GB2432235A - Method of reducing the apparent complexity of a device by only making apparent to the user a pre-selected reduced set of the operational functions - Google Patents

Method of reducing the apparent complexity of a device by only making apparent to the user a pre-selected reduced set of the operational functions Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2432235A
GB2432235A GB0522859A GB0522859A GB2432235A GB 2432235 A GB2432235 A GB 2432235A GB 0522859 A GB0522859 A GB 0522859A GB 0522859 A GB0522859 A GB 0522859A GB 2432235 A GB2432235 A GB 2432235A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
user
apparent
functions
interface
complexity
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0522859A
Other versions
GB0522859D0 (en
Inventor
Horst Mayer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Siemens PLC
Original Assignee
Siemens PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Siemens PLC filed Critical Siemens PLC
Priority to GB0522859A priority Critical patent/GB2432235A/en
Publication of GB0522859D0 publication Critical patent/GB0522859D0/en
Publication of GB2432235A publication Critical patent/GB2432235A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F9/00—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units
    • G06F9/06—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units using stored programs, i.e. using an internal store of processing equipment to receive or retain programs
    • G06F9/44—Arrangements for executing specific programs
    • G06F9/451—Execution arrangements for user interfaces
    • 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
    • G06F9/4443—
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
    • H04M1/724—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
    • H04M1/724—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
    • H04M1/72469—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Software Systems (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
  • Telephone Function (AREA)

Abstract

The disclosed system, for a device having a multitude of operational functions, reduces the apparent complexity of the device to users. The complexity is reduced by pre-selecting only a number of the available functions so that only those functions are apparent to the user. The functions not selected are not shown to the user. The selecting of the pre-selected functions may happen when the device is initialised and the selection may be done via a system interface. The interface may be part of the device, ie the system comprising the device only, or the interface may be separate. The system may be embodied in a mobile phone or an electric drive.

Description

<p>System and Method to Reduce the Complexity of a System This invention
relates to a method of reducing the apparent complexity of a system to a user and has particular but not exclusive application to electrical drives, mobile phones and other such devices.</p>
<p>Modem electrical motors (drives) can operate in such a wide range of operating modes and can be controlled in numerous different ways with e.g. various safety parameters, start up parameter, steady state parameters etc. Thus modern drives offer the user a lot of functions, up to or over a thousand different options in some cases. However a problem arises when a drive with such a range of functionality is offered. Most customers only require a certain functionality, with only certain parameters of operation being required. Therefore the customer can be easily confused with the unwanted options and the complexity of setting up the drive to operate as he wishes. There is therefore often too much unwanted information which is supplied to him.</p>
<p>One solution to this problem is that different variants of a drive are offered with reduced functionality. In other words rather than sifting through and selecting from a thousand options of different combinations, only a selection, say twenty or so, variants are offered to customers. However this only allows the customer to select between different packets of functionality and does not allow the customer to "pick and mix" to his exact requirements.</p>
<p>It is an object of the invention to overcome this limitation and at the same time making the operation of the device by the end user more simple.</p>
<p>The invention comprises a system including a device having multitude of operational functions, and having means to reduce its apparent complexity to the user by having means to pre-select only a number of said functions so as to effectively program the device such that only those selected functions are apparent to the user.</p>
<p>A system interface is used to in said pre-selection; it may be part of the device itself, the system therefore comprising the device only.</p>
<p>Alternatively the interface may be separable to that system used by the user.</p>
<p>The invention overcomes the aforementioned problems by having a system where the device can be set up to the customer's requirements i. e. with the precise combination of desired functions/parameters but wherein all other functionality is made invisible to the customer i.e. it is not apparent to him.</p>
<p>In this way the device can be set up so only those functions required or used by the customer are apparent (i.e. shown or made options). The term "function" hereinafter refers to any function, parameter or feature of a device. The non-apparent functions are not visible, not programmable, not displayed or indicated or offered as options to the end user. The term "apparent" means visible/programmedldisplayedJindicatedjenabled to the user or offered as a user option. The function would of course be apparent to the manufacturer or supplier of the device.</p>
<p>A user interface may be used to control its operation; this may comprise input means and display means. The user interface allows the user to set drive parameters e.g. in an electrical drive such parameters as drive speed, ramping rate, etc. Electrical drives may be a standard, offering say a thousand different parameters each to be set a value. However where the customer or user may only require ten such operational parameters, the interface is used by a manufacturer, supplier to set up the controls beforehand so as to make only those ten parameters selected by the user to be apparent to the user. Although the device such as an electrical drive still retains all functionality, it is hidden and inaccesible; it is set to operate in a limited envelope according to those pre-selected parameters. This can be done in a variety of ways which would be clear to the person skilled in the art. In a simple embodiment the interface may comprise a keyboard and a set of LED's. Alternatively any display means may be used.</p>
<p>The interface used to program the device so that pre-selected features apparent to the user may be part of the device itself (e.g. use the device display and buttons) be separable thereto. Effectively the end user supplies a check list of the functions he requires to a technician who performs this task A further example that the invention is applicable is to mobile phones.</p>
<p>Mobile phones offer a lot of functionality and this is selectable by the customer often through complex nested and branched selection options. The customer may choose from nested options including ring style, games, Internet options, screensaver type etc. Some customers may only wish to use the phone for making occasional calls and do not require this functionality and often those customers who only want the basic functionality are confused at the plethora of options and how they are selected. In a similar fashion to the above example, a shop may listen to the customer's requirements and program the mobile phone so that only those desired functions are apparent to the customer; all others are effectively blocked.</p>
<p>By allowing the functionality to be set up in such a way allows the manufacturer of the mobile to include all functions and not have to manufacture a range of mobiles, but then the unwanted ones are made "invisible" by blocking them so they are not apparent to the customer.</p>

