Time based hardware button for application launch

• US 6,727,830 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Blum, Jeffrey R., Lui, Charlton E.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US10/195,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20020180622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 341/22, 341/26, 341/34, 178/17.C, 400/479, 345/172, 708/144, 708/145, 708/146, 386/83, 386/120
• US Class Current: 341/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57

Abstract

A method and system are provided for extending the functionality of application buttons on a limited resource computing device. Alternative application functions are launched based on the length of time an application button is pressed. A default function for an application is launched if the button is pressed for a short, i.e., normal, period of time. An alternative function of the application is launched if the button is pressed for a long, (e.g., at least one second), period of time. Still another function can be launched if the application button is pressed multiple times within a short period of time, e.g., double click.

Claims

1. A method for expanding the functionality of an application button on a limited resource computing device, comprising:

(a) detecting that an application button associated with a limited resource computing device application has been pressed;

(b) determining the length of time the application button has been pressed;

(c) opening an application if the application button is released prior to the expiration of a threshold time limit; and

(d) opening the application and automatically causing the application to display the last known state of the application if the application button is pressed, without being released, for a period equal to or in excess of the threshold time limit.

27. An apparatus for expanding the functionality of an application button on a limited resource computing device, comprising:

(a) a processing unit;

(b) an application button associated with a limited resource computing device application; and

(c) a storage medium coupled to the processing unit, the storage medium storing program code implemented by the processing unit for performing the methods of any one of claims 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 18, and 23.

2. A method for expanding the functionality of an application button on a limited resource computing device, comprising:

(a) detecting that an application button associated with a limited resource computing device application has been pressed;

(b) determining the length of time the application button has been pressed;

(c) opening an application if the application button is released prior to the expiration of a threshold time limit; and

(d) opening the application and automatically causing the application to open a new document, if the application button is pressed, without being released, for a period equal to or in excess of the threshold time limit.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising, prior to opening the new document:

(a) determining if a document is currently open; and

(b) if a document is currently open, saving the open document.

4. A method for expanding the functionality of an application button on a limited resource computing device, comprising:

(a) detecting that an application button associated with a limited resource computing device application has been pressed;

(b) determining the length of time the application button has been pressed;

(c) opening an application if the application button is released prior to the expiration of a threshold time limit; and

(d) opening the application and automatically causing the application to open a predefined document if the application button is pressed, without being released, for a period equal to or in excess of the threshold time limit.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising, prior to opening the predefined document:

(a) determining if a document is currently open; and

(b) if a document is currently open, saving the open document.

6. A method for expanding the functionality of an application button on a limited resource computing device, comprising:

(a) detecting that an application button associated with a limited resource computing device note application has been pressed;

(b) determining the length of time the application button has been pressed;

(c) opening the note application if the application button is released prior to the expiration of a threshold time limit; and

(d) opening the note application and automatically causing the note application to display a list of summary information for stored notes if the application button is pressed, without being released, for a period equal to or in excess of the threshold time limit.

7. A method for expanding the functionality of an application button on a limited resource computing device, comprising:

(a) detecting that an application button associated with a limited resource computing device note application has been pressed;

(b) determining the length of time the application button has been pressed;

(c) opening the note application if the application button is released prior to the expiration of a threshold time limit; and

(d) opening the note application and automatically causing the note application to open a new note if the application button is pressed, without being released, for a period equal to or in excess of the threshold time limit.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the new note is opened using a predefined template.

9. A method for expanding the functionality of an application button on a limited resource computing device, comprising:

(a) detecting that an application button associated with a limited resource computing device application has been pressed;

(b) determining the length of time the application button has been pressed;

(c) opening the application if the application button is released prior to the expiration of a threshold time limit; and

(d) opening the application and automatically causing the application to perform a predefined action specified by the user if the application button is pressed, without being released, for a period equal to or in excess of the threshold time limit.

10. A method for expanding the functionality of an application button on a limited resource computing device, comprising:

(a) detecting that an application button associated with a limited resource computing device application has been pressed;

(b) determining the length of time the application button has been pressed;

(c) opening an application if the application button is released prior to the expiration of a threshold time limit;

(d) opening the application and automatically causing a first further action associated with the application to occur if the application button is pressed, without being released, for a period equal to or in excess of the threshold time limit; and

(e) opening the application and automatically causing a second further action associated with the application to occur if the application button is pressed and released more than one time within a second threshold time limit.

11. A method for expanding the functionality of an application button on a limited resource computing device, comprising:

(a) upon detecting that an application button associated with a limited resource computing device voice application has been pressed, starting a recording;

(b) determining the length of time the application button was pressed;

(c) erasing the recording if the application button is released prior to the expiration of a threshold time limit; and

(d) storing the recording if the application button is pressed, without being released, for a period equal to or in excess of the threshold time limit.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising, upon detecting that the application button associated with the limited resource computing device voice application has been released, stopping the recording.

13. A method for expanding the functionality of an application button on a limited resource computing device, comprising:

(a) detecting that an application button associated with a limited resource computing device application has been pressed a first time;

(b) determining the length of time the application button has been pressed said first time;

(c) opening an application if the application button pressed a first time is released prior to the expiration of a first threshold time limit;

(d) detecting that the same application button has been pressed a second time;

(e) determining the length of time the same application button has been pressed said second time; and

(f) opening the application and automatically causing a further action associated with the application to occur if the application button pressed a second time is released prior to the expiration of a second threshold time limit.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second threshold time limits are the same.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising alternately opening the application and opening the application and automatically causing a further action associated with the application to occur if the same application button is sequentially pressed and released prior to the expiration of the first threshold limit.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising alternately opening the application and opening the application and automatically causing a further action associated with the application to occur if, within a third threshold time limit, the same application button is sequentially pressed and released prior to the expiration of the first threshold time limit.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising alternately opening the application and opening the application and automatically causing a further action associated with the application to occur if the same application button is sequentially pressed and released prior to the expiration of the first threshold time limit and another intervening application button was not pressed.

18. A method for expanding the functionality of an application button on a limited resource computing device, comprising:

(a) detecting that an application button associated with a limited resource computing device application has been pressed a first time;

(b) determining the length of time the application button has been pressed said first time;

(c) opening an application if the application button is pressed a first time, without being released, for a period equal to or in excess of a threshold time limit;

(d) detecting that the same application button has been pressed a second time;

(e) determining the length of time the same application button has been pressed said second time; and

(f) opening the application and automatically causing a further action associated with the application to occur if the application button is pressed a second time, without being released, for a period equal to, or in excess of, a second threshold time limit.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first and second threshold time limits are the same.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising alternately opening the application and opening the application and automatically causing a further action associated with the application to occur if the same application button is sequentially pressed, without being released, for a period equal to or in excess of the first threshold time limit.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising alternately opening the application and opening the application and automatically causing a further action associated with the application to occur if, within a third threshold time limit, the same application button is sequentially pressed, without being released, for a period equal to or in excess of the first threshold time limit.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising alternately opening the application and opening the application and automatically causing a further action associated with the application to occur if the same application button is sequentially pressed, without being released, for a period equal to or in excess of the first threshold time limit, and another intervening application button was not pressed.

23. A method for expanding the functionality of an application button on a limited resource computing device, comprising:

(a) detecting that an application button associated with a limited resource computing device application has been pressed a first time;

(b) determining the length of time the application button has been pressed said first time;

(c) opening the application if the application button pressed a first time is pressed and released more than one time within a first threshold time limit;

(d) detecting that the same application button has been pressed a second time;

(e) determining the length of time the same application button has been pressed said second time; and

(f) opening the application and automatically causing a further action associated with the application to occur if the application button pressed said second time is pressed and released more than one time within second threshold time limit.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first and second threshold time limits are the same.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising alternately opening the application and opening the application and automatically causing a further action associated with the application to occur if the same application button is subsequently pressed and released more than one time within the first threshold time limit.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising alternately opening the application and opening the application and automatically causing a further action associated with the application to occur if the same application button is sequentially pressed and released more than one time within the first threshold time limit and another intervening application button was not pressed.