Multipurpose navigation keys for an electronic imaging device

• US 20050283729A1
• Filed: 06/16/2004
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scenera Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Original Assignee: Scenera Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Inventors: Morris, Robert P., Sullivan, Stephen G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,222,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/720
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a portable electronic imaging device, comprising a display screen for displaying objects including any combination of digital still images, video clips, menu items, and icons; and a navigation controller comprising navigation keys for allowing a user to navigate between the displayed objects, wherein the user may select a currently displayed object without moving a finger from a navigation key last pressed, thereby implementing navigation and select functions on a single controller.

Claims

1. A portable electronic imaging device, comprising:

a display screen for displaying objects including any combination of digital still images, video clips, menu items, and icons; and

a navigation controller comprising navigation keys for allowing a user to navigate between the displayed objects, wherein the user may select a currently displayed object without moving a finger from a navigation key last pressed, thereby implementing navigation and select functions on a single controller.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is configured to detect a double-press on any one of the navigation keys, and interprets the double-press as a user selection event that invokes a default operation on the currently selected object.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the device is configured to detect a press-and-hold on any one of the navigation keys, and interprets the press-and hold as a user selection event that invokes a default operation on the currently selected object.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the device is configured to detect both double-presses and press-and-holds on any navigation key, wherein a detected double-press indicates a user selection, while a detected press-and-hold invokes an action on the currently selected object.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the detected press-and-hold indicates a user selection, while the detected double-presses invokes the action on the currently selected object.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein in response to detecting that one of the navigation keys has been pressed, interpreting the current key press as a navigation event if the time between previous presses of the same key and the current key press is greater than the predetermined double-press time.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein in response to detecting that one of the navigation keys has been pressed, interpreting the current key press as a select event if the time between previous presses of the same key and the current key press is less than the double-press time.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the device distinguishes between fast scrolling during navigation and a double-press by determining if the time between previous presses of the same key and the current key press is greater than the predetermined double-press time, and if so, by examining whether a last plurality of presses were performed on the same navigation key, and if so, then determining that the user is fast-scrolling through displayed objects during navigation.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein if the time between the previous press of the same key and the current press is less than the double-press time, but the last plurality of presses were not performed on the same navigation key, then the current key press is interpreted as a selection event.

10. The device of claim 3 wherein the device comprises at least one of a digital camera, camera-enabled cell phone, MP3 player, and a personal digital assistant.

11. A portable electronic imaging device, comprising:

a display screen for displaying objects including any combination of digital still images, video clips, menu items, and icons; and

a navigation controller comprising navigation keys for allowing a user to navigate between the displayed objects, wherein the device is configured to detect a double-press on any one of the navigation keys, and interprets the double-press as a user selection event that invokes a default operation on the currently selected object.

12. A portable electronic imaging device, comprising:

a display screen for displaying objects including any combination of digital still images, video clips, menu items, and icons; and

a navigation controller comprising navigation keys for allowing a user to navigate between the displayed objects, wherein the device is configured to detect a press-and-hold on any one of the navigation keys, and interprets the press-and hold as a user selection event that invokes a default operation on the currently selected object.

13. A method for providing a portable electronic imaging device with a multipurpose navigation controller, comprising:

displaying objects on a display screen, wherein the objects include any combination of digital still images, video clips, menu items, and icons; and

providing the device with a navigation controller comprising navigation keys for allowing a user to navigate between the displayed objects, wherein the user may select a currently displayed object without moving a finger from a navigation key last pressed, thereby implementing navigation and select functions on a single controller.

14. The method of claim 13 further including:

configuring the device to detect a double-press on any one of the navigation keys, and interpreting the double-press as a user selection event that invokes a default operation on the currently selected object.

15. The method of claim 14 further including:

configuring the device to detect a press-and-hold on any one of the navigation keys, and interpreting the press-and hold as a user selection event that invokes a default operation on the currently selected object.

16. The method of claim 15 further including:

configuring the device to detect both double-presses and press-and-holds on any navigation key, wherein a detected double-press indicates a user selection, while a detected press-and-hold invokes an action on the currently selected object.

17. The method of claim 15 further including:

configuring the device to detect press-and-holds and double-presses on any navigation key, wherein the detected press-and-hold indicates a user selection, while the detected double-presses invokes an action on the currently selected object.

18. The method of claim 14 further including:

in response to detecting that one of the navigation keys has been pressed, interpreting the current key press as a navigation event if the time between previous presses of the same key and the current key press is greater than the predetermined double-press time.

19. The method of claim 18 further including:

in response to detecting that one of the navigation keys has been pressed, interpreting the current key press as a select event if the time between previous presses of the same key and the current key press is less than the predetermined double-press time.

20. The method of claim 19 further including:

distinguishing between fast scrolling during navigation and a double-press by determining if the time between a previous presses of the same key and the current key press is greater than the predetermined double-press time, and if so, by examining whether a last plurality of presses were performed on the same navigation key, and if so, then determining that the user is fast-scrolling through displayed objects during navigation.

21. The method of claim 20 further including:

if the time between the previous press of the same key and the current press is less than the stored double-press time, but the last plurality of presses were not performed on the same navigation key, then interpreting the current key press as a selection event.

22. The method of claim 15 further including:

providing the device at least one of a digital camera, camera-enabled cell phone, MP3 player, and a personal digital assistant.