrows 61, 62.
• cross navigation takes place in a loop, and avoids any feeling of "maze”.
• Figure 6 schematically illustrates the cross navigation between the icons.
• FIG. 6 shows a part of a set of icons 70, with a group of icons 71 to 80 making it possible to access information having related content, for example relating to a close subject.
• the arrow 81 symbolizes the possibility of transversal navigation between the icons. In other words, when an icon, for example the icon 75, is activated, the information to which it gives access is displayed. On this display, we can of course return to the set 70. We can also, as symbolized by the arrow 81, directly display the information to which the icon 74 - or respectively the icon 76 - allows access, without necessarily going back through the display of the set of icons 70.
• the links between the icons make it possible to easily identify information, to easily find information already identified, and easily search for information already identified.
• One could also, instead of using the links of figure 6. sweep all the icons of all the sets of icons of a level; for example, we could, with reference to FIG. 5, scan all the icons of the board or set of icons 59, then move on to those of the board or set of icons 60. We thus manage to scan all the icons d 'a level.
• the method of creating interfaces of the invention can advantageously be implemented by a program executed on a computer, and making it possible to associate icons with the various files constituting the information to be displayed.
• the program offers specific icon generation functionalities, and specific functionalities for grouping and displaying these icons. It then generates files ready to be displayed. and manages the interactivity of the icons.
• FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of an interface according to the invention; in the embodiment of FIG. 7, the interface comprises "boards” or sets of icons according to the invention, and objects of various nature - video, text, etc., which form a tree of a depth three levels.
• the first level 85 corresponds in the typical case of application of the interface to a CD-ROM, at a level of presentation, with three boards, namely a summary board 86, a help board 87 and a credit board 88
• Each board is itself made up of icons, allowing access to information.
• the navigation at the first level is advantageously as follows: by the action of the cursor, typically the cursor of the mouse, one moves in a board, that is to say that one can scroll the board on the screen; as explained above, this method of navigation in a board is particularly suited to the case where the board can be viewed by horizontal scrolling, and where the board has a ring structure.
• This navigation inside the board is symbolized in FIG. 7 by the arrow 89.
• One can also go from one board to another, as symbolized by the arrows 90, 91 and 92; the arrow 92, which connects the boards 86 and 88. represents the fact that the first level of the interface, formed in the example of three boards, has a ring structure.
• FIG. 7 also shows the second level 95, also made up of a plurality of boards 96 to 99: each of these boards is accessed by activating one of the icons of a board of the first level: as explained with reference to Figure 5, activation an icon of a board of the first level can also allow access to information in a form other than a board, for example a video sequence; this is not shown in FIG. 7.
• Navigation at this level is still carried out according to the same principles, as symbolized by the arrow 100 (transverse navigation on a board), and by the arrows 101 to 104.
• the second level has the structure of a ring. In the example of a CD-ROM or a literary work, this level could correspond to the titles or parts.
• Figure 7 again shows the third level of information; this level 106 is similar in structure to the second level, and is not described in more detail; instead of boards, it includes a plurality of objects.
• the tree in FIG. 7 thus comprises three levels of plates or objects: the activation of each icon allows access either to another plate, or directly to an object or information, such as a photograph, a text, etc.
• FIG. 8 shows a navigation tool which can be used for navigation in the interface of FIG. 7.
• This tool comprises three activatable zones, which in the embodiment of FIG. 8 have substantially triangle, circle and triangle shapes.
• the left triangle 1 10 allows you to navigate from one board to another or more generally from one object to another, to the left, in the same level.
• the activation of the left triangle of the tool makes it possible to switch to the left board, ie to the board 96 by following arrow 101.
• the right triangle 112 makes it possible to navigate from one board to another or more generally from one object to another, to the right in the same level.
• the second level when you are on board 97.
• activating the left triangle of the tool allows you to switch to the right board, ie to board 98 by following arrow 102.
• the central activatable zone 111 located between the two triangles, makes it possible to go up one level and to go back to the level located above, going towards the root of the tree. For example, in the case of FIG. 7, when we are on board 97, the activation of the central zone 1 1 1 of the tool makes it possible to pass to a board of the first level 85, and more precisely to the board 86. It is also possible, thanks to the central zone 1 1 1 to switch from an object to a board.
• the board which is displayed by activating the central zone 1 1 1 is displayed with the corresponding icon in the central position on the display device; for example when the central zone 11 is activated from board 97, board 86 is displayed, with the icon in the central position allowing access to board 97.
• the navigation tool of Figure 8 allows easy navigation in the interface of Figure 7. It can also be supplemented by display areas 1 13 and 1 14, which are for example located on either side of the tool, and which make it possible to display information such as the direction of one of the activatable zones of the tool, when the cursor is on this activatable zone, or even the indication of the place where the cursor is located .
• the invention is particularly suitable for creating interfaces for CD-ROMs. It also advantageously applies to other interactive information storage or display devices, such as interactive terminals.
• an interactive area capable of being activated to access information is adapted to an interactive display device presenting a command formed by a cursor actuated by a mouse or a ball (trackball). If another form of command is adopted, the interactive area is replaced correspondingly. For example, for a touch screen, the interactive area covers the entire icon. If you wish to use a keyboard, the icon presents an access code consisting of a keyboard key, or a sequence of keys.
• the depth of the tree formed is not limited to three levels, and more or less numerous levels can be provided depending on the volume of information to be displayed.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• User Interface Of Digital Computer (AREA)
• Digital Computer Display Output (AREA)

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• 1996
  • 1996-11-22 FR FR9614314A patent/FR2756393B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1997
  • 1997-11-21 AU AU52281/98A patent/AU5228198A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-11-21 EP EP97947121A patent/EP0938699A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1997-11-21 WO PCT/FR1997/002111 patent/WO1998022866A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation

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