Patent ID: 6266055
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: G06F,G07B

Abstract:
A mailing apparatus, comprising a display for communicating information to a user as screens to be displayed, and having functionality at least in part responsive to commands provided by the user through an input device, the mailing apparatus having a control program for adapting the display to communicate with the user via a screen, and for responding to commands provided by the user through the input device according to a customizable user interface, wherein the customizable user interface comprises:a) a user interface control program, responsive to the commands input by the user through the input device, and responsive to messages from the control program requiring a communication with the user, and further responsive to external input data;b) the external input data, providing all specifications needed to distinguish one screen for display from another, and specifications needed to distinguish an action by the mailing apparatus in connection with use by the user of a screen, or in connection with an event to be communicated by the user interface to the user via a particular screen, andwherein the external input data comprises:i) a font component, comprising:a font header element;a Unicode lookup table element; andbitmaps for characters 1, . . . , n;wherein the font header element comprises:a font component checksum;the size of the font component;the character height;the character width;the number of characters;a first character Unicode value;a Unicode lookup table offset; andthe offset of the first character bitmap;wherein the Unicode lookup table comprises a Unicode value for characters 1, . . . , n;ii) a screen language component, comprising:a screen language directory element;a fixed text element;a fields element;a table text element; anda key map element;wherein the screen language directory element comprises:a screen language component checksum;a screen language component size;an offset of fixed text;an offset of fields;an offset of table text: andan offset to key map;wherein the fixed text element comprises:a fixed text directory; andfixed text records 1, . . . , n;in which the fixed text directory includes:a value representing the number of fixed text records, anda local offset of each fixed text record;and in which each fixed text record includes:a value representing the number of text string entries in the fixed text record;andfor each text string: a length, an x position on the display, a y position on the display, a font identification. video attributes for displaying the text string, andthe text string;wherein the fields element comprises:a fields directory; andfield records 1, . . . , n;in which the fields directory includes:a value representing the number of field records in the field element; anda local offset of each field record:and in which each field record includes:a value representing the number of field entries in the field record; andfor each field entry, corresponding to entering a field: a value representing the size of the field, an x and y position, a font id, video aftributes for displaying text entered as the field, the maximum number of characters allowed for the field, a field control for controlling how the field is displayed and entered, a field initialization function id, a field refresh function id, the number of text table items in a text table associated with the field or a value of zero if there is no text table associated with the field; and, if there is a text table associated with the field, one or more table string identification numbers for the strings in the text table associated with the field;wherein the table text element comprises:a table text directory;table text entries 1, . . . , n;in which the table text directory includes:number of table text entries; andlocal offset of table text entries 1, . . . , n;and in which each table text entry includes:a Unicode String;wherein the key map element comprises:number of key bindings; andkey bindings 1, . . . , n, each including key control data (whether or not a key must be pressed in combination with another key such as a shift key), the identification of the hard key being mapped, and the Unicode character assigned to the key being mapped;iii) a screen tree component. comprising:a screen tree directory element; andscreen tree records 1, . . . , n;wherein the screen tree directory element comprises:a screen tree checksum;a value representing the size of the screen tree component;a value representing the number of screen tree records in the screen tree component; andan offset of each screen tree record;and wherein each screen tree record comprises:a value representing the number of key entries in the screen tree record;a value representing the number of event entries in record;a pre function id;a post function id;for each key entry: key control data for indicating how the customizable user interface is to respond to a user pressing a key when the key is being pressed down and when the key is released after being pressed down, and whether one or more other keys must be pressed in combination with the key; a value representing the key being mapped to a function by the mailing apparatus, a parameter compare field for designating a value a parameter must have for the key pressing to be accepted by the customizable user interface; a function id for identifying a function to c all to process the key pressing; a next screen id #1 and a next screen id #2 for identifying either of two screens to display next, if any; andfor each event entry: event control data for providing information about circumstances in which an event occurs; an event id for identifying the event, which is to being mapped to an action by the mailing apparatus; a parameter compare field for designating a value a parameter, known to the control program, must have for the event to cause an action by the user interface control program; a function id for indicating a function to process a key pressed in response to communicating the event to a user; and a next screen id #1 and #2 for identifying either of two screens to display next, if any.