Illuminatable buttons and method for indicating information using illuminatable buttons

• US 6,906,701 B1
• Filed: 07/30/2001
• Issued: 06/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nicolas, Regis, Oueslati, Hatem, Malaval, Renaud, Sureau, Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US09/918,968
• Time in Patent Office: 1,415 Days
• Field of Search: 345168-172, 345/864, 341/22, 341/23, 200/313, 200/314, 200/308
• US Class Current: 345/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting

Abstract

A method and apparatus for indicating information to a user of a palmtop computer. Illuminatable hard buttons are disclosed that are operable for performing functions. The hard buttons are selectively illuminated to indicate information to a user that relates to the function performed when the bard button is pressed. The selective illumination of hard buttons to indicate information that relates to the function that is performed when the hard button is pressed conveys information to the user in a manner that is easily understood by the user. In one embodiment, whether or not the button is illuminated and the color of the illumination, convey information about the function that is to be performed when the button is pressed.

Claims

1. In a palmtop computer system, a method for conveying information to a user comprising the steps of:

a) providing a hard button that is operable to perform a primary function, said hard button having a contoured region formed therein that is contoured in the shape of a symbol that represents said primary function;

b) providing at least one light source, said light source located such that, when said light source is illuminated, light is emitted through said contoured region so as to illuminate said hard button; and

c) selectively illuminating said hard button to communicate information to a user of said palmtop computer system regarding and in response to the occurrence of a particular event that is associated with said hard button, wherein said selectively illuminating of said hard button provides information regarding said event to indicate that said hard button may be pressed to perform a function and wherein a color of said light emitted through said contoured region communicates further information to said user that relates to said primary function and a secondary function.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said event is a date book alert and wherein said primary function is initiation of a date book application, and wherein step c) further comprises the step of:

c1) illuminating said hard button when said date book alert occurs.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said event is a missed call and wherein said primary function is initiation of an address book application, and wherein step c) further comprises the step of:

c1) illuminating said hard button when said call is missed.

4. A method as described in claim 3 further comprises the step of:

d) displaying the address book entry relating to the sender of said missed call when said hard button pressed while said hard button is illuminated.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said primary function is an up function, and wherein step c) further comprises the step of:

c1) illuminating said hard button when a user can scroll up within a particular application.

6. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said primary function is a down function, and wherein step c) further comprises the step of:

c1) illuminating said hard button when a user can scroll down within a particular application.

7. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said hard button is programmable to perform functions other than said primary function, and wherein said hard button is selectively illuminated to indicate actions that can be taken by a user.

8. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said hard button is programmable to perform functions other than said primary function, and wherein said hard button is selectively illuminated to indicate functions that should be taken by a user.

9. In a palmtop computer system, a method for conveying information to a user comprising the steps of:

a) providing a hard button that is operable to perform a primary function, said hard button having a contoured region formed therein that is contoured in the shape of a symbol that represents said primary function;

b) providing at least one light source, said light source located such that, when said light source is illuminated, light is emitted through said contoured region so as to illuminate said hard button; and

c) selectively illuminating said hard button to communicate information to a user of said palmtop computer system regarding and in response to the occurrence of a particular event that is associated with said hard button,

wherein said selectively illuminating of said hard button provides information regarding said event to indicate that said hard button may be pressed to perform a function,

wherein said event is the reception of a short message service message wherein said primary function is initiation of a memo function,

wherein said hard button is selectively illuminated when said short message service message has been received, said hard button illuminated in a color that indicates priority of said received message.

10. A method as described in claim 9 further comprising the step of:

d) displaying said short message service message when said hard button is pressed while said hard button is illuminated.

11. In a palmtop computer system, a method for conveying information to a user comprising the steps of:

a) providing a first hard button that is operable to initiate operation of a date book application, said first hard button having a contoured region formed therein that is contoured in the shape of a symbol that represents said date book application;

b) illuminating said contoured region of said first hard button when a date book alert occurs;

c) providing a second hard button that is operable to initiate operation of an address book application, said second hard button having a contoured region formed therein that is contoured in the shape of a symbol that represents said address book publication;

d) illuminating said contoured region of said second hard button when a call is missed;

e) providing a third hard button that is operable to initiate operation of a to-do application that generates a to-do list, said third hard button having a contoured region formed therein that is contoured in the shape of a symbol that represents said to-do application; and

f) illuminating said third hard button when a due date for an item on said to-do list has passed.

12. A method as described in claim 11 further comprising the step of:

g) providing a fourth hard button that is operable to initiate operation of a memo application, said fourth hard button having a contoured region formed therein that is contoured in the shape of a symbol that represents said memo application; and

h) illuminating said fourth hard button when a short message service message has been received.

13. A method as described in claim 12 further comprising the step of:

i) displaying said short message service message when said fourth hard button is pressed while said fourth hard button is illuminated, the color in which said fourth hard button is illuminated indicating the priority of said received message.

14. A method as described in claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

j) providing a fifth hard button that is operable to perform an up function, said fifth hard button having a contoured region formed therein that is contoured in the shape of a symbol that represents said up function;

k) illuminating said fifth hard button when a user can scrolled up within a particular application;

l) providing a sixth hard button that is operable to perform a down function, said sixth hard button having a contoured region formed therein that is contoured in the shape of a symbol that represents said down function; and

m) illuminating said sixth hard button when a user can scroll down within a particular application.

15. A method as described in claim 11 wherein step b) further comprises the steps of:

b1) illuminating said first hard button in a first color to indicate a first meeting reminder;

b2) illuminating said first hard button in a second color to indicate a second meeting reminder; and

b3) illuminating said first hard button in a third color to indicate a third meeting reminder.

16. A method as described in claim 11 wherein step c) further comprises the step of:

d1) displaying the address book entry relating to the sender of said missed call when said second button is pressed while said second button is illuminated.

17. A method as described in claim 11 wherein said third button is illuminated in a color that indicates the priority of said item on said to-do list.

18. A method as described in claim 11 wherein said first hard button and said second hard button and said third hard button are selectively illuminated to indicate actions that can be taken.

19. A method as described in claim 11 wherein said first hard button and said second hard button and said third hard button are selectively illuminated to indicate how actions that should be taken.

20. The method of claim 11 said method further comprises the step of:

g) providing a programmable application that is operable to control illumination of said first hard button and said second hard button and said third hard button.

21. In a palmtop computer system, a method for conveying information to a user comprising the steps of:

a) providing a hard button that is operable to perform a primary function, said hard button having a contoured region formed therein that is contoured in the shape of a symbol that represents said primary function;

b) providing at least one light source, said light source located such that, when said light source is illuminated, light is emitted through said contoured region so as to illuminate said hard button; and

c) selectively illuminating said hard button to communicate information to a user of said palmtop computer system regarding and in response to the occurrence of a particular event that is associated with said hard button,

wherein said selectively illuminating of said hard button provides information regarding said event to indicate that said hard button may be pressed to perform a function,

wherein said particular event is the passing of a due date,

wherein said primary function is initiation of a to-do application that is operable to generate a to-do list,

wherein said hard button is selectively illuminating when said due date for an item on said to-do list has passed,

wherein said hard button is illuminated in a color that indicates the priority of said item on said to-do list.