Patent ID: 6714223
Filing Date: 2004-03-30
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
An interactive-type user interface device for use with respect to a plurality of applications, the device comprising:control means for acquiring information needed by the applications through an interaction with a user and sending the information to the applications, by executing interactive processing based on application scenario groups provided in one-to-one association with the applications, wherein: a root scenario is provided separately from the application scenario groups for realizing application branch processing which selects and starts an application corresponding to inputted information and loads the application scenario group associated with that application; the control means is capable of executing interactive processing based on another of the application scenario groups part-way through the interactive processing based on one of the application scenario groups, by executing application branch processing based on the root scenario; each of the application scenario groups describes therein at least dialogue information made up of request information for making an input request requesting information needed by the respective application, expected input information expected to be inputted in response to the input request, and branch information corresponding to the expected input information; the control means carries out, as the interactive processing, input request processing based on the request information, comparison processing which compares inputted information with the expected input information, and branch processing based on results of this comparison; and the interactive processing is interrupted and application branch processing is executed based on the root scenario, when an application scenario group information is input part-way through interactive processing, the application scenario group information not among the expected input information.