Method for locking user input elements for a small computer device by ignoring input signals if a locking signal is generated by a calendar-type application program
First Claim
1. A method of locking user input elements on a small computer device, the method comprising:
- receiving an internally generated locking signal, wherein the small computer device internally generates the locking signal;
setting a locked flag to indicate the user input elements are locked;
placing the small computer device in sleep mode after a predetermined period of time;
awaking the small computer device from sleep mode in response to a reminder notification from a calendar-type application; and
ignoring input signals when the locked flag is set to allow the device to return to sleep mode following a predetermined period of time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for automatically locking user interface input elements to avoid negative impact of inadvertently pressing a user input element. The method receives an internally generated locking signal; sets a locked flag to indicate the user input elements are locked. Input signals occurring while the input elements are locked are ignored. In accordance with other aspects, the method further relates to determining whether input signals relate to an unlock signal. The internally generated locking signal is generated following a predetermined time interval that is managed by an internal timer and may be related to an automatic shutoff/sleep mode time interval. Alternatively, a calendar-type application program may initiate the internally generated locking signal in response to a predetermined event.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of locking user input elements on a small computer device, the method comprising:
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receiving an internally generated locking signal, wherein the small computer device internally generates the locking signal;
setting a locked flag to indicate the user input elements are locked;
placing the small computer device in sleep mode after a predetermined period of time;
awaking the small computer device from sleep mode in response to a reminder notification from a calendar-type application; and
ignoring input signals when the locked flag is set to allow the device to return to sleep mode following a predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18)
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9. A small computer system comprising:
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user interface input elements;
a processing unit for recognizing user interface input signals;
a timer used to automatically place the small computer system in sleep mode after a predetermined period of time;
a calendar-type application program that provides reminder notifications to the user and wherein the small computer system awakes from sleep mode when a reminder occurs during sleep mode;
a locking application for locking the user interface elements, wherein the processing unit ignores user interface input signals when the user interface elements are locked and wherein the locking application receives an internally generated lock signal, wherein the small computer system internally generates the lock signal, and wherein the locking application further ignores input signals to allow the device to return to sleep mode following a predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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10. A computer program product readable by a small computer device and encoding instructions for executing a computer process for notifying a user of notification events, the process comprising:
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receiving an internally generated locking signal, wherein the small computer device internally generates the locking signal;
setting a locked flag to indicate the user input elements are locked;
placing the small computer device in sleep mode after a predetermined period of time;
awaking the small computer device from sleep mode in response to a reminder notification from a calendar-type application; and
ignoring input signals when the locked flag is set to allow the device to return to sleep mode following a predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification