Computer screen saver with wireless messaging capability and method therefor

• US 6,256,008 B1
• Filed: 12/10/1996
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sparks, James Steven, Steinberg, Jeffrey L.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US08/763,267
• Time in Patent Office: 1,666 Days
• Field of Search: 345/117, 345/326-358, 345/145-146, 340/825--82
• US Class Current: 345/618
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/30 Authentication, i.e. establishing the identity or authorisation of security principals
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/04 Display protection

Abstract

A wireless screen saver for use with an electronic information processing device (106) having a display screen (300). The wireless screen saver has a first screen layout with at least one predetermined display pattern (302) persisting until a user input is detected. Upon detection of the user input, a second screen layout is invoked, presenting at least a first virtual messaging device (410) for accepting and displaying a message for transmission to a real messaging device (118).

Claims

1. A wireless screen saver for use with an electronic information processing device having a display screen, the wireless screen saver comprising:

a first screen layout comprising at least one predetermined display pattern, the first screen layout persisting until a user input is detected, the at least one predetermined display pattern including a second virtual messaging device, the second virtual messaging device including a notification message selectable by an authorized user of the wireless screen saver, the notification message operating to notify a user that the wireless screen saver is operational and ready for use; and

a second screen layout invoked upon detection of the user input, the second screen layout including at least a first virtual messaging device for accepting and displaying a message for transmission to a real messaging device, and including a personalized message annunciation area containing the notification message.

2. The wireless screen saver according to claim 1, wherein the at least one predetermined display pattern comprises:

a second virtual messaging device.

3. The wireless screen saver according to claim 2, wherein the second virtual messaging device comprises:

a notification message selectable by an authorized user of the wireless screen saver, the notification message operating to notify a user that the wireless screen saver is operational and ready for use.

4. The wireless saver according to claim 3 wherein the second screen layout comprises:

a personalized message annunciation area containing the notification message.

14. The wireless screen saver according to claim 4, wherein the first virtual messaging device further comprises:

a message status field.

15. The wireless screen saver according to claim 14, wherein the message status field operates to display a message length indication responsive to a configuration of an authorized user'"'"'s messaging device and an authorized user'"'"'s messaging service.

16. The wireless screen saver according to claim 14, wherein the message status field operates to display a number of wireless messages sent when an authorized user reviews messages sent using the wireless screen saver.

17. The wireless screen saver according to claim 1, wherein the first virtual messaging device operates to send the message to the real messaging device and store a copy of the message.

18. The wireless screen saver according to claim 17, wherein upon being stored, the copy of the message comprises:

the message; and

a time-stamp associated with a date and time at which the message was sent.

19. The wireless screen saver according to claim 1, wherein the second screen layout further comprises:

a virtual notepad for entering and saving a note intended for later review by an authorized user of the wireless screen saver.

20. The wireless screen saver according to claim 19, wherein upon being saved, the note saved in the virtual notepad comprises:

the note; and

a time-stamp associated with a date and time at which the note was saved.

21. The wireless screen saver according to claim 19, wherein the virtual notepad further comprises:

a note saved field that notifies an authorized user that at least one note was saved for retrieval.

5. A wireless screen saver for use with an electronic information processing device having a display screen, the wireless screen saver comprising:

a first screen layout comprising at least one predetermined display pattern, the first screen layout persisting until a user input is detected; and

a second screen layout invoked upon detection of the user input, the second screen layout comprising at least a first virtual messaging device for accepting and displaying a message for transmission to a real messaging device, wherein the second screen layout comprises;

a set of context sensitive buttons corresponding with functions of the wireless screen saver, the functions comprising;

send, that sends a wireless message;

clear, that clears a previously entered message;

lock, that locks the display screen;

setup, that selects preferences associated with the wireless screen saver, the preferences comprising a screen lock timeout, a messaging service provider, and a messaging device destination;

about, that provides information such as on patents, copyright, and a source of origin of a wireless screen saver program; and

exit, that aborts an entry process, returning to the first screen layout.

6. The wireless screen saver according to claim 5, wherein the first virtual messaging device further comprises:

a message status field.

7. The wireless screen saver according to claim 6, wherein the message status field operates to display a message length indication responsive to a configuration of an authorized user'"'"'s messaging device and an authorized user'"'"'s messaging service.

8. The wireless screen saver according to claim 6, wherein the message status field operates to display a number of wireless messages sent when an authorized user reviews messages sent using the wireless screen saver.

9. The wireless screen saver according to claim 5, wherein the first virtual messaging device operates to send the message to the real messaging device and store a copy of the message.

10. The wireless screen saver according to claim 9, wherein upon being stored, the copy of the message comprises:

the message; and

a time-stamp associated with a date and time at which the message was sent.

11. The wireless screen saver according to claim 5, wherein the second screen layout further comprises:

a virtual notepad for entering and saving a note intended for later review by an authorized user of the wireless screen saver.

12. The wireless screen saver according to claim 11, wherein upon being saved, the note saved in the virtual notepad comprises:

the note; and

a time-stamp associated with a date and time at which the note was saved.

13. The wireless screen saver according to claim 11, wherein the virtual notepad further comprises:

a note saved field that notifies an authorized user that at least one note was saved for retrieval.

22. In an electronic information processing device having a display screen, a method for implementing a wireless screen saver, comprising the steps of:

presenting a first screen layout comprising at least one predetermined display pattern, the first screen layout persisting until a user input is detected;

detecting the user input during presentation of the first screen layout;

presenting a second screen layout in response to detecting the user input, the second screen layout comprising at least a first virtual messaging device capable of accepting and displaying a message for transmission to a real messaging device; and

presenting a notification message as part of the second screen layout, the notification message being selectable by an authorized user of the wireless screen saver and operating to notify a user that the wireless screen saver is ready for use, wherein the notification message is displayed in a personalized message annunciation area.

