Mobile client computer programmed to combine cursor, control and input functions

• US 5,905,486 A
• Filed: 03/03/1997
• Issued: 05/18/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Brittenham, Peter James, Comerford, Liam David
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick, Vincent E.
• Application Number:
  US08/807,969
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 345/145, 345/157, 345/173, 345/179, 382/185-190, 707/507, 707/541
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/205 with control bus for exchanging commands between units
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724092 Interfacing with an external cover providing additional functionalities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

The present invention contemplates a display generating system, preferably a computer such as a mobile client system, in which text entry to supply data for a defined field in a form or the like is facilitated. In particular, the present invention contemplates combining certain functions heretofore separated in a display which accepts data entry such as letters or numbers entered by hand using a stylus or the like. In a system implementing this invention, the functions of providing a cursor which indicates the location for data entry and providing a field displaying or receiving data entry are combined. By this combination, the field receiving or displaying an entry is positioned immediately adjacent the displayed field for such entry, permitting a user to focus attention on a single location in the display as distinguished from dividing attention between a location at which a cursor prompts for data to appear and a separated field at which the entry is entered or displayed.

Claims

1. A mobile client computer comprising:

a housing sized to be held and manipulated by the hand of a user;

a processor mounted within said housing for processing digital data;

memory mounted within said housing for storing digital data and coupled to said processor;

a display mounted in said housing and coupled to said processor and said memory for displaying information derived from digital data processed by said processor;

an input digitizer mounted in said housing and overlaying said display, said digitizer being coupled to said processor for input of digital data by a user; and

a control program stored in said memory and accessible by said processor for directing the processing of digital data by said processor;

said control program and said processor cooperating, when said control program is executing on said processor, in

a) displaying a form defining data fields;

b) displaying a control cursor guiding a user in the input which supplies a data entry for a single character for entry of all characters for a defined data field and displaying said control cursor as having a cursor portion indicating a single character location at which input is to be inserted and a character entry control portion in which is displayed the single character input derived from a user; and

c) moving said character entry control portion of said control cursor in a sequence of single character location steps as said cursor portion is moved.

2. A mobile client computer comprising:

a housing sized to be held and manipulated by the hand of a user;

a processor mounted within said housing for processing digital data;

memory mounted within said housing for storing digital data and coupled to said processor;

a display mounted in said housing and coupled to said processor and said memory for displaying information derived from digital data processed by said processor;

an input digitizer mounted in said housing and overlaying said display, said digitizer being coupled to said processor for input of digital data by a user; and

a control program stored in said memory and accessible by said processor for directing the processing of digital data by said processor;

said control program and said processor cooperating, when said control program is executing on said processor, in

a) displaying a form defining data fields;

b) displaying a control cursor guiding a user in the input which supplies a data entry for a single character for entry of all characters for a defined data field; and

c) displaying said control cursor at a display location immediately adjacent said defined data field the placement of which display location is functionally dependent upon user selection based on user hand preference, and proximity of the control cursor to the, top, bottom, far left and far right of the display.

3. A mobile client computer comprising:

a housing sized to be held and manipulated by the hand of a user;

a processor mounted within said housing for processing digital data;

memory mounted within said housing for storing digital data and coupled to said processor;

a display mounted in said housing and coupled to said processor and said memory for displaying information derived from digital data processed by said processor;

an input digitizer mounted in said housing and overlaying said display, said digitizer being coupled to said processor for input of digital data by a user; and

a control program stored in said memory and accessible by said processor for directing the processing of digital data by said processor;

said control program and said processor cooperating, when said control program is executing on said processor, in

a) displaying a form defining data fields;

b) displaying a control cursor guiding a user in the input which supplies a data entry for a single character for entry of all characters for a defined data field; and

c) displaying said control cursor as having a cursor portion indicating the location within said defined field at which input is to be inserted and a character entry control portion in which is displayed immediately above or below, to the right or the left, and adjacent to said defined data field the input derived from a user.

4. A mobile client computer according to claim 3 wherein said control program and said processor cooperate, when said control program is executing on said processor, in moving said character entry control portion relative to the display of said defined field following occurrence of a predetermined event.

5. A mobile client computer according to claim 4 wherein said control program and said processor cooperate, when said control program is executing on said processor, in moving said character entry control portion relative to the display of said defined field following entry of a predetermined character signifying the end of a defined entry.

6. A mobile client computer according to claim 4 wherein said control program and said processor cooperate, when said control program is executing on said processor, in moving said character entry control portion relative to the display of said defined field following passage of a predetermined interval of time after the most recent entry of a character.

7. A mobile client computer comprising:

a housing sized to be held and manipulated by the hand of a user;

a processor mounted within said housing for processing digital data;

memory mounted within said housing for storing digital data and coupled to said processor;

a display mounted in said housing and coupled to said processor and said memory for displaying information derived from digital data processed by said processor;

an input digitizer mounted in said housing and overlaying said display, said digitizer being coupled to said processor for input of digital data by a user; and

a control program stored in said memory and accessible by said processor for directing the processing of digital data by said processor;

said control program and said processor cooperating, when said control program is executing on said processor, in

a) displaying a form defining data fields;

b) displaying a control cursor guiding a user in the input which supplies a data entry for a single character for entry of all characters, for a defined data field said control cursor having a cursor portion indicating the location at which input is to be inserted and a character entry control portion in which is displayed the input derived from a user; and

c) moving said cursor portion and said character entry control portion of said control cursor in coordinated movement relative to said defined data field as characters are entered in said defined data field.

