System and method for enabling manipulation of graphic images to form a graphic image

• US 20060218508A1
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DRNC Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sciammarella, Eduardo, Mugura, Kazuto, Kravitz, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,334,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237

Abstract

An instrument includes a display screen which includes a bitmap graphical user interface including an on-screen menu, and a control element which enables movement of the on-screen menu corresponding to movement of the control element, enables the user to manipulate and select graphic images for executing selected instrument functions. The instrument is adapted to enable manipulation of a plurality of graphic elements in an on-screen menu such that the user is able to form a graphic image on the display screen.

Claims

1-44. -44. (canceled)

45. A system for enabling selection of a selectable graphic image on a display screen adapted to be mounted in an instrument, comprising:

a display screen, including a column with a plurality of selectable graphic images therein, wherein each graphic image is adapted to be selectable and the column is adapted to be moveable for enabling a line graphic image to be formed thereby and to be displayed on the display screen;

a manipulation enabling element for enabling manipulation of the column of the plurality of graphic images on the display screen to enable movement of a graphic image into position as a selectable graphic image on the display screen and to enable selection of the selectable graphic image to be a part of the line graphic image to be formed on the display screen, wherein the manipulation enabling element appears to be a rotatable wheel which occupies a three-dimensional space, and the column of the plurality of graphic images is foreshortened at a top and bottom of the rotatable wheel and appears to rotate with the rotatable wheel; and

a selection and entry enabling element for enabling selection and entry of the selectable graphic image in the display screen, adapted to be rotatable for selection and pressable for entry, such that rotation and pressing thereof enables selection and entry of the selectable graphic image.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the selection and entry enabling element comprises a jog dial.

47. The system of claim 45, further comprising an instrument in which the display screen is mounted, wherein the instrument is adapted to be held by the user in one hand, and the selection and entry enabling element is adapted to be manipulated in one hand by the user.

48. The system of claim 46, further comprising an instrument in which the display screen is mounted, wherein the jog dial is located on a side of the instrument.

49. The system of claim 46, further comprising an instrument in which the display screen is mounted, wherein the jog dial is located in the back of the instrument.

50. The system of claim 47, wherein the instrument comprises a wireless telephone.

51. The system of claim 47, wherein the selection and entry enabling element is adapted to be manipulated by the thumb of the user.

52. The system of claim 47, wherein the selection and entry enabling element is adapted to be manipulated by one finger of one hand of the user.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the selection and entry enabling element is adapted to be manipulated by the forefinger of the user.

54. A method of enabling selection of a graphic image on a display screen adapted to be mounted in an instrument, in a system which comprises:

a display screen, including a column with a plurality of selectable graphic images therein, wherein each graphic image is adapted to be selectable and the column is adapted to be moveable for enabling a line graphic image to be formed thereby and to be displayed on the display screen;

a manipulation enabling element for enabling manipulation of the column of the plurality of graphic images on the display screen to enable movement of a graphic image into position as a selectable graphic image on the display screen and to enable selection of the selectable graphic image to be a part of the line graphic image to be formed on the display screen;

wherein the manipulation enabling element appears to be a rotatable wheel which occupies a three-dimensional space, and the column of the plurality of graphic images is foreshortened at a top and bottom of the rotatable wheel and appears to rotate with the rotatable wheel; and

a selection and entry enabling element for enabling selection and entry of the selectable graphic image in the display screen, adapted to be rotatable for selection and pressable for entry, such that rotation and pressing thereof enables selection and entry of the selectable graphic image;

wherein the method comprises;

rotating and pressing the selection and entry enabling element so as to select and enter the selectable graphic image.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the selection enabling element comprises a jog dial, and wherein rotating and pressing comprises rotating and pressing the jog dial.

56. The method of claim 54, further comprising an instrument in which the display screen is mounted, wherein the instrument is adapted to be held by the user in one hand, and the selection and entry enabling element is adapted to be manipulated in one hand the user, and further comprising manipulating the selection and entry enabling element in one hand by the user.

57. The method of claim 55, further comprising an instrument in which the display screen is mounted, wherein the jog dial is located on a side of the instrument, and further comprising rotating and pressing the jog dial on a side of the instrument.

58. The method of claim 55, further comprising an instrument in which the display screen is mounted, wherein the jog dial is located in the back of the instrument, and further comprising rotating and pressing the jog dial in the back of the instrument.

59. The method of claim 56, wherein the instrument comprises a wireless telephone, and wherein manipulation further comprises manipulating the selection enabling element in one hand by the user in a wireless telephone.

60. The method of claim 56, wherein the selection and entry enabling element is adapted to be manipulated by the thumb of the user, and wherein manipulating further comprises manipulating the selection and entry enabling element by the thumb of the user.

61. The method of claim 56, wherein the selection and entry enabling element is adapted to be manipulated by one finger of one hand of the user, and wherein manipulating further comprises manipulating the selection and entry enabling element by one finger of one hand of the user.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the selection and entry enabling element is adapted to be manipulated by the forefinger of the user, and wherein manipulating further comprises manipulating the selection and entry enabling element by the forefinger of the user.