Expert system for generating user interfaces

A method for generating user interfaces by an expert system for a user to interact with a computer system, comprising:

• receiving a user interface goal by the expert system, the user interface goal being selected from a group consisting of a question to be posed to the user, a piece of information to be communicated to the user, and a task to be performed by the user;
• receiving a set of parameters by the expert system, each parameter being selected from a group consisting of information for presenting to the user, information for the task to be performed by the user, and information for constraining the generated user interface;
• and
• generating a user interface by selecting a code module from a set of code modules, each code module being designed to generate user interfaces from multiple templates, the act of selecting a code module including selecting a rule from a set of rules extracted from guidelines, conventions, and principles of user interface design, the act of selecting a rule being aided by the set of parameters, the user interface being produced from a template when the selected rule is executed.

A system for producing instructions suitable for making a user interface, comprising:

• a) an application for generating, in response to user interface designer inputs, at least one intention, said at least one intention including an associated set of parameters;
• and
• b) an expert system for receiving said at least one intention and said associated set of parameters, said expert system including a multitude of code modules, each of said code modules including a set of rules, each of said rules including a template, in response to receiving said at least one intention and said associated set of parameters said expert system:
• i) selecting a code module for said multitude of code modules;
• ii) selecting a rule from said set of rules included in said selected code module;
• and
• iii) generating user interface instructions in accordance with the template associated with said selected rule.

A method of producing a user interface for an application running on a computer having an associated display, said method comprising:

• a) in response to user interface designer inputs, said application producing at least one intention, said at least one intention having an associated set of parameters;
• b) supplying said at least one intention and its associated set of parameters to an expert system;
• c) in response to receiving said at least one intention and its associated set of parameters, the expert system:
• i) selecting a code module from a multitude of code modules;
• ii) selecting a rule from a set of rules within the selected code module;
• and
• iii) generating user interface instructions from a template associated with the selected rule;
• d) supplying said user interface instructions to said application;
• and
• e) in response to receiving said user interface instructions, said application producing a user interface on said display.