8. A computer comprising:

a housing;

a processor mounted within said housing and processing digital data;

memory mounted within said housing for storing digital data and coupled to said processor;

a display coupled to said processor and said memory to display information derived from digital data processed by said processor; and

a control program stored in said memory and accessible by said processor to direct the processing of digital data by said processor;

said control program and said processor cooperating, when said control program is executing on said processor, in

a) displaying a form defining data fields;

b) displaying a control cursor guiding a user in incremental single character steps in the input which incrementally supplies the characters corresponding to the input as data entry for a defined data field and displaying said control cursor as having a cursor portion indicating the location at which input is to be inserted and a character entry control portion in which is displayed the input derived from a user;

c) moving said cursor portion of said control cursor progressively along a defined data field into which data is to be inserted as characters are supplied; and

d) moving said character entry control portion of said control cursor in a sequence of single character location steps as said cursor portion is moved.

9. A computer comprising:

a housing;

a processor mounted within said housing and processing digital data;

memory mounted within said housing for storing digital data and coupled to said processor;

a display coupled to said processor and said memory to display information derived from digital data processed by said processor; and

a control program stored in said memory and accessible by said processor to direct the processing of digital data by said processor;

said control program and said processor cooperating, when said control program is executing on said processor, in

a) displaying a form defining data fields;

b) displaying a control cursor guiding a user in incremental single character steps in the input which incrementally supplies the characters corresponding to the input as data entry for a defined data field; and

c) displaying said control cursor as having a cursor portion indicating the location within said defined field at which input is to be inserted and a character entry control portion in which is displayed immediately above or below, to the right or the left, and adjacent to said defined field the input derived from a user.

10. A computer according to claim 9 wherein said control program and said processor cooperate, when said control program is executing on said processor, in moving said character entry control portion relative to the display of said defined field following occurrence of a predetermined event.

11. A computer according to claim 10 wherein said control program and said processor cooperate, when said control program is executing on said processor, in moving said character entry control portion relative to the display of said defined field following entry of a predetermined character signifying the end of a defined entry.

12. A computer according to claim 10 wherein said control program and said processor cooperate, when said control program is executing on said processor, in moving said character entry control portion relative to the display of said defined field following passage of a predetermined interval of time after the most recent entry of a character.

13. A computer comprising:

a housing;

a processor mounted within said housing and processing digital data;

memory mounted within said housing for storing digital data and coupled to said processor;

a display coupled to said processor and said memory to display information derived from digital data processed by said processor; and

a control program stored in said memory and accessible by said processor to direct the processing of digital data by said processor;

said control program and said processor cooperating, when said control program is executing on said processor, in

a) displaying a form defining data fields;

b) displaying a control cursor guiding a user in the input which supplies a data entry for a defined data field, said control cursor having a cursor portion indicating the location at which a single character input is to be inserted and a character entry control portion in which is displayed the single character input derived from a user; and

c) moving said cursor portion and said character entry control portion of said control cursor in coordinated movement relative to said defined data field as characters are entered in said defined data field.

14. A display generating system comprising:

a housing;

a processor mounted within said housing and processing digital data;

memory mounted within said housing for storing digital data and coupled to said processor;

said processor and said memory cooperating in supplying digital data driving a display of visual images; and

a control program stored in said memory and accessible by said processor to direct the processing of digital data by said processor;

said control program and said processor cooperating, when said control program is executing on said processor, in

a) displaying a form defining data fields;

b) displaying a control cursor guiding a user in the input which supplies a data entry for a single character entry of all characters for a defined data field and displaying said control cursor as having a cursor portion indicating a single character location at which input is to be inserted and a character entry control portion in which is displayed the single character input derived from a user;

c) moving said cursor portion of said control cursor progressively in incremental steps corresponding to character locations in a defined data field into which data is to be inserted as characters are supplied; and

d) moving said character entry control portion of said control cursor in a sequence of single character location steps as said cursor portion is moved.

15. A display generating system comprising:

a housing;

a processor mounted within said housing and processing digital data;

memory mounted within said housing for storing digital data and coupled to said processor;

said processor and said memory cooperating in supplying digital data driving a display of visual images; and

a control program stored in said memory and accessible by said processor to direct the processing of digital data by said processor;

said control program and said processor cooperating when said control program is executing on said processor, in

a) displaying a form defining data fields; and

b) displaying a control cursor guiding a user in the input which supplies a data entry for a single character entry of all characters for a defined data field; and

c) displaying said control cursor as having a cursor portion indicating the location within said defined field at which input is to be inserted and a character entry control portion in which is displayed immediately above or below, to the right or left, and adjacent to said defined field the input derived from a user.

16. A system according to claim 15 wherein said control program and said processor cooperate, when said control program is executing on said processor, in moving said character entry control portion relative to the display of said defined field following occurrence of a predetermined event.

17. A system according to claim 16 wherein said control program and said processor cooperate, when said control program is executing on said processor, in moving said character entry control portion relative to the display of said defined field following entry of a predetermined character signifying the end of a defined entry.

18. A system according to claim 16 wherein said control program and said processor cooperate, when said control program is executing on said processor, in moving said character entry control portion relative to the display of said defined field following passage of a predetermined interval of time after the most recent entry of a character.

19. A display generating system comprising:

a housing;

a processor mounted within said housing and processing digital data;

memory mounted within said housing for storing digital data and coupled to said processor;

said processor and said memory cooperating in supplying digital data driving a display of visual images; and

a control program stored in said memory and accessible by said processor to direct the processing of digital data by said processor;

said control program and said processor cooperating, when said control program is executing on said processor, in

a) displaying a form defining data fields;

b) displaying a control cursor guiding a user in the input which supplies a data entry for a single character for entry of all characters, for a defined data field said control cursor having a cursor portion indicating the location at which input is to be inserted and a character entry control portion in which is displayed the input derived from a user; and

c) moving said cursor portion and said character entry control portion of said control cursor in coordinated movement relative to said defined data field as characters are entered in said defined data field.