METHOD OF USING PHYSICAL BUTTONS IN ASSOCIATION WITH A DISPLAY TO ACCESS AND EXECUTE FUNCTIONS AVAILABLE THROUGH ASSOCIATED HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

• US 20020135619A1
• Filed: 03/30/1999
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvin Gaye, Rakuten, Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Research Investment Network Incorporated
• Inventors: ALLPORT, DAVID E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,757,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/810
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42228 the reprogrammable keys being displayed on a display screen in order to reduce the number of keys on the remote control device itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/14 Systems for two-way working H04N7/12, H04N7/173 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for using physical buttons on a device in association with a display to display, access, and execute functions available through associated hardware and software. The physical buttons are programmable, and the function of each button is displayed on an associated display when the button is activated using a first type of motion, and the function of the button is performed when the button is activated using a second type of motion. This allows the display to be free of unnecessary icons, tool-tips, menus, text, etc., and to be devoted to actual content unless and until a user decides to perform a function associated with the device containing the display. Increasing the available display space is especially important in the advancing art of electronics, where devices are becoming smaller and smaller, yet consumers are demanding more and more functionality.

Claims

1. A method of using a first physical button on a device, in association with a display, to display and execute a function associated with the first physical button comprising the steps:

performing a display activation motion associated with the first physical button upon the first physical button;

displaying on the display, in response to the display activation motion performed upon the first physical button, a description of a function associated with the first physical button;

performing an execution activation motion associated with the first physical button upon the first physical button; and

executing, in response to the execution activation motion performed upon the first physical button, the function associated with the first physical button;

wherein the display activation motion associated with the first physical button is of a different type than the execution activation motion associated with the first physical button.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the device is a hand-held device.

3. The method as in claim 2, further comprising the step of removing from the display after a suitable amount of time of non-activity, the description of the function associated with the first physical button.

4. The method as in claim 2, wherein the display is on the device.

5. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the steps of performing for a second time the display activation motion associated with the first physical button upon the first physical button, and removing from the display, in response to the second display activation motion performed upon the first physical button, the description of the function associated with the first physical button.

6. The method as in claim 2, further comprising the step of using integrated software to program the function associated with the first physical button.

7. The method as in claim 2, wherein the device further comprises a second physical button of like kind to the first physical button, and further comprising the step of displaying on the display, in response to the display activation motion performed upon the first physical button, a description of a function associated with the second physical button.

8. The method as in claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a second physical button of like kind to the first physical button, and a third physical button of a different kind than the first physical button, and further comprising the step of displaying on the display, in response to the display activation motion performed upon the first physical button, a description of a function associated with the second physical button.

9. The method as in claim 8, wherein the description of the function associated with the first physical button is displayed on the display adjacent the first physical button, and wherein the description of the function associated with the second physical button is displayed on the display adjacent the second physical button.

10. The method as in claim 1, wherein the display is on the device.

11. A method of using a first physical button on a device comprising the first physical button and a second physical button, in association with a display, to display and execute a function associated with the first physical button, the method comprising the steps:

performing a display activation motion associated with the first physical button upon the first physical button;

displaying on the display, in response to the display activation motion performed upon the first physical button, a description of a function associated with the first physical button and a description of a function associated with the second physical button;

performing an execution activation motion associated with the second physical button upon the second physical button; and

executing, in response to the execution activation motion performed upon the second physical button, the function associated with the second physical button.

12. The method as in claim 11, wherein the display activation motion associated with the first physical button is of a different type than the execution activation motion associated with the second physical button.

13. The method as in claim 12, wherein the description of the function associated with the first physical button is displayed on the display adjacent the first physical button, and the description of the function associated with the second physical button is displayed on the display adjacent the second physical button.

14. The method as in claim 11, wherein the device is a hand-held device.

15. The method as in claim 14, wherein the display is on the device.

16. The method as in claim 11, further comprising the step of using integrated software to program the functions associated with the first and second physical buttons.

18. The method as in claim 17, wherein the display activation motion associated with the first physical button set is of a different type than the execution activation motion associated with the second physical button set.

19. The method as in claim 17, wherein the device is a hand-held device.

20. The method as in claim 18, wherein the display is on the device.

21. The method as in claim 17, further comprising the step of using integrated software to program the functions associated with the first and second physical button sets.

17. A method of using a first physical button set on a device comprising the first physical button set and a second physical button set, in association with a display, to display and execute a function associated with the first physical button set, the method comprising the steps:

performing a display activation motion associated with the first physical button set upon the first physical button set;

displaying on the display, in response to the display activation motion performed upon the first physical button set, a description of a function associated with the first physical button set and a description of a function associated with the second physical button set;

performing an execution activation motion associated with the second physical button set upon the second physical button set; and

executing, in response to the execution activation motion performed upon the second physical button set, the function associated with the second physical button set.