User-Interface and Architecture for Portable Processing Device

• US 20080125180A1
• Filed: 02/12/2007
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Inventors: Dykstra-Erickson, Elizabeth, Hoffman, George, Perotti, Erik
• Granted Patent: US 8,082,008 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• 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 user interface for a portable device is disclosed. The method includes a computer-implemented method for providing a user interface for interacting with a computing device, the method including the steps of: representing an indicator of an application on the computing device in a highlighted state when a user navigates to the indicator; presenting an option panel contextually related to the application when the user selects a panel key on the computing device; and running the application when the user selects an execute key on the computing device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing a user interface for interacting with a computing device, said method comprising the steps of:

representing an indicator of an application on said computing device in a highlighted state when a user navigates to said indicator;

presenting an option panel contextually related to said application when said user selects a panel key on said computing device; and

running said application when said user selects an execute key on said computing device.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of:

representing said indicator in a non-highlighted state when said user selects a clear key on said computing device.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said computing device is a mobile device.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said computing device is a portable telephone.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said highlighted state is an enlarged icon.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said highlighted state is a reverse video icon.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said application is a telephone application.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said option panel comprises contextual tabs.

9. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein said contextual tabs are scrollable.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a display including indicators for each application executable on said electronic device; and

at least one navigation key for navigating among said indicators,

wherein said indicators are highlighted when said navigation key activates said indicator, and

wherein said indicators displays a contextual panel when said navigation key executes said indicator.

11. The electronic device in accordance with claim 10 wherein said indicator is a graphical icon.

12. The electronic device in accordance with claim 10 wherein said panel is a contextual tab.

13. The electronic device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said indicators are non-highlighted when a clear key on said computing device is activated.

14. The electronic device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said application is a telephone application.

15. The electronic device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said application is a music application.

16. The electronic device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said highlighted indicator is an enlarged icon.

17. The electronic device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said highlighted indicator is a reverse video icon.

18. The electronic device in accordance with claim 12, wherein said contextual tab is scrollable.

19. The electronic device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said application executes on said computing device when said user selects an execute key.

20. The electronic device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said contextual tab is highlighted upon activation by said user.