Method and system for exporting menu objects to a peripheral using a direct data entry structure

#The present invention generally concerns an exporting method for displaying a menu in a peripheral. The method of the invention more specifically concerns exporting methods using a direct data entry structure.

#Typically, using an input and output device, such as an input and output “I/O” card (herein “card”), data can be exported to a peripheral for display to users. The card generally includes a microprocessor for processing any commands from the peripheral, memory for storing the processes and data and an interface for communicating with the peripheral. The most common data displayed to the user is configuration data, such as a setting for the default paper size, relating to the peripheral.

#However, in prior methods, the card could send only text strings, which are then displayed to the user by the peripheral. A string is a sequence of data values (e.g., bytes), which typically stand for characters (e.g., a “character string”). The mapping between values and characters is determined by the character set which is itself specified implicitly or explicitly by the environment in which the string is being interpreted. Because the strings in the prior method are limited to user readable text, the menu display and flexibility is greatly limited. In addition, since the peripheral is generally adapted to send only incremental commands, only one entry can be displayed at one time. As peripherals play a greater role in networking, it is becoming more common for the peripherals to be implemented with a server, resulting in a very long and complicated configuration menu. A typical menu would involve multiple pages, sections, subsections, and choices. With the limited use of text strings and incremental commands, the peripheral cannot display such complex menu without being a tedious task for the user, since only one entry can be displayed at a time. Furthermore, it would be difficult for the peripheral to recognize any menu structures that may be divided into pages, sections and subsection.

#FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a system organized to implement an embodiment of the invention;

#FIGS. 2A and 2B show a general data structure and an exemplary data structure of the Direct Data Entry according to an embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 3 shows a Direct Data Entry structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

#The present invention provides a way to display complicated menu structures on peripherals, which are generally limited to text strings. With the use of a Direct Data Entry (“DDE”) structure, the peripheral is able to recognize a page, section, subsection or items. Users can easily navigate through the menu using the display panel on the peripheral. For example, users can navigate from a page with many sections (e.g., opens up to more choices) and items (e.g., selectable for configuration), and from a particular section with multiple subsections and items.

#In the present invention, the configuration data of the current setting of a peripheral is first collected, and a Direct Data Entry menu of the pages and elements is then created. The configuration data is stored into the created Direct Data Entry menu. Upon a request for an element in the menu, a Direct Data Entry string for the requested element is then sent.

#A block diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, and indicated generally at 10. As with most typical systems, there is a peripheral 12 that generally includes a display panel 13 for displaying data to users, microprocessor 14 for processing data, a shared memory 16 for storing data, an interface chip 18 for communication with other devices, and a bus controller chip 20 for controlling the processing among the microprocessor. In this embodiment, a card 22 is used as an input and output device for communicating with the peripheral 12. Similarly, the card includes a microprocessor 24 for processing, memory 26 for storing data and an interface chip 28 for communicating with the peripheral. The card is a separate component (i.e., external) from the peripheral. For example, the card can be inserted or extracted easily to and from the peripheral. However, the present invention also contemplates using the card or any input or output device that is internal to the peripheral. Thus, it should be understood that these various implementations are within the scope of the present invention.