Method and apparatus for launching activities
First Claim
1. A handheld electronic device comprising:
- a microprocessor housed within a body of the device that includes a display area on which information is displayed and a contact-sensitive area that detects contact engagement therewith and produces instruction data based thereupon;
a microprocessor-run software program programmed to receive instruction data from said contact-sensitive area;
said contact-sensitive area having a home zone area and a plurality of activity launch zone areas;
displaying on a display area a corresponding home zone area and a plurality of activity launch zone areas;
said software program programmed to process said instruction data and determine sweeping contact motion detected on said contact-sensitive area originating at the home zone area and terminating at one of the plurality of activity launch zone areas and to responsively launch an application corresponding to the activity launch zone area at which the sweeping contact motion terminated;
in response to the launched application, said contact-sensitive area having at least two additional home zone areas and a plurality of activity launch zone areas with each activity launch zone area having an associated function corresponding to the launched application;
software program programmed to process said instruction data and determine sweeping contact motion detected on said contact-sensitive area originating at one of the additional home zone areas and terminating at one of the plurality of activity launch zone areas and to responsively execute a the function corresponding to the launched application and activity launch zone area at which the sweeping contact motioned terminated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A handheld electronic device having a microprocessor housed within a body including a display area and a contact-sensitive area is disclosed. The contact-sensitive area detects contact engagement therewith and produces instruction data based thereupon. A microprocessor-run software program receives instruction data from the contact-sensitive area. The contact-sensitive area has a home zone area and a plurality of activity launch zone areas. The software program is programmed to process the instruction data and determine sweeping contact motion detected on the contact-sensitive area originating at the home zone area and terminating at one of the plurality of activity launch zone areas. The program responsively launches an operator-instructed activity corresponding to the activity launch zone area at which the sweeping contact motion terminated.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A handheld electronic device comprising:
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a microprocessor housed within a body of the device that includes a display area on which information is displayed and a contact-sensitive area that detects contact engagement therewith and produces instruction data based thereupon; a microprocessor-run software program programmed to receive instruction data from said contact-sensitive area; said contact-sensitive area having a home zone area and a plurality of activity launch zone areas; displaying on a display area a corresponding home zone area and a plurality of activity launch zone areas; said software program programmed to process said instruction data and determine sweeping contact motion detected on said contact-sensitive area originating at the home zone area and terminating at one of the plurality of activity launch zone areas and to responsively launch an application corresponding to the activity launch zone area at which the sweeping contact motion terminated; in response to the launched application, said contact-sensitive area having at least two additional home zone areas and a plurality of activity launch zone areas with each activity launch zone area having an associated function corresponding to the launched application; software program programmed to process said instruction data and determine sweeping contact motion detected on said contact-sensitive area originating at one of the additional home zone areas and terminating at one of the plurality of activity launch zone areas and to responsively execute a the function corresponding to the launched application and activity launch zone area at which the sweeping contact motioned terminated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for selectively launching an activity on a handheld electronic device, said method comprising:
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detecting a sweeping contact motion across a contact-sensitive surface originating at a home zone area and terminating at an activity launch zone area; launching an application corresponding to the activity launch zone area at which the detected sweeping contact motion terminates; displaying, on a display area a corresponding home zone area and a plurality of activity launch zone areas in response to the launched application, detecting a sweeping contact motion detected on said contact-sensitive area originating at one of a plurality of additional home zone areas and terminating at one of the plurality of activity launch zone areas, with each activity launch zone area having an associated function corresponding to the launched application; and executing the function corresponding to the launched application and the activity launch zone area at which the sweeping contact motioned terminated. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification