Method and apparatus for maximizing efficiency of small display in a data processing system

• US 6,909,439 B1
• Filed: 08/26/1999
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dodson, John Paul, Amro, Hatim Yousef
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella, Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACKMAN, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US09/383,738
• Time in Patent Office: 2,126 Days
• Field of Search: 345660-671, 345156-157, 345/349, 345/619, 345/800, 345/798, 345/801, 715764-765, 715/967, 382/298, 382/299, 382/300
• US Class Current: 345/660
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars

Abstract

A method and apparatus in a data processing system for processing user input. A graphical widget is displayed on a display device within the data processing system, wherein the graphical widget is displayed using a first size. Responsive to receiving a selected user input, a display of the graphical widget is resized on the display device to a second size for receiving user input, wherein the second size is larger than the first size.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for processing user input, the method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of:

displaying a first graphical widget on a display device within the data processing system, wherein the first graphical widget is displayed using a first size;

responsive to receiving a selected user interaction on the first graphical widget, displaying, using a second size, a second graphical widget on the display device in association with the first graphical widget for receiving user input, wherein the second size is larger than the first size; and

responsive to receiving a user input in the second graphical widget removing the second graphical widget from the display device and inserting the user input into the first graphical widget.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first graphical widget is configured to receive user input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second size is a percentage of the first size.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first graphical widget is one of a text field for receiving user input and a graphical control.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a third graphical widget on the display device in association with the second graphical widget, and wherein the third graphical widget is not part of the second graphical widget; and

responsive to receiving a user input in the third graphical widget, removing the second graphical widget from the display device and inserting the user input into the first graphical widget.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data processing system is one of a personal digital assistant, a personal computer, and a laptop computer.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the percentage is determined based on an available display area of the display device and a size needed for a user to manipulate controls of the second graphical widget.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first displaying step, the second displaying step, and the removing step are implemented as one of an add on to a managing system of the data processing system and a single unified window manager in an operating system of the data processing system.

9. A method in a data processing system for processing user input, the method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of:

displaying an input field in a display in the data processing system, wherein the input field has a first size;

displaying a user input interface on the display, wherein the user input in interface has a second size, in response to a user interaction requiring a resizing of the input field, wherein the second size is larger than the first size; and

responsive to receiving a user input in the user input interface, removing the user input interface from the display and inserting the user input into the input field.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

receiving additional user input in the input field.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the user interaction is a first user interaction and wherein the user input interface is removed responsive to a second user interaction at the completion of user input.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the data processing system is one of a personal digital assistant and a portable computer.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying a return interface on the display, wherein the return interface is not part of the user input interface; and

responsive to receiving a user input in the return interface, removing the user input interface from the display and inserting the user input into the input field.

14. A data processing system for processing user input, the data processing system comprising:

first displaying means for displaying a first graphical widget on a display device within the data processing system, wherein the first graphical widget is displayed using a first size;

second displaying means, responsive to receiving a selected user interaction on the first graphical widget, for displaying a second graphical widget on the display device, using a second size, in association with the first graphical widget for receiving user input, wherein the second size is larger than the first size; and

first removing means, responsive to receiving a user input in the second graphical widget, for removing the second graphical widget from the display device and inserting the user input into the first graphical widget.

15. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein the first graphical widget is configured to receive user input.

16. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein the second size is a percentage of the first size.

17. The data processing of claim 14, wherein the graphical widget is one of a text field for receiving user input and a graphical control.

18. The data processing system of claim 14, further comprising:

third displaying means for displaying a third graphical widget on the display device in association with the second graphical widget, wherein the third graphical widget is not part of the second graphical widget; and

second removing means, responsive to receiving a user input in the third graphical widget, for removing the second graphical widget from the display device and inserting the user input into the first graphical widget.

19. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein the data processing system is a personal digital assistant, a personal computer, and a laptop computer.

20. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein the percentage is determined based on an available display area of the display device and a size needed for a user to manipulate controls of the second graphical widget.

21. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein the first displaying means, the second displaying means, and the first removing means are implemented as one of an add on to a window managing system and a single unified window manager in an operating system.

22. A data processing system for processing user input, the data pressing system comprising:

first displaying means for displaying au input field in a display in the data processing system, wherein the input field has a first size; and

second displaying means for displaying a user input interface on the display, wherein the user input interface has a second size, in response to a user interaction requiring a resizing of the input field, wherein the second size is larger than the first size; and

first removing means, responsive to receiving a user input in the user input interface, for removing the user input interface from the display and inserting the user input into the input field.

23. The data processing system of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving means for receiving additional user input in the input field.

24. The data processing system of claim 22, wherein the user interaction is a first user interaction and wherein the user input interface is removed responsive to a second user interaction at the completion of user input.

25. The data processing system of claim 22, wherein the data processing system is one of a personal digital assistant and a portable computer.

26. The data processing system of claim 22, further comprising:

third display means for displaying a return interface on the display, wherein the return interface is not part of the user input interface; and

second removing means, responsive to receiving a user input in the return interface, for removing the user input interface from the display and inserting the user input into the input field.

27. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for processing user input, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for displaying a graphical widget on a display device within a data processing system, wherein the graphical widget is displayed using a first size; and

second instructions, responsive to receiving a selected user input, for resizing a display of the graphical widget on the display device to a second size for receiving user input, wherein the second size is larger than the first size; and

third instructions, responsive to receiving a user input in the second graphical widget, for removing the second graphical widget from the display device and inserting the user input into the first graphical widget.

28. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for processing user input, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for displaying an input field in a display in a data processing system, wherein the input field has a first size; and

second instructions for resizing the input field to a second size in response to a user input requiring a resizing of the input field, wherein the second size is larger than the first size; and

third instructions, responsive to receiving a user input in the user input interface, for removing the user input interface from the display and inserting the user input into the input field.