Pushbutton user interface with functionality preview

• US 20060031765A1
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ThinkLogix, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Vulcan Patents LLC
• Inventors: Snibbe, Scott S., Roderick, Jayne B., Verplank, William L., MacLean, Karon E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,191,401 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/702
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/008 with a haptic or a tactile feedback controlled by electrical means, e.g. a motor or magnetofriction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/05 electromechanical
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/032 Feedback about selected symbol, e.g. display
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/033 by speech

Abstract

A pushbutton user interface enables a user to preview the effect of activating a pushbutton of the interface before the pushbutton is activated. The pushbutton user interface can be implemented so that an input (preview input) to the pushbutton that does not produce an activation of the pushbutton is sensed and, in response to the sensed input, a preview is displayed that indicates the effect of activating the pushbutton. The preview input can be sensed using, for example, a force-sensitive resistor, potentiometer or strain gauge. The preview display can include, for example, a visual display, an audio display, a haptic display, or a combination of two or three such displays. The pushbutton user interface can be implemented so that the preview input and an activation input (i.e., an input that produces an activation of the pushbutton) are sensed as a result of an input to the pushbutton along the same axis or along different (e.g., orthogonal) axes.

Claims

1. A method of displaying a preview, comprising:

sensing that a physical input mechanism has been engaged to a degree that does not produce an activation of the physical input mechanism; and

displaying a preview comprising at least a portion of content data that would be provided as output if the physical input mechanism were activated, wherein the content of the preview varies in accordance with the degree to which the physical input mechanism has been engaged.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further including in the event the physical input mechanism has been engaged to a degree that produces an activation of the physical input mechanism, activating the physical input mechanism.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the physical input mechanism is coupled to a remote control.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the physical input mechanism is coupled to a content player.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the physical input mechanism includes a button.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the physical input mechanism includes a switch.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the degree to which the physical input mechanism has been engaged includes an amount of pressure.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the degree to which the physical input mechanism has been engaged includes an amount of displacement.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the degree to which the physical input mechanism has been engaged includes an angle of rotation.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein engaging the physical input mechanism along a first axis is associated with activating the function and engaging the physical input mechanism along a second axis is associated with displaying the preview.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a first range of degrees to which the physical input mechanism has been engaged is associated with activating the function and a second range of degrees to which the physical input mechanism has been engaged is associated with displaying the preview.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein varying the content of the preview includes changing a size.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein varying the content of the preview includes changing a volume.

14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the activation of the physical input mechanism is associated with selecting content.

15. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the activation of the physical input mechanism is associated with selecting audio content.

16. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the activation of the physical input mechanism is associated with selecting video content.

17. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the activation of the physical input mechanism is associated with selecting content that is broadcast.

18. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the activation of the physical input mechanism is associated with selecting content that is accessible via a distributed network.

19. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the activation of the physical input mechanism is associated with selecting content that is stored.

20. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the activation of the physical input mechanism is associated with selecting a first set of content; and

displaying the preview further includes displaying the first set of content while simultaneously displaying a second set of content that is a current selection.

21. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the activation of the physical input mechanism is associated with selecting a first set of content associated with a first channel; and

displaying the preview further includes displaying the first set of content while simultaneously displaying a second set of content, associated with a second channel, that is a current selection.

22. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the activation of the physical input mechanism is associated with selecting a first set of content accessible via a distributed network; and

displaying the preview further includes displaying the first set of content while simultaneously displaying a second set of content that is broadcast and is a current selection.

23. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the activation of the physical input mechanism is associated with selecting content; and

displaying the preview includes displaying at least a portion of an annotation associated with the content.

24. A system for displaying a preview, comprising:

a processor configured to sense that a physical input mechanism has been engaged to a degree that does not produce an activation of the physical input mechanism; and

an interface configured to display a preview comprising at least a portion of content data that would be provided as output if the physical input mechanism were activated, wherein the content of the preview varies in accordance with the degree to which the physical input mechanism has been engaged.

25. A computer program product for displaying a preview, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:

sensing that a physical input mechanism has been engaged to a degree that does not produce an activation of the physical input mechanism; and

displaying a preview comprising at least a portion of content data that would be provided as output if the physical input mechanism were activated, wherein the content of the preview varies in accordance with the degree to which the physical input mechanism has been engaged.