Portable electronic apparatus and method for providing visual and/or audio information

• US 7,051,283 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2001
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IR Vision AB
• Original Assignee: IR Vision AB
• Inventors: Pettersson, Jerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kieu D.
• Application Number:
  US09/814,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20020041293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,887 Days
• Field of Search: 345/835, 345/810, 345/825, 345/811, 345/812, 345/173, 345/828, 345/840, 345/779, 345/172, 345/168, 715/748, 715/840, 715/817
• US Class Current: 715/748
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A portable electronic apparatus and method for receiving information from a transmitter and providing the information to a user are disclosed. A display provides visual information to the user, and the visual information includes an image and at least one active area. At least one touch button is associated with the active area. A frame grabber, responsive to data received from the transmitter divides the data into a plurality of frames. A memory stores the plurality of frames into a hierarchy level sequence of memory frames. Each memory frame is uniquely identifiable and includes information portions corresponding to images, active areas and links. A controller identifies which information is to be displayed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for receiving information from a transmitter and providing the information to a user, the apparatus comprising:

a display for providing visual information to the user, the visual information including an image and at least one active area;

at least one touch button associated with the active area;

a frame grabber, responsive to data received from the transmitter, for dividing the data into a plurality of frames;

a memory for storing the plurality of frames into a hierarchy level sequence of memory frames, wherein a hierarchy level of each memory frame corresponding to a transmission rate of the data, and each memory frame being uniquely identifiable and having;

a first information portion corresponding to the image to be displayed on the display;

a second information portion corresponding to the active area of the image and associated with the touch button; and

a third information portion corresponding to a link to a different memory frame and associated with the active area of the image; and

a controller for identifying which memory frame is to have its first information portion displayed on the display, for identifying when a touch button associated with the second information portion has been activated, and for identifying the third information portion associated with the activated touch button;

wherein the apparatus displays a first image and at least one active area associated with a first memory frame, and when the touch button associated with the active area of the first memory frame is activated, the apparatus displays a second image and the active area associated with a second memory frame.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for receiving information from an external source.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the receiving means comprise means for receiving information transmitted using a wireless technology.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the receiving means are adapted to receive information and wherein the memory is adapted to receive and store the received information.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the providing means provides the first information portion of the actual information.

6. An apparatus according to according to claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touch screen where the active areas are predefined areas thereof, a depression or touch by the user is detected.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller does not comprise a programmable microprocessor.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a main circuitry for controlling received data, said main circuitry comprising a Memory Manager Controller, Controller Unit and a receiver.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a Video Decoder, Audio Decoder, Display Controller, and Touch Screen Controller.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an Audio Controller, a Volume Controller and a Navigator Controller.

11. An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a Page Decoder and data compression means.

12. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said Controller Unit is arranged as a dynamic state machine.

13. A method for receiving information from a transmitter and providing the information to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

providing visual information to the user on a display, the visual information including an image and at least one active area;

dividing data received from the transmitter into a plurality of frames;

storing the plurality of frames into a hierarchy level sequence of memory frames, wherein a hierarchy level of each memory frame corresponding to a transmission rate of the data, and each memory frame being uniquely identifiable and having;

a first information portion corresponding to the image to be displayed on the display;

a second information portion corresponding to the active area of the image and associated with a touch button; and

a third information portion corresponding to a link to a different memory frame and associated with the active area of the image; and

identifying which memory frame is to have its first information portion displayed on the display, identifying when a touch button associated with the second information portion has been activated, and identifying the third information portion associated with the activated touch button;

wherein a first image and at least one active area associated with a first memory frame are displayed, and when the touch button associated with the active area of the first memory frame is activated, a second image and the active area associated with a second memory frame are displayed.

14. A method according to claim 13, the method further comprising a receiving step for receiving the information from an external source.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the receiving step comprises receiving information transmitted using a wireless technology.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein the storing step comprises storing information.

17. A method according to claim 13, wherein the memory frames are stored consecutively in storing means.

18. A method according to claim 13, wherein the first information portion is provided or updated.

19. A method according to claim 13, wherein the storing step comprises identifying the first information portion and individual parts of the second information portion relating to individual active areas, and storing the first information portion and the individual parts of the second information portion identically or similarly.