Abstract:
In a method for interacting with a system that includes physical devices that are interfaced with computer software, a graphical representation of a physical device that can be graphically interconnected with a graphical representation of a software module is generated. The graphical representation of the physical device is capable of being represented as either a graphical copy mode representation or a graphical ghost mode representation. On-screen interaction with functionality of the physical device is enabled when the graphical representation of the physical device is in the graphical copy mode representation. A true physical state of the physical device is tracked when the graphical representation of the physical device is in the graphical ghost mode representation. The tracking of the true physical state of the physical device disables on-screen interaction with functionality of the physical device. A dual-mode graphical user interface element for interfacing with a physical device also is described.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to computer systems and, more particularly, to a method for interacting with a system that includes physical devices interfaced with computer software. 
     A user who programs systems including physical devices that interface with computer software needs to test and debug various configurations of each system. Such systems typically include one or more physical devices, e.g., switches, sensors, or actuators, that communicate with a computer or a network of communicating computers. The creation, testing, and debugging of computer software is well known to those skilled in the art, but the emerging domain of mixed virtual/real objects is not as well studied. 
     One particular problem with systems including physical devices that interface with computer software is that the physical devices can be inconvenient to access. For example, the system may include a large number of physical devices scattered throughout a building. This makes the testing and debugging of various configurations of the system awkward and time consuming. 
     One technique that facilitates working with physical devices is to represent them on the screen as graphical user interface (GUI) elements. Thus, even if the physical devices are remote from the user, a physical device&#39;s virtual proxy can be seen on the screen. The use of virtual proxies for physical, i.e., real, devices poses a question regarding locus of control. If the virtual proxy is used to test the physical device, then the state of the virtual proxy no longer reflects the state of the physical device. Especially when the system includes complex physical devices that have multi-dimensional states, the use of a virtual proxy that allows on-screen interaction can cause the user to become quite confused as to the state of the physical device. 
     One approach to resolve the problem of representing the state of the physical device while enabling virtual interaction with the virtual proxy is to provide two on-screen GUI elements. The first GUI element is a literal proxy that does not allow on-screen interaction; the literal proxy always represents the state of the physical device. The second GUI element is a purely simulated GUI element that allows only on-screen interaction. The second GUI element starts out with a copy of the state of the physical device, but diverges from that state once the user starts to interact with it. In accordance with this approach, the user can use the second GUI element to test and debug the system, and, once satisfied, can disconnect the second GUI element and connect to the first GUI element to get the physical device into the system. 
     The use of two GUI elements is often satisfactory, but suffers from a number of disadvantages, especially when used in conjunction with more complex systems. First, it requires at least several GUI gestures to replace one GUI element with the other GUI element. This is time consuming and can become quite tedious if the number of connections to and from these GUI elements is large. The process of connecting and disconnecting the GUI elements also introduces the potential for confusion regarding the proper connections to be made. Second, the use of two GUI elements to represent a physical device requires more on-screen real estate. Third, from an aesthetic standpoint, the use of two GUI elements to represent a physical device prevents the on-screen representation of the physical device from looking like the actual physical device. 
     In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a method for interacting with a system that includes physical devices interfaced with computer software that enables the state of a physical device to be represented while allowing on-screen interaction with the proxy of the physical device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Broadly speaking, the present invention fills this need by providing, among other things, a dual-mode graphical user interface element and accompanying methodology that enables a single object to represent both a virtual device and a physical device. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method for interacting with a system that includes physical devices that are interfaced with computer software is provided. In this method, a graphical representation of a physical device that can be graphically interconnected with a graphical representation of a software module is generated. The graphical representation of the physical device is capable of being represented as either a graphical copy mode representation or a graphical ghost mode representation. On-screen interaction with functionality of the physical device is enabled when the graphical representation of the physical device is in the graphical copy mode representation. A true physical state of the physical device is tracked when the graphical representation of the physical device is in the graphical ghost mode representation. The tracking of the true physical state of the physical device disables on-screen interaction with functionality of the physical device. 
     In one embodiment, the method for interacting with a system that includes physical devices that are interfaced with computer software further includes switching the graphical representation of the physical device between the graphical copy mode representation and the graphical ghost mode representation based on a user interaction. In one embodiment, the user interaction is provided using a pull down menu, a popup menu, or a mouse click. 
     In one embodiment, the graphical representation of the physical device in the graphical copy mode representation is rendered in manner that is different from the manner in which the graphical representation of the physical device in the graphical ghost mode representation is rendered. In one embodiment, the graphical representation of the physical device in the graphical copy mode representation is rendered as opaque and the graphical representation of the physical device in the graphical ghost mode representation is rendered as translucent. 
     In one embodiment, the method for interacting with a system that includes physical devices that are interfaced with computer software further includes defining a graphical representation of a software module. In one embodiment, the software module provides functional processing of an input or inputs from the graphical representation of the physical device. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a dual-mode graphical user interface element for interfacing with a physical device is provided. The dual-mode graphical user interface element includes a graphical copy mode representation of a physical device that enables on-screen interaction with functionality of the physical device, and a graphical ghost mode representation of the physical device that tracks a true physical state of the physical device. The tracking of the true physical state of the physical device disables on-screen interaction with functionality of the physical device. 
     In one embodiment, the dual-mode graphical user interface element for interfacing with a physical device is switched between the graphical copy mode representation of the physical device and the graphical ghost mode representation of the physical device based on a user interaction. In one embodiment, the user interaction is provided using a pull down menu, a popup menu, or a mouse click. 
     In one embodiment, the graphical copy mode representation of the physical device is rendered in a manner that is different from the manner in which the graphical ghost mode representation of the physical device is rendered. In one embodiment, the graphical copy mode representation of the physical device is rendered as opaque and the graphical ghost mode representation of the physical device is rendered as translucent. In one embodiment, the graphical copy mode representation of the physical device includes a graphical representation of the true state of the physical device. 
     In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a computer readable medium containing program instructions for interacting with a system that includes physical devices that are interfaced with computer software is provided. The computer readable medium includes program instructions for generating a graphical representation of a physical device that can be graphically interconnected with a graphical representation of a software module, with the graphical representation of the physical device capable of being represented as either a graphical copy mode representation or a graphical ghost mode representation. The computer readable medium also includes program instructions for enabling on-screen interaction with functionality of the physical device when the graphical representation of the physical device is in the graphical copy mode representation. The computer readable medium further includes program instructions for tracking a true physical state of the physical device when the graphical representation of the physical device is in the graphical ghost mode representation, wherein the tracking of the true physical state of the physical device disables on-screen interaction with functionality of the physical device. 
     In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, a computer readable medium containing program instructions for providing a dual-mode graphical user interface element for interfacing with a physical device is provided. The computer readable medium includes program instructions for providing a graphical copy mode representation of a physical device that enables on-screen interaction with functionality of the physical device. The computer readable medium also includes program instructions for providing a graphical ghost mode representation of the physical device that tracks a true physical state of the physical device, wherein the tracking of the true physical state of the physical device disables on-screen interaction with functionality of the physical device. 
     It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a screen shot of a system that includes virtual devices that represent physical devices that interface with computer software in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIGS. 2A-2C  are partial screen shots that illustrate the dual-mode nature of graphical representation  102  of the volume control knob shown in  FIG. 1  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is block diagram that illustrates the functions performed when an object used to represent a virtual device and a physical device needs to be updated in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram that illustrates the functions performed in response to a user interface event in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram that illustrates the functions performed to keep an object represented in the graphical ghost mode updated when changes to the physical device occur, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial screen shot of graphical representation  102  of the volume control knob shown in  FIG. 1  in which the state of the physical device is shown in the graphical copy mode, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Several exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a screen shot of a system that includes virtual devices that represent physical devices that interface with computer software in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , system  100  includes a dual-mode graphical representation  102 , which depicts a real volume control knob that interfaces with the system. Additional details regarding the dual-mode nature of the graphical representation  102  of the knob will be explained below. The graphical representation  102  of the knob is connected to software component  104 , which operates on the output from the knob. In this example, software component  104  allows the user to fine tune the sensitivity of the volume control knob. The connection between the graphical representation  102  of the knob and software component  104  is achieved using a virtual wire  106 - 1 , which extends from output connector  102   a  of the graphical representation  102  of the knob  102  to input connector  104   a  of software component  104 . Software component  104  is connected to virtual radio  108  by virtual wire  106 - 2 , which extends from output connector  104   b  of software component  104  to one of the input connectors  108   a  of virtual radio  108 . The output of virtual radio  108  drives a real speaker, which interfaces with system  100  and is represented on the screen as graphical representation  110 . Virtual radio  108  is connected to graphical representation  110  of the speaker by virtual wire  106 - 3 , which extends from output connector  108   b  of virtual radio  108  to input connector  110   a  of graphical representation  110  of the speaker. 
       FIGS. 2A-2C  are partial screen shots that illustrate the dual-mode nature of graphical representation  102  of the volume control knob shown in  FIG. 1  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 2A , the graphical representation  102  of the volume control knob is in the graphical copy mode. In this mode, on-screen interaction with functionality of the physical device is enabled. In this example, the setting of the volume control knob has been changed (compare the position of the knob shown in  FIG. 1  with that shown in  FIG. 2A ). As shown in  FIG. 2B , the graphical representation  102 ′ of the volume control knob is in the graphical ghost mode. In this mode, the state of the physical device is tracked and on-screen interaction with functionality of the physical device is disabled. The mode switch can be caused by any suitable user interaction. In one embodiment, the user interaction is a special mouse click, e.g., a right mouse click or a middle mouse click, on the graphical representation of the physical device. Alternatively, and by way of further non-limiting example, the user interaction can be provided using a pull down menu or a pop up menu. As shown in  FIG. 2C , the graphical representation  102  of the volume control knob is back in the graphical copy mode. When the user switches from the graphical ghost mode to the graphical copy mode, the state of the physical device is copied to the graphical representation  102  of the volume control knob (note that the position of the knob shown in  FIG. 2B  is the same as that shown in  FIG. 2C ). Changes to the physical device are not tracked in graphical copy mode in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-2C  (an alternative embodiment in which changes to the physical device are tracked in graphical copy mode is described below with reference to  FIG. 6 ). Thus, if the state of the physical device changes or the user makes on-screen changes to the graphical representation of the physical device, then the graphical copy mode representation of the physical device will not reflect the true state of the physical device. 
     To enable the user to distinguish between the graphical copy mode representation of the physical device and the graphical ghost mode representation of the physical device, the manner in which the graphical copy mode representation is rendered should be different from the manner in which the graphical ghost mode representation is rendered. As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A, and  2 C, the graphical representation  102  of the volume control knob is rendered as opaque in the graphical copy mode. As shown in  FIG. 2B , the graphical representation  102 ′ of the volume control knob is rendered as translucent in the graphical ghost mode. The translucent rendering of the graphical ghost mode representation shown in  FIG. 2B  is exemplary, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that any suitable rendering that is different than that used for the graphical copy mode representation may be used for the graphical ghost mode representation. By way of non-limiting example, the graphical ghost mode representation may be rendered different from the graphical copy mode representation by using a different color, by providing shading, by using an outline representation, or by providing a blinking effect. 
       FIG. 3  is block diagram  200  that illustrates the functions performed when an object used to represent a virtual device and a physical device needs to be updated in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In block  202 , a repaint call manager issues a call for a repaint operation. In block  204 , a display method receives the call from the repaint call manager. In block  206 , a determination is made as to whether the object to be updated is in the graphical ghost mode. If the object to be updated is not in the graphical ghost mode, then the object is drawn in graphical copy mode as shown in block  208 , and control is returned to the controlling application. If the object to be updated is in the graphical ghost mode, then the state of the physical device is obtained in block  210 . The state of the physical device may be obtained by an appropriate method that communicates with the physical device. Alternatively, the state of the physical device may be cached, in which case it would not be necessary to invoke the method that communicates with the physical device. Once the state of the physical device is obtained, the object is drawn in graphical ghost mode as shown in block  212 , and control is returned to the controlling application. The controlling application may be the application that enables the graphical interaction with the system, and such controlling application would use the graphical copy/ghost embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram  300  that illustrates the functions performed in response to a user interface event in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In block  302 , a call is issued by, e.g., a window manager, in response to a user interface event (e). In block  304 , the call is received by a method that will handle the user interface event (e). In block  306 , a determination is made as to whether event (e)&#39;s type calls for ghost mode to be toggled. If event (e)&#39;s type does not call for ghost mode to be toggled, then, as shown in block  308 , a determination is made as to whether event (e)&#39;s type operates the physical device. If event (e)&#39;s type does not operate the physical device, then normal event handling occurs on event (e) as shown in block  310 . Examples of event types that do not operate the physical device include dragging, moving, and resizing the object on the screen. The normal event handling on event (e) will typically end with the object being repainted. Once the normal event handling on event (e) has ended, control is returned to the controlling application. On the other hand, if it determined in block  308  that event (e)&#39;s type operates the physical device, then a determination is made in block  312  as to whether the object representing the physical device is in the graphical ghost mode. If the object representing the physical device is not in the graphical ghost mode, then normal event handling occurs on event (e) as shown in block  310 . On the other hand, if it is determined in block  312  that the object representing the physical device is in the graphical ghost mode, then the functional operation calling for operation of the physical device is ignored, and control is returned to the controlling application. If desired, the user may be signaled, e.g., with a beep, when an attempt to operate the physical device is made while the object representing the physical device is in the graphical ghost mode. 
     Returning to block  306 , if it is determined that event (e)&#39;s type calls for ghost mode to be toggled, then, in block  314 , the ghost mode variable is made equal to the opposite of what it was, i.e., true is changed to false, and false is changed to true. In block  316 , the object is repainted in the new mode. In other word, if the object was in the graphical copy mode, then the object is repainted in the graphical ghost mode, and vice versa. The repaint operation may be performed by executing the functions shown in  FIG. 3 . Once the object is repainted in block  316 , control is returned to the controlling application. 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram  400  that illustrates the functions performed to keep an object represented in the graphical ghost mode updated when changes to the physical device occur, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In block  402 , a physical device event generator detects that a physical device has been changed and issues a call in response thereto. In block  404 , a device changed method receives the call from the physical device generator. In block  406 , a determination is made as to whether the object that represents the physical device is in the graphical ghost mode. If it is determined that the object that represents the physical device is not in the graphical ghost mode, then the device changed method is not responsible for updating the object (because in this exemplary embodiment the state of the physical device is not shown when the object is in the graphical copy mode), and control is returned to the controlling application. On the other hand, if it is determined that the object is in the graphical ghost mode, then the object is repainted as shown in block  408 . The repaint operation may be performed by executing the functions shown in  FIG. 3 . Once the object is repainted in block  408 , control is returned to the controlling application. 
     In the exemplary embodiments described above and shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the state of the physical device is not shown when the object representing the physical device is in the graphical copy mode. If desired, however, the state of the physical device can always be shown on the object, even when the object is represented in the graphical copy mode.  FIG. 6  is a partial screen shot of graphical representation  102  of the volume control knob shown in  FIG. 1  in which the state of the physical device is shown in the graphical copy mode, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the state of the physical device is indicated by the dotted line indicated by reference number  112 . In one embodiment, the dotted line is rendered as a grayed out representation to further distinguish the state of the physical device from the state shown in the graphical copy mode. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that any rendering scheme that enables the state of the physical device to be distinguished from the state shown in the graphical copy mode may be used. To implement the inclusion of the state of the physical device in both modes, the functions set forth in the block diagrams shown in  FIGS. 3-5  would have to be adjusted to account for the inclusion of the state of the physical device when the object is represented in the graphical copy mode. Upon reviewing this disclosure, those skilled in the art would be capable of adjusting the functions set forth in the block diagrams shown in  FIGS. 3-5  so that the state of the physical device is shown at all times, i.e., both when the object is represented in the graphical ghost mode and also when the object is represented in the graphical copy mode. 
     The method for interacting with a system that includes physical devices interfaced with computer software has been described herein in the context of a relatively simple example in which the physical devices include a volume control knob and a speaker. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the method is applicable to any system that includes physical devices interfaced with computer software. By way of non-limiting example, the physical devices may be switches (e.g., light switches), controls to electrical or mechanical devices, sensors (e.g., temperature sensors used in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems), or actuators that trigger on/off states. 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that the order in which the method operations are performed may be varied from that described herein, e.g., by rearranging the order in which the method operations are performed or by performing some of the method operations in parallel. In addition, the present invention may be practiced with other computer system configurations including hand-held devices, microprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. 
     With the embodiments described herein in mind, it should be understood that the present invention may employ various computer-implemented operations involving data stored in computer systems. These operations are those requiring physical manipulation of physical quantities. These quantities usually, but not necessarily, take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. Further, the manipulations performed are often referred to using terms such as producing, identifying, determining, or comparing. 
     Any of the operations described herein that form part of the present invention are useful machine operations. The invention also relates to a device or an apparatus for performing these operations. The apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purposes, or it may be a general purpose computer selectively activated or configured by a computer program stored in the computer. In particular, various general purpose machines may be used with computer programs written in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may be more convenient to construct a more specialized apparatus to perform the required operations. 
     The present invention also can be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium may be any data storage device that can store data which can be thereafter be read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable medium include hard drives, network attached storage (NAS), read-only memory, random access memory, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, magnetic tapes, and other optical and non-optical data storage devices. The computer readable medium also can be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. 
     In summary, the present invention provides a method for interacting with a system that includes physical devices interfaced with computer software. The invention has been described herein in terms of several exemplary embodiments. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention. The embodiments and preferred features described above should be considered exemplary, with the invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.