Method for providing feedback responsive to sensing a physical presence proximate to a control of an electronic device
First Claim
1. In a computer system including an auxiliary control and a display, a method comprising the steps of:
- detecting a first physical presence proximate to or contacting a first auxiliary control for a predefined period in which the first auxiliary control maintains an inactive state; and
generating feedback responsive to said step of detecting, the feedback providing an indication of the functionality of the first auxiliary control, the functionality of the first auxiliary control and associated feedback being dependent upon which one of a first application program and a second application program is active, the generating includes displaying a first display widget on the display;
detecting a second physical presence proximate to or contacting a second auxiliary control different from the first auxiliary control;
generating second feedback responsive to said step of detecting the second physical presence, the second feedback indicating functionality associated with the second auxiliary control;
the generating second feedback includes displaying second widget on the display responsive to the step of detecting the second physical presence; and
discontinuing display of the first display widget responsive to detecting the second physical presence,wherein the first auxiliary control has a first function in the first application program and a second function, different from the first function, in the second application program.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a computer system, a touch sensitive input device having touch sensitive auxiliary controls can be used to provide a user with information regarding the functionality of an auxiliary control. When a user'"'"'s hand approaches a touch sensitive input device, feedback can be displayed on a display screen. A user can receive feedback without activating the input device by touching or being extremely proximate to an auxiliary control. The feedback may take the form of a tool tip related to the auxiliary control or a combination of auxiliary controls simultaneously touched. When the hand of a user is moved away from the touch sensitive input device, the feedback brought on by sensing the user'"'"'s hand may disappear.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. In a computer system including an auxiliary control and a display, a method comprising the steps of:
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detecting a first physical presence proximate to or contacting a first auxiliary control for a predefined period in which the first auxiliary control maintains an inactive state; and generating feedback responsive to said step of detecting, the feedback providing an indication of the functionality of the first auxiliary control, the functionality of the first auxiliary control and associated feedback being dependent upon which one of a first application program and a second application program is active, the generating includes displaying a first display widget on the display; detecting a second physical presence proximate to or contacting a second auxiliary control different from the first auxiliary control; generating second feedback responsive to said step of detecting the second physical presence, the second feedback indicating functionality associated with the second auxiliary control;
the generating second feedback includes displaying second widget on the display responsive to the step of detecting the second physical presence; anddiscontinuing display of the first display widget responsive to detecting the second physical presence, wherein the first auxiliary control has a first function in the first application program and a second function, different from the first function, in the second application program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In a computer system including an auxiliary control and a display, a method comprising the steps of:
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detecting a first physical presence proximate to or contacting a first auxiliary control for a predefined period in which the first auxiliary control maintains an inactive state; detecting a second physical presence proximate to or contacting a second auxiliary control different from the first auxiliary control in which the second auxiliary control maintains an inactive state while detecting the first physical presence proximate to or contacting the first auxiliary control; and generating feedback responsive to said step of detecting the second physical presence, the feedback indicating functionality associated with simultaneous activation of the combination of the first auxiliary control and the second auxiliary control, wherein the first auxiliary control and the second auxiliary control correspond to a separate controls on an input device. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification