DE29821903U1 - Arrangement for entering and displaying user information on a display - Google Patents

Description

Francotyp-Postalia AG & Co. 30 November 1998

Triftweg 21 - 26
16547 Birkenwerder

G3140-DE

Arrangement for entering and displaying user information on

a display

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement for inputting and displaying user information on a display, according to the preamble of claim 1. The solution aims to make input and output via a user interface user-friendly and is suitable for postage meters or similar processing modules for service data.

User interfaces with input devices and with a display of screen images and assigned softkeys are known for franking machines (EP 571 061). A softkey is an actuating device to which a function can be assigned in a variable manner. The actuating device is, for example, a key that is assigned to a display field that shows the assigned function. In contrast, a hardkey is a key with a fixed function.

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In US 5,437,010, a fixed division of the display into fields was proposed, with softkeys being assigned to the fields that trigger the image change. For each display field, a controller provides character strings from an image memory. The

&iacgr;&ogr; Control communicates with peripheral devices, whose status is constantly polled, and waits for one of the softkeys to be pressed to select a screen.

The disadvantage of this known user interface is that the fixed assignment of input keys to the fields of the various menu images requires a large number of input keys, that the fixed field boundaries must be taken into account when defining the text and graphic elements, which limits their programming, and that a considerable amount of training is required to operate the user interface correctly.

In 1997, the applicant's Jetmail® was introduced as a franking machine equipped with an inkjet print head and a large display, whereby the field division of the screen images is variable (EP 718 801 B1). A menu key is used to call up the main menu, which shows a list of several basic menus, which can be branched to directly by user input. Another hard key is used to select the desired basic menu, whereby the selection can either be confirmed using an Enter key or changed using another key (hard key). The screen images of the individual basic menus are divided into fields of variable size, whereby soft keys are assigned to the fields so that the user can make further selections or parameter settings. The screen images stored in the program memory are used for display. If the franking machine is connected to a large number of peripheral devices and/or equipped with a large number of additional functions, use quickly becomes more complicated. The user interface cannot therefore be arbitrarily

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expand for a future franking system if the operating structure should not become confusing.

The task was to overcome the disadvantages of the state of the art and to create an arrangement for entering and displaying user information on the display.

The invention takes into account the option that the Jetmail® franking machine should be expanded into a system and that its user interface should be able to be used worldwide without major changes. It assumes that a user interface for international use should also be designed to be flexible enough to enable all inputs and displays in a simple manner.

The problem is solved with the features of claim 1.

Advantageous further developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims or are presented in more detail below together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention using the figures. They show:

Figure 1, User interface with display unit and input unit,

Figure 2, display unit with basic menu image and the input unit of the user interface for a transition to further basic menu images,

Figure 3, schematic representation of the HOME/BACK function during a transition between two screens,

• a • · ·

Figure 4, schematic representation of the operating sequence during a transition from a main menu screen to a submenu screen,

Figure 5, COST ACCOUNT main menu screen showing the branching to other screens,

Figure 6a, Submenu screen ACCT SETUP (LEVEL2) showing the branch to another screen,

Figure 6b, additional screen image MASTER ACCOUNTING - WITH CCR (LEVEL3),

Figure 6c, Submenu image ACCT SETUP (LEVEL2),
Figure 6d, List image ENDORSEMENT DATA (LEVEL2),

Figure 7a, basic menu screen SETUP with representation of the branching to another submenu screen,

Figure 7b, another submenu image showing the branching to further screen images,

Figure 7c, 7d, further screen images.

Figure 1 shows an internationally usable user interface IUI with a display unit O and an input unit I. The display unit O is a large-area display, below which the input unit I with a number of input fields 1-1, I-2, I-3 and I-4 is arranged. A control unit (not shown) comprises a microprocessor and a program memory with a program for generating screen images. After switching on, the microprocessor generates a first screen image 10, which shows a basic franking menu image.

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In each screen, three (superimposed) display fields can be shown, the boundaries of which are variable. The first (upper) display field 7 is intended for warnings, operating instructions and input prompts or contains at least one status line with display of the input in an editing field. The latter offers the possibility of, for example, entering values

Î up to 10 characters can be entered. A second (middle) display field is intended for input options and setting parameter information. A third (lower) display field serves as a function name field for a number of softkeys arranged underneath. In screen 10, individual sub-images 1 to 5 of the second and third display fields are combined with one another in terms of their functions. Sub-image 6 is intended for the carrier logo or the postage stamp image that identifies each postal carrier. The menu structures are not rigidly linked to templates. In addition to the three-field division into screens, both slide images and list images can be displayed.

The input unit has four input fields which, in conjunction with the screen images shown, enable the user to enter data easily. The input fields are preferably operated using buttons.

