Pocket computer and associated methods

• US 20060265653A1
• Filed: 05/23/2005
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Melaanvuo, Henri, Sade, Simo, Tamminen, Eero, Paasonen, Juho, Rainisto, Roope, Johansson, Panu, Kekki, Jussi-Pekka, Vaisanen, Matti, Roto, Virpi, Pirskanen, Hannu, Saarinen, Kalle, Tolppanen, Petri
• Granted Patent: US 9,785,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/704
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/00 Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units program control for peripheral devices G06F13/10

Abstract

A pocket computer is presented having an apparatus housing and a user interface with a touch-sensitive display provided at a first side surface of said apparatus housing, at least one key for navigation among content shown on said display, and at least one key for performing zooming on content shown on said display. Various methods of operating this user interface are also presented.

Claims

1. A method of operating a user interface in a pocket computer, the pocket computer being adapted for execution of different software applications, each application having a number of functions, each function when invoked providing a certain functionality to a user of the pocket computer, the method involving

providing, on a display of said pocket computer, a number of selectable user interface elements, each user interface element representing a certain use aspect of said pocket computer, said certain use aspect being associated with certain functions of certain applications;

detecting selection by said user of a particular element among said user interface elements;

for the selected particular element, presenting on said display a number of selectable and task-oriented options, each such option being associated with a certain function of a certain application;

detecting selection by said user of a particular option among said options; and

invoking the function associated with said particular option.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said display is touch-sensitive and said selections are done by the user by pointing at the touch-sensitive display.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said selectable user interface elements are icons located at static positions on said display.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein said task-oriented options are presented as menu items in a menu.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein a first use aspect of said pocket computer is information browsing and a second use aspect of said pocket computer is electronic messaging.

6. A pocket computer having a user interface which includes a display and being adapted for execution of different software applications, each application having a number of functions, each function when invoked providing a certain functionality to a user of the pocket computer, the pocket computer being adapted to perform the method as defined in claim 1.

7. A method for accepting input to select data items displayed on a touch sensitive display of a pocket computer further comprising a writing tool, comprising the steps of:

detecting a first tap of said writing tool in a first position at a first point in time,

determining that selection of data is to be commenced by detecting a second tap of said writing tool in a position less than a threshold distance from said first position within a predetermined time from said first point in time, and

if it is determined that selection of data is to be commenced, upon detecting movement of said writing tool to a second position, selecting data items between said first position and said second position.

8. A method according to claim 7, said data items representing a subset of available content, wherein if it is not determined that selection of data is to be commenced, said method comprising the further steps of:

determining that panning is to be commenced by detecting that said writing tool has moved after said first tap of said writing tool, and

if it is determined that panning is to be commenced, detecting a second position of said writing tool, and performing a panning operation among said available content to display data items at a position offset by a difference between said first position and said second position.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein said content and data items belong to a web browser application executing in said pocket computer.

11. A pocket computer adapted to perform the method according to claim 8.

9. A method for accepting input to pan content and to select data items, displayed on a touch sensitive display of a pocket computer further comprising a writing tool, said data items representing a subset of available content, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a first tap of said writing tool in a first position at a first point in time,

determining that panning is to be commenced by detecting a second tap of said writing tool in a position less than a threshold distance from said first position within a predetermined time from said first point in time,

if it is determined that panning is to be commenced, detecting a second position of said writing tool, and performing a panning operation among said available content to display data items at a position offset by a difference between said first position and said second position,

if it is not determined that panning is to be commenced, determining that selection of data is to be commenced by detecting that said writing tool has moved after said first tap of said writing tool, and

if it is determined that selection of data is to be commenced, upon detecting movement of said writing tool to a second position, selecting data items between said first position and said second position.

12. A pocket computer comprising a zoom in button, a zoom out button and an input writing tool, being capable of displaying content on a display, wherein displayed content is a subset of available content, wherein

said computer is capable of zooming in on displayed content on said display in response to a depression of said zoom in button,

said computer being capable of zooming out on displayed content on said display in response to a depression of said zoom out button, and

said computer being capable of panning available content on said display in response to a tap of said writing tool in a first position on said display, a move of said writing tool and a lift of said writing tool in a second position on said display.

13. A method for navigating through hyperlinks shown on a display of a pocket computer, comprising the steps of:

receiving an input to shift focus to a subsequent hyperlink,

determining what hyperlink is subsequent solely based on the geometrical position of said hyperlinks displayed on said display, and

shifting focus to said hyperlink determined to be subsequent.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said subsequent hyperlink is a hyperlink after any hyperlink currently in focus.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein said subsequent hyperlink is a hyperlink before any hyperlink currently in focus.

16. A pocket computer adapted to perform the method according to claim 13.

17. A method for changing a zoom factor of content shown on a display of a pocket computer, comprising the steps of:

receiving input to display a menu relative to a target position on said display,

displaying said menu, comprising at least one menu item for changing said zoom factor,

receiving input to change said zoom factor by detecting a menu item with new zoom factor being selected, and

rendering said content with said new zoom factor, centered around said target position.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said display is a touch sensitive display, and said input to display a menu is a depression on said touch sensitive display during a time period longer than a predetermined threshold value.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein said display is a touch sensitive display, and said input to display a menu is a double tap on said touch sensitive display.

20. A method according to claim 17, wherein said content belong to a web browser application executing on said pocket computer.

21. A method according to claim 17, wherein said menu is a context sensitive menu.

22. A pocket computer adapted to perform the method according to claim 17.

23. A method for browsing through previously visited web pages in a web browser application executing on a pocket computer comprising a display, the method comprising the steps of:

rendering a first web page on said display,

accepting a first input to change to a new zoom factor for said first web page,

rendering said first web page with said new zoom factor,

accepting a second input to render a second web page,

rendering a second web page with a zoom factor distinct from said new zoom factor for said first web page,

accepting a third input to again render said first web page, and

rendering said first web page with said new zoom factor.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein said third input is an input to navigate back through browser history.

25. A method according to claim 23, wherein said third input is an input to navigate forward through browser history.

26. A pocket computer adapted to perform the method according to claim 23.

27. A method for accepting input to select at least one list item in a user interface element representing a list, said element being operable in a single selection mode or a multiple distinct selection mode, displayed on a touch sensitive display of a pocket computer further comprising a writing tool, said method comprising the steps of:

determining if said element is operating in said single selection mode,

determining if said element is operating in a multiple distinct selection mode,

detecting a first tap of said writing tool in a first position,

selecting a first list item corresponding to said first position,

detecting a first lift of said writing tool in a second position, which may be equal to said first position,

detecting a second tap of said writing tool in a third position,

if said element is determined to be operating in said single selection mode, deselecting said first list item, and

selecting a list item corresponding to said third position.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein said element is further operable in a range selection mode, said method further comprising the steps, prior to said step of detecting said second tap, of:

determining if said element is operating in said range selection mode, and

if said element is determined to be operating in a range selection mode and said first list item is not equal to a second list item corresponding to said second position, selecting all list items from said first list item to said second list item.

29. A method according to claim 28, further comprising the step, prior to said step of selecting said second list item, of:

if said element is determined to be operating in said range selection mode, deselecting previously selected list items.

30. A method according to claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

detecting a third tap in a position corresponding to a selected list item,

detecting a third lift in a position corresponding to a second user interface element, and

if said element is determined to be operating in the single selection or the range selection mode, providing data representing selected list items to said second user interface element.

31. A method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of:

if said element is determined to be operating in a multiple distinct selection mode, rendering a selection indicator adjacent to each selected list item.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein said selection indicator is a check mark.

33. A method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of:

if said element is determined to be operating in the multiple distinct selection mode, detecting a third tap and a third lift of said writing tool in a position corresponding to a previously selected list item, and deselecting said previously selected list item.

34. A pocket computer adapted to perform the method according to claim 27.

35. A method to temporarily hide a window, comprising a head area, displayed in a location on a touch sensitive display of a pocket computer further comprising a writing tool, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a tap of said writing tool in a position corresponding to said head area of said window,

hiding contents of said window, thereby exposing any content previously covered by said window,

detecting a lift of said writing tool, and

re-drawing the content of said window in said location.

36. A method according to claim 35, further comprising the step, after said step of hiding, of:

drawing a box outline indicating said location of said window.

37. A method according to claim 35, wherein said window is a dialog.

38. A pocket computer adapted to perform the method according to claim 35.

39. A method for scrolling content in a window displayed on a touch sensitive display on a pocket computer, said display further displaying a remote scroll element, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a tap of a writing tool in a first position on said remote scroll element,

based on said position of said tap, determining a direction to scroll content,

based on said position of said tap, determining a distance to scroll content, and

scrolling said content said distance in said direction to a new position.

40. A method according to claim 39, wherein said remote scroll element comprises a bitmap image.

41. A method according to claim 39, wherein said window comprises a scrollbar, comprising a scroll thumb, said method further comprising the step of:

moving said scroll thumb to correspond to said new position of content.

42. A method according to claim 39, wherein said remote scroll element is located adjacent to said window.

43. A method according to claim 39, wherein said remote scroll element is located along one edge of said display.

44. A method according to claim 39, wherein said window is located disjunctive from said remote scroll element.

45. A pocket computer adapted to perform the method according to claim 39.

56. A method according to claim 39, wherein an area on said touch sensitive display that underlies said remote scroll element is used for presentation of information such as at least one non-selectable indicator.

46. A method for scrolling content in a window displayed on a touch sensitive display of a pocket computer, said display further displaying a scrollbar comprising a scroll thumb movable in a trough, comprising the steps of:

detecting a tap of a writing tool in a tapping position in said trough,

scrolling said content, including updating a position of said scroll thumb in said trough accordingly by moving said scroll thumb in said trough,

detecting a lift of said writing tool, and

once lift of said writing tool is detected, stopping said scrolling of content,

wherein, in said step of scrolling, said scrolling is allowed to continue such that said position of said scroll thumb moves past said tapping position in said trough.

47. A method according to claim 46, wherein said step of scrolling said content scrolls content one page at a time.

48. A method according to claim 46, wherein said position is distinct from said scroll thumb.

49. A pocket computer adapted to perform the method according to claim 46.

50. A graphical user interface for a pocket computer having a display and being adapted for execution of different software applications, the user interface including an application switcher panel capable of presenting a plurality of icons on said display, each icon being associated with a respective application executed on said pocket computer and being selectable by a user so as to cause activation of the associated application, wherein the icons have an order in the application switcher panel and wherein this order depends on an order in which the associated applications have been active in the past, specifically such that the icon associated with a most recently active application has a first position in the application switcher panel.

51. A graphical user interface as in claim 50, further being adapted, upon launching of a new application, to insert an icon associated with said new application at said first position in the application switcher panel while shifting the positions of existing icons in the application switcher panel by one position backwards.

52. A graphical user interface as in claim 51, wherein only a predetermined maximum number of positions for icons are allowed in said application switcher panel and wherein, for an icon that has been shifted out from the application switcher panel, the application associated therewith may be activated through selection of a menu item in a menu on said display.

53. A pocket computer having a graphical user interface as defined in claim 50.

54. A pocket computer having a display with a user interface and a controller, the controller being adapted for execution of different utility applications, each utility application providing certain nominal functionality to a user when executed as an active application in said user interface, the pocket computer having a home application adapted for simultaneous provision on said display of a number of limited application views to respective ones among said utility applications, wherein each such limited application view enables the user to access a limited part of the nominal functionality of a respective utility application without executing this utility application as an active application.

55. A pocket computer having

an apparatus housing;

a touch-sensitive display provided at a first side surface of said apparatus housing;

at least one key for navigation among content shown on said display; and

at least one key for performing zooming on content shown on said display,

wherein one of said at least one key for navigation and said at least one key for performing zooming is located at said first side surface of said apparatus housing, whereas another one of said at least one key for navigation and said at least one key for performing zooming is located at a second side surface of said apparatus housing, non-parallel to said first side surface, the location of said keys being such that both keys are within reach of a typical user'"'"'s hand when holding the apparatus housing with one hand and without shifting grip.