23. The method for implementing the wireless screen saver according to claim 22, wherein the step of presenting the first screen layout comprising at least one predetermined display pattern comprises the step of:

animating a second virtual messaging device about the display screen in a pseudo-random pattern that minimizes burn-in of display elements associated with the display screen.

24. The method for implementing the wireless screen saver according to claim 22, comprising the steps of:

presenting a set of context sensitive buttons corresponding with functions of the wireless screen saver as part of the second screen layout, the functions comprising;

send, that sends a wireless message;

clear, that clears a previously entered message;

lock, that locks the display screen;

setup, that selects preferences associated with the wireless screen saver, the preferences comprising;

a screen lock timeout,

a messaging service provider, and

a messaging device destination;

about, that provides information such as on patents, copyright, and a source of origin of a wireless screen saver program; and

exit, that aborts an entry process, returning to the first screen layout.

25. The method for implementing the wireless screen saver according to claim 22, comprising the step of:

presenting a message status field in conjunction with the first virtual messaging device, the message status field operating to display a message length indication responsive to a configuration of an authorized user'"'"'s messaging device and an authorized user'"'"'s messaging service.

26. The method for implementing the wireless screen saver according to claim 25, wherein the message status field further operates to display a number of wireless messages sent when an authorized user reviews messages sent using the wireless screen saver.

27. The method for implementing the wireless screen saver according to claim 22, comprising the steps of:

sending the message to the real messaging device; and

storing a copy of the message.

28. The method for implementing the wireless screen saver according to claim 27, wherein the storing step comprises the step of:

time-stamping the message with a date and time at which the message was sent to create the copy of message comprising the message and a time-stamp.

29. The method for implementing the wireless screen saver according to claim 22, comprising the step of:

presenting a virtual notepad as part of the second screen layout, the virtual notepad allowing a user to enter and save a note intended for later review by an authorized user of the wireless screen saver.

30. The method for implementing the wireless screen saver according to claim 29, comprising the step of:

presenting a note saved field in conjunction with the virtual notepad as part of the second screen layout, note saved field operating to notify an authorized user that at least one note was saved for retrieval.

31. The method for implementing the wireless screen saver according to claim 22, wherein the detecting step further comprises the steps of:

checking the user input during presentation of the first screen layout for a password;

unlocking the display screen in response to the password exactly matching an authorized password;

presenting the second screen layout and allowing an authorized user to review saved notes and stored messages, select, configure, and execute restricted options and preferences in response to the password exactly matching the authorized password;

locking the display screen in response to the password not matching the authorized password; and

presenting the first screen layout until a subsequent user input is detected, in response to the password not matching the authorized password.

32. In an electronic information processing device having a display screen, a method for implementing a wireless screen saver, comprising the steps of:

presenting a first screen layout comprising at least one predetermined display pattern, the first screen layout persisting until a user input is detected;

detecting the user input during presentation of the first screen layout, wherein the detecting step further comprises the steps of;

checking the user input during presentation of the first screen layout for a password;

unlocking the display screen in response to the password exactly matching an authorized password;

presenting the second screen layout and allowing an authorized user to review saved notes and stored messages, select, configure, and execute restricted options and preferences in response to the password exactly matching the authorized password;

locking the display screen in response to the password not matching the authorized password; and

presenting the first screen layout until a subsequent user input is detected, in response to the password not matching the authorized password and

presenting a second screen layout in response to detecting the user input, the second screen layout comprising at least a first virtual messaging device capable of accepting and displaying a message for transmission to a real messaging device.

33. The method for implementing the wireless screen saver according to claim 32 wherein the step of presenting the first screen layout comprising at least one predetermined display pattern comprises the step of:

animating a second virtual messaging device about the display screen in a pseudo-random pattern that minimizes burn-in of display elements associated with the display screen.

34. The method for implementing the wireless screen saver according to claim 32, comprising the steps of:

presenting a set of context sensitive buttons corresponding with functions of the wireless screen saver as part of the second screen layout, the functions comprising;

send, that sends a wireless message;

clear, that clears a previously entered message;

lock, that locks the display screen;

setup, that selects preferences associated with the wireless screen saver, the preferences comprising;

a screen lock timeout,

a messaging service provider, and

a messaging device destination;

about, that provides information such as on patents, copyright, and a source of origin of a wireless screen saver program; and

exit, that aborts an entry process, returning to the first screen layout.

35. The method for implementing the wireless screen saver according to claim 32, comprising the step of:

presenting a message status field in conjunction with the first virtual messaging device, the message status field operating to display a message length indication responsive to a configuration of an authorized user'"'"'s messaging device and an authorized user'"'"'s messaging service.

36. The method for implementing the wireless screen saver according to claim 35, wherein the message status field further operates to display a number of wireless messages sent when an authorized user reviews messages sent using the wireless screen saver.

37. The method for implementing the wireless screen saver according to claim 32, comprising the steps of:

sending the message to the real messaging device; and

storing a copy of the message.

38. The method for implementing the wireless screen saver according to claim 37, wherein the storing step comprises the step of:

time-stamping the message with a date and time at which the message was sent to create the copy of message comprising the message and a time-stamp.

39. The method for implementing the wireless screen saver according to claim 32, comprising the step of:

presenting a virtual notepad as part of the second screen layout, the virtual notepad allowing a user to enter and save a note intended for later review by an authorized user of the wireless screen saver.

40. The method for implementing the wireless screen saver according to claim 39, comprising the step of:

presenting a note saved field in conjunction with the virtual notepad as part of the second screen layout, note saved field operating to notify an authorized user that at least one note was saved for retrieval.