Communication system and method
First Claim
1. A communication system comprising means having a surface and defining a communication region having associated therewith a plurality of symbols and being responsive to movement of a user-controlled pointing device on or proximate said surface, whereby a desired symbol can be selected by detecting movement of the pointing device within the communication region along a predetermined bearing, the predetermined bearing being parallel to a direction of the desired symbol relative to a central region of the communication region, said system being responsive to said user-controlled pointing device independent of the location within said communication region at which movement along said predetermined bearing commences.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system comprises means defining a communication region, such as a touch-pad (151), having associated therewith a plurality of symbols (155) or the like and being responsive to a user-controlled pointing device whereby a desired symbol or the like can be selected by movement of the pointing device in a predetermined direction within the region (151).
32 Citations
31 Claims
- 1. A communication system comprising means having a surface and defining a communication region having associated therewith a plurality of symbols and being responsive to movement of a user-controlled pointing device on or proximate said surface, whereby a desired symbol can be selected by detecting movement of the pointing device within the communication region along a predetermined bearing, the predetermined bearing being parallel to a direction of the desired symbol relative to a central region of the communication region, said system being responsive to said user-controlled pointing device independent of the location within said communication region at which movement along said predetermined bearing commences.
- 15. A method of communication in which a plurality of symbols are associated with a communication region and a desired symbol is selected by detecting movement of a user-controlled pointing device on or proximate a surface within the communication region along a predetermined bearing, the predetermined bearing being parallel to a direction of the desired symbol relative to a central region of the communication region, effecting of said selection being independent of the location within said communication region at which movement of the pointing device along said predetermined bearing commences.
- 30. A communication system comprising means having a surface and defining a plurality of communication regions each substantially in the form of a square having symbols associated therewith substantially at corners of the square and substantially midway along each side of the square, each communication region being responsive to movement of a user-controlled pointing device on or proximate the surface of the means having a surface and defining a plurality of communication regions, whereby a desired symbol can be selected by detecting movement of the pointing device on or proximate the surface within said each communication region along a predetermined bearing, the predetermined bearing being parallel to a direction of the desired symbol relative to a central region of said each communication region, said system being responsive to said user-controlled pointing device independent of the location within said each communication region at which movement along said predetermined bearing commences.
Specification