Automatic tablet scratch pad

• US 7,080,182 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2002
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sims, R. Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Tim
• Application Number:
  US10/151,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20030224779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,520 Days
• Field of Search: 710300-304, 455/556, 455/556.2, 455557-561, 345/700, 345/173, 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 709/222, 709/227
• US Class Current: 710/303
• 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

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and signal-bearing medium for determining that a tablet electronic device is docked to a docking station. Upon detection, a scratchpad application is started. When a telephone call occurs, a telephone message pad application is started. In this way, an application is automatically selected for the tablet electronic device.

Claims

1. A machine-implemented method, comprising:

determining when an electronic device is being docked to a docking station; and

when the electronic device is being docked to the docking station, starting a scratchpad application that enables input of data through contact with a screen of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a call on a telephone in progress; and

when the telephone call is in progress, starting a telephone message pad application executing on the electronic device;

wherein the telephone message pad application enables input of data through contact with the screen of said electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a telephone is connected to the docking station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone is connected to the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the scratchpad application receives and stores user inputs.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the scratchpad application is configured to perform handwriting recognition of a trace on a screen of the electronic device.

6. An electronic device comprising:

a screen;

a docking connector; and

a controller to automatically select an application to execute when the docking connector is being connected to another electronic device;

wherein the application to be executed enables input of data through contact with the screen.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 wherein the another electronic device comprises a docking station.

8. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the controller is to execute a scratchpad application when the docking connector is connected to the another electronic device.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, further comprising:

a screen, wherein the scratchpad application is to perform handwriting recognition of a trace on the screen.

10. The electronic device of claim 8, further comprising:

a screen, wherein the scratchpad application is to receive, timestamp, and store user inputs from a trace on the screen.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the trace is formed on the screen using an instrument.

12. A storage medium readable by an information handling system and comprising instructions, wherein the instructions when read and executed by the information handling system comprise:

determining when an electronic device is being connected to a docking station; and

when the electronic device is being connected to the docking station, starting a telephone message pad application when a telephone call is received by a telephone connected to the docking station;

wherein the telephone message pad application enables input of data through contact with a screen of the electronic device.

13. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein the telephone message pad application displays a user interface on the screen.

14. The storage medium of claim 13, wherein the user interface includes input fields, comprising:

a name of caller field, a telephone number field, and a time of call field.

15. The storage medium of claim 14, further comprising:

detecting instrument traces on the screen in the input fields; and

performing character recognition on the traces.

16. A system comprising:

a docking station including a first docking connector; and

a tablet computer, including;

a screen;

a second docking connector, and

a controller configured to start a scratchpad application when the second docking connector is being connected to the first docking connector;

wherein the scratchpad application enables input of data through contact with the screen of the tablet computer.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the tablet computer further includes a telephone message pad application and wherein the controller is configured to start the telephone message pad application when a call on a telephone is in progress.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the telephone message pad application receives, saves, and timestamps inputs from a trace formed on the screen by an instrument.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the instrument comprises a stylus.