Method and apparatus for interacting with a portable computer system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer implemented method of quickly preparing a computer system for use, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a set of more than one external application buttons on said computer system, said external application buttons for selecting a particular application;
accepting an external application button press from a user that requests an associated particular application program;
waking a processor in response to said external application button press; and
executing said associated particular application program.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
240 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A computer implemented method of quickly preparing a computer system for use, said method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a set of more than one external application buttons on said computer system, said external application buttons for selecting a particular application; accepting an external application button press from a user that requests an associated particular application program; waking a processor in response to said external application button press; and executing said associated particular application program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A computer apparatus, said computer apparatus comprising:
-
a processor, said processor having a low power consumption sleep mode, said processor having hardware interrupt line that awakes said processor from said sleep mode; a set of more than one external application buttons, each said external application button associated with an associated particular application program, said external application button asserting said hardware interrupt line; and an interrupt service routine for handling processor interrupts caused by said hardware interrupt line being asserted, said interrupt service routine executing said associated particular application program. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
-
-
11. A computer implemented method of allowing external devices to control a portable computer system for use, said method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a port for external hardware devices, said port having access to a hardware interrupt line on said processor; asserting said hardware interrupt line on processor in said portable computer system from an external device coupled to said port; entering an interrupt service routine in response to said hardware interrupt line assertion; and determining that said external device is the source of said hardware interrupt assertion and executing an application program associated with said external device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
-
-
14. A portable computer apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
-
a processor, said processor having a low power consumption sleep mode, said processor having hardware interrupt line that awakes said processor from said sleep mode; an external interface, said external interface including access to said hardware interrupt line; an external device, said external device coupled to said external interface of portable computer system, said external device asserting said hardware interrupt line; and an interrupt service routine for handling processor interrupts caused by said hardware interrupt line being asserted, said interrupt service routine executing an application program associated with said external device. - View Dependent Claims (15)
-
Specification