Mobile client computer programmed for system message display

• US 6,008,810 A
• Filed: 03/07/1997
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bertram, Randal Lee, Champion, David Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thai, Cuong T.
• Application Number:
  US08/813,148
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 345/339, 345/331, 345/332, 345/329, 345/326, 345/156, 345/173, 345/1, 345/2, 379/93.01, 379/93.23, 379/93.24, 379/93.17, 379/90.01, 395/291, 395/200.33, 395/200.49, 455/550, 455/566, 455/575, 455/90
• US Class Current: 715/809
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting

Abstract

A display generating system, particularly a computer or mobile client system, in which a system message (by which is meant an unsolicited prompt from a computer system to a user) is displayed to a user in a manner particularly contemplated as attracting the attention of the user. Accommodating such a system message in the small screen area available in a mobile client computer is a particular problem, addressed and solved as here described.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface included within a mobile client computer comprising:

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

a processor mounted within said housing and processing digital data;

memory mounted within said housing and coupled to said processor and said memory to display 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 and enabling input of digital data by a user; and

a control program stored in said memory and accessible by said processor to direct the processing of digital data by said processor, (a) in reserving an area of said display for a display identifying the status of an executing application program and (b) responding to a system message requiring an immediate response by a user before continued use of said computer by a user is permitted by modifying the display in only said reserved area to identify the system message, said system message being graphically displayed only in said reserved area such that said response may be postponed indefinitely while continued use of said computer is permitted, wherein no area other than said reserved area is utilized to display said system message.

2. A mobile client computer according to claim 1 wherein said computer receives information transferred from a remote location and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify the presence of incoming information.

3. A mobile client computer according to claim 2 wherein said computer further comprises telephony circuitry enabling exchange of telephone calls and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify the presence of an incoming telephone call.

4. A mobile client computer according to claim 2 wherein said computer further comprises pager circuitry enabling receipt of paging calls and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify the presence of an incoming page.

5. A mobile client computer according to claim 2 wherein said computer further comprises digital text receiving circuitry enabling receipt of electronic mail and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify the presence of an incoming electronic mail message.

6. A mobile client computer according to claim 1 wherein said computer further comprises internal monitoring circuitry for monitoring the internal functioning of said computer and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify the condition of an internal function of said computer.

7. A mobile client computer according to claim 6 wherein said computer comprises memory usage monitoring circuitry for monitoring the use of said memory and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify any memory overflow condition.

8. A mobile client computer according to claim 6 wherein said computer further comprises a battery and battery charge monitoring circuitry for monitoring the state of charge of said battery and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify the battery charge state.

9. A mobile client computer according to claim 1 wherein said computer receives information transferred from a remote location and further comprises internal monitoring circuitry for monitoring the internal functioning of said computer and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify at least one event of the presence of incoming information and the condition of an internal function of said computer.

10. A mobile client computer according to claim 9 wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for prioritizing at least two events of the presence of incoming information and the condition of an internal function of said computer.

11. A mobile client computer according to claim 9 wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to display a single prioritized one of a plurality of differing events of the presence of incoming information and the condition of an internal function of said computer.

12. A graphical user interface included within 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, (a) in reserving an area of said display for a display identifying the status of an executing application program and (b) responding to a system message requiring an immediate response by a user before continued use of said computer by a user is permitted by modifying the display only in said reserved area to identify the system message, said system message being graphically displayed only in said reserved area such that said response may be postponed indefinitely while continued use of said computer is permitted.

13. A computer according to claim 12 wherein said computer receives information transferred from a remote location and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify the presence of incoming information.

14. A computer according to claim 13 wherein said computer further comprises telephony circuitry enabling exchange of telephone calls and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify the presence of an incoming telephone call.

15. A computer according to claim 13 wherein said computer further comprises pager circuitry enabling receipt of paging calls and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify the presence of an incoming page.

16. A computer according to claim 13 wherein said computer further comprises digital text receiving circuitry enabling receipt of electronic mail and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify the presence of an incoming electronic mail message.

17. A computer according to claim 12 wherein said computer further comprises internal monitoring circuitry for monitoring the internal functioning of said computer and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify the condition of an internal function of said computer.

18. A computer according to claim 17 wherein said computer comprises memory usage monitoring circuitry for monitoring the use of said memory and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify any memory overflow condition.

19. A computer according to claim 17 wherein said computer further comprises a battery and battery charge monitoring circuitry for monitoring the state of charge of said battery and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify the battery charge state.

20. A computer according to claim 12 wherein said computer receives information transferred from a remote location and further comprises internal monitoring circuitry for monitoring the internal functioning of said computer and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify at least one event of the presence of incoming information and the condition of an internal function of said computer.

21. A computer according to claim 20 wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for prioritizing at least two events of the presence of incoming information and the condition of an internal function of said computer.

22. A computer according to claim 20 wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to display a single prioritized one of a plurality of differing events of the presence of incoming information and the condition of an internal function of said computer.

23. A graphical user interface included within 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, (a) in supplying digital data which reserves an area of display for a display identifying the status of an executing application program and (b) responding to a system message requiring an immediate response by a user before continued use of said system by a user is permitted by modifying the digital data driving the display only in said reserved area to identify the system message, said system message being graphically displayed only in said reserved area such that said response may be postponed indefinitely while continued use of said system is permitted, wherein no area other than said reserved area is utilized to display said system message.

24. A system according to claim 23 wherein said system receives information transferred from a remote location and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify the presence of incoming information.

25. A system according to claim 24 wherein said system further comprises telephony circuitry enabling exchange of telephone calls and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify the presence of an incoming telephone call.

26. A system according to claim 24 wherein said system further comprises pager circuitry enabling receipt of paging calls and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify the presence of an incoming page.

27. A system according to claim 24 wherein said system further comprises digital text receiving circuitry enabling receipt of electronic mail and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify the presence of an incoming electronic mail message.

28. A system according to claim 23 wherein said system further comprises internal monitoring circuitry for monitoring the internal functioning of said system and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify the condition of an internal function of said system.

29. A system according to claim 28 wherein said system comprises memory usage monitoring circuitry for monitoring the use of said memory and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify any memory overflow condition.

30. A system according to claim 28 wherein said system further comprises a battery and battery charge monitoring circuitry for monitoring the state of charge of said battery and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify the battery charge state.

31. A system according to claim 23 wherein said system receives information transferred from a remote location and further comprises internal monitoring circuitry for monitoring the internal functioning of said system and further wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to identify at least one event of the presence of incoming information and the condition of an internal function of said system.

32. A system according to claim 31 wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for prioritizing at least two events of the presence of incoming information and the condition of an internal function of said system.

33. A system according to claim 31 wherein said control program and said processor cooperate for modifying the display to display a single prioritized one of a plurality of differing events of the presence of incoming information and the condition of an internal function of said system.