Dynamic display for communication devices

• US 7,020,849 B1
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Openwave Systems Incorporated (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Chen, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu, Tadesse
• Application Number:
  US10/159,955
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 715/864, 715/817, 715/825, 715/866, 715/767, 345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/3.1, 345/3.4, 345/205, 455/566
• US Class Current: 715/864
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/04 Partial updating of the display screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/145 related to small screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/027 Arrangements and methods specific for the display of internet documents
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/34 for rolling or scrolling

Abstract

Techniques for displaying information on communication devices are disclosed. The techniques are highly beneficial for devices with relatively small viewing areas (e.g., remote wireless phones). An enhanced communication device can be implemented which can dynamically display information on an associated display. This means that there is no need to reserve various areas on the display for displaying. Instead, information may be assigned or unassigned to the different display portions dynamically. As a result, the display area can be used more efficiently.

Claims

1. A method for displaying information on a display associated with a device, said display unit having a first and a second region which can be used to display label information, said method comprising:

displaying a title in said first region of said display unit and displaying content information in said second region;

displaying said title in said first region of said display unit and displaying at least one soft key label in said second region of said display unit;

determining whether label information should not be displayed; and

displaying content information in both said first and second regions when said determining determines that no label information should be displayed.

2. A method as recited in 1, wherein said method further comprises:

initiating a first timer; and

displaying at least one soft key label in said second region of said display unit when said first timer has expired.

3. A method as recited in 2, wherein said method further comprises:

displaying at least one soft key label in said second region of said display unit before said first timer has expired when at least one soft key has been activated.

4. A method as recited in 3, wherein said method further comprises:

initiating a second timer; and

displaying said title in said first region and displaying at least one soft key label in said second region of said display unit when said second timer has expired.

5. A communication device comprising;

a display including a first and a second region;

wherein said communication device is capable of operating to;

display a title in said first region of said display unit and display content information in said second region;

display said title in said first region of said display unit and display at least one soft key label in said second region of said display unit;

determine whether label information should not be displayed;

display content information in both said first and second regions when it is determined that no label information should be displayed.

6. A communication device as recited in claim 5, wherein said device is further capable of operating to:

initiate a first timer; and

display at least one soft key label in said second region of said display unit when said first timer has expired.

7. A communication device as recited in claim 6, wherein said device is further capable of operating to:

display at least one soft key label in said second region of said display unit before said first timer has expired when at least one soft key has been activated.

8. A communication device as recited in claim 6, wherein said device is further capable of operating to:

initiate a second timer; and

display said title in said first region and displaying at least one soft key label in said second region of said display unit when said second timer has expired.

9. A method for dynamically displaying data on a display associated with a device, said method comprising:

determining whether to display a first data on said display;

displaying a second data on said display when said determining determines not to display said first data;

logically dividing said display into first and second display-portions when said determining determines to display said first data;

displaying said first data on said first display-portion of said display after said logically dividing of said display; and

displaying said second data on said second display-portion of said display after said logically dividing of said display.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said displaying of said second data displays only said second data on said display.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said second data is displayed on the entire displayable space of said display.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein said scroll movement is associated with scrolling content information displayed on said display.

13. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said first data is associated with control or context information and said second data is associated with content information.

14. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said determining of whether to display a first data on said display comprises one or more of the following:

detecting whether a scrolling movement has been initiated;

detecting whether a scrolling movement has been stopped; and

determining whether a timer has expired.

15. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said data is the only data displayed on said display.

16. A computer readable medium including computer program code for dynamically displaying data on a display associated with a device, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for determining whether to display a first data on said display;

computer program code for displaying a second data on said display when said determining determines not to display said first data;

computer program code for logically dividing said display into first and second display-portions when said determining determines to display said first data;

computer program code for displaying said first data on said first display-portion of said display after said logically dividing of said display; and

computer program code for displaying said second data on said second display-portion of said display after said logically dividing of said display.

17. A device capable of dynamically displaying data on associated display, wherein said device is capable of operating to:

determine whether to display a first data on said display;

display a second data on said display when said determining determines not to display said first data;

logically divide said display into first and second display-portions when said determining determines to display said first data;

display said first data on said first display-portion of said display after said logically dividing of said display; and

display said second data on said second display-portion of said display after said logically dividing of said display.