Feedback control method for operating a device with a visual display

Abstract

There is provided a feedback and control method of operating a device. The method seeks to minimise cognitive load on a user, including novice users, and seeks to enable efficient, competent control of a device, and informed selection of and between optimum configurations. The method comprises determining values that are representative of each of a plurality of variables, representing each of the variables on a display using a display component, wherein a dimension of each display component is proportional to the value that is representative of the corresponding variable, and wherein the display components representing each of the variables are arranged substantially contiguously such that when the sum of the values is equal to a pre-defined constant (X) the substantially contiguously arranged display components extend between an origin point on the display and a target end point on the display, receiving an input that changes one of the values and consequentially adjusting the corresponding display component.

1 . A feedback and control method of operating a device, the device having a visual display, the method comprising:
 determining values that are representative of each of a plurality of variables;   representing each of the variables on the display using a display component, wherein a dimension of each display component is proportional to the value that is representative of the corresponding variable, and wherein the display components representing each of the variables are arranged substantially contiguously such that when the sum of the values is equal to a pre-defined constant (X) the substantially contiguously arranged display components extend between an origin point on the display and a target end point on the display wherein each display component comprises a shape shown on the display for which the dimension that is proportional to the value that is representative of the corresponding variable extends between a first end and a second end of the display component, and wherein the display components are arranged such that the first end of a display component corresponding to one of the variables is adjacent to the second end of an immediately preceding display component; and   receiving an input that changes a value that is representative of one of the variables and consequentially adjusting both the corresponding display component and a corresponding attribute of the device.   
     
     
         2 .- 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target end point is indicated on the display by a further display component. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the display components comprise correspondingly shaped elements shown by the display. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the display components comprises a circular arc shown on the display, and wherein the length of the arc is proportional to the value that is representative of each variable. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein when the sum of the representative values is equal to the pre-defined constant (X) the substantially contiguously arranged display components extend around a circumference of a circle. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the display components comprises any of a line or a parallelogram shown on the display, and wherein the length of the line or parallelogram is proportional to the value that is representative of each variable. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 consequentially adjusting one or more other values that are representative of one or more other variables so that the sum of the values is equal to the pre-defined constant (X); and   for each of the values that have been adjusted, adjusting the display component that corresponds to the adjusted variables.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein, for any of the values that have been adjusted that are representative of a variable that is associated with an attribute of the device, adjusting both the display component and attribute of the device that corresponds to the adjusted value. 
     
     
         16 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the values that are representative of each of the variables each positively correlate with the corresponding variable. 
     
     
         23 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining values that are representative of each of a plurality of variables comprises:
 obtaining initial values from each of one or more inputs of the device, wherein the inputs are obtained from one or more of user controls of the device, external device connections, or sensors of the device.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of representing each of the variables on a display using a display component comprises any of:
 for each of the variables, generating a corresponding display component on an electronic visual display of the device; or   for each of the variables, providing a corresponding display component of a mechanical display.   
     
     
         27 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer interpretable instructions which when interpreted by a programmable computer cause the computer to perform a method in accordance with  claim 1 . 
     
     
         28 . An device comprising:
 a sensor;   a plurality of inputs;   a display; and   a processor;   wherein the processor is configured to:   determine values that are representative of each of a plurality of variables;   represent each of the variables on the display using a display component, a dimension of each display component being proportional to the value of the corresponding variable, and the display components representing each of the variables being arranged substantially contiguously such that when the sum of the variables is equal to a pre-defined constant (X) the substantially contiguously arranged display components extend between an origin point on the display and a target end point on the display, wherein each display component comprises a shape shown on the display for which the dimension that is proportional to the value that is representative of the corresponding variable extends between a first end and a second end of the display component, and wherein the display components are arranged such that the first end of a display component corresponding to one of the variables is adjacent to the second end of an immediately preceding display component; and   receive an input that changes a value that is representative of one of the variables and consequentially adjust both the corresponding display component and a corresponding attribute of the device.   
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 consequentially adjust one or more other values that are representative of one or more other variables so that the sum of the variables values is equal to the pre-defined constant (X) and, for each of the values that have been adjusted, to adjust the display component that corresponds to the adjusted variables.   
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the inputs comprise user controls of the device. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the user controls of the device comprise one or more of a touch screen, a touch pad, a voice-user interface, a gesture recognition device, a motion sensing device or manually operated user input devices. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the inputs further comprise one or more of external device connections, or sensors of the device. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the display comprises any of an electronic visual display or a mechanical display. 
     
     
         34 .- 41 . (canceled)