User interface methodology supporting light data entry for microprocessor device having limited user input
First Claim
1. A portable computing device having a processor, a memory device, a display and a terse set of physical input keys, the device comprising:
- a plurality of applications, including a calendar function, an address book function, a to do function, a clock function and a preferences function;
a forward key for navigating in a forward direction among the plurality of applications and for navigating in a forward direction within each of said applications;
a backward key for navigating in a backward direction among the plurality of applications and for navigating in a backward direction within each of said applications;
a select key for selecting one of said applications for execution and for selecting items within a selected application, wherein selecting particular items within an application causes the interface to drill down into a lower level of the selected application; and
at least one key for providing a home function, an up-one-level function, and an off function, wherein the home function terminates execution of any application that is currently executing and returns the interface to a top level, the up-one-level function causes the interface to move one level toward the top level, and the off function shuts off the power of the computing device, wherein, during execution of the address book function, the device displays a plurality of address book entries and a plurality of tabs, including category tabs and subcategory tabs, the category tabs and subcategory tabs comprising;
a plurality of category tabs that, combined, display every letter of an alphabet, with each tab displaying more than one letter of the alphabet, where each tab represents all address book entries that begin with any of the letters displayed on the tab, and wherein a user may use the select key to select into one of the category tabs;
a first plurality of subcategory tabs that, combined, display every letter of the alphabet, with each tab displaying exactly one letter of the alphabet, where each tab represents all address book entries that begin with the letter displayed on the tab, and wherein a user may use the select key to select into one of the first plurality of subcategory tabs; and
a second plurality of subcategory tabs, with each tab displaying exactly two letters of the alphabet, where each tab represents all address book entries for which the first two letters of the entry fall alphabetically between the two letters on the particular tab and the two letters on the next consecutive tab.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable computing device or “information appliance” having terse user input (e.g., limit set of keys) is provided with an improved user interface. A six-key embodiment is described that provides a “super-key” light entry and editing input system for ultra-portable devices, thus making it well suited for use with credit card-sized devices. In a preferred six-button embodiment, a credit card-sized device is modified to include an additional input button, an EDIT key. In user operation, pressing the EDIT key brings up a context sensitive pop-up menu, thus invoking the super-key feature. Customized user input controls, such as a Text Input Control (e.g., letter and number strips), are provided at appropriate times, for facilitating input. Underlying the super-key input is a heuristic sub-system that remembers and anticipates user input. In this fashion, the system can present in-context options for each application running on the target device, and present appropriate options during different phases of the execution of a variety of tasks. By remembering what the user has previously inputted and by using context-sensitive menus and adaptive “quick” lists, the system can anticipate what the user needs to do at any given time and can guide the user through a step-by-step process to complete each task, thus facilitating the tasks that users most often perform. By including adaptive techniques or built-in intelligence that allows the device to be faster and easier to use with each user session, the target device may anticipate the tasks users need to perform in specific situations and thus make those tasks increasingly easier.
218 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A portable computing device having a processor, a memory device, a display and a terse set of physical input keys, the device comprising:
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a plurality of applications, including a calendar function, an address book function, a to do function, a clock function and a preferences function;
a forward key for navigating in a forward direction among the plurality of applications and for navigating in a forward direction within each of said applications;
a backward key for navigating in a backward direction among the plurality of applications and for navigating in a backward direction within each of said applications;
a select key for selecting one of said applications for execution and for selecting items within a selected application, wherein selecting particular items within an application causes the interface to drill down into a lower level of the selected application; and
at least one key for providing a home function, an up-one-level function, and an off function, wherein the home function terminates execution of any application that is currently executing and returns the interface to a top level, the up-one-level function causes the interface to move one level toward the top level, and the off function shuts off the power of the computing device, wherein, during execution of the address book function, the device displays a plurality of address book entries and a plurality of tabs, including category tabs and subcategory tabs, the category tabs and subcategory tabs comprising;
a plurality of category tabs that, combined, display every letter of an alphabet, with each tab displaying more than one letter of the alphabet, where each tab represents all address book entries that begin with any of the letters displayed on the tab, and wherein a user may use the select key to select into one of the category tabs;
a first plurality of subcategory tabs that, combined, display every letter of the alphabet, with each tab displaying exactly one letter of the alphabet, where each tab represents all address book entries that begin with the letter displayed on the tab, and wherein a user may use the select key to select into one of the first plurality of subcategory tabs; and
a second plurality of subcategory tabs, with each tab displaying exactly two letters of the alphabet, where each tab represents all address book entries for which the first two letters of the entry fall alphabetically between the two letters on the particular tab and the two letters on the next consecutive tab. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification