Multipurpose data input/output and display configurations for a data processing apparatus

• US 8,037,121 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2007
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Duarte, Matias, Palmer, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Shingles; Kristie D
• Application Number:
  US11/903,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20080020744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,478 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 345/649, 345/689
• US Class Current: 709/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/162 changing, e.g. reversing, the face orientation of the screen with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, e.g. for folding into tablet PC like position or orienting towards the direction opposite to the user to show to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1622 with enclosures rotating around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define or with ball-joint coupling, e.g. PDA with display enclosure orientation changeable between portrait and landscape by rotation with respect to a coplanar body enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/016 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/064 Optical isolation of switch sites
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0212 with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, i.e. folding around a first axis and rotating around a second axis perpendicular to the first
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0233 Including a rotatable display body part
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device

Abstract

A data processing apparatus is described having a first operational mode and a second operational mode comprising: a first group of control elements to perform a first predefined set of functions in a first orientation associated with the first operational mode and to perform a second predefined set of functions in a second orientation associated with the second operational mode; and a display to render images having a first image orientation associated with the first operational mode and to render images having a second image orientation associated with the second operational mode.

Claims

1. A data processing device comprising:

a display for rendering a graphical user interface, the display fixedly coupled to the data processing device;

a motion sensor communicatively coupled to the data processing device, the motion sensor configured to detect a physical orientation of the data processing device in space and to generate control signals identifying the physical orientation;

at least a memory and a processor configured to;

receive control signals from the motion sensor identifying the physical orientation of the data processing device;

enter into a first operational mode if the control signals indicated that the device is in a first physical orientation; and

enter into a second operational mode if the control signals indicated that the data processing device is in a second physical orientation, the first physical orientation offset 90 degrees relative to the second physical orientation; and

wherein the graphical user interface is rotated 90 degrees when switching between the first operational mode and the second operational mode.

2. The data processing device as in claim 1 wherein the first operational mode is a telephony mode and the second operational mode is a data entry mode.

3. The data processing device as in claim 1 further comprising:

one or more input elements coupled to the data processing device, at least one of the input elements configured to initiate a first operation when the data processing device is in the first operational mode, and configured to initiate a second operation when the data processing device is in the second operational mode.

4. The data processing device as in claim 1 further comprising:

one or more keys coupled to the data processing device, at least one of the one or more keys configured to initiate a specified function when selected, the specified function comprising at least one of;

a menu function to render a context-specific menu within the graphical user interface;

a home function to render a home menu within the graphical user interface;

a back function to render a previously-rendered graphical user interface;

or

a jump function to jump to a specified application.

5. The data processing device as in claim 1, further comprising one or more input elements, at least one of the input elements including:

a first glyph representing a first specified function, the first glyph being highlighted when the data processing device is in the first operational mode; and

a second glyph representing a second specified function, the second glyph being highlighted when the data processing device is in the second operational mode.

6. The data processing device as in claim 5, wherein the first glyph is positioned on the at least one input element in a first orientation corresponding to the first physical orientation of the data processing device, and the second glyph is positioned on the at least one input element in a second orientation corresponding to the second physical orientation of the data processing device.

7. The data processing device as in claim 1, further comprising a control wheel for moving a graphical cursor element when rotated in the first operational mode and/or the second operational mode.

8. A computer-implemented method comprising:

detecting, with a motion sensor communicatively coupled to a data processing device, a physical orientation of the data processing device in space, the data processing device having a first operational mode and a second operational mode, the first operational mode associated with a first physical orientation of the data processing device and the second operational mode associated with a second physical orientation of the data processing device, the first physical orientation offset 90 degrees relative to the second physical orientation;

selecting the first operational mode and displaying a graphical user interface in a first display mode if the data processing device is in the first physical orientation; and

selecting the second operational mode and displaying the graphical user interface in a second display mode if the data processing device is in the second physical orientation, the first display mode of the graphical user interface offset 90 degrees relative to the second display mode of the graphical user interface.

9. The computer-implemented method as in claim 8, wherein the first operational mode is a telephony mode and the second operational mode is a data entry mode.

10. The computer-implemented method as in claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a selectable input element that is coupled to the data processing device;

initiating a first operation responsive to receiving the selection of the selectable input element when the data processing device is in the first operational mode; and

initiating a second operation responsive to receiving the selection of the selectable input element when the data processing device is in the second operational mode.

11. The computer-implemented method as in claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a selectable key that is coupled to the data processing device;

initiating a specified function responsive to receiving the selection of the selectable key, the specified function comprising at least one of;

rendering a context-specific menu within the graphical user interface;

rendering a home menu within the graphical user interface;

rendering a previously-rendered graphical user interface;

or

jumping to a specified function.

12. The computer-implemented method as in claim 8, further comprising:

highlighting a first glyph on an input element coupled to the data processing device when the data processing device is in the first operational mode, the first glyph representing a first specified function; and

highlighting a second glyph on the input element when the data processing device is in the second operational mode, the second glyph representing a second specified function.

13. The computer-implemented method as in claim 12, wherein the first glyph is positioned on the at least one of the one or more input elements in a first orientation corresponding to the first physical orientation of the data processing device, and the second glyph is positioned on the at least one or the one or more input elements in a second orientation corresponding to the second physical orientation of the data processing device.

14. The computer-implemented method as in claim 8, wherein the data processing device further comprises a control wheel for moving a graphical cursor element when rotated in the first operational mode and/or the second operational mode.

15. One or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method comprising:

receiving, from a motion sensor communicatively coupled to a data processing device, control signals that indicate a physical orientation of the data processing device in space, the data processing device having a first operational mode and a second operational mode, the first operational mode associated with a first physical orientation of the data processing device and the second operational mode associated with a second physical orientation of the data processing device, the first physical orientation offset 90 degrees relative to the second physical orientation;

selecting the first operational mode and displaying a graphical user interface in a first display mode if the control signals indicate that the data processing device is in the first physical orientation; and

selecting the second operational mode and displaying the graphical user interface in a second display mode if the control signals indicate that the data processing device is in the second physical orientation, the first display mode of the graphical user interface offset 90 degrees relative to the second display mode of the graphical user interface.

16. The one or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 15, wherein the first operational mode is a telephony mode and the second operational mode is a data entry mode.

17. The one or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 15, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed, perform a method further comprising:

receiving a selection of a selectable input element that is coupled to the data processing device;

initiating a first operation responsive to receiving the selection of the selectable input element when the data processing device is in the first operational mode; and

initiating a second operation responsive to receiving the selection of the selectable input element when the data processing device is in the second operational mode.

18. The one or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 15, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed, perform a method further comprising:

receiving a selection of a selectable key that is coupled to the data processing device;

initiating a specified function responsive to receiving the selection of the selectable key, the specified function comprising at least one of;

rendering a context-specific menu within the graphical user interface;

rendering a home menu within the graphical user interface;

rendering a previously-rendered graphical user interface;

or

jumping to a specified function.

19. The one or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 15, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed, perform a method further comprising:

highlighting a first glyph on an input element coupled to the data processing device when the data processing device is in the first operational mode, the first glyph representing a first specified function; and

highlighting a second glyph on the input element when the data processing device is in the second operational mode, the second glyph representing a second specified function.

20. The one or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 15, wherein the data processing device further comprises a control wheel for moving a graphical cursor element when rotated in the first operational mode and/or the second operational mode.