User-interface features for computers with contact-sensitive displays

• US 20040046791A1
• Filed: 05/30/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Bernoulli, Carlo, Davis, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,406,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/762
• 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 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide for a portable computer with a contact-sensitive display having a user-interface that is configurable through user-contact with the display. An active input area may be provided that is configurable in appearance and functionality. The contents of the active input area, its functionality, and the manner in which it is oriented, particularly with respect to a left or right handedness, are described herein.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a user-interface of a computer, the method comprising:

providing a set of one or more features within a designated region of a display of the computer, wherein each of the set of features is operable through contact between an object and the display in order to cause the computer to perform a function designated to be provided with that feature;

detecting a tap event on the display of the computer;

associating the tap event with a first feature in the set of features;

displaying one or more alternate features that are not in the set of features in response to detecting the tap event;

detecting, through contact between the object and the display, a selection of a second feature from the one or more alternate features; and

providing the second feature instead of the first feature as one of the set of features provided within the designated region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a set of one or more features within a designated region of a display includes displaying one or more features in the set of features as an active icon on the designated region of the display.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a tap event includes detecting a tap and hold of a stylus on the display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a tap and hold of a stylus on the display includes detecting the tap on a region of the display where the first feature is being provided.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a tap event includes detecting a tap and a drag of the stylus on the display.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein detecting a tap and a drag of the stylus on the display includes detecting a tap of the stylus on a location of the display where the first feature is provided, and a drag of the stylus from the location to a new location.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a list that includes an indication of each alternative feature, including the second feature, and wherein detecting a selection of a second feature includes detecting, through contact between the object and the display, a selection of one of the indications in the list.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein detecting a selection of one of the indications in the list includes detecting a tap on the display in a location where the one indication is being displayed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing one or more features within a designated region of a display of the computer includes displaying a plurality of selectable icons, wherein each icon in the plurality of selectable icons has an iconic expression that distinguishes that icon from the other icons in the plurality of selectable icons.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of providing the second feature includes displaying a second icon from the plurality of selectable icons.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the set of one or more features includes displaying the one or more features after a selection to view the one or more features.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the set of one or more features includes displaying icons which can be selected through contact with the display in order to launch an application previously associated with that icon.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein after providing the second feature, the method further comprises:

detecting a manual selection of the second icon, and

launching the application previously associated with the second icon in response to detecting the manual selection of the second icon.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of displaying one or more alternative features includes displaying a plurality of icons, wherein each icon represents one of the alternative features.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a tap event on the display of the computer includes detecting a tap on the display, and then qualifying the tap as a tap event for exchanging the first feature for another feature.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein qualifying the tap as a tap event includes determining that the tap has lasted for more than a designated duration.

17. A method for configuring a computer, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of designated regions on a display of the computer in which icons are to appear, wherein the designated regions are part of an active input area, and wherein the active input area includes a handwriting recognition area that recognizes strokes entered upon that area as characters;

detecting a tap event on a first designated region in the plurality of designated regions;

in response to the tap event, presenting the user with a plurality of representations, each representation being for a corresponding icon that is assigned a particular function;

detecting a user-selection of a first representation in the plurality of representations;

assigning the icon corresponding to the first representation to the designated region; and

designating the active input area to appear with the icon corresponding to the first representation.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising replacing the icon corresponding to the first representation with another icon selected through another tap event.

19. A method for configuring a user-interface of a computer, the method comprising:

associating each icon in a plurality of icons with a corresponding function, the plurality of icons including a first icon associated with a first function and a second icon associated with a second function;

designating an active input area to be provided on a contact-sensitive display of the computer, wherein the active input area is comprised of a plurality of predetermined user-interactive features and wherein the first icon is assigned to be one of the features of the active input area;

receiving a user-selection to alter the active input area;

in response to receiving the user-selection, displaying one or more alternate icons, including the second icon;

detecting, through contact between an object and a display surface of the computer, a selection of the second icon; and

assigning the second icon to the active input area to replace the first icon, so that the second icon is one of the features of the active input area instead of the first icon.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein after performing the step of assigning the second icon to the active input area, the method further comprises the step of displaying the active input area with the second icon, but not the first icon.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein displaying the active input area with the second icon includes displaying the active input area with the second icon in a relative position previously assigned to the first icon.

22. A computer comprising:

a contact-sensitive display surface; and

a processor configured to operate the display surface and to;

provide a set of one or more features within a designated region of the display surface;

detect a manual selection of any one of the features in the set of features;

in response to detecting the manual selection of one of the features, perform a function associated with that feature;

detect a tap event;

associate the tap event to a first feature in the set of features;

display one or more alternate features that are not in the set of features in response to detecting the tap event;

detect a manual selection of a second feature from the one or more alternate features; and

display the second feature instead of the first feature as one of the set of features provided within the designated region.

23. The computer of claim 22, wherein the contact-sensitive display surface includes a digitizer that is coupled to the processor.

24. The computer of claim 23, further comprising a housing, and a display assembly provided within the housing, wherein the display assembly includes the contact-sensitive display surface.

25. The computer of claim 24, wherein the display assembly is configured to operate in monochrome and color, and wherein the processor is configured to provide the set of one or more features in monochrome.