SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING, NAVIGATING AND SELECTING ELECTRONICALLY STORED CONTENT ON A MULTIFUNCTION HANDHELD DEVICE

• US 20110060988A1
• Filed: 11/18/2010
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: DONAHUE, Ellen K., MCCORMICK, William J., KREMER, Kathleen E., MYSLIWY, Brian P., STUCKE, Donald W. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,468,460 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/702
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A method for navigating among activity programs in the memory of a portable handheld multifunction electronic system. Simultaneously displaying on contact-sensitive display a plurality of category icons and a subcategory icon associated with a currently selected subcategory, each category icon having a link to one or more activity programs. If a category has been selected, replacing the plurality of displayed category icons with one or more activity program icons, each of the one or more displayed activity program icons corresponding to a separate one of the activity programs belonging to the selected category and to the currently selected subcategory. If another subcategory has been selected, at least changing the link of each separate displayed category icon to a different one or more activity programs, the different one or more activity program being associated the another subcategory and with each category of the category icons being displayed.

Claims

1. A method for navigating among a number of activity programs electronically stored in processor readable memory of a portable handheld multifunction electronic system having at least a main processor in electrical communication with the memory and with a contact-sensitive display, comprising the steps of:

simultaneously displaying a plurality of category icons and a subcategory icon on the contact-sensitive display,

each separate category icon of the plurality of category icons associated with one separate category of a plurality of categories,

the subcategory icon associated with a currently selected subcategory,

each separate category icon having a link to one or more activity programs of the number of activity programs, the one or more activity programs being linked to each subcategory icon also being associated the currently selected subcategory;

determining whether one or more contracts with the contact-sensitive display represents a user selection of a first selected category corresponding to a first selected category icon of the plurality of displayed category icons, or a user selection of another subcategory corresponding to another displayed subcategory icon, and, in response,

if the first selected category has been selected, replacing the first plurality of displayed category icons with a display of one or more activity program icons, each of the one or more displayed activity program icons corresponding to a separate one of the activity programs belonging to the first selected category and to the currently selected subcategory, or

if another subcategory has been selected, at least changing the link of each separate displayed category icon to a different one or more activity programs of the number of activity programs, the different one or more activity program being associated the another subcategory and with each category of the category icons being displayed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein;

the simultaneously displaying step displays a home icon simultaneously with the displaying of the first plurality of category icons and the subcategory icon, the home icon being displayed on the contact-sensitive display or on a first button switch in electrical communication with the main processor, the home icon being associated with a home screen comprising the display of the currently selected subcategory icon and each separate category icon of the plurality of category icons being associated with the currently selected subcategory icon; and

the determining step further includes determining whether the one or more contracts with the contact-sensitive display or the first button switch represents a user selection of the home screen, and, in response,

if the home screen has been selected, displaying the home screen on the contact-sensitive display.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the simultaneously displaying step further comprises displaying a background on the contact-sensitive display or displaying an action icon on the contact-sensitive display or on a second button switch in electrical communication with the processor,

the background associated with the currently selected subcategory icon,

the processor initiating the display of an animation when the one or more contacts with the contact-sensitive display or the second button switch is determined to be a user selection of the action icon.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether another one or more contacts with the contact-sensitive display represents a user selection of a separate one activity program of the number of activity programs, the separate one activity program corresponding to a selected activity program icon of the one or more activity program icons being displayed on the contact-sensitive display, and, in response, if the separate one activity program has been selected, executing by the main processor the separate one activity program.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the executing step launches the separate one activity program with an application selected from the group of reader, game player, notepad, art studio, audio player, and photo viewer.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing another activity program in the processor readable memory, the another activity program being associated with a separate one category of the plurality of categories and further being associated with another subcategory different from each separate subcategory of the plurality of subcategories; and

adding the another subcategory to the plurality of subcategories.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the storing step comprises generating, with a media management program executable on another electronic device, a user interface on a second display of the another electronic device enabling a user to control the transfer of the another activity program stored in an electronic memory of the another electronic device from the another electronic device to the processor readable memory of the portable handheld multifunction electronic system.

