Method and system for generating user-interface output sequences

Abstract

A system and/or method that generates user interface output sequences controlled by a user interface output system. The user interface output system can provide event definitions to an application program that specify high-level actions to be performed by the sequence and can issue low-level commands to direct the actions of the user interface output sequence. The user interface output system provides a user interface output controller, which acts as an interface between an application program and the low-level commands which specify tasks for the user interface output sequence to perform. The user interface output controller is generated from a specification, using a planning methodology.

1 . A computer implemented system that generates a user interface output controller, comprising the following computer implemented components: 
 a compiler that compiles one or more specifications regarding a plurality of goal UIOSes; and    a compiled user interface output controller, generated by the compiler, that is distinct from an application program, the user interface output controller including a plurality of plans, each of the plans having a sequence of operators, a start UIOS and one of the plurality of goal UIOSes, the sequence of operators for transforming the start UIOS to at least one intermediate UIOS and to the goal UIOS, the operators in the sequence each have at least one precondition to be satisfied before the operator can be performed, the user interface output controller receiving an event from the application program, the event identifying one of the goal UIOSes.    
   
   
       2 . The system claim of  claim 1 , the compiled user interface output controller comprises: 
 an input component to receive the event from the application program;    a first determinor that determines a current user interface output state in a user interface output sequence;    a second determinor that determines the plan which transforms the determined current user interface output state into at least one intermediate user interface output state and then into the identified goal user interface output state;    an executor that executes the plan to transform the determined current user interface output state into the at least one intermediate user interface output state and then into the identified goal user interface output state so as to display the sequence of operators on a display device.    
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a component for retrieving one of the plurality of plans such that the start UIOS of the retrieved plan is a currently displayed UIOS and the goal UIOS of the retrieved plan is the goal UIOS identified by the event.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2 , the received event identifies a timing specification that determines the time in which the sequence of operators are performed.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a timer that determines the time in which the sequence of operators are performed.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a storage that stores the compiled user interface output controller in memory.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one autonomous action sequence identifying actions which are performed by the user interface output controller when a current user interface output state contains predefined values for conditions which capture attributes of the current user interface output state.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one operator has a postcondition that must be satisfied after the operator has performed.  
   
   
       9 . A computer implemented method for generating a user interface output controller comprising the following computer executable acts: 
 retrieving at least one specification identifying at least one goal user interface output state for the user interface output controller to establish, the at least one specification further comprising a sequence of operators for specifying actions to be performed by the compiled user interface output controller which transform a determined current user interface output state into at least one intermediate user interface output state and then into one of the at least one goal user interface output states, each operator having at least one precondition to be satisfied before the operator can be executed; and    compiling the at least one specification to create a user interface output controller distinct from an application program, the user interface output controller receiving an event from the application program, the event identifying one of the at least one goal user interface output state.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising identifying a timing specification which determines the time in which the sequence of operators is to be performed.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising determining the time in which the sequence of operators are performed.  
   
   
       12 . The method claim of  claim 9 , further comprising storing the compiled user interface output controller in memory.  
   
   
       13 . A computer implemented system that generates a user interface output controller, comprising: 
 means for compiling one or more specifications regarding a plurality of goal UIOSes; and    means for generating a compiled user interface output controller that is distinct from an application program, the compiled user interface output controller including a plurality of plans, each of the plans having a series of operators, a start UIOS and one of the plurality of goal UIOSes, the series of operators for transforming the start UIOS to at least one intermediate UIOS and to the goal UIOS, the operators in the series have preconditions that are satisfied after performance of earlier operators in the series, the compiled user interface output controller further including means for receiving an event from the application program, the event identifying one of the goal UIOSes.    
   
   
       14 . The system claim of  claim 13 , the compiled user interface output controller further comprising means for determining a current user interface output state in a user interface output sequence.  
   
   
       15 . The system claim of  claim 14 , the compiled user interface output controller further comprising means for determining the plan which transforms the determined current user interface output state into at least one intermediate user interface output state and then into the identified goal user interface output state.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising means for retrieving the plan which transforms the determined current user interface output state into at least one intermediate user interface output state and then into the identified goal user interface output state.  
   
   
       17 . The system claim of  claim 15 , the compiled user interface output controller further comprising means for executing the retrieved plan to transform the determined current user interface output state into the at least one intermediate user interface output state and then into the identified goal user interface output state so as to display the sequence of operators on a display device.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising means for identifying a timing specification which determines the time in which the sequence of operators is to be performed.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18  further comprising means for determining the time in which the sequence of operators are performed.  
   
   
       20 . The system claim of  claim 19 , further comprising means for storing the compiled user interface output controller in memory.