Pattern and event based logical UI modeling for multi-device embedded applications

Abstract

While there have been many research activities for model-based engineering for user interfaces (UIs) for multiple devices, they are still far from practical. We identify three major limitations for the conventional approaches. We propose a Pattern and Event based Logical UI Modeling framework (PELUM) to model UIs targeted for multiple embedded systems. PELUM encompasses (1) a pattern-based method for deriving a UI implementation from a UI model, (2) a meta-model for modeling both abstract UI and task model, whose name is Logical User Interface Model (LUM), and (3) its supporting tool. We incorporate events as a first-class modeling entity, essential to model UIs for embedded systems. PELUM does not employ the task model widely used in the conventional approach. Instead, we incorporate events as navigators to cover the task model in LUM. We also incorporate patterns as types of each LUM component. This makes UI modeling concise. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.