8. A portable handheld multifunction electronic system comprising:

at least a main processor in electrical communication with a processor readable memory and with a contact-sensitive display;

a number of activity programs electronically stored in the processor readable memory; and

a navigation program stored in the processor readable memory, the navigation program encoding the navigation method of claim 1.

9. A first processor readable storage medium having stored therein a first encoding transferable to a processor readable memory of a multifunctional electronic system comprising:

at least a main processor in electrical communication with the processor readable memory and with a contact-sensitive display;

a number of activity programs electronically stored in the processor readable memory; and

a navigation program stored in the processor readable memory, the navigation program encoding the navigation method of claim 1,

the first encoding executable by the main processor of the multifunctional electronic system, the first encoding comprising instructions and data for another activity program being associated with a separate one category of the plurality of categories of the multifunctional electronic system and further being associated with another subcategory different from each separate subcategory of the plurality of subcategories of the multifunctional electronic system.

10. A second processor readable storage medium having stored therein a second encoding executable by another electronic device having a second processor in electrical communication with a second processor readable memory and a second display,

the encoding when executed by the second processor generating a user interface on the second display of the another electronic device,

the user interface enabling a user to control the transfer of another activity program stored in the second processor readable memory from the another electronic device to a processor readable memory of a portable handheld multifunction electronic system comprising:

at least a main processor in electrical communication with the first processor readable memory and with a contact-sensitive display;

a number of activity programs electronically stored in the processor readable memory; and

a navigation program stored in the processor readable memory, the navigation program encoding the navigation method of claim 1,

when the second processor of the another electronic device is in electrical communication with the main processor of the multifunction electronic system.

11. A method for navigating among a number of activity programs electronically stored in processor readable memory of a portable handheld multifunction electronic system having at least a main processor in electrical communication with the memory and with a contact-sensitive display,

each of the activity programs being associated with a separate one of a first set of categories such that each category of the first set is associated with one or more of the number of activity programs,

each of the activity programs further being associated with a separate one of a second set of subcategories such that each subcategory of the second set is associated with one or more of the number of activity programs,

each subcategory further being associated with one or more of the categories such that each subcategory of the second set belongs to one or more of the categories of the first set,

each category of the first set includes one or more of the subcategories of the second set, and

each activity program of the number of activity programs belonging to only one subcategory of the second set and only one category of the first set,

the method comprising the steps of:

simultaneously displaying a first plurality of category icons, at least one subcategory icon and a home icon, the first plurality of category icons and the at least one subcategory icon being displayed on the contact-sensitive display, the home icon being displayed on the contact-sensitive display or on a first button switch in electrical communication with the processor, each displayed subcategory icon corresponding to a separate one of the subcategories of the second set, each of the displayed category icons corresponding to a separate one of the categories of the first set that includes the at least one subcategory corresponding to the at least one subcategory icon, the home icon being associated with a home screen comprising a currently selected subcategory icon and each category icon corresponding to a separate one of the categories of the first set that includes the currently selected subcategory icon;

determining whether one or more contracts with the contact-sensitive display or the first button switch represents as a first selection a selection of one selected subcategory different from the at least one subcategory corresponding to the at least one displayed subcategory icon or a selection of one selected category corresponding to a selected display icon of the plurality of displayed category icons or the selection of the home screen;

if the one selected category has been selected, replacing the first plurality of displayed category icons with a display of one or more activity program icons, each of the one or more displayed activity program icons corresponding to a separate one of the activity programs belonging to the one selected category and to the at least one subcategory, or

if the one selected subcategory has been selected, (a) changing the at least one displayed subcategory icon to another at least one displayed subcategory icon corresponding to the one selected subcategory and (b) changing the subcategory represented by the first plurality of displayed category icons to the one selected subcategory such that each of the first plurality of displayed category icons representing a separate category of the first set further represents a collection of the activity programs belonging to the one selected subcategory of the displayed category, or

if the home screen has been selected, displaying the home screen on the contact-sensitive display;

determining whether a first another one or more contacts with the contact-sensitive display or the first button switch represents a first another selection of the separate one activity program corresponding to a selected activity program icon of the one or more activity program icons being displayed on the contact-sensitive display, or a first another selection of one selected subcategory different from the at least one subcategory corresponding to the at least one displayed subcategory icon or a first another selection of the home screen;

if the separate one activity program has been selected, executing by the main processor the separate one activity program, or

if the home screen has been selected, displaying the home screen for the currently selected subcategory on the contact-sensitive display, or

if the different subcategory has been selected (a) changing the at least one displayed subcategory icon to another at least one displayed subcategory icon corresponding to the different subcategory and (b) changing the one or more activity program icons being displayed on the contact-sensitive display to a display of a different one or more activity program icons each of the different one or more displayed activity program icons corresponding to a separate one of the activity programs belonging to the one selected category and to the another at least one displayed subcategory;

determining whether a second another one or more contracts with the contact-sensitive display or the first button switch represents a second another selection of the home screen; and

if the home screen is selected, displaying the home screen for the currently selected subcategory on the contact-sensitive display,

otherwise, continuing execution of the activity program of the executing step or displaying the activity icons belonging to the currently selected subcategory and the one category to which the activity program of the executing step belongs.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the simultaneously displaying step further comprises displaying a background on the contact-sensitive display or displaying an action icon on the contact-sensitive display or on a second button switch in electrical communication with the processor,

the background associated with the at least one subcategory icon,

the processor initiating the display of an animation when one or more contacts with the contact-sensitive display or the second button switch is determined to be a selection of the action icon.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the executing step launches the separate one activity program with an application selected from the group of reader, game player, notepad, art studio, audio player, and photo viewer.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

storing another activity program in the processor readable memory, the another activity program being associated with a separate one of the first set of categories and further being associated with another subcategory; and

adding the another subcategory to the second set of subcategories.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the storing step comprises generating, with a media management program executable by another electronic device, a user interface on a second display of the another electronic device enabling a user to control the transfer of the another activity program stored in an electronic memory of the another electronic device from the another electronic device to the processor readable memory of the portable handheld multifunction electronic system.

16. A portable handheld multifunction electronic system comprising:

at least a main processor in electrical communication with a processor readable memory and with a contact-sensitive display;

a number of activity programs electronically stored in processor readable memory,

each of the activity programs being associated with a separate one of a first set of categories such that each category of the first set is associated with one or more of the number of activity programs,

each of the activity programs further being associated with a separate one of a second set of subcategories such that each subcategory of the second set is associated with one or more of the number of activity programs,

each subcategory further being associated with one or more of the categories such that each subcategory of the second set belongs to one or more of the categories of the first set,

each category of the first set including one or more of the subcategories of the second set, and

each activity program of the number of activity programs belonging to only one subcategory of the second set and only one category of the first set; and

a navigation program stored in the processor readable memory, the navigation program encoding the navigation method of claim 11.

17. A first processor readable storage medium having stored therein a first encoding transferable to the processor readable memory of the multifunctional electronic system of claim 16 and executable by the main processor of the multifunctional electronic system, the first encoding comprising instructions and data for another activity program being associated with a separate one category of the plurality of categories of the multifunctional electronic system and further being associated with another subcategory different from each separate subcategory of the plurality of subcategories of the multifunctional electronic system.

18. A second processor readable storage medium having stored therein a second encoding executable by another electronic device having a second processor in electrical communication with a a second processor readable memory and a second display, the encoding when executed by the second processor generating a user interface on the second display of the another electronic device, the user interface enabling a user to control the transfer of the another activity program stored in the second processor readable memory from the another electronic device to the processor readable memory of the portable handheld multifunction electronic system of claim 16 when the second processor is in electrical communication with the main processor of the multifunction electronic system.

19. A method for navigating among edutainment activities stored in processor readable memory of an electronic edutainment device having processor in electrical communication with a contact-sensitive display and the memory, the method comprising the steps of:

simultaneously displaying a first directory of application icons corresponding to one or more applications comprising one or more of the edutainment activities having at least one theme, at lease one theme icon of a second directory of theme icons corresponding to one or more themes including the at lease one theme and a home icon, the first directory of application icons and the at lease one theme icon of a second directory of theme icons being displayed on the contact-sensitive display, the home icon being displayed on the contact-sensitive display or on a first button switch in electrical communication with the processor, the home icon being associated with a home screen;

determining whether one or more contracts with the contact-sensitive display or the home button represents as a first selected icon a selection of one of the application icons of the first directory or a selection of another theme icon of the second directory, the another theme icon corresponding to a different theme than the at lease one theme;

replacing the first directory with a third directory if one of the application icons has been selected, the third directory comprising one or more activity icons corresponding to the one or more edutainment activities associated with the application corresponding to the first selected icon;

or

changing the theme of the applications represented by the application icons in the first directory to another theme or changing the activities represented by the activity icons in the third directory to other activities having the another theme, if the another theme icon has been selected;

or

determining whether a first another one or more contracts with the contact-sensitive display represents as a second selected icon a selection of one of the edutainment activity icons, or a selection of another theme icon of the second directory, the another theme icon corresponding to a different theme than the at lease one theme; and

if an edutainment activity icon has been selected, initiating execution of the corresponding edutainment activity;

or

if a different theme has been selected, changing the edutainment activities represented by the activity icons in the third directory to other edutainment activities corresponding to the different theme;

determining whether a second another one or more contracts with the contact-sensitive display or the first button switch represents as a third selected icon a selection of the home icon; and

if the home icon is selected, displaying the home screen for the at least one theme associated with the edutainment activity of the initiating execution step,

otherwise, continue executing the edutainment activity of the initiating execution step or displaying as the third directory the activity icons displayed immediately prior to the initiating execution step.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the simultaneously displaying step further comprising displaying a background on the contact-sensitive display or displaying an action icon on the contact-sensitive display or on a second button switch in electrical communication with the processor,

the background stored in the processor readable memory and associated with one theme icon of the second directory,

the action icon initiating the display of an animation stored in the processor readable memory on the contact-sensitive display when one or more contacts with the contact-sensitive display of the second button switch is determined to be a selection of the action icon.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the initiating execution step launches the one of the edutainment activities with an application selected from the group of reader, game player, notepad, art studio, audio player, and photo viewer.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

storing another edutainment activity in the processor readable memory, the another edutainment activity being associated with another theme and with the one or more applications; and

adding another theme icon associated with the another edutainment activity to the second directory.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the storing step comprises generating, with a media management program hosted on another electronic device, a user interface on a display of the another electronic device enabling a user to control the transfer of the another edutainment activity from the another electronic device to the processor readable memory.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the generating a user interface step further comprises:

generating a first tabbed window divided into a first pane and a second pane;

displaying in the first pane a library directory of edutainment activities stored on the computer connectable to the processor by the communication link and transferable to the edutainment device; and

displaying in the second pane a device directory of edutainment activities stored in the memory of the edutainment device.

25. An electronic edutainment device comprising:

a contact-sensitive display;

a processor readable memory;

a processor electrically connected to the display and the memory;

one or more applications comprising one or more edutainment activities stored in the memory, each edutainment activity comprising an edutainment program configured to be executed by the processor, each edutainment program having one or more themes; and

a display navigation program stored in the memory, the navigation program encoding the navigation method of claim 19.

26. A first processor readable storage medium having stored therein a first encoding transferable to the processor readable memory of the multifunctional electronic system of claim 25 and executable by the main processor of the multifunctional electronic system, the first encoding comprising instructions and data for another activity program being associated with a separate one category of the plurality of categories of the multifunctional electronic system and further being associated with another subcategory different from each separate subcategory of the plurality of subcategories of the multifunctional electronic system.

27. A second processor readable storage medium having stored therein a second encoding executable by another electronic device having a second processor in electrical communication with a second processor readable memory and a second display, the second encoding when executed by the second processor generating a user interface on the second display of the another electronic device, the user interface enabling a user to control the transfer of the another activity program stored in the second processor readable memory from the another electronic device to the processor readable memory of the portable handheld multifunction electronic system of claim 25 when the second processor is in electrical communication with the main processor of the multifunction electronic system.