Graphical user interface features of a browser in a hand-held wireless communication device

• US 20040142720A1
• Filed: 01/07/2004
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Paul A. Smethers
• Original Assignee: Paul A. Smethers
• Inventors: Smethers, Paul A.
• Application Number:
  US10/754,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20040142720A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

A microbrowser in a mobile communications device generates a Graphical User Interface (GUI) including features that make the device more user-friendly. These features address problems associated with a device that has relatively few input keys and restrictive functionality for cursor movement and pointing, such as a two-arrow key device. The GUI features include: a combined browser-application menu that includes a dismiss bar and browser options represented by horizontally placed icons; a separate browser menu accessible from the title bar of a displayed screen; an auto-jump feature that automatically highlights the next actionable control after a control has been edited; a control-sensitive softkey menu on the secondary softkey that changes according to the control currently in use; table navigation that allows more efficient navigation through table or calendar entries using two arrow keys; and a non-scrollable header with actionable controls.

Claims

1. A hand-held wireless communication device which lacks a direct pointing device and which comprises:

a processor;

a display;

a pointing device capable of specifying directional inputs along only a single axis; and

a storage device having a browser stored therein, which when executed by the processor displays a mark-up language based screen on the display, the mark-up language based screen including

a body that is scrollable in response to user inputs from the pointing device, and

a static area located adjacent to the body, the static area including a control operable in response to user inputs, wherein the static area is non-scrollable so as to remain visible when the body is scrolled.

2. A hand-held wireless communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein the pointing device comprises a set of up/down directional keys.

3. A hand-held wireless communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein the user may move an indicator between the body and the static area by using the pointing device, the indicator for indicating an item shown on the display.

4. A hand-held wireless communication device as recited in claim 3, wherein the indicator automatically moves from the static area to the body in response to receiving a user input from the pointing device when a predetermined item in the static area is indicated by the indicator.

5. A hand-held wireless communication device as recited in claim 3, wherein the static area and the body each may include a plurality of items, and wherein the indicator automatically moves from the body to the static area if:

the indicator currently indicates a predetermined item in the body in proximity to the static area, and

a user input from the pointing device is received specifying movement of the indicator toward the static area, and

the body has already been scrolled away from the static area by a maximum amount.

6. A hand-held wireless communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein the static area is located along an edge of the display.

7. A hand-held wireless communication device as recited in claim 6, wherein the static area is a header of the screen.

8. A hand-held wireless communication device as recited in claim 6, wherein the static area is a footer of the screen.

9. A method of operating a mobile communication device which has a directional input device capable of specifying user inputs along only a single axis and which lacks a direct pointing device, the method comprising:

operating a browser in the mobile communication device to access hypermedia content via a wireless network;

displaying a mark-up language based screen on a display of the mobile communication device, the mark-up language based screen including a first portion and a second portion located adjacent to the first portion, the first portion including a control operable in response to user inputs;

scrolling the second portion of the screen beyond a visible area of the display in response to user inputs from said directional input device which is capable of specifying directional inputs along only the single axis; and

not scrolling the first portion of the screen while the second portion is being scrolled beyond the visible area of the display so as to maintain visibility of the first portion to a user while the second portion is scrolled.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the directional input device comprises a set of up/down directional keys.

11. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

displaying on the display an indicator for indicating an item shown on the display; and

allowing the user to move the indicator between the first and second portions by using the directional input device.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a user input from the directional input device when a predetermined item in the first portion is indicated by the indicator; and

moving the indicator from the first portion of the screen to the second portion of the screen in response to the user input.

13. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the first portion of the screen and the second portion of the screen each include a set of displayed items, the method further comprising moving the indicator from the second portion to the first portion if:

the indicator currently indicates a predetermined item in the second portion in proximity to the first portion;

a user input from the directional input device is received specifying movement of the indicator toward the first portion; and

the second portion has already been scrolled away from the first portion by a maximum amount.

14. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the first portion is located along an edge of the visible area of the display.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the first portion is a header of the screen.

16. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the first portion is a footer of the screen.

17. A mobile communication device which lacks a direct pointing device and which comprises:

a directional input device capable of specifying user inputs along only a single axis;

a display;

means for accessing hypermedia content via a wireless network;

means for displaying a mark-up language based screen of said content on the display, the mark-up language based screen including a first portion and a second portion located adjacent to the first portion, the first portion including a control operable in response to user inputs;

means for scrolling the second portion of the screen beyond a visible area of the display in response to user inputs from the directional input device; and

means for not maintaining the first portion of the screen static while the second portion is being scrolled beyond the visible area of the display so as to maintain visibility of the first portion to a user while the second portion is scrolled.