Control panel

A control system operable by a user, comprising:

• a display for displaying selected statements from a plurality of stored statements each said stored statement containing one or more separate segments of user-alterable information and each said stored statement containing one or more separate segments of non-alterable information wherein said non-alterable information is provided to identify the significance of said user-alterable information;
• up switching means for generating an increment-up signal responsive to selective operation by the user;
• down switching means for generating an increment-down signal responsive to selective operation by the user;
• left switching means for generating a left-scroll signal responsive to selective operation by the user;
• right switching means for generating a right-scroll signal responsive to selective operation by the user;
• computer means for storing said plurality of stored statements and controlling said display, said computer means controlling a cursor on said display movable left and right between one or more pre-programmed positions in each displayed statement in response to said left-scroll and right-scroll signals, each of said pre-programmed positions corresponding to one of said segments of alterable information, said computer means scrolling left or right for sequentially displaying the next stored statement in response to said left-scroll or right-scroll signal indicating user-instructed movement of said cursor to the left or right beyond the leftmost or rightmost pre-programmed position of the displayed statement, said computer means incrementing up and down the value of said segments of alterable information corresponding to the preprogrammed position to which said cursor has been moved in response to said increment up and down signals.

A control system operable by a user, comprising:

• a display for displaying selected statements from a plurality of stored statements each said stored statement containing one or more separate segments of user-alterable information and each said stored statement containing one or more separate segments of non-alterable information wherein said non-alterable information is provided for identifying the significance of said user-alterable information;
• up-switching means for generating an increment-up signal responsive to selective operation by the user;
• down switching means for generating an increment-down signal responsive to selective operation by the user;
• first-directional switching means for generating a first-directional scroll signal responsive to selective operation by the user;
• second-directional switching means for generating a second-directional scroll signal responsive to selective operation by the user;
• computer means for storing said plurality of stored statements and controlling said display, said computer means controlling a cursor on said display movable in first and second opposite directions between one or more generally linearly displayed pre-programmed positions in each displayed statement in response to said first and second directional scroll signals, each of said pre-programmed positions corresponding to one of said segments of alterable information, said computer means scrolling in said first or second direction for sequentially displaying the next stored statement in response to said first or second directional scroll signal indicating userinstructured movement of said cursor in said first or second direction beyond the outermost pre-programmed position of the displayed statement, said computer means incrementing up and down the value of said segment of alterable information corresponding to the pre-programmed position to which said cursor has been moved in response to said increment up and down signals.

A method of operating a control system by a user, the control system including a display for displaying selected statements from a plurality of computer stored statements, each said stored statement containing one or more separate segments of user-alterable information and one or more separate segments of non-alterable information wherein the non-alterable information is provided for identifying the significance of said user-alterable information, comprising:

• providing on the display one or more generally linearly arranged pre-programmed positions in each displayed statement;
• assigning each of said segments of alterable information at least one of said pre-programmed positions in each displayed statement;
• providing a cursor on said display movable in first and second opposite directions between said one or more preprogrammed positions in each displayed statement;
• moving said cursor in response to user-generated first and second directional scroll signals between said pre-programmed positions in said first or second direction;
• scrolling the display in the first or second direction to sequentially display the next stored statement in response to a user-generated first or second directional scroll signal indicating user-instructed movement of said cursor in said first or second direction beyond the outermost pre-programmed position of the displayed statement;
• and
• incrementing up or down the value of said segment of alterable information corresponding to the pre-programmed position to which said cursor has been moved in response to usergenerated increment up and down signals.