Method and apparatus for mobile device screen reformatting utilizing hypertext

• US 5,801,691 A
• Filed: 12/31/1996
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dahl, Scott S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Katbab, A.
• Application Number:
  US08/777,896
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 345/342, 345/112, 345/118, 345/127, 707/518-521, 707/525, 707/507, 707/508, 707/501
• US Class Current: 715/746
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/145 related to small screens

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an improved mobile data processing device and a method of operating a mobile data processing device. The mobile data processing device includes a relatively small display screen. The present invention utilization by the mobile data processing device of an application which includes a plurality of screens which have been written for use in a data processing system having a relatively large display screen. When the application is loaded into the mobile data processing device and started, at least a portion of a particular one of the plurality of screens of the application is displayed on the relatively small display screen of the mobile data processing device, Next, the mobile data processing device is utilized to determine whether or not display items from said particular one of said plurality of screens are not fully displayed within said relatively small display screen of said mobile data processing device. If it is determined that said display items from said particular one of said plurality of screens are not fully displayed within said relatively small display screen of said mobile data processing device, then said mobile data processing device automatically generates a substitute screen for said particular one of said plurality of screens in said application. The substitute screen relocates said display items to render them visible on said relatively small display screen of said mobile data processing device

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile data processing device with a relatively small display screen to facilitate utilization of an application which includes a plurality of screens which have been written for use in a data processing system having a relatively large display screen, comprising the method steps of:

loading said application into said mobile data processing device;

calling for display at least a portion of a particular one of said plurality of screens of said application on said relatively small display of said mobile data processing device;

determining whether or not display items from said particular one of said plurality of screens cannot be fully displayed within said relatively small display of said mobile data processing device;

if it is determined that said display items from said particular one of said plurality of screens cannot be fully displayed within said relatively small display of said mobile data processing device, automatically generating a substitute screen for said particular one of said plurality of screens of said application which;

(1) relocates said display items to render them visible on said relatively small display of said mobile data processing device; and

(2) particular fields of said display items are converted from a full-text display status to a hypertext display status.

2. A method of operating a mobile data processing device according to claim 1, wherein said step of automatically generating a substitute screen comprises:

if it is determined that said display items from said particular one of said plurality of screens cannot be fully displayed within said relatively small display of said mobile data processing device, automatically generating a substitute screen for said particular one of said plurality of screens of said application which;

(1) relocates said display items to render them visible on said relatively small display of said mobile data processing device by closely grouping said display items; and

(2) particular fields of said display items are converted from a full-text display status to a hypertext display status.

3. A method of operating a mobile data processing device according to claim 1, wherein said display items include informational display items and data entry display area, and wherein said step of automatically generating a substitute screen comprises:

if it is determined that said display items from said particular one of said plurality of screens cannot be fully displayed within said relatively small display screen of said mobile data processing device, automatically generating a substitute screen for said particular one of said plurality of screens of said application which;

(1) relocates said display items to render them visible on said relatively small display of said mobile data processing device by closely grouping said display items; and

(2) particular informational display items of said display items converts from a full-text display status to a hypertext display status; and

(3) maintains particular data entry display areas in a full-text display status.

4. A method of operating a mobile data processing device according to claim 1, wherein said display items include informational display items and data entry display area, and wherein said step of automatically generating a substitute screen comprises:

if it is determined that said display items from said particular one of said plurality of screens cannot be fully displayed within said relatively small display of said mobile data processing device, automatically generating a substitute screen for said particular one of said plurality of screens of said application which;

(1) relocates said display items to render them visible on said relatively small display of said mobile data processing device by closely grouping said display items; and

(2) converts particular informational display items of said display items from a full-text display status to a hypertext display status; and

(3) maintains particular data entry display areas in a full-text display status.

and wherein said method further includes;

automatically switching said particular informational display items between a hypertext display status and a full-text display status upon occurrence of one of the following;

(1) said application determines that a user prompt for a particular informational display item is required; and

(2) said application determines that a particular predetermined operator input has occurred.

5. A method of operating a mobile data processing device according to claim 4, wherein said particular predetermined operator input comprises at least one of:

(1) operator location of a cursor on a portion of said relatively small display associated with said particular informational display item; and

(2) operator location of a graphical pointing device on a portion of said relatively small display associated with said particular informational display item.

6. A method of operating a mobile data processing device according to claim 4, further comprising:

automatically switching said particular informational display item between a full-text display status to a hypertext display status upon occurrence of one of the following;

(1) said application determines that another and different user prompt for another and different informational display item is required; and

(2) said application determines a particular predetermined operator input has occurred.

7. A method of operating a mobile data processing device according to claim 6, wherein said particular predetermined operator input comprises at least one of:

(1) operator location of a cursor on a portion of said relatively small display associated with said particular informational display item; and

(2) operator location of a graphical pointing device on a portion of said relatively small display associated with said particular informational display item.

8. An improved mobile data processing device with a relatively small display which is adapted to utilize an application which includes a plurality of screens which have been written for use in a data processing system having a relatively large display screen, comprising:

means for determining if a particular one of said plurality of screens of said application which is called for display has been written for use in a data processing system having a relatively large display;

means for displaying at least a portion of said particular one of said plurality of screens of said application on said relatively small display of said mobile data processing device;

means for determining whether or not display items from said particular one of said plurality of screens cannot be fully displayed within said relatively small display of said mobile data processing device;

means for automatically generating a substitute screen for said particular one of said plurality of screens of said application which;

(1) relocates said display items to render them visible on said relatively small display of said mobile data processing device; and

(2) converts particular fields of said display items from a full-text display status to a hypertext display status.

9. An improved mobile data processing device according to claim 8, wherein said means for automatically generating comprises:

means for automatically generating a substitute screen for said particular one of said plurality of screens of said application which;

(1) relocates said display items to render them visible on said relatively small display screen of said mobile data processing device by closely grouping said display items; and

(2) converts particular fields of said display items from a full-text display status to a hypertext display status.

10. An improved mobile data processing device according to claim 8, wherein said display items include informational display items and data entry display areas, and wherein said means for automatically generating comprises:

means for automatically generating a substitute screen for said particular one of said plurality of screens of said application which;

(1) relocates said display items to render them visible on said relatively small display of said mobile data processing device by closely grouping said display items; and

(2) converts particular informational display items of said display items from a full-text display status to a hypertext display status; and

(3) maintains particular data entry display areas in a full-text display status.

11. An improved mobile data processing device according to claim 8, wherein said display items include informational display items and data entry display areas, and wherein said means for automatically generating comprises:

means for automatically generating a substitute screen for said particular one of said plurality of screens of said application which;

(1) relocates said display items to render them visible on said relatively small display of said mobile data processing device by closely grouping said display items; and

(2) converts particular informational display items of said display items from a full-text display status to a hypertext display status; and

(3) maintains particular data entry display areas in a full-text display status

and wherein said method further includes;

means for automatically switching said particular informational display items between a hypertext display status and a full-text display status upon occurrence of one of the following;

(1) said application determines that a user prompt for a particular informational display item is required; and

(2) said application determines a particular predetermined operator input has occurred.

12. An improved mobile data processing device according to claim 11, wherein said particular predetermined operator input comprises at least one of:

(1) operator location of a cursor on a portion of said relatively small display associated with said particular informational display item; and

(2) operator location of a graphical pointing device on a portion of relatively small display associated with said particular informational display item.

13. An improved mobile data processing device according to claim 11, further comprising:

means for automatically switching said particular informational display items from a full-text display status to a hypertext display status upon occurrence of one of the following;

(1) said application determines that another and different user prompt for another and different informational display item is required; and

(2) said application determines a particular predetermined operator input has occurred.