User interface methodology supporting light data entry for microprocessor device having limited user input
First Claim
1. In a computing device having a limited set of input keys, a method for assisting a user with entering user input, the method comprising:
- providing a terse set of physical input keys comprising navigation keys, a select key, and an edit key;
at a different location on said computing device than where said physical input keys are located, displaying a user interface that requires input of information from the user;
receiving user input at the navigation keys for moving a screen cursor to different regions of the user interface;
with the screen cursor positioned at a particular region of the user interface, receiving user input at the edit key for invoking a context-sensitive input system;
determining a set of appropriate user input entries for the device for the particular region of the user interface where the screen cursor is currently positioned;
displaying at the particular region a control based on at least some of said set of appropriate user input entries;
receiving user input at the navigation keys for positioning the screen cursor at a desired entry from said set of appropriate user input entries; and
receiving user input at the select key for inputting the desired entry as user input for the device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable computing device or "information appliance" having terse user input (e.g., limit set of keys) is provided with an improved user interface. A six-key embodiment is described that provides a "super-key" light entry and editing input system for ultra-portable devices, thus making it well suited for use with credit card-sized devices. In a preferred six-button embodiment, a credit card-sized device is modified to include an additional input button, an EDIT key. In user operation, pressing the EDIT key brings up a context sensitive pop-up menu, thus invoking the super-key feature. Customized user input controls, such as a Text Input Control (e.g., letter and number strips), are provided at appropriate times, for facilitating input. Underlying the super-key input is a heuristic sub-system that remembers and anticipates user input. In this fashion, the system can present in-context options for each application running on the target device, and present appropriate options during different phases of the execution of a variety of tasks. By remembering what the user has previously inputted and by using context-sensitive menus and adaptive "quick" lists, the system can anticipate what the user needs to do at any given time and can guide the user through a step-by-step process to complete each task, thus facilitating the tasks that users most often perform. By including adaptive techniques or built-in intelligence that allows the device to be faster and easier to use with each user session, the target device may anticipate the tasks users need to perform in specific situations and thus make those tasks increasingly easier.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. In a computing device having a limited set of input keys, a method for assisting a user with entering user input, the method comprising:
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providing a terse set of physical input keys comprising navigation keys, a select key, and an edit key; at a different location on said computing device than where said physical input keys are located, displaying a user interface that requires input of information from the user; receiving user input at the navigation keys for moving a screen cursor to different regions of the user interface; with the screen cursor positioned at a particular region of the user interface, receiving user input at the edit key for invoking a context-sensitive input system; determining a set of appropriate user input entries for the device for the particular region of the user interface where the screen cursor is currently positioned; displaying at the particular region a control based on at least some of said set of appropriate user input entries; receiving user input at the navigation keys for positioning the screen cursor at a desired entry from said set of appropriate user input entries; and receiving user input at the select key for inputting the desired entry as user input for the device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. In a computing device requiring input of information, a method for assisting a user with completing input, the method comprising:
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displaying a user interface comprising a sequence of input controls that are arranged sequentially for receiving user input, said user input including user-supplied information for input into said computing device; marking all input controls as initially unfilled, for indicating that each of the controls has not yet received input from the user; and assisting the user with completing input for the input controls, by; (1) receiving navigational input for moving a screen cursor among the sequence of input controls; (2) if the navigational input specifies forward movement, positioning the screen cursor at a next one of the sequence of input controls that is unfilled; (3) if the navigational input specifies backward movement, positioning the screen cursor at a previous one of the sequence of input controls that is unfilled; (4) receiving input from the user for the input control that the screen cursor is currently positioned at; (5) upon completion of input by the user at the control, marking the control as filled, for indicating that the control has received input; and (6) repeating substeps (1)-(5) until the user has completed all input desired. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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26. In a computing device requiring input of information, a method for assisting a user with completing input, the method comprising:
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displaying a user interface comprising a sequence of input controls that are arranged sequentially for receiving user input; marking all input controls as initially unfilled, for indicating that each of the controls has not yet received input from the user; and assisting the user with completing input for the input controls, by; (1) receiving navigational input for moving a screen cursor among the sequence of input controls; (2) if the navigational input specifies forward movement, positioning the screen cursor at a next one of the sequence of input controls that is unfilled; (3) if the navigational input specifies backward movement, positioning the screen cursor at a previous one of the sequence of input controls that is unfilled; (4) receiving input from the user for the input control that the screen cursor is currently positioned at; (5) upon completion of input by the user at the control, marking the control as filled, for indicating that the control has received input; and (6) repeating substeps (1)-(5) until the user has completed all input desired; wherein the navigational input is coupled with operation of an edit key, so that selection of the edit key invokes a context-sensitive menu selection; wherein the navigational input is coupled with operation of an edit key, so that selection of the edit key invokes a context-sensitive menu selection; wherein said sequence of input controls are divided into individual groups for display on a sequence of pages, each particular group being displayed on a particular page; marking all pages as initially activated, for indicating that each of the pages has input controls that should be displayed for receiving input from the user; and upon receiving input at a control of one page, marking another page as deactivated, for indicating that the page has input controls that no longer need to receive input. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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43. A microprocessor-based device with improved user input capability comprising:
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a device having a microprocessor, a memory, a display, and a set of input keys, said device requiring input of information by a user, said display for displaying input controls for receiving input in response to user activation of at least some of said input keys said input including user-supplied information for input into said device; initialization logic for initializing all input controls to an activated and an unfilled state; control logic operating to; set focus of input to a first located input control that is activated and unfilled if one is located, and otherwise transfer control to navigation logic of the device;
entry logic operating to;process input by a user at an input control currently having focus and thereafter mark the input control as filled and transfer control to the control logic of the device, and otherwise transfer focus to a prior input control that is activated and unfilled; and navigation logic operating to; set, in response to a forward navigation request from the user, focus of input to a next located input control that is activated and unfilled if one exists, set, in response to a backward navigation request from the user, focus of input to a prior input control that is activated and unfilled if one exists, and transfer, in response to an edit request from the user, control to the entry logic of the device. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. An input system for a device having a terse set of input keys, the system comprising:
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means for displaying a plurality of pages, each page having a plurality of input controls, each input control being initialized to an unfilled state, each said input control capable of receiving user-supplied information for input into said device; means for setting focus of input to a first located input control that is unfilled; means for processing input by a user at an input control currently having focus and thereafter marking the input control as filled; and means for transferring focus to another input control that is unfilled, said means operating in response to a forward navigation request from the user to set focus of input to a next located input control that is unfilled, and operating in response to a reverse navigation request from the user to set focus of input to a prior input control that is unfilled. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55)
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Specification