User interface on a portable electronic device
First Claim
1. A method of interacting with an icon displayed on a touch screen in an electronic device, the electronic device capable of carrying a command symbolized by the icon and further capable of providing a message associated with the command, wherein the icon is displayed at a designated area of the screen so as to allow a user to interact with the icon by using a physical object, said method comprising the steps of:
- 1) contacting the screen at the designated area by the physical object; and
2) removing the physical object from the screen before a selected time has expired to cause the electronic device to carry out the command, or 3) keeping the physical object at the designated area longer than the selected time to cause the electronic device to provide the message.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic device capable of carrying out a plurality of commands, which are symbolized by a plurality of icons displayed on a touch screen so as to allow a user to select a command by contacting the screen at the icon with a pen, or other object. If the contact is brief, the selected command is carried out. If the contact is longer than a predetermined time, a message associated with the command is provided. In the latter case, if the user still wants the selected command to be carried out, the user removes the pen off the screen directly from the icon. Otherwise, the user moves the pen out of the icon area. The message is then ended. If the user moves the pen to another icon, a different message is provided. The message can be provided in a text form or an audible form.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of interacting with an icon displayed on a touch screen in an electronic device, the electronic device capable of carrying a command symbolized by the icon and further capable of providing a message associated with the command, wherein the icon is displayed at a designated area of the screen so as to allow a user to interact with the icon by using a physical object, said method comprising the steps of:
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1) contacting the screen at the designated area by the physical object; and
2) removing the physical object from the screen before a selected time has expired to cause the electronic device to carry out the command, or 3) keeping the physical object at the designated area longer than the selected time to cause the electronic device to provide the message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An electronic device capable of carrying out a plurality of commands, comprising:
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a screen having a plurality of designated areas for displaying a plurality of icons symbolizing the commands, so as to allow a user to interact with an icon by using a physical object to contact the screen at the corresponding designated area;
a sensing device, operatively connected to the screen to sense the contact of the screen by the physical object, for providing a signal in the electronic device indicative of said contacting, and means, responsive to the signal, for carrying out further steps, such that if the physical object is removed from the screen after contacting said designated area but before a selected time has expired, said means carries out the command symbolized by said icon, and if the physical object is kept at said designated area longer than the selected time, said means provides a message associated with said command. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A series of specific operational steps expressible in a plurality of computer codes to be executed by a data processing means in an electronic device having a screen, the electronic device capable of carrying out a plurality of commands, said series comprising:
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a code for generating a plurality of icons symbolizing the commands, the icons displayed at a plurality of designated areas on the screen so as to allow a user to interact with an icon by using a physical object to contact the screen at the corresponding designated area; and
a code, responsive to said user interaction, for causing the electronic device to carry out the command symbolized by said icon, if the physical object is removed from the screen after contacting said designated area but before a selected time has expired, the electronic device is caused to carry out the command symbolized by said icon, and causing the electronic device to provide a message associated with said command, if the physical object is kept at said designated area longer than the selected time. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification