Method and apparatus for reactivation of a system feature by using a programmable reactivation button
First Claim
1. A computing device, comprising:
- a graphical user interface display, said display having a user controllable pointer, a user input area and a user control area, said user control area containing one or more user selectable feature controls which, when selected, cause a system feature to be performed or otherwise activated; and
a feature reactivation button having a first actuation mode when actuated while said pointer is pointed to a feature control, and a second actuation mode when actuated while said pointer is located in said user input area;
wherein;
when in the first actuation mode, the button assumes the functionality of the system feature which would otherwise be performed or activated by the feature control to which the pointer is pointing; and
when in the second actuation mode, causes at least one system feature to be performed or activated which has been assumed in a previous first actuation mode.
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Abstract
An application program and system feature reactivation process and apparatus for use in a graphical user interface of a computer-based system. A user-selectable feature reactivation button is quickly defined or “programmed” through a first use, allowing subsequent reactivation of the system feature by simply operating the reactivation button while a pointer is located anywhere on the screen within a user input area. The reactivation button may be on a pointing device such as a mouse, trackball, trackpoint, keypad, stylus, etc. The invention eliminates the need to repeatedly relocated the pointer to a feature activation push button on the screen to and from the user input area, and eliminates excess user hand movement from the pointing device and the keyboard.
15 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A computing device, comprising:
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a graphical user interface display, said display having a user controllable pointer, a user input area and a user control area, said user control area containing one or more user selectable feature controls which, when selected, cause a system feature to be performed or otherwise activated; and
a feature reactivation button having a first actuation mode when actuated while said pointer is pointed to a feature control, and a second actuation mode when actuated while said pointer is located in said user input area;
wherein; when in the first actuation mode, the button assumes the functionality of the system feature which would otherwise be performed or activated by the feature control to which the pointer is pointing; and
when in the second actuation mode, causes at least one system feature to be performed or activated which has been assumed in a previous first actuation mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for providing a system feature reactivation control for a computing device, said computing device having a graphical user interface display, said display having a user controllable pointer, a user input area and a user control area, said user control area containing one or more user selectable feature controls which, when selected, cause a system feature to be performed or otherwise activated, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first feature reactivation control actuation mode when said reactivation control is actuated while said pointer is pointed to a feature control, in which mode the reactivation control assumes the functionality of the system feature which would otherwise be performed or activated by the feature control to which the pointer is pointing; and
providing a second feature reactivation control actuation mode when said reactivation control is actuated while said pointer is located in said user input area, in which mode at least one system feature is performed or activated which has been assumed in a previous first actuation mode. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A computer readable medium encoded with software for providing a system feature reactivation control for a computing device, said computing device having a graphical user interface display, said display having a user controllable pointer, a user input area and a user control area, said user control area containing one or more user selectable feature controls which, when selected, cause a system feature to be performed or otherwise activated, said software causing a processor to perform the steps of:
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providing a first feature reactivation control actuation mode when said reactivation control is actuated while said pointer is pointed to a feature control, in which mode the reactivation control assumes the functionality of the system feature which would otherwise be performed or activated by the feature control to which the pointer is pointing; and
providing a second feature reactivation control actuation mode when said reactivation control is actuated while said pointer is located in said user input area, in which mode at least one system feature is performed or activated which has been assumed in a previous first actuation mode. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification