Electronic personal organizer

Claim 3

The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of generating signals to provide a display of representational graphics depicting a page or pages turning over on the display means.

Claim 4

The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the representational graphics depict simulated pages arranged into various sections separated by page dividers with tabs, said method further comprising the step of generating tab selection signals defining the position of the stylus with respect to said tabs to allow selection of a required operational mode of the organizer in dependence on the tab selected.

Claim 5

The method as defined in claim 3, further comprising the steps of: selecting a required operational mode or a page within an operational mode; generating signals to display representational graphics depicting at least one page turning over after said step of selecting a required operational mode or a page within an operational mode; and displaying representational graphics associated with the selected operational mode or page.

Claim 6

The method as defined in claim 3, wherein an operational mode is an application program.

Claim 7

The method as defined in claim 5, further comprising the steps of: selecting a required application program; generating signals to provide representational graphics depicting a page or pages turning over; and displaying representational graphics associated with the selected application program.

Claim 8

The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said transducer pad comprises a membrane transducer pad operable to provide an electrical signal indicative of the position of the pad at which pressure is applied by said stylus, said applied pressure being in excess of a predetermined threshold of pressure.

Claim 9

The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: reading a programmable read-only memory device; and generating predetermined representational graphics responsive to information held in said programmable read-only memory device.

Claim 10

The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of transferring all stored information to an external storage device.

Claim 11

The method of processing as defined in claim 1, wherein said perceivable graphics symbols on said display comprise alphanumeric characters representing handwriting or hand printing responsive to movement of said stylus, said handwriting or hand printing appearing on said display with a size the same size as said movements of said stylus, said handwriting or hand printing displayed on said simulated page without adjustment of said size.

Claim 14

The method as defined in claim 11, further comprising the steps of: positioning said stylus over a simulated tab to provide a tab selection signal; and selecting a required operational mode of the organizer in response to said tab selection signal.

Claim 17

The method as defined in claim 13, wherein said required operational mode is an application program.

Claim 18

The method as defined in claim 14, wherein said application program provides a diary or address function.

Claim 19

An electronic data processing apparatus arranged to process input from a stylus, the apparatus being adapted to be portable and further adapted to display representational graphics simulating pages bound into a portable notebook lying open to show at least substantially the whole of a first simulated page and arranged into various sections separated by page dividers with tabs, said apparatus comprising: means for generating signals to provide the representational graphics, with at least one simulated page comprising at least one region provided to be written on, said simulated page conveying sufficient information to a user of a conventional notebook to enable the user to operate said data processing apparatus in the same manner as a conventional notebook; display means for displaying said graphics; input means comprising a transducer pad and said stylus, said stylus being manually operable to be positioned over a location in the region of the simulated page to thereby cooperate with the transducer pad to provide an input to be displayed at that location as if the stylus were a pen and the transducer pad were a sheet of paper; means for converting the position of the stylus over said location into electrical signals indicative of the position of the stylus with respect to the transducer pad; means for controlling the display means, said controlling means comprising means for utilizing said electrical signals to display the input from the stylus at said location, said input information displayed on said display screen the same size as the movements of said stylus; and means for storing the graphical input as data at positions in a memory associated with the location in the simulated page.

Claim 20

An electronic data processing apparatus arranged to process input from a stylus, the apparatus being adapted to be portable and further adapted to display representational graphics simulating pages bound into a portable notebook lying open to show at least substantially the whole of a first simulated page and arranged into various sections separated by page dividers with tabs, said apparatus comprising: means for generating signals to provide the representational graphics, with at least one simulated page comprising at least one region provided to be written on, said simulated page conveying sufficient information to a user of a conventional notebook to enable the user to operate said data processing apparatus in the same manner as a conventional notebook; display means for displaying said graphics; input means comprising a transducer pad and said stylus, said stylus being manually operable to be positioned over a location in the region of the simulated page to thereby cooperate with the transducer pad to provide an input to be displayed at that location as if the stylus were a pen and the transducer pad were a sheet of paper; means for converting the position of the stylus over said location into electrical signals indicative of the position of the stylus with respect to the transducer pad; means for controlling the display means, said controlling means comprising means for utilizing said electrical signals to display the input from the stylus at said location, said input information displayed on said display screen the same size as the movements of said stylus; and means for storing the graphical input as data at positions in a memory associated with the location in the simulated page.

Claim 21

The apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein; said representational graphics includes a simulated tab; said stylus produces a tab selection signal when positioned over said simulated tab; and said means for utilizing the electrical signals selects a required operational mode of the apparatus in response to said tab selection signal.

