US6031471A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Full alphanumeric character set entry from a very limited number of key buttons
Assignee: Trimble Inc
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Filing: 1998-02-09
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Granted: 2000-02-29
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Expires: 2018-02-09
Abstract
Abstract A graphical machine-user interface includes a processor connected to a display screen to generate a screen display of individual items in groups together with the selector indication. The processor and a display screen are used to advantage to provide a rich keyboard function from a very limited set of pushbuttons. For example, five pushbuttons indicating "up", "right", "down", "left", and "middle" are recursively used to reduce a large two-dimensional matrix of item choices presented on the display to some subset, e.g., a top, right, bottom, left, or middle subset. If the reduction results in a choice of one, then that item is selected and output automatically. If the reduction results in a subset with more than one item, then a recursive process is used in which the selection process is repeated until the selected subset is reduced to a single item.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark E Wilson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:40
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/023; G06F3/0233; G06F3/0236
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A machine-user interface, comprising: a matrix-reduction selection keypad with corresponding user pushbuttons representing "up", "right", "down", "left", and "middle"; an alphanumeric display proximate to the matrix-reduction selection keypad and providing for the display of a first two-dimensional matrix of individual characters; a selection indication connected to the alphanumeric display for highlighting a second two-dimensional matrix of individual characters that is a subset of said first two-dimensional matrix of individual characters; and a processor connected to the alphanumeric display and the matrix-reduction selection keypad, and programmed to generate a screen display of said first and second two-dimensional matrices of individual characters; wherein, the matrix-reduction selection keypad is recursively used to reduce said first two-dimensional matrices of individual characters to said second two-dimensional matrices of individual characters, and if such is not a 1×1 matrix with a single member, then further to an nth subset of two-dimensional matrices of individual characters, and said user pushbuttons representing "up", "right", "down", "left", and "middle" are used to select a next succeeding subset from its parent subset.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A machine-user interface, comprising: a matrix-reduction selection keypad with corresponding user pushbuttons representing "up", "right", "down", "left", and "middle"; an alphanumeric display proximate to the matrix-reduction selection keypad and providing for the display of a first two-dimensional matrix of individual characters; a selection indication connected to the alphanumeric display for highlighting a second two-dimensional matrix of individual characters that is a subset of said first two-dimensional matrix of individual characters; and a processor connected to the alphanumeric display and the matrix-reduction selection keypad, and programmed to generate a screen display of said first and second two-dimensional matrices of individual characters; wherein, the matrix-reduction selection keypad is recursively used to reduce said first two-dimensional matrices of individual characters to said second two-dimensional matrices of individual characters, and if such is not a 1×1 matrix with a single member, then further to an nth subset of two-dimensional matrices of individual characters, and said user pushbuttons representing "up", "right", "down", "left", and "middle" are used to select a next succeeding subset from its parent subset.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The machine-user interface of claim 1, further comprising: an "undo" button that permits a recursive reduction to a smaller subset of two-dimensional matrix of individual characters to be returned to a parent two-dimensional matrix of individual characters.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The machine-user interface of claim 1, wherein: said first two-dimensional matrix of individual characters comprises a 3×9 array including alphabet letters A-Z.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The machine-user interface of claim 1, wherein: said second two-dimensional matrix of individual characters comprises a 3×3 array including as many as nine alphabet letters A-Z.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The machine-user interface of claim 1, wherein: said nth two-dimensional matrix of individual characters comprises a third two-dimensional matrix of individual characters of dimension 1×3 or 3×1 and includes a subset of as many as three alphabet letters A-Z.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The machine-user interface of claim 1, wherein: said nth two-dimensional matrix of individual characters comprises a fourth two-dimensional matrix of individual characters of dimension 1×1 and includes a subset of only one alphabet letter A-Z.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
160 words
A machine-user interface, comprising: a matrix-reduction selection keypad with corresponding user pushbuttons; an alphanumeric display proximate to the matrix-reduction selection keypad and providing for the display of a first three-dimