Method for pointer-based user interaction in a CAE/CAD system

Abstract

A method for user interaction in a CAE/CAD system comprises displaying to a user a graphical user interface (2) with a model display region (3) and a control region (5) for controlling operation of the CAE/CAD system, and an accept button (9). The accept button (9) can be in an active state, signifying that the CAE/CAD system is ready to perform operations defined by user input when the accept button (9) is clicked.

When the accept button (9) is in the active state, the CAE/CAD system graphically indicates to the user an extended apply region (11) which, when a clicking operation takes place inside it, will cause the CAE/CAD system to perform the same operations as when the accept button (9) is clicked.

Claims

1. A method for user interaction in a CAE/CAD system, performed by a processing unit (12) of the CAE/CAD system, the method comprising the steps of: displaying to a user, on a computer display (10), a graphical user interface (2), the graphical user interface (2) comprising a model display region (3) for displaying a graphical model representation (4) and a control region (5) for displaying widgets (7) for controlling operation of the CAE/CAD system, the control region (5) comprising an area covered by the widgets (7) and an inactive control region (8), not covered by the widgets (7), the graphical user interface (2) comprising an accept button (9), on the basis of user input, graphically indicating that the accept button (9) is in an active state, as opposed to an inactive state, the active state signifying that the CAE/CAD system is ready to perform operations defined by the user input when the accept button (9) is clicked, when the accept button (9) is in the active state, graphically indicating an extended apply region (11) which, when a clicking operation takes place inside it, will cause the CAE/CAD system to perform the same operations as when the accept button (9) is clicked.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the extended apply region (11) lies within the inactive control region (8).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the inactive control region (8) has an entirety, and wherein the extended apply region (11) is the entirety of the inactive control region (8).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the extended apply region (11) comprises regions of the graphical user interface (2) that are not associated with a clicking operation for other purposes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein graphically indicating the extended apply region (11) comprises graphically modifying the pointer (1).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein graphically modifying the pointer (1) comprises modifying one or more of the pointer's shape, colour, pattern, brightness, blinking frequency.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein graphically modifying the pointer (1) comprises modifying it only when it lies within the extended apply region (11).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein graphically indicating the extended apply region (11) comprises graphically modifying the extended apply region (11).

9. The method of claim 8, wherein graphically modifying the extended apply region (11) comprises modifying one or more of the extended apply region's colour, pattern, brightness, blinking frequency.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein graphically modifying the extended apply region (11) comprises modifying it only when the pointer (1) lies within it.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the accept button (9) lies within the control region (5).

12. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of, upon the user performing a clicking operation in the extended apply region (11), performing the operations defined by the user input.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the course of use of the graphical user interface (2), a display region covered by the widgets (7) is modified, and the inactive control region (8) is modified accordingly.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the design system is a CAE/CAD system for designing parts shaped by forming processes or for designing tools used in forming processes, or for designing forming processes.

15. A data processing system programmed to perform the method according to claim 1.

16. A computer program loadable into an internal memory of a computer, comprising computer program code to make, when loaded and executed in the computer, the computer execute the method according to claim 1.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable program code encoding a computer program that, when loaded and executed on a computer, causes the computer to execute the method according to claim 1.

18. A reproducible computer-readable signal encoding a computer program that, when loaded and executed on a computer, causes the computer to execute the method according to claim 1.

19. A method of manufacturing a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising the step of storing, on the computer readable medium, computer-executable instructions which when executed by a processor of a computing system, cause the computing system to perform the method steps of claim 1.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The subject matter of the invention will be explained in more detail in the following text with reference to exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the attached drawings, which schematically show:

[0037] FIG. 1 a graphical user interface;

[0038] FIG. 2 a computer providing the graphical user interface;

[0039] FIG. 3 the graphical user interface with an extended apply region; and

[0040] FIGS. 4-5 the graphical user interface with the extended apply region according to other embodiments.

[0041] In principle, identical parts are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] FIG. 1 schematically shows a computer display 10. A graphical user interface 2 of a CAE/CAD system is displayed on the computer display 10. The graphical user interface 2 comprises a model display region 3, on which a graphical representation of computer model of an object being designed is displayed. The graphical user interface 2 further comprises a control region 5 in which widgets 7 defining parameters of the computer model or of operations performed on the computer model are displayed. The widgets 7 can be arranged in containers 6 according to various GUI paradigms. According to certain GUI paradigms, a screen or display area covered by a widget 7 or a set of widgets 7 being displayed can vary. For example, in an accordion container 6 widgets 7 are arranged vertically above one another, and each widget 7 can be expanded or collapsed in the vertical direction, or widgets 7 can be displayed in the container 6 or removed, depending on the state of the graphical user interface 2. The widgets 7 can contain GUI controls, that is, visual elements which allow the user to enter, change or delete data. Such controls can be input fields, sliders, check boxes, radio buttons, up/down arrows (spinners) and the like. They are not drawn in FIG. 1.

[0043] Further, well known, elements of a computer system that can be used to control the computer system and the CAE/CAD system running on it are, in addition to the computer display 10, a processing unit 12, a pointing device 13 and an input device such as a keyboard 14, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0044] As a user interacts with the graphical user interface 2, a typical sequence of interaction can be: [0045] The user selects an element of a part represented in the CAE/CAD system. This can happen by selecting the element in its visual representation in the graphical model representation 4, or in an object navigation panel, such as an object tree, displayed in one of the containers 6. Depending on the selection, the object navigation panel may use more or less screen area, for example in the left one of the two vertically extended containers 6 shown in the graphical user interface 2, and correspondingly, an inactive control region 8 at the bottom of this container 6 will shrink and grow. [0046] Furthermore, depending on the selection, operations that can be performed on the selected element are automatically determined by the CAE/CAD system and presented to the user, [0047] The user selects an operation to be performed on the element, and controls for this operation are displayed by widgets 7 in the right one of the two vertically extended containers 6. Here too, depending on the number and kind of operations, an inactive control region 8 at the bottom of this container 6 will shrink and grow. [0048] The user adapts parameters controlled by the controls for the selected operation, or leaves default parameters unchanged. [0049] If the combination of selected element, operation and parameters is feasible, the CAE/CAD system indicates that an accept button 9 is in an active state. [0050] The user, using the pointing device 13, clicks the accept button 9. This causes the selected operation, with these parameters, to be applied to the selected element.

[0051] This sequence of interactions is repeated over and over, and if user operations are done predominantly using the pointing device 13, clicking the accept button 9 becomes a repetitive task, requiring concentration and hand-eye coordination.

[0052] In order to simplify this task and reduce the coordinative burden on the user, the invention takes advantage of the fact, when the graphical user interface 2 is in a state that the accept button 9 can be pressed, certain regions of the graphical user interface 2 do not serve any purpose for accepting input. That is, a clicking operation in such a region normally would be ignored, and would not trigger any action in the CAE/CAD system. Such regions can be the inactive control regions 8 of the containers 6, where no widgets 7 are displayed, or a background region in the model display region 3, where no part of the graphical model representation 4 is shown.

[0053] Such regions that are not used for any other clicking operations are used as extended apply region 11. This means that a clicking operation in the extended apply region 11 will have the same effect as clicking the accept button 9. The clicking operation can be a single click, or, in order to avoid errors, a double click. The clicking operation can use the main mouse button, or another mouse button, depending on a configuration of the GUI.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows the graphical user interface 2 with an extended apply region 11 covering the inactive control regions 8 of the two vertically extended containers 6. The extended apply region 11 is indicated by diagonal hatching only for the purpose of illustration in this Figure. In the real graphical user interface 2, the extended apply region 11 need not be covered with such a hatching.

[0055] FIG. 4 shows the graphical user interface 2 with the extended apply region 11 covering an otherwise unused background region of the model display region 3 as well.

[0056] FIG. 5 shows the graphical user interface 2 with the extended apply region 11 in the shape of a large button. The button can be automatically resized by the CAE/CAD system according to the shape of the inactive control regions 8.

[0057] In order to indicate to the user, once that the accept button 9 is in the active state, that the mouse pointer 1 is in the extended apply region 11, different approaches are possible, alone or in combination: [0058] Modifying the visual appearance of the pointer 1 when it is inside the extended apply region 11. This can be by modifying one or more of the pointer's 1 shape, colour, pattern, brightness, blinking frequency. For example, a contour line of the pointer can be set to have a different colour than under other conditions. [0059] Modifying the visual appearance of extended apply region 11 when the accept button 9 is in the active state. This can be by modifying one or more of the extended apply region's colour, pattern, brightness, blinking frequency. [0060] Modifying the visual appearance of extended apply region 11 when the accept button 9 is in the active state and only when the pointer 1 is inside the extended apply region 11. This can be by modifying one or more of the extended apply region's colour, pattern, brightness, blinking frequency.

[0061] As a rule, such modifications of the pointer 1 and/or the extended apply region 11 should be recognizable but unobtrusive. For example, large changes in brightness or colour of a large area of the graphical user interface 2 would be annoying to a user.

[0062] While the invention has been described in present embodiments, it is distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the claims.