Method and apparatus for interacting with a portable computer system

• US 20060010405A1
• Filed: 09/12/2005
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey C. Hawkins, Robert Yuji Haitani
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey C. Hawkins, Robert Yuji Haitani
• Inventors: Hawkins, Jeffrey C., Haitani, Robert Yuji
• Granted Patent: US 7,487,470 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/864
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes

Abstract

A palmtop computer system that incorporates mechanical buttons that combine the task of turning the palmtop computer system on and starting a particular application program. Furthermore, the same mechanical button can be used to navigate the application program to find the information that is most likely needed by the user. Additionally, external devices can be coupled to the palmtop computer system in a manner that allows the external hardware device to initiate specific application programs that cooperate with the external hardware device.

Claims

1. A method comprising performing a machine-executed operation involving instructions executable by a handheld electronic device, said handheld electronic device comprising one or more processors, wherein the machine-executed operation is at least one of:

A) sending the instructions over transmission media;

B) receiving the instructions over transmission media;

C) storing the instructions onto a machine-readable storage medium; and

D) executing the instructions;

wherein the instructions are instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of;

detecting that a first application button of a plurality of mechanical application buttons is pressed while the handheld electronic device is in a low power state;

wherein the handheld electronic device includes the plurality of mechanical application buttons;

wherein at least a first application of one or more applications that are executable on the handheld electronic device is associated with the first application button;

wherein the first application is associated with the first application button prior to the first application button being pressed;

wherein said pressing the first application button causes the handheld electronic device to switch from the low power state to an operational state;

in response to detecting that the first application button in the plurality of a mechanical application buttons is pressed while the handheld electronic device is in a low power state;

identifying the first application associated with the first application button, and

then automatically executing the first application to display a selected state of the first application, wherein displaying the selected state of the first application includes automatically displaying user-inputted data for the first application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the selected state of the first application includes automatically displaying user-inputted data for the first application entered through a previous use of the first application on the handheld electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the selected state of the first application includes automatically displaying user-inputted data previously entered through a computer for use with the first application when the first application is executed on the handheld electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically executing the first application associated with the first application button includes displaying a selected day by executing a calendar application, wherein displaying the selected day includes automatically displaying an appointment list created by a user.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein automatically executing the first application associated with the first application button includes displaying a selected day by executing a calendar application, wherein displaying the selected day includes automatically displaying an appointment list transferred from the computer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically executing the first application associated with the first application button includes displaying a list of one or more contacts by executing an address book application.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein automatically executing the first application associated with the first application button includes displaying a list of one or more contacts by executing an address book application transferred from the computer.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a signal corresponding to a second application button in the plurality of mechanical application buttons being pressed while the handheld electronic device is in the operational state;

stopping execution of the first application;

identifying a second application associated with the second application button, wherein the second application is associated with the second application button prior to the second application button being pressed; and

automatically executing the second application by displaying a selected state of the second application, wherein displaying the selected state of the second application includes automatically displaying user-inputted data for the second application.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein displaying the selected state of the second application includes automatically displaying user-inputted data for the second application entered through a previous use of the second application on the handheld electronic device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein displaying the selected state of the second application includes automatically displaying user-inputted data previously entered through a computer for use with the second application when the second application is executed on the handheld electronic device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the handheld electronic device switches from the low power state to the operational state by waking said one or more processors of the handheld electronic device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps further include:

receiving from a computer data associated with the one or more applications that are executable on the handheld electronic device; and

wherein receiving from a computer data associated with the one or more applications includes synchronizing the handheld electronic device with the computer.