Touch screen handling

• US 6,130,665 A
• Filed: 04/01/1998
• Issued: 10/10/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Ericsson, Ted
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick, Vincent E.
• Application Number:
  US09/053,083
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/178, 178/18.01, 178/18.02, 178/18.05, 178/18.06
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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

The present invention discloses a data input device including a touch screen. The touch screen has two information display levels. A first level displays a virtual alphanumeric keypad which allows a user to input textual data by simply touching the screen. The second level displays the input textual data. The touch screen allows for simultaneous display of both the virtual keypad and the input data by representing the virtual keypad and underlying textual data by different colors, character sizes, styles, fonts, intensities, etc.

Claims

1. A data input and display device comprising:

a screen which allows for the input and output of information;

the screen comprising two levels;

a first level displaying a virtual alphanumeric keypad for allowing a user to input information; and

a second level for displaying the information associated with the user input;

wherein the user-input information and the virtual keypad are simultaneously displayed using different colors, character sizes, styles, fonts, or display intensities which allows the user to distinguish between the display levels; and

a touch key for allowing a user to swap display levels.

2. The data input and display device according to claim 1 wherein the touch key is a physical key located on the data input and display device.

3. The data input and display device according to claim 1 wherein the touch key is a virtual key displayed on the screen.

4. A data input and display device comprising:

a screen which allows for the input and output of information;

the screen comprising two levels;

a first level displaying a virtual alphanumeric keypad for allowing a user to input information; and

a second level for displaying the information associated with the user input;

wherein the user-input information and the virtual keypad are displayed using different attributes; and

a touch key for allowing a user swap display levels.

5. The data input and display device according to claim 4 wherein the different attributes are different colors.

6. The data input and display device according to claim 4 wherein the different attributes are different character sizes.

7. The data input and display device according to claim 4 wherein the different attributes are different character styles.

8. The data input and display device according to claim 4 wherein the different attributes are different character fonts.

9. The data input and display device according to claim 4 wherein the different attributes are different display intensities.

10. The data input and display device according to claim 4 wherein the touch key allows for a user to switch between different display attributes.

11. The data input and display device according to claim 10 wherein the touch key is a physical key located on the data input and display device.

12. The data input and display device according to claim 10 wherein the touch key is a virtual key displayed on the screen.

13. A data input device comprising:

a touch screen which allows for the input and output of information;

a physical alphanumeric keypad overlay;

wherein

the alphanumeric keypad overlay is positioned over the touch screen for allowing a user to input information, and

the alphanumeric keypad overlay is transparent to allow said input information to be seen.

14. The data input device according to claim 13 wherein the user input information and alphanumeric keypad are provided using different display attributes.

15. The data input device of claim 13, wherein said physical overlay is made from deformable material.

16. A method for inputting and displaying information on a touch screen comprising the steps of:

displaying at a first level a virtual alphanumeric keypad for allowing a user to input information;

displaying at a second level said input information;

wherein the first and second levels are displayed using different attributes; and

providing a touch key for allowing a user to swap display levels.

17. The method for inputting and displaying information according to claim 16 wherein the different attributes are different colors.

18. The method for inputting and displaying information according to claim 16 wherein the different attributes are different character sizes.

19. The method for inputting and displaying information according to claim 16 wherein the different attributes are different character styles.

20. The method for inputting and displaying information according to claim 16 wherein the different attributes are different character fonts.

21. The method for inputting and displaying information according to claim 16 wherein the different attributes are different display intensities.

22. The method for inputting and displaying information according to claim 16 wherein the step of providing a touch key also allows a user to switch between different display attributes.