Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments

Abstract: A command pattern recognition system based on a virtual keyboard layout combines pattern recognition with a virtual, graphical, or on-screen keyboard to provide a command control method with relative ease of use. The system allows the user conveniently issue commands on pen-based computing or communication devices. The system supports a very large set of commands, including practically all commands needed for any application. By utilizing shortcut definitions it can work with any existing software without any modification. In addition, the system utilizes various techniques to achieve reliable recognition of a very large gesture vocabulary. Further, the system provides feedback and display methods to help the user effectively use and learn command gestures for commands.

Abstract: An automation system for programming appliances having programmable controllers, programmable devices and trigger devices that communicate over a communication link. The user programs the programmable devices by placing the programmable controller in its training mode, activating the trigger device to generate a trigger signed and places select programmable devices in their programmed state. After all of the desired programmable devices have been put in then programmed states, the user takes the programmable controller out of its training mode. When the programmable controller is out of its training mode, it monitors the communication link for the trigger event. Upon detecting the trigger event, the programmable controller sends messages to the selected programmable devices instructing them to go to their programmed state.

Abstract: A command portal enables a host system to send non-standard or “vendor-specific” storage subsystem commands to a storage subsystem using an operating system (OS) device driver that does not support or recognize such non-standard commands The architecture thereby reduces or eliminates the need to develop custom device drivers that support the storage subsystem's non-standard commands To execute non-standard commands using the command portal, the host system embeds the non-standard commands in blocks of write data, and writes these data blocks to the storage subsystem using standard write commands supported by standard OS device drivers The storage subsystem extracts and executes the non-standard commands The non-standard commands may alternatively be implied by the particular target addresses used The host system may retrieve execution results of the non-standard commands using standard read commands The host-side functionality of the command portal may be embodied in an API that is made available to application developers

Abstract: A mobile communication device having a user interface for invoking a command displays a reduced set of commands accessed by actuating an input device on the mobile communication device, the reduced set of commands comprises a set of context-sensitive commands derived from a full-function set of commands associated with an application. The input device may be a dedicated input device, such as a trackball, for accessing the set of context-sensitive commands.