System and method for locking user input elements for small computer devices
First Claim
1. A method of locking user input elements on a small computer device, the method comprising:
- receiving an internally generated locking signal;
setting a locked flag to indicate the user input elements are locked; and
ignoring input signals when the locked flag is set,wherein the small computer device comprises a calendar-type application program, andwherein the internally generated locking signal is generated by the calendar-type application program in response to a predetermined event.
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Abstract
A system and method for automatically locking user interface input elements to avoid negative impact of inadvertently pressing a user input element. The method receives an internally generated locking signal; sets a locked flag to indicate the user input elements are locked. Input signals occurring while the input elements are locked are ignored. In accordance with other aspects, the method further relates to determining whether input signals relate to an unlock signal. The internally generated locking signal is generated following a predetermined time interval that is managed by an internal timer and may be related to an automatic shutoff/sleep mode time interval. Alternatively, a calendar-type application program may initiate the internally generated locking signal in response to a predetermined event.
19 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of locking user input elements on a small computer device, the method comprising:
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receiving an internally generated locking signal; setting a locked flag to indicate the user input elements are locked; and ignoring input signals when the locked flag is set, wherein the small computer device comprises a calendar-type application program, and wherein the internally generated locking signal is generated by the calendar-type application program in response to a predetermined event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer system comprising:
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user interface input elements; a processing unit for recognizing user interface input signals; and a locking application for locking the user interface input elements, wherein the processing unit ignores user interface input signals when the user interface input elements are locked and wherein the locking application receives an internally generated lock signal from a calendar-type application. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A computer storage medium readable by a computer device and encoding instructions for executing a computer process for notifying a user of notification events, the process comprising:
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receiving an internally generated locking signal; setting a locked flag to indicate user input elements are locked; receiving input signals; testing the locked flag to determine whether it is set; and if the locked flag is set, ignoring input signals, wherein the computer device further comprises a calendar-type application program and wherein the internally generated locking signal is generated by the calendar-type application program in response to a predetermined event. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer storage medium readable by a computer device and encoding instructions for executing a computer process for notifying a user of notification events wherein the computer device comprises a timer used to automatically place the computer device in sleep mode after a predetermined period of time, the computer device further comprises calendar-type application program that provides reminder notifications to the user and wherein the computer device awakes from sleep mode when a reminder occurs during sleep mode;
- the process comprising;
receiving an internally generated locking signal; setting a locked flag to indicate user input elements are locked; receiving input signals; testing the locked flag to determine whether it is set; and if the locked flag is set, ignoring input signals to allow the computer device to return to sleep mode following a predetermined period of time.
- the process comprising;
Specification