Apparatus and method for direct manipulation of electronic information

• US 7,046,213 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2002
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: X Corp. (f/k/a Twitter, Inc.) (X Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Campbell, Christopher S., Maglio, Paul Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Osorio, Ricardo
• Application Number:
  US10/164,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20030227438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/1.3, 345/2.2, 345/156, 345/748, 345/749, 345/761, 345/905
• US Class Current: 345/2.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop

Abstract

A method of copying images displayed on a monitor onto a screen of a handheld electronic display unit includes electronically detecting the display unit when it is brought to the monitor, e.g., when the unit is connected to a port in the monitor'"'"'s housing. After the user has received an indication that the display unit has been detected, the user selects an image displayed on the monitor'"'"'s screen to be copied over to the handheld display unit. The selected image is displayed on the display unit'"'"'s screen upon completion of the copying procedure. A preferred monitor for use with such a method has a housing that includes one or more data ports for receiving the handheld display unit. When a display unit is connected to a port in the monitor, both the screen of the electronic display unit and the monitor'"'"'s screen are visible to a user positioned in front of the monitor.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

bringing a handheld electronic display unit to a monitor, so that the presence of the display unit is eletronically detected, the display unit and the monitor including respective screens for displaying images, wherein the display unit includes material that permits the display unit to be attached to a surface;

selecting an image displayed on the monitor'"'"'s screen;

electronically copying the selected image to the display unit, wherein the selected image is displayed on the display unit'"'"'s screen upon completion of said copying;

transporting the display unit to another location following said copying;

attaching the display unit to a surface at said another location so that the display unit is conspicuously located; and

employing the display unit to provide awareness of information displayed on the screen of the conspicuously located display unit, wherein the information displayed on the screen of the display unit serves as a reminder to someone at said another location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said material includes a magnet.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said material includes adhesive.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a visual indication on the monitor'"'"'s screen is provided that the display unit has been detected.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said copying is in response to a user interacting with a graphical user interface on the monitor'"'"'s screen, with the position of the graphical user interface indicating the location of the display unit.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising directly connecting the display unit to a data port on the monitor such that, when the display unit is connected to the data port, both the display unit and the monitor'"'"'s screen are visible to a user positioned in front of the monitor.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the screen of the display unit is substantially parallel to the monitor'"'"'s screen when the display unit is connected to the data port.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the monitor includes at least 3 data ports.

9. The method of claim 1, said transporting comprising moving the display unit from one work area to another work area.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface is part of a monitor.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface is a wall.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the display unit is transported in one'"'"'s pocket for later reference.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the display unit acts as a business card.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected image is displayed on the display unit'"'"'s screen within 5 seconds after said electronic copying is completed.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected image is displayed on the display unit'"'"'s screen within 1 second after said electronic copying is completed.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising copying the image on the display unit'"'"'s screen to a screen of a second monitor.

17. A method, comprising:

providing an electronic display unit in proximity with a monitor, the display unit and the monitor having respective screens for displaying images, wherein the display unit has a back side that includes material that permits the display unit to be attached to a surface;

selecting an image displayed on the monitor'"'"'s screen;

electronically copying the selected image to the display unit so that the selected image appears on the display unit'"'"'s screen;

physically transporting the display unit with the copied image to another location;

attaching the display unit to a surface at said another location using said material, wherein said surface is selected so that the display unit is conspicuous when attached; and

using the copied image on the screen of the conspicuously attached display unit to act as a reminder of information contained in the copied image.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said material includes a magnet.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said material includes adhesive.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein a visual indication on the monitor'"'"'s screen is provided that the display unit has been detected.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein said copying is in response to a user interacting with a graphical user interface on the monitor'"'"'s screen, with the position of the graphical user interface indicating the location of the display unit.

22. The method of claim 17, comprising directly connecting the display unit to a data port on the monitor such that when the display unit is connected to the data port, both the display unit and the monitor'"'"'s screen are visible to a user positioned in front of the monitor.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the screen of the display unit is substantially parallel to the monitor'"'"'s screen when the display unit is connected to the data port.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the monitor includes at least 3 data ports.

25. The method of claim 17, said transporting comprising moving the display unit from one work area to another work area.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the surface is part of a monitor.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein the surface is a wall.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein the display unit is transported in one'"'"'s pocket for later reference.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein the display unit acts as a business card.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein the selected image is displayed on the display unit'"'"'s screen within 5 seconds after said electronic copying is completed.

31. The method of claim 17, wherein the selected image is displayed on the display unit'"'"'s screen within 1 second after said electronic copying is completed.