According to the invention, basic menus are selected directly using basic menu keys (hard keys) of a first input field 1-1, whereby the microprocessor generates a special screen image for each basic menu, which is displayed by the display unit O. A home key 8 is used to enter the basic franking menu and to display the basic menu image 10 on the display O. The user can use these basic menu keys to switch to another menu path from any position in the menu tree. These additional entry points apply, for example, to cost center management (ACCT), meter functions (SETUP), postage calculation, remote value setting (TELESET) and other functions. The hard keys are labeled in such a way that the operator can immediately understand the operation.

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Example:
Menu button Function Transition to menu ACCT Cost center management (menu image 20) SCALE Postage calculation (menu image 30) SET UP Setup (menu image 40) MEMORY Programming (menu image 50) TELESET Remote value setting for recharging (menu image 60)

Starting from the basic franking menu screen, which approximately reflects a franking image to be printed, on the other hand, 1-2 entries can be made in the usual way using softkeys in a second input field in order to change the franking image or at least one of the parameters displayed with it: postage value, date, optional prints, advertising slogan or cost center number.

softkey Function in the basic menu Franking 1 Cost center entry 2 Advertising cliché sharing 3 Optional print input for shipping types/forms 4 Date input 5 Postage value input

is The function of the softkeys depends on the functionality underlying the menu or list screens.

According to the invention, menus or list images that can be displayed in generated screen images can also be selected alternatively using control elements in a third input field 1-3. It is intended that the control elements are hard keys. By pressing a back key 9, a screen image that was previously set is restored. For example, the user can use this to jump back from a submenu level to the main menu level that is higher in the hierarchy. However, if the user accidentally presses a main menu key on the same menu level, the back function can be used to

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S this entry can be undone and the previous menu screen can be displayed again. This so-called cross-entry backwards can also be carried out across two or more screens.

According to the invention, two additional hard keys T and i

Î (page keys) of the third input field 1-3 screen images are selected, whereby the selection of the screen images is carried out by scrolling through the pages. The selection elements that were selected by scrolling in the user interface shown in EP 718 801 B1 are shown in list form in the user interface according to the invention. The display of further selection elements is ensured by paging when a page key is pressed. By entering a number that corresponds to the selection element, the franking machine is set according to the selection. Alternatively, the selection elements are represented by a name or by a so-called icon in the respective screen image. Either a number or a soft key is assigned to the selection element, whereby in the latter variant the selection is made by pressing the correspondingly assigned soft key. For example, the advertising slogans can be identified by icons - stylistically these are compressed logo representations - and numbers. The desired advertising slogan is then set by entering the corresponding number using the number keys of a fourth input field 1-4. The user is then able to display all available advertising slogans using the page keys of the third input field 1-3.

In the usual way, entries are made using the hard keys in the fourth input field 1-4 for editing functions. Different input sequences are possible for the editing functions. For example, a soft key can be pressed before or after entering a number. The user interface control can generate screen images with different font sizes. For example, the entered postage value is displayed in large font (Fig. 2).

In Figure 2, the display unit O is shown with a basic menu screen 10 for the country USA and the input unit I of the user interface for a transition to further basic menu screens. With the READ REGISTER key, a basic menu screen 100 for billing can be called up and the consumption of

&iacgr;&ogr; balance can be checked. The LABEL key is used to start printing franking labels if the number of labels has previously been entered using the numeric keys. The SEAL ONLY key switches off franking and switches on the letter sealing function, with a corresponding message being shown on the display unit O. Several settings can be programmed using a MEMORY key. The same MEMORY key is used to both initiate and terminate key programming. Settings that have been programmed multiple times can therefore also be made using one key. In addition to setting an advertising slogan or optional print, it is possible to display graphics or text on one or more screens before setting. 11 and 12 designate the hard keys t and i of the third input field I-3, which are used to scroll through such screens.

Figure 3 explains the schematic representation of the HOME/BACK function during a transition between screens. The main menu screen 10 is displayed after switching on. The ACCT key calls up the main menu screen 20. The user can access the submenu screen 22 using the S2 softkey. Starting from the latter, three input options are displayed:

• BACK button to return to the main menu screen 10,

• HOME button to return to the main menu screen 20,

• SETUP button to go to the main menu screen 40.

The Home key 8 restores the basic menu screen 10 for franking. The other basic menu keys are used to set the other basic menu screens. Each transition is processed by the microprocessor in

G3140-EN !"!- 9 -I \ . ": * 5 . '· !"■··

a volatile memory (not shown) is stored historically. The Back button restores a screen image (screen or sub-screen), whereby the latter was previously set. The microprocessor accesses the volatile memory (not shown) to do this. If, for example, the SETUP button is accidentally pressed, the basic menu image 40 appears.

The BACK key advantageously allows you to go back across the hierarchical menu structure. This allows you to return to the submenu screen 22 in the way shown in Figure 3. By pressing the BACK key 9 again you can also return from there to the main menu screen 20. It would be too complicated, especially for heavily branched tree structures, to get to the previous submenu screen 22 using the first path (ACCT^ Screen20 -> S2). By pressing the Home key you can alternatively display the main menu screen for franking in order to check the effects of settings made under one of the screens. By subsequently pressing the Back key (not shown) you can go back to the previous screen in order to correct the setting if necessary.

Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of the operating sequence during a transition from a basic menu screen to a submenu screen. This is explained in more detail using the example of menu screen 20 for cost center management COST ACCOUNT.

Figure 5 shows screen 20 for the COST ACCOUNT basic menu screen with a display of the branching to further screens 22, 23 and 25. Such cost center management is required for departmental accounting. Reading data stored under a cost center is possible after entering numbers using the keys in the input field 1-4 and pressing the softkey S1, if a chip card was previously inserted into a chip card reader unit of the franking machine and this chip card authorizes the user to read it.

G3140-DE :··.- &iacgr;&ogr;:- ·..

s authorized. After pressing the softkey S4, the printing of a cost center report is triggered. The display in the display unit O corresponds to the print image. By pressing the softkey S2, the microprocessor calls up the submenu image ACCT SETUP (LEVEL2) shown in Figure 6a.

The ACCT SETUP (LEVEL2) submenu screen allows you to change, enter or otherwise edit cost center data. The submenu screen shown in Figure 6a allows you to create a new cost center by serially pressing the number keys of the fourth input field 1-4 and the softkey S1 of the second input field I-2, whereby the number corresponds to the input using the number keys. The softkey S3 can be used to save an assignment of a cost center to an advertising slogan. The softkey S4 can be used to save an assignment of a cost center to a selection print.

The submenu screen shown in Figure 6a allows a branch to another screen 225 when the softkey S5 is pressed in order to trigger a menu change, whereby the previously set cost center number is also adopted. The menu change is only enabled, however, if access authorization through a master card that has been inserted into the chip card reader unit of the franking machine identifies the user as an authorized person.

The additional screen 225 - shown in Figure 6b - shows a menu MASTER ACCOUNTING - WITH CCR (LEVEL3), in which the access rights of another chip card can be set and the assignment of its chip card number to a cost center number can be established. A more detailed explanation of this function can be found in the unpublished German patent application P 197 57 648.6-53, which has the title: Franking machine with a chip card read/write unit.

From the screen 20 shown in Figure 5, you can branch to another submenu by pressing the softkey S2, which is shown in Figure 6c. The submenu ACCT SETUP (LEVEL2) allows you to reset and delete cost centers and switch to another list screen MAIL CLASS.

Figure 6d shows a list image ENDORSEMENT DATA (LEVEL2), in which all franked postal items are output in a list, where the list is sorted by choice prints.

Figure 7a shows a basic menu screen SETUP 40 with a representation of the branch to a further submenu screen 42 when the softkey S2 is pressed. Figure 7b shows this further submenu screen 42 with a representation of the branches to further screens 424 and 425 when the softkeys S4 and S5 are pressed. These further screens 424 and 425 are shown in Figures 7c and 7d respectively.

The screen image 424 is used to adjust the contrast of the display unit O, which is preferably backlit. A CCFL display is used, for example. Now the contrast can be set to less (-) using the softkeys S2 or more (+) using S4 and saved by pressing the softkey S3.

Screen 425 is used to set the display of the franking value decimal places with respect to a meter type, a time and the current date as well as a beeper. The latter is activated if an incorrect entry is made or if there is another error in the machine.

Extensions to the system with the franking machine can be easily integrated in the form of submenus, since a tree structure for the internationally usable user interface can be implemented from any basic menu screen by using the microprocessor for the corresponding

de branches are programmed. Such program branches can be pre-programmed and are also available for the specific program routines, which are only subsequently created for the specific purpose. Since the beginning of each tree structure remains unchanged, it is ensured that the

&iacgr;&ogr; franking machine is easy to operate even if the user interface is subsequently expanded in any way.

The invention is not limited to the present embodiment, since obviously other other embodiments of the invention can be developed or used, which start from the same basic idea of the invention, which are covered by the appended claims.

Claims (4)

G3140-DE - ·14 -? J .' Protection claims: 1. Arrangement for entering and displaying user information on a display, below which an input unit (I) with a number of input fields (1-1, I-2, I-3 and I-4) is arranged, wherein &iacgr;&ogr; Control elements of a first input field (1-1) basic menus can be selected, from which a submenu can be set using the softkey (S1-S5) of a second input field (I-2), whereby a third input field (I-3) of the input unit (I) contains control elements via which menus or list images (10, 20, .... 100, ...) that can be displayed in screen images on the display (O) can be alternatively selected and whereby a fourth input field (I-4) is provided for a numeric input. 2. Arrangement according to claim !, characterized in that the operating elements of the first input field (1-1) are basic menu keys wherein the basic menu image (10) for franking is set on the display (O) using a home key (8). 3. Arrangement according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the operating elements of the third input field (I-3) are hard keys, which include a back key (9) with which a screen image is restored which was previously set. 4. Arrangement according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that two hard keys (11 and 12) of the third input field (I-3) are provided for selecting screen images, the selection of the screen images being carried out by so-called page-by-page browsing.