Approach for advanced user navigation

Abstract

A system for hierarchical navigation of menus on a screen and particularly from one menu to another menu at the same level of a menu hierarchy. The system may provide side-to-side movement between menu elements to more easily navigate the menu pyramid. It may facilitate access to the details of a list of devices by selecting next and previous devices in the list, without navigating back to the list. The system may provide an operator or user with a simple, convenient method of browsing the details of devices in a list without the need to move back and forth throughout the list. The display may automatically adapt to the disparate properties of each type of device in the list. Also, the displayed details may be unique for a characterization of each device but be rendered in a common format.

1 . A mechanism for navigation among menus of a building automation system comprising:
 a home page for a building automation system;   one or more components listed on the home page; and   one or more sub-components listed on a page of at least selected ones of the one or more components; and   activating a side ways button on a page of a component or a sub-component results in a page of another component or sub-component, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a page of a component listed on the home page can be attained by selecting the component;   a page of a sub-component listed on a page of the component can be attained by selecting the sub-component; and   a page of a sub-sub-component listed on a page of the sub-component can be attained by selecting the sub-component; and   activating the sideways button on a page of a sub-sub-component results in a page of another sub-sub-component.   
     
     
         3 . The mechanism of  claim 2  wherein while on a page of a sub-sub-component, a sub-component or a component, activating a home button results in the home page. 
     
     
         4 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein while on a page of a sub-component, pressing the sideways button can result in a page to another sub-component within the same or another component. 
     
     
         5 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein while on a page of a component, pressing the sideways button can result in a page of another component. 
     
     
         6 . The mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein while on a page of a sub-sub-component, pressing the sideways button can result in a page of another sub-sub-component within the same or another sub-component. 
     
     
         7 . The mechanism of  claim 2 , further comprising a page of one or more sub-sub-sub-components on a page of each of the one or more sub-sub-components. 
     
     
         8 . A method for navigating menus of a building control system, comprising:
 providing a home menu showing two or more components of a building control system;   going to a menu of a first component of the two or more components; and   moving from the menu of the first component to a menu of the second component.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the menu of the first component comprises one or more menus; and further comprising:
 going to a first menu of the menu of the first component; and 
 moving from the first menu of the menu of the first component to a second menu of the menu of the first component. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising returning from the menu of the second component to the menu of the first component. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising returning from the second menu of the menu of the first component to the first menu of the first component. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the menus can be viewed on a touch screen display;   going to a menu of a component is effected by touching a graphical element, representing the component, shown on the touch screen display;   going to a menu of a menu of a component is effected by touching a graphical element, representing the menu of the component, on the touch screen display.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein moving from a menu of one component to a menu of another component is effected by touching a graphical element, representing horizontal navigation from one menu to another menu, on a touch screen. 
     
     
         14 . A navigation system for a hierarchy of a building automation system, comprising:
 a first level menu showing two or more components of a building automation system;   a first mechanism for selecting a component from the first level menu and showing a second level menu of the component; and   a second mechanism for moving directly from a second level menu of one component to a second level menu of another component of the first level menu.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claims 14 , further comprising:
 a third mechanism for selecting an item from a second level menu, and showing a third level menu of the item; and   a fourth mechanism for moving directly from the third level menu to a third level menu of another item of the second level menu.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the two or more components comprise HVAC, lighting, alarms, and the like;   the first mechanism for selecting a component comprises pressing a button representing a component in the first level menu; and   the second mechanism, for moving directly from a second level menu of one component to a second level menu of another component, comprises pressing a button in the second level menu of the one component.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the menus are presentable on a touch-screen display; and   the buttons are pressable via the touch screen display.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising “n” levels of menus wherein “n” is a positive integer greater than two. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein:
 moving from an nth level menu to an n+1th or n−1th level menu comprises vertical navigation of menus; and   moving from an nth level menu to another nth level menu comprises horizontal navigation of menus.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the two or more components comprise:
 HVAC; 
 lighting; and/or 
 alarms; 
   the second level menu for HVAC comprises zones;   the second level menu for lighting comprises spaces in a building and its surroundings relative to lighting; and   
       the second level menu for alarms comprises active alarms for spaces of the building and its surroundings. 
     
     
         21 . A navigation system for a traversing a hierarchical building control menu structure, comprising:
 a first level menu having a number of menu items;   a first mechanism for selecting an menu item from the first level menu and showing a second level menu of the selected menu item; and   a second mechanism for moving directly from a second level menu of the selected menu item to a second level menu of another menu item of the first level menu.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claims 21 , further comprising:
 a third mechanism for selecting a menu item from the second level menu, and showing a third level menu; and   a fourth mechanism for moving directly from the third level menu to a third level menu of another menu item of the second level menu.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claims 21 , further comprising:
 a third mechanism for selecting a menu item from the second level menu, and showing a third level menu; and   a fourth mechanism for moving directly from the third level menu to a third level menu of another menu item of the first level menu.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising “n” levels of menus wherein “n” is a positive integer greater than two. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein:
 moving from an nth level menu to an n+1th or n−1th level menu comprises vertical navigation of menus; and   moving from an nth level menu to another nth level menu comprises horizontal navigation of menus.