Claim 22

The apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said means for generating signals responds to the selection of a required operational mode or the selection of a page within a mode and provides representational graphics depicting at least one page turning over prior to displaying representational graphics associated with the selected mode or page.

Claim 23

The apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said transducer pad comprises a membrane transducer pad operable to provide an electrical signal indicative of the position of the pad at which pressure is applied by said stylus, said applied pressure being in excess of a predetermined threshold of pressure.

Claim 24

The apparatus as defined in claim 16, further comprising a programmable read-only memory device, said means for generating predetermined representational graphics being adapted to generate graphics in response to information stored in said programmable read-only memory device.

Claim 25

The apparatus as defined in claim 16, further comprising means for transferring stored information to an external storage device.

Claim 26

An electronic personal organizer arranged for processing input from a stylus, the organizer being adapted to display representational graphics simulating pages bound into a portable notebook lying open to show at least substantially the whole of a first simulated page and arranged into various sections separated by page dividers with tabs, said organizer comprising: a display screen; a stylus movable in proximity to said display screen; means for generating a menu on said display screen, said menu incorporating available sections of said portable notebook together with printed information associated with different simulated pages of said available sections, said menu and said simulated pages together providing sufficient information to a user of a conventional notebook to enable the user to operate said electronic personal organizer in the same manner as a conventional notebook; means for generating positional information when said stylus is moved in proximity to a location in a simulated page displayed on said display screen thereby inputting graphical information to be displayed at said location; means for displaying said graphical information on the display screen at said location in said page substantially simultaneously with the generation of the information, said graphical information displayed at substantially the same size as said information is entered by said stylus; and means for storing said graphical information in a memory means for subsequent recall in association with said page.

Claim 27

An electronic personal organizer arranged for processing input from a stylus, the organizer being adapted to display representational graphics simulating pages bound into a portable notebook lying open to show at least substantially the whole of a first simulated page and arranged into various sections separated by page dividers with tabs, said organizer comprising: a display screen; a stylus movable in proximity to said display screen; means for generating a menu on said display screen, said menu incorporating available sections of said portable notebook together with printed information associated with different simulated pages of said available sections, said menu and said simulated pages together providing sufficient information to a user of a conventional notebook to enable the user to operate said electronic personal organizer in the same manner as a conventional notebook; means for generating positional information when said stylus is moved in proximity to a location in a simulated page displayed on said display screen thereby inputting graphical information to be displayed at said location; means for displaying said graphical information on the display screen at said location in said page substantially simultaneously with the generation of the information, said graphical information displayed at substantially the same size as said information is entered by said stylus; and means for storing said graphical information in a memory means for subsequent recall in association with said page.

Claim 28

The electronic personal organizer as defined in claim 22, further comprising: a simulated tab displayed on said display screen, said stylus providing a tab selection signal corresponding to positional information when said stylus is positioned proximate to said simulated tab to select said tab; and means for utilizing said positional information to select a required operational mode of the organizer in response to the selection of said tab.

Claim 29

A data processing apparatus for processing input from a stylus, the apparatus being adapted to display representational graphics simulating pages bound into a portable notebook lying open to show at least substantially the whole of a first simulated page and arranged into various sections separated by page dividers with tabs, said apparatus comprising: means for generating signals to provide said representational graphics, said representational graphics conveying sufficient information to a user of a conventional notebook to enable the user to operate said data processing apparatus in the same manner as a conventional notebook; means for displaying said representational graphics; a transducer; a stylus that interacts with said transducer to generate positional signals corresponding to locations on said simulated page, said page dividers and said tabs; means for converting the position of said stylus over one of said tabs into electrical tab selection signals indicative of the position of the stylus with respect to the transducer pad; and means for utilizing said electrical signals to select a required operational mode in response to the selected tab.

Claim 30

A data processing apparatus for processing input from a stylus, the apparatus being adapted to display representational graphics simulating pages bound into a portable notebook lying open to show at least substantially the whole of a first simulated page and arranged into various sections separated by page dividers with tabs, said apparatus comprising: means for generating signals to provide said representational graphics, said representational graphics conveying sufficient information to a user of a conventional notebook to enable the user to operate said data processing apparatus in the same manner as a conventional notebook; means for displaying said representational graphics; a transducer; a stylus that interacts with said transducer to generate positional signals corresponding to locations on said simulated page, said page dividers and said tabs; means for converting the position of said stylus over one of said tabs into electrical tab selection signals indicative of the position of the stylus with respect to the transducer pad; and means for utilizing said electrical signals to select a required operational mode in response to the selected tab.

Claim 31

The apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein at least one operational mode comprises an application program.

Claim 32

The apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein said application program provides a diary or address function.