Method for controlling a handheld computer by entering commands onto a displayed feature of the handheld computer
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for software control, comprising:
- displaying a graphic representing a set of one or more computer functions on a portion of a touch-sensitive screen, wherein the touch-sensitive screen is coupled to at least one processor to detect and interpret contact with the screen;
detecting an object making a first sequence of one or more contacts that form a first drawing on the portion of the screen;
in response to detecting the object making the first sequence of one or more contacts that form the first drawing;
matching the first sequence to a particular action in a set of actions, and performing the particular action;
detecting an object making a second sequence of one or more contacts to form a second drawing on the portion of the screen;
in response to detecting the object making the second sequence of one or more contacts to form the second drawing;
matching the second sequence to a second action in a set of actions related to said one or more computer functions, and performing the second action;
wherein the visual appearance of the graphic is the same when the first sequence of contacts is commenced and when the second sequence of contacts is commenced.
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Abstract
A method for software control using a user-interactive display screen feature is disclosed that reduces stylus or other manipulations necessary to invoke software functionality from the display screen. According to the method, a graphical feature having a surface area is displayed on a touch-sensitive screen. The touch-sensitive screen is coupled to at least one processor and the graphical feature is generated by an operating system and uniquely associated with a particular software program by the operating system. To control software executing on the processor, a user-supplied writing on the surface area is received and the software is controlled responsive to the writing. In alternate embodiments, the method further controls data stored in a memory device responsive to the writing or further controls transmission of data from a radiation emitter, which may be coupled to voice and data networks.
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Citations
66 Claims
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1. A method for software control, comprising:
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displaying a graphic representing a set of one or more computer functions on a portion of a touch-sensitive screen, wherein the touch-sensitive screen is coupled to at least one processor to detect and interpret contact with the screen;
detecting an object making a first sequence of one or more contacts that form a first drawing on the portion of the screen;
in response to detecting the object making the first sequence of one or more contacts that form the first drawing;
matching the first sequence to a particular action in a set of actions, and performing the particular action;
detecting an object making a second sequence of one or more contacts to form a second drawing on the portion of the screen;
in response to detecting the object making the second sequence of one or more contacts to form the second drawing;
matching the second sequence to a second action in a set of actions related to said one or more computer functions, and performing the second action;
wherein the visual appearance of the graphic is the same when the first sequence of contacts is commenced and when the second sequence of contacts is commenced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A handheld computer comprising:
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displaying a graphic representing a set of one or more computer functions on a portion of a touch-sensitive screen, wherein the touch-sensitive screen is coupled to at least one processor to detect and interpret contact with the screen;
detecting an object making a first sequence of one or more contacts that form a first drawing on the portion of the screen;
in response to detecting the object making the first sequence of one or more contacts that form the first drawing;
matching the first sequence to a particular action in a set of actions, and performing the particular action;
detecting an object making a second sequence of one or more contacts to form a second drawing on the portion of the screen;
in response to detecting the object making the second sequence of one or more contacts to form the second drawing;
matching the second sequence to a second action in a set of actions related to said one or more computer functions, and performing the second action;
wherein the visual appearance of the graphic is the same when the first sequence of contacts is commenced and when the second sequence of contacts is commenced. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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Specification