Navigational processor keyboard system

• US 8,462,117 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2007
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Frank, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Sim, Yong H
• Application Number:
  US11/967,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20090167688A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,990 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/131, 345170-172, 345/168
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards

Abstract

A system and method are provided in which a processor executes an application program such as an enterprise resources planning application. A primary display displays at least one user interface screen from that application program. A keyboard associated with the processor and the primary display screen is provided having a plurality of data entry keys, and at least one secondary display. The one or more secondary displays may be a part of the keyboard itself or an extension of the keyboard. The one or more secondary displays may be display screen(s) and/or input panel(s). The input panel(s) includes at least one data entry key which effects an action recognized by the processor when activated.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a processor to execute an application program;

a connection to an external primary display to display at least one user interface screen associated with the application program; and

a keyboard having a plurality of keys for data entry, a secondary display screen, and a tertiary touch sensitive display screen, the secondary display screen displaying a plurality of linear steps simultaneously, in a sequential order, of a guided procedure conducted through the primary display and status of the steps, the tertiary touch sensitive display screen displaying program-varying GUI elements that vary depending on a current status of the steps displayed in the secondary display screen, wherein the displayed step status of the linear steps changes when a user moves between different steps in the guided procedure.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the secondary and tertiary display screens are located within the housing of the keyboard.

3. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one data entry key located within the tertiary display,

wherein the at least one data entry key effects an action when activated.

4. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the action is at least one of an application launch, an entry of a character string, and a closing of an application.

5. The computer system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the at least one data entry key is a shortcut to control operation of the computer system.

6. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the action is a command to the processor to navigate to a transaction stage associated with the selected at least one data entry key.

7. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the action is a command to the processor to enter a data in a current application program.

8. The computer system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the at least one data entry key effects a change in the actions to be associated with some of the other data entry keys.

9. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the application is part of an enterprise resource planning system, and wherein navigation between the application and other applications does not modify the at least one data entry key.

10. The computer system of claim 1, wherein a table is used to log the at least one data entry keys with an associated action or command.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the table is stored in a memory device located external to the processor.

12. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the secondary display screen is a touch screen.

13. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the tertiary display screen is subdivided into an application launch area, a tab area, and a workspace area, the application launch area including a plurality of touch sensitive icons to launch different applications, the tab area including a plurality of touch sensitive tabs, each tab including different touch sensitive icons in the workspace area associated with commonly performed transactions of a launched application.

14. A device comprising:

a processor to execute a computer program;

an alphanumeric keyboard provided within a housing;

a connection to an external display for displaying a result of executing the computer program; and

a first display screen and a second touch sensitive display screen provided within the housing, the first display screen displaying a plurality of linear steps simultaneously, in a sequential order, of a guided procedure of the executed computer program conducted through the external display and status of the steps, the second touch sensitive display screen displaying program-varying GUI elements that vary depending on a current status of the steps displayed in the first display screen, wherein the displayed step status of the linear steps changes when a user moves between different steps in the guided procedure.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the computer program is an operating system.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the GUI elements comprise a plurality of elements that include:

a plurality of tabs, and

sets of secondary elements, each set associated with a respective tab and displayed via the touch sensitive display screen in response to user-selection of its associated tab.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the elements include icons to launch respective application programs associated with the icons.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the elements displayed in a first state include icons to launch commonly used applications, including an email application, an Internet application, and a calendar application.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the elements displayed in a second state include icons to open application content and print application content.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the elements displayed in a third state include a plurality of elements displayed in the first state located in a first section of the touch sensitive display screen, and a plurality of elements displayed in the second state located in a second section of the touch sensitive display screen.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein the elements displayed in a second state include a plurality of elements displayed in the first state located in a first section of the touch sensitive display screen, and a plurality of elements to execute different tasks on data sent through the connection to the external display.

30. The device of claim 14, wherein the computer program is an application program.

22. A device comprising:

a processor to execute a plurality of programs;

a connection to an external display to display data generated from at least one of the programs;

a keyboard provided within a housing; and

a first display screen and a second touch sensitive display screen provided within the housing, the first display screen displaying a plurality of linear steps simultaneously, in a sequential order, of a guided procedure conducted through the external display and status of the steps, the second touch sensitive display screen displaying program-varying GUI elements that vary depending on a current status of the steps displayed in the first display screen, wherein the displayed step status of the linear steps changes when a user moves between different steps in the guided procedure.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the elements displayed in a first program are icons to launch various applications.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the elements displayed in a second program are linked particular data to load the respective data.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the elements displayed in a third program are linked to functions to execute respective tasks.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the touch sensitive display screen displays a touch sensitive switchably enabled selector to switch between the programs.

27. The device of claim 24, wherein at least one input on the keyboard is configured to enable switching between functionality in the touch sensitive display screen.

28. The device of claim 23, wherein the elements displayed in a first program are associated with different tabs and display via the touch sensitive display screen in response to user-selection of its associated tab.

29. The device of claim 22, wherein the housing is in a shape of a computer keyboard.