Claims (1)

  1. <p>Claims 1. A system including a device having multitude of operational
    functions, and having means to reduce its apparent complexity to the user by having means to pre-select only a number of said functions so as to effectively program the device such that only those selected functions are apparent to the user.</p>
    <p>2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein a system interface is used to said initialise step.</p>
    <p>3. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said interface is part of the device itself, the system therefore comprising the device only.</p>
    <p>4. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said interface is separable to that system used by the user.</p>
    <p>5. A system as claimed in system or device as claimed in claims 1 to 4 wherein said device is a mobile phone.</p>
    <p>6. A system as claimed in claims 1 to 4 wherein said device is an electrical drive.</p>
    <p>7. In a device having multitude of operational functions, a method of reducing its apparent complexity to the user comprising pre-selecting only a number of said functions and programming said system such that only those selected functions are apparent to the user.</p>
    <p>8. A method claimed in claim 7 wherein a system interface is used to said initialise step.</p>
    <p>9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said interface is part of the system as used by the user.</p>
    <p>10. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said interface is separable to that system used by the user.</p>
    <p>ii. A method as claimed in system or device as claimed in claims 7 to 10 wherein said system is a mobile phone.</p>
    <p>12. A system or device as claimed in claims 7 to 12 wherein said device is an electrical drive.</p>
GB0522859A 2005-11-09 2005-11-09 Method of reducing the apparent complexity of a device by only making apparent to the user a pre-selected reduced set of the operational functions Withdrawn GB2432235A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0522859A GB2432235A (en) 2005-11-09 2005-11-09 Method of reducing the apparent complexity of a device by only making apparent to the user a pre-selected reduced set of the operational functions

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0522859A GB2432235A (en) 2005-11-09 2005-11-09 Method of reducing the apparent complexity of a device by only making apparent to the user a pre-selected reduced set of the operational functions

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0522859D0 GB0522859D0 (en) 2005-12-21
GB2432235A true GB2432235A (en) 2007-05-16

Family

ID=35516630

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0522859A Withdrawn GB2432235A (en) 2005-11-09 2005-11-09 Method of reducing the apparent complexity of a device by only making apparent to the user a pre-selected reduced set of the operational functions

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2432235A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010067265A1 (en) * 2008-12-10 2010-06-17 Nokia Corporation Method and apparatus to initiate a communications device

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5541656A (en) * 1994-07-29 1996-07-30 Logitech, Inc. Digital camera with separate function and option icons and control switches
US5790189A (en) * 1995-01-20 1998-08-04 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Bus-controlled television capable of being controlled without a bus controller and a control method thereof
EP1058450A1 (en) * 1999-06-02 2000-12-06 Eastman Kodak Company Customizing a digital camera
GB2410858A (en) * 2004-02-03 2005-08-10 Nec Technologies Mobile phone with simplified operation option

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5541656A (en) * 1994-07-29 1996-07-30 Logitech, Inc. Digital camera with separate function and option icons and control switches
US5790189A (en) * 1995-01-20 1998-08-04 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Bus-controlled television capable of being controlled without a bus controller and a control method thereof
EP1058450A1 (en) * 1999-06-02 2000-12-06 Eastman Kodak Company Customizing a digital camera
GB2410858A (en) * 2004-02-03 2005-08-10 Nec Technologies Mobile phone with simplified operation option

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010067265A1 (en) * 2008-12-10 2010-06-17 Nokia Corporation Method and apparatus to initiate a communications device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0522859D0 (en) 2005-12-21

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)