System for processing programmable buttons using system control interrupts

• US 20030236935A1
• Filed: 06/21/2002
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Sundaram, Rajesh, Prabhune, Uday A., Mustafa, Tariq, Amemiya, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,139,850 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/260
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

System for processing programmable buttons using system control interrupts in a portable device. The system comprises a programmable button that comprises logic to generate a selected system control interrupt when actuated. The system also comprises interrupt logic coupled to receive the selected system control interrupt. The interrupt logic comprises logic to generate a button report that includes a button identifier, which indicates that the programmable button has been actuated. The system also comprises button support logic that is coupled to receive the button report, the button support logic comprises logic to determine a selectable device function associated with the button identifier, and logic to activate the selectable device function.

Claims

1. System to process actuations of a programmable button in a portable device, the device includes an operating system that operates to process one or more system control interrupts, the system comprising:

a programmable button that comprises logic to generate a selected system control interrupt when actuated;

interrupt logic coupled to receive the selected system control interrupt, the interrupt logic comprises logic to generate a button report that includes a button identifier, which indicates that the programmable button has been actuated; and

button support logic that is coupled to receive the button report, the button support logic comprises logic to determine a selectable device function associated with the button identifier, and logic to activate the selectable device function.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the selectable device function is one of a system level function and an application level function.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the interrupt logic comprises a mini-driver program that operates to generate the button report.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the mini-driver further comprises timing logic that operates to validate that the programmable button is actuation for a selectable time period before the button report is generated.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the selectable device function is a display selection function that activates one or both of an internal display and an external display.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the selectable device function is a logon function.

13. The tablet PC of claim 1, wherein the selectable device function is one of a system level function and an application level function.

14. The tablet PC of claim 13, wherein the interrupt logic comprises a mini-driver program that operates to generate the button report.

15. The tablet PC of claim 14, wherein the mini-driver further comprises timing logic that operates to validate that the selected programmable button is actuation for a selectable time period before the button report is generated.

16. The tablet PC of claim 13, wherein the selectable device function is a display selection function that activates one or both of an internal display and an external display.

17. The tablet PC of claim 13, wherein the selectable device function is a logon function.

7. A method for processing actuations of a programmable button in a portable device, the device includes an operating system that operates to process one or more system control interrupts, the method comprising steps of:

generating a selected system control interrupt when a selected programmable button is actuated;

receiving the selected system control interrupt;

generating a button report that includes a button identifier for the selected programmable button;

accessing a system registry to determine a selectable device function associated with the button identifier; and

activating the selectable device function.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of activating is a step of activating one of a system level function and an application level function.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising steps of:

activating a timing function in response to the actuation of the selected programmable button;

determining if the actuation of the selected programmable button meets a selected timing criteria; and

generating the button report that includes a button identifier for the selected programmable button if it is determined that the actuation of the selected programmable button meets the selected timing criteria.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of activating is a step of activating a display selection function that activates one or both of an internal device display and an external device display.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of accessing is a step of accessing a system registry based on a state characteristic of the portable device to determine a selectable device function associated with the button identifier.

12. A tablet PC device that includes a plurality of programmable buttons accessible at an outside surface of the device, the tablet PC includes an operating system that operates to process one or more system control interrupts, the tablet PC comprising:

logic to generate a selected system control interrupt when a selected programmable button of the plurality of programmable buttons is actuated;

interrupt logic coupled to receive the selected system control interrupt, the interrupt logic comprises logic to generate a button report that includes a button identifier, which indicates that the selected programmable button has been actuated; and

button support logic that is coupled to receive the button report, the button support logic comprises logic to determine a selectable device function associated with the button identifier, and logic to activate the selectable device function.

18. The tablet PC of claim 12, wherein the button support logic includes logic to determine the selectable device function from a registry based on a state characteristic of the tablet PC.