Thread added for communication between tasks

software/smartwatch.py

+#Reference for Threading and GUI architecture: https://maldus512.medium.com/how-to-setup-correctly-an-application-with-python-and-tkinter-107c6bc5a45
+import queue
 import tkinter as tk
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import numpy as np
 
 from tkinter import TOP, BOTH, X, LEFT, RIGHT
 from matplotlib.backends.backend_tkagg import FigureCanvasTkAgg
+from types import SimpleNamespace
+from enum import Enum
+from threading import Thread
 
+TIME_OUT = 0.5  #Time out used for refreshing the User Interface
+
+class Messages(Enum):
+    HRSETALARM = 0
+
+#Method in charge of updating the UI. It is called from another thread and uses queue for communication
+def refreshUI(guiRef, model, guiQueue):
+    msg = None
+    while True:
+        try:
+            msg = guiQueue.get(timeout = TIME_OUT)
+
+            if msg == Messages.HRSETALARM:
+                model.count += 1
+                guiRef.entry["state"] = 'normal'
+                guiRef.entry.delete(0,"end")
+                guiRef.entry.insert(0,"12")
+                guiRef.entry["state"] = 'disabled'
+
+                guiRef.entry_two.delete(0,"end")
+                guiRef.entry_two.insert(0,"Prueba")
+        except queue.Empty:
+            pass 
+
+        #Other tasks...
+        print("Han pasado 500 milisegundos")
+
+
+#Class for the User Interface
 class Application(tk.Frame):
     def __init__(self, master=None):
         super().__init__(master)
@@ -83,10 +117,10 @@ class Application(tk.Frame):
         self.label_units_heartrate_three = tk.Label(self.frame_four, text = "bpm")
         self.label_units_heartrate_three.pack(side=LEFT)
 
-        self.button_heartrate = tk.Button(self.frame_four, text = "Configurar alarma", command = self.configure_heartrate_alarm)
+        self.button_heartrate = tk.Button(self.frame_four, text = "Configurar alarma")
+        #self.button_heartrate = tk.Button(self.frame_four, text = "Configurar alarma", command = self.configure_heartrate_alarm)
         self.button_heartrate.pack(side=LEFT)
 
-
     #FRAME 5
         self.frame_five = tk.Frame(self.master)
         self.frame_five.pack(fill=X)
@@ -102,6 +136,35 @@ class Application(tk.Frame):
         
         print("Alarma HR!")
 
+
+#Method that provides reference to the user interface. It uses a queue to communicate the UI with the exterior. It returns references to 
+#inner objetcs so the exterior can communicate with it. More references can be given in "SimpleNameSpace"
+    def gui_reference(self, root, queue):
+        entry = self.entry_heartrate
+        entry["state"] = 'normal'
+        entry.delete(0,"end")
+        entry.insert(0,"10")
+        entry["state"] = 'disabled'
+
+        self.button_heartrate["command"] = lambda : queue.put(Messages.HRSETALARM)
+        
+        #Just for testing purposes to emit reference to another widget
+        entry_two = self.entry_heartrate_minimum
+        return SimpleNamespace(entry=entry, entry_two = entry_two)
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+
     root = tk.Tk()
     app = Application(master=root)
+
+    #Queue used to communicate the UI with the exterior
+    guiQueue = queue.Queue()
+    guiRef = app.gui_reference(root, guiQueue)
+    model = SimpleNamespace(count=0)
+
+    #Thread used to separate the use interface with the front end. It is used to not slow down the GUI when processing information
+    t = Thread(target=refreshUI, args=(guiRef, model, guiQueue,))
+    t.daemon = True
+    t.start()
+
     app.mainloop()