Method and apparatus for interacting with a portable computer system

• US 6,943,813 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2002
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: Hawkins, Jeffrey C., Haitani, Robert Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Sy D.
• Application Number:
  US10/186,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20030046528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 345/840, 345/748, 345/802, 345/803, 345/810, 345/835, 345/864, 345/700, 345/733, 345/738, 345/740, 345/744, 345/745, 345/767, 345/773, 345/778, 345/779, 345/963, 345/156, 345/168, 345/169, 713320-323, 709200-203
• US Class Current: 715/840
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes

Abstract

A palmtop computer system that incorporates mechanical buttons that combine the task of turning the palmtop computer system on and starting a particular application program. Furthermore, the same mechanical button can be used to navigate the application program to find the information that is most likely needed by the user. Additionally, external devices can be coupled to the palmtop computer system in a manner that allows the external hardware device to initiate specific application programs that cooperate with the external hardware device.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of operating a handheld computer, the handheld computer including a plurality of mechanical application buttons, the method comprising:

receiving a signal from a first application button in the plurality of mechanical application buttons being actuated;

waking a processor in response to the first application button being actuated;

in response to the first application button being actuated, identifying a first application associated with the first application button prior to the first application button being actuated;

then

automatically executing the first application, to display a selected state of the first application, wherein displaying the selected state of the first application includes automatically displaying user-inputted data entered through a previous use of the first application on another computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically executing the first application to display a selected state of the first application includes displaying user-inputted data entered on a second computer prior to synchronizing the second computer with the portable computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein waking a processor includes coincides with switching the portable computer from a low-power state to a high-power state.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically executing the first application associated with the first application button includes displaying a selected day by executing a calendar application, wherein displaying the selected day includes automatically displaying an appointment list created by a user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein waking a processor includes interrupting the processor so that the processor enters an interrupt service routine.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically executing the first application associated with the first application button includes displaying selected list by executing a to-do list application, the selected list being a most recently accessed list in a set of lists that can be accessed by the to-do application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically executing the first application associated with the first application button includes displaying selected address records by executing an address book application, the selected address records being a set of most recently accessed address records from a plurality of address records that can be accessed by the address book application.

8. A method for operating a handheld computer, the method comprising:

configuring the handheld computer to execute a plurality of applications;

associating a first mechanical button on a housing of the handheld computer with a first one of the plurality of applications;

detecting the first mechanical button being pressed while the handheld computer is executing a first application in the plurality of applications;

in response to detecting the first mechanical button being pressed;

interrupting a processor of the handheld computer in order to make the handheld computer operational;

displaying a selected state of the first application, wherein displaying the selected state of the first application includes automatically displaying user-inputted data through a previous use of the first application on another computer;

if the first mechanical button is associated with a second application in the plurality of applications prior to the first mechanical button being pressed, then executing the second application by displaying a selected state of the second application, wherein displaying the selected state of the second application includes automatically displaying user-inputted data through a previous use of the first application on another computer.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein if the first mechanical button is associated with the first application prior to the first mechanical button being pressed, the method further comprises executing a predetermined function of the first application.

10. A method for operating a handheld computer, the method comprising:

configuring the handheld computer to execute a plurality of applications;

associating each one of a plurality of mechanical buttons on a housing of the handheld computer with one of the plurality of applications;

detecting a first mechanical button being pressed while the handheld computer is executing a first application in the plurality of applications; and

responsive to detecting the first mechanical button being pressed, interrupting a processor of the handheld computer to coincide with switching the handheld computer to an operation state;

if the first mechanical button is associated with a second application, executing the second application;

wherein if the first mechanical button is associated with the first application, the method further comprises displaying a first multifunction category of the first application.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising detecting the first mechanical button being pressed again, then displaying a second multifunction category of the first application.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein automatically executing the first application associated with the first application button includes displaying a selected memo by executing a memo pad application, the selected memo pad being a set of most recently accessed memo records from a plurality of memo records that can be accessed by the memo pad application.

13. A computer implemented method of operating a handheld computer, the handheld computer including a plurality of mechanical application buttons, the method comprising:

receiving a signal from a first application button in the plurality of mechanical application buttons being pressed;

interrupting a processor in response to the fist application button being pressed so that the handheld computer is operational;

in response to the first application button being pressed, identifying a first application associated with the first application button prior to the first application button being pressed;

then

automatically executing the first application to display a selected state of the first application, wherein displaying the selected state of the first application includes automatically displaying user-inputted data previously entered into a second computer that previously executed the first application.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein displaying user-inputted data previously entered into data used by the first application includes displaying data received on the handheld computer through a synchronization process.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein displaying user-inputted data previously entered into data used by the first application includes displaying data entered onto the handheld computer by a user.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein automatically executing the first application associated with the first application button includes displaying a selected day by executing a calendar application, wherein displaying the selected day includes automatically displaying an appointment list created by a user.