Method and apparatus for interacting with a portable computer system
First Claim
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1. A computer implemented method of quickly preparing a computer system for use, said method comprising the steps of:
- accepting an application button press from a user that requests a particular application program;
waking a processor in response to said application button press; and
executing said particular application program.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A palmtop computer system that incorporates mechanical buttons that combine the task of turning the palmtop computer system on and starting a particular application program. Furthermore, the same mechanical button can be used to navigate the application program to find the information that is most likely needed by the user. Additionally, external devices can be coupled to the palmtop computer system in a manner that allows the external hardware device to initiate specific application programs that cooperate with the external hardware device.
54 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method of quickly preparing a computer system for use, said method comprising the steps of:
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accepting an application button press from a user that requests a particular application program;
waking a processor in response to said application button press; and
executing said particular application program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
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a processor, said processor having a low power consumption sleep mode, said processor having hardware interrupt line that awakes said processor from said sleep mode;
at least one application button, said application button associated with a particular application program, said application button asserting said hardware interrupt line; and
an interrupt service routine for handling processor interrupts caused by said hardware interrupt line being asserted, said interrupt service routine executing said particular application program. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A computer implemented method of allowing external devices to control a portable computer system for use, said method comprising the steps of:
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asserting a hardware interrupt line on a processor in said portable computer system from an external device;
entering an interrupt service routine in response to said hardware interrupt line assertion; and
determining that said external device is the source of said hardware interrupt assertion and executing an application program associated with said external device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 14)
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13. A portable computer apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
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a processor, said processor having a low power consumption sleep mode, said processor having hardware interrupt line that awakes said processor from said sleep mode;
an external interface, said external interface including access to said hardware interrupt line;
an external device, said external device coupled to said external interface of portable computer system, said external device asserting said hardware interrupt line; and
an interrupt service routine for handling processor interrupts caused by said hardware interrupt line being asserted, said interrupt service routine executing an application program associated with said external device.
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Specification