Context sensitive labels for an electronic device
First Claim
1. A control panel unit for a computer system comprising:
- a display screen;
first and second button inputs, the first button input configured to display a first viewable state thereon and the second button input configured to display a second viewable state thereon, the first and second viewable states changing in response to actuation of said first button input, wherein the first and second viewable states are displayed outside of the display screen.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control panel unit for a computing device includes buttons having characteristics that define individual button states. Upon actuation of a button, the viewable states of the buttons may change. A portion of the button may be illuminated to represent the state and/or include an icon depicting an application controlled by the button. The control panel unit may include a display for displaying plural soft labels corresponding to the buttons and representing the current context that will be initiated when the corresponding button is actuated. The soft labels may identify users or applications available to one user. Upon actuation of an application, the soft labels can change to represent various actions or functions available in the application. In the user interface, each user may be assigned a specific color scheme. The color schemes allow a person to visually determine who is logged into the system and/or which individual has new information.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A control panel unit for a computer system comprising:
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a display screen;
first and second button inputs, the first button input configured to display a first viewable state thereon and the second button input configured to display a second viewable state thereon, the first and second viewable states changing in response to actuation of said first button input, wherein the first and second viewable states are displayed outside of the display screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A control panel unit for a computer system comprising:
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a display having at least first and second display regions;
at least first and second button inputs adjacent to said first and second display regions, respectively; and
first and second soft labels displayed in said first and second display regions, respectively, said first and second soft labels associated with said first and second button inputs, respectively, at least one of said first soft label and said second soft label configured to change in response to actuation of said first button input in a first state, wherein said first and second soft labels respectively represent first and second users of the computer system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. In a computer system having a display screen and at least one button input adjacent to the display screen, a method comprising the steps of:
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displaying a first button input in a first viewable state and a second button input in a second viewable state; and
responsive to actuation of said first button input, changing the second viewable state of said second button input, wherein the first and second viewable states are displayed outside of the display screen. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. In a computer system having at least first and second display regions, and at least first and second button inputs associated with said first and second display regions, respectively, a method comprising the steps of:
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displaying first and second soft labels in said first and second display regions, respectively, the first and second soft labels associated with said first and second button inputs, respectively; and
responsive to actuation of said first button input, changing at least one of the first soft label and the second soft label, wherein in a first state said first and second soft labels respectively represent first and second users of the computer system. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 55, 56, 57)
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51. In a computer system having at least first and second display regions, and at least first and second button inputs associated with said first and second display regions, respectively, a method comprising the steps of:
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displaying first and second soft labels in said first and second display regions, respectively, the first and second soft labels associated with said first and second button inputs, respectively; and
responsive to actuation of said first button input, changing the first soft label in said first display region associated with said first button input, and initiating an action involving receiving information via the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54)
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Specification