Automatic tablet scratch pad

• US 20030224779A1
• Filed: 05/20/2002
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sims, R. Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,080,182 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and signal-bearing medium for determining that a tablet electronic device is docked to a docking station. Upon detection, a scratchpad application is started. When a telephone call occurs, a telephone message pad application is started. In this way, an application is automatically selected for the tablet electronic device.

Claims

1. A machine-implemented method, comprising:

determining whether an electronic device is docked to a docking station; and

when the electronic device is docked to the docking station, starting a scratchpad application.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a call on a telephone in progress; and

when the telephone call is in progress, starting a telephone message pad application executing on the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a telephone is connected to the docking station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone is connected to the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the scratchpad application receives and stores user inputs.

6. An electronic device comprising:

a docking connector; and

a controller to automatically select an application to execute when the docking connector is connected to another electronic device.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 wherein the another electronic device comprises a docking station.

8. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the controller is to execute a scratchpad application when the docking connector is connected to the another electronic device.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, further comprising:

a screen, wherein the scratchpad application is to perform handwriting recognition of a trace on the screen.

10. The electronic device of claim 8, further comprising:

a screen, wherein the scratchpad application is to receive, timestamp, and store user inputs from a trace on the screen.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the trace is formed on the screen using an instrument.

12. A signal-bearing medium comprising machine-readable instructions, wherein the instructions when read and executed by a machine comprise:

determining whether an electronic device is connected to a docking station; and

when the electronic device is connected to the docking station, starting a telephone message pad application when a telephone call is received by a telephone connected to the docking station.

13. The signal-bearing medium of claim 12, wherein the electronic device comprises a screen and wherein the telephone message pad application displays a user interface on the screen.

14. The signal-bearing medium of claim 13, wherein the user interface includes input fields, comprising:

a name of caller field, a telephone number field, and a time of call field.

15. The signal-bearing medium of claim 14, further comprising:

detecting instrument traces on the screen in the input fields; and

performing character recognition on the traces.

16. A system comprising:

a docking station including a first docking connector; and

a tablet computer, including

a second docking connector, and

a controller to start a scratchpad application when the second docking connector is connected to the first docking connector.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the tablet computer further includes a telephone message pad application and wherein the controller is to start the telephone message pad application when a call on a telephone is in progress.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the tablet computer further includes a screen.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the telephone message pad application receives, saves, and timestamps inputs from a trace formed on the screen by an instrument.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the instrument comprises a stylus.