32. The method of claim 17, further comprising copying the image on the display unit'"'"'s screen to a screen of a second monitor.

33. The method of claim 17, comprising attaching the display unit to a refrigerator door.

34. A method, comprising:

providing an electronic display unit in proximity with a monitor, the display unit and the monitor having respective screens for displaying images;

selecting an image displayed on the monitor'"'"'s screen;

electronically copying the selected image to the display unit so that the selected image appears on the display unit'"'"'s screen, wherein the display unit includes attachment material; and

attaching the display unit with the copied image to a surface using said attachment material, said surface being selected so that the display unit is conspicuous when attached to said surface, the display unit with the copied image thereby functioning as a note.

35. The method of claim 34, comprising:

providing on the monitor'"'"'s screen an indication that the display unit has been detected, the monitor including a port for receiving the display unit, wherein the display unit is detected in response to being connected to the port.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the port is located near an edge of the monitor'"'"'s screen so that said indication on the monitor'"'"'s screen faces toward and is aligned with the display unit when the display unit is connected directly to the port.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the image as it is displayed on the display unit'"'"'s screen is large enough that a user can view and understand its contents simply by looking at the display unit'"'"'s screen.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the selected image is displayed both on the monitor'"'"'s screen and the display unit'"'"'s screen upon completion of said copying.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein said copying comprises a cut and paste command.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein said copying comprises a drag and drop command.

41. The method of claim 35, wherein said copying includes a snapshot window command.

42. The method of claim 35, wherein said copying is in response to a user entering choices into a dialog box.

43. The method of claim 35, wherein said copying is in response to a user interacting with a graphical user interface on the monitor'"'"'s screen.

44. The method of claim 35, wherein said copying is in response to a user interacting with a graphical user interface on the monitor'"'"'s screen, with the position of the graphical user interface indicating the location of the display unit.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the graphical user interface is displayed near an edge of the monitor'"'"'s screen.

46. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium for carrying out the method of claim 35.

47. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

bringing the display unit to a second monitor that is at a location different from the location of the first monitor; and

electronically copying the selected image from the display unit onto the screen of the second monitor via a processor associated with the second monitor.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising:

in response to a user connecting the display unit to a port on the second monitor, providing an indication on the second monitor'"'"'s screen that the display unit has been connected to the port on the second monitor; and

providing a graphical user interface on the second monitor'"'"'s screen to permit a user to copy the selected image to the second monitor'"'"'s screen.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein copying the selected image to the second monitor'"'"'s screen is in response to a user moving a cursor towards the physical location of the display unit.

50. The method of claim 34, wherein the presence of the display unit is electronically detected in response to the display unit being brought within 5 cm of the monitor'"'"'s screen.

51. The method of claim 34, wherein the presence of the display unit is electronically detected in response to the display unit being brought within 2 cm of the monitor'"'"'s screen.

52. The method of claim 34, the method comprising posting the display unit on a surface in an office.

53. The method of claim 34, wherein the display unit is given away.

54. The method of claim 34, wherein said attachment material includes a magnet.

55. The method of claim 34, wherein said surface includes part of a monitor.

56. The method of claim 34, comprising attaching the display unit with the copied image to a wall.

57. The method of claim 34, comprising attaching the display unit with the copied image to a refrigerator door.

58. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

providing on the monitor'"'"'s screen an indication that the display unit has been detected, the monitor including a port for receiving the display unit, wherein the display unit is detected in response to being connected to the port, and wherein the port is located near an edge of the monitor'"'"'s screen so that said indication on the monitor'"'"'s screen faces toward the display unit when the display unit is connected directly to the port.

59. The method of claim 34, wherein said copying is in response to a user interacting with a graphical user interface on the monitor'"'"'s screen, with the position of the graphical user interface indicating the location of the display unit.

60. The method of claim 34, said proximity providing step including connecting the display unit to a data port on the monitor such that, when the display unit is connected directly to the data port, both the display unit and the monitor'"'"'s screen are visible to a user positioned in front of the monitor.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the screen of the display unit is substantially parallel to the monitor'"'"'s screen when the display unit is connected to the data port.

62. The method of claim 34, wherein said copying is in response to a user interacting with a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface appears entirely on the monitor'"'"'s screen throughout said copying, and wherein the graphical user interface is positioned on the monitor'"'"'s screen to indicate the location of the display unit with respect to the monitor'"'"'s screen.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the selected image is displayed on the display unit'"'"'s screen upon completion of said copying.