Embedded navigation assembly and method on handheld device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A handheld electronic communication device, comprising:
- a device body having a display area and a keyfield area;
a microprocessor communicatively interposed between alphabetic keys of the keyfield area and a display screen of the display area, said microprocessor configured to receive text input instructions via the alphabetic keys of the keyfield area and to display corresponding text on the display screen of the display area;
a cursor navigation area coincidentally, at least a portion of which is located with at least a portion of the alphabetic keys of the keyfield area, said microprocessor communicatively interposed between the cursor navigation area and the display screen and configured to receive cursor guidance instructions via the cursor navigation area and to cause corresponding cursor movement on the display screen; and
a navigation initiation zone having at least a portion thereof that is exclusive of any of the alphabetic keys and that is fully bounded by the coincidentally located portions of the alphabetic keys and cursor navigation area, the navigation initiation zone further having at least one navigation initiation key dedicated to only initiate a cursor guidance mode of the cursor navigation area, and said microprocessor programmed to render the cursor navigation area operable in response to actuation of the at least one navigation key, and interpret cursor guidance instructions from sweeping contact motion that initiates at the navigation initiation zone after the sweeping contact motion continues across the cursor navigation area and to interpret text input instructions from contact that initiates at an alphabetic key.
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Abstract
A handheld electronic communication device includes a plurality of text entry keys arranged in a keyfield. A navigation home region includes a navigation home key, and a navigation travel region bounds the navigation home region. The navigation travel region overlies text entry keys within the keyfield. A user navigates by actuating the navigation home key and then moving his finger across keys lying within the navigation travel region and otherwise generally used to effect text entry into the device. The navigation home key is preferably configured for dual levels of actuation, as may be the text entry keys.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A handheld electronic communication device, comprising:
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a device body having a display area and a keyfield area; a microprocessor communicatively interposed between alphabetic keys of the keyfield area and a display screen of the display area, said microprocessor configured to receive text input instructions via the alphabetic keys of the keyfield area and to display corresponding text on the display screen of the display area; a cursor navigation area coincidentally, at least a portion of which is located with at least a portion of the alphabetic keys of the keyfield area, said microprocessor communicatively interposed between the cursor navigation area and the display screen and configured to receive cursor guidance instructions via the cursor navigation area and to cause corresponding cursor movement on the display screen; and a navigation initiation zone having at least a portion thereof that is exclusive of any of the alphabetic keys and that is fully bounded by the coincidentally located portions of the alphabetic keys and cursor navigation area, the navigation initiation zone further having at least one navigation initiation key dedicated to only initiate a cursor guidance mode of the cursor navigation area, and said microprocessor programmed to render the cursor navigation area operable in response to actuation of the at least one navigation key, and interpret cursor guidance instructions from sweeping contact motion that initiates at the navigation initiation zone after the sweeping contact motion continues across the cursor navigation area and to interpret text input instructions from contact that initiates at an alphabetic key. - 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 executing cursor navigation or text entry on a handheld electronic communication device, the method comprising:
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detecting actuation of at least one navigation initiation key at a navigation initiation zone, the at least one navigation initiation key dedicated to only initiate a cursor guidance mode of a cursor navigation area on a front face of the device, wherein the front face of the body also includes a display screen located above a keyfield and at least a portion of the cursor navigation area is coincidentally located with at least a portion of a plurality of alphabetic keys of the keyfield relative the front face of the body, and wherein the navigation initiation zone is fully bounded by the portion of the cursor navigation area that is coincidentally located with at least a portion of a plurality of alphabetic keys of the keyfield and has at least a portion thereof that is exclusive of any of the alphabetic keys; rendering the cursor navigation area operable in response to the at least one navigation initiation key having been actuated; in response to rendering the cursor navigation area operable, detecting sweeping contact motion that initiates at the navigation initiation zone and continues across the cursor navigation area; inputting data indicative of the detected motion to a microprocessor communicatively interposed between the cursor navigation area and the display screen, said microprocessor being programmed to receive cursor guidance instructions via the cursor navigation area and to cause corresponding cursor movement on the display screen; and moving a cursor upon the display screen in correspondence with the sensed sweeping contact motion across the cursor navigation area. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer program stored therein for distinguishing between desired cursor navigation or text entry on a handheld electronic communication device, said program being configured to run on a microprocessor in the handheld electronic communication device and being programmed to:
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detect actuation of at least one navigation initiation key at a navigation initiation zone, the at least one navigation initiation key dedicated to only initiate a cursor guidance mode of a cursor navigation area on a front face of the device, wherein the front face of the body also includes a display screen located above a keyfield and at least a portion of the cursor navigation area is coincidentally located with at least a portion of a plurality of alphabetic keys of the keyfield relative the front face of the body, and wherein the navigation initiation zone is fully bounded by the portion of the cursor navigation area that is coincidentally located with at least a portion of a plurality of alphabetic keys of the keyfield and has at least a portion thereof that is exclusive of any of the alphabetic keys; render the cursor navigation area operable in response to the at least one navigation initiation key having been actuated; in response to rendering the cursor navigation area operable, detecting sweeping contact motion that initiates at the navigation initiation zone and continues across the cursor navigation area; inputting data indicative of the detected motion to a microprocessor communicatively interposed between the cursor navigation area and the display screen, said microprocessor being programmed to receive cursor guidance instructions via the cursor navigation area and to cause corresponding cursor movement on the display screen; and moving a cursor upon the display screen in correspondence with the sensed sweeping contact motion across the cursor navigation area. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification