Context sensitive labels for an electronic device

• US 7,512,901 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2004
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Broom, Corinne, Vong, William H., Kaneko, Steven T.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US10/849,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20040216059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,776 Days
• Field of Search: 715/840, 715/805, 715/841, 715842-843, 715853-855, 715771-773, 715835-839, 715/765, 715/744, 715/745, 715/747, 715/746, 715/846, 715/817, 715/821, 715/823, 715/752, 700/214, 345/156, 345/173
• US Class Current: 715/840
• 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 3/1431 using a single graphics controller

Abstract

A control panel unit for a computing device includes buttons having characteristics that define individual button states. Upon actuation of a button, the viewable states of the buttons may change. A portion of the button may be illuminated to represent the state and/or include an icon depicting an application controlled by the button. The control panel unit may include a display for displaying plural soft labels corresponding to the buttons and representing the current context that will be initiated when the corresponding button is actuated. The soft labels may identify users or applications available to one user. Upon actuation of an application, the soft labels can change to represent various actions or functions available in the application. In the user interface, each user may be assigned a specific color scheme. The color schemes allow a person to visually determine who is logged into the system and/or which individual has new information.

Claims

1. A control panel unit for a computer system comprising:

a display screen having first and second display regions for displaying first and second soft labels, respectively; and

first and second button inputs located external to the display screen, the first button input configured to display a first viewable state thereon and the second button input configured to display a second viewable state thereon,

wherein the first and second soft labels are associated with and adjacent to the first and second button inputs, respectively and

wherein in a first context, the first viewable state and first soft label represent functionality of the first button input and the second viewable state and the second soft label represent functionality of the second button input, and responsive to actuation of the first button input in the first context, the second viewable state and the second soft label changing to represent the functionality of the second button input in a second context.

2. The control panel unit according to claim 1, wherein responsive to actuation of the first button input in the first context, the first viewable state and the first soft label changing to represent functionality of the first button input in the second context.

3. The control panel unit according to claim 1, wherein the first viewable state displayed on the first button input is the same as the second viewable state displayed on the second button input, the first viewable state representing a first action associated with the first button input and the second viewable state representing a second action associated with second button input, the first and second actions being different.

4. The control panel unit according to claim 1, wherein the first and second viewable states represent first and second actions.

5. The control panel unit according to claim 4, wherein the first action includes launching an application when the first button input is actuated.

6. The control panel unit according to claim 5, wherein the application is a messaging, music, calendar or news application.

7. The control panel unit according to claim 5, wherein the application is launched on a computer coupled to said control panel unit.

8. The control panel unit according to claim 4, wherein the first and second actions represent responses to an alert.

9. The control panel unit according to claim 1, wherein the first button input includes at least one illuminable portion for defining the first viewable state.

10. The control panel unit according to claim 9, wherein the at least one illuminable portion is located on the periphery of the first button input.

11. The control panel unit according to claim 9, wherein the at least one illuminable portion is an icon located on a central portion of the first button input.

12. The control panel unit according to claim 1, wherein the first button input includes a portion configured to change color, the first viewable state including a particular color.

13. The control panel unit according to claim 12, wherein the color represents a specific user of the computer system.

14. The control panel unit according to claim 1, wherein responsive to actuation of the first button input when data displayed on the display screen is selected, initiating an action associated with the data.

15. A control panel unit for a computer system comprising:

a display having at least first and second display regions;

at least first and second button inputs adjacent to the first and second display regions, respectively; and

first and second soft labels displayed in the first and second display regions, respectively, the first and second soft labels associated with the first and second button inputs, respectively, at least one of the first soft label and the second soft label configured to change in response to actuation of the first button input in a first state,

wherein the first and second soft labels respectively represent first and second users of the computer system,

wherein each of the first and second soft labels includes a color specifically associated with the user represented by the respective soft label, and

wherein the first soft label changes appearance responsive to an event independent of actuation of the first button input, the event being receipt of an email message.

16. The control panel unit according to claim 15, wherein the first and second soft labels and content on the display are displayed in a format associated with the first user in response to actuation of the first button input in the first state.

17. The control panel unit according to claim 15, wherein the first and second soft labels represent first and second applications associated with the first user in a second state responsive to the first button input being actuated in the first state.

18. The control panel unit according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the applications is a messaging, music, calendar or news application.

19. The control panel unit according to claim 15, wherein responsive to actuation of the first button input in the first state, the first and second soft labels representing actions customized for the first user.

20. In a computer system having a display screen and first and second button inputs adjacent to the display screen, a method comprising the steps of:

displaying the first button input in a first viewable state and the second button input in a second viewable state, the first and second viewable states representing functionality of the first and second button inputs, respectively, in a first context;

displaying a first soft label in a first display region of the display screen located adjacent to the first button input, the first soft label being associated with the first button input;

displaying a second soft label in a second display region of the display screen located adjacent to the second button input, the second soft label being associated with the second button input; and

responsive to actuation of the first button input, changing the second viewable state and the second soft label to represent the functionality of the second button input in a second context.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the first viewable state represents an action.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the action represents a response to an alert.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the first viewable state represents an application.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the application is a messaging, music, calendar or news application.

25. The method according to claim 20, wherein the first and second viewable states represent first and second users of the computer system, respectively.

26. The method according to claim 20, wherein the step of changing the second viewable state includes illuminating or de-illuminating a portion of the second button input.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the step of illuminating or de-illuminating includes illuminating or de-illuminating a peripheral portion of the second button input.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein the step of changing the second viewable state includes illuminating or de-illuminating an icon.

29. The method according to claim 20, wherein the step of changing the second viewable state label includes changing a color of a portion of the second button input.

30. The method according to claim 20, further including the step of changing the first viewable state and the first soft label responsive to actuation of the first button input.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the first and second viewable states represent first and second actions.

32. The method according to claim 31, further comprising the step of initiating the first action in response to actuation of the first button input.

33. In a computer system having at least first and second display regions, and at least first and second button inputs associated with the first and second display regions, respectively, a method comprising the steps of:

displaying first and second soft labels in the first and second display regions, respectively, the first and second soft labels associated with the first and second button inputs, respectively; and

responsive to actuation of the first button input, changing at least one of the first soft label and the second soft label, wherein in a first state the first and second soft labels respectively represent first and second users of the computer system,

wherein the first and second soft labels represent actions in an alert screen associated with the first user in a second state responsive to the first button input being actuated in the first state.

34. The method according to claim 33 wherein the alert screen provides a notification message in a third display region.

35. The method according to claim 33, wherein the alert screen provides a message related to status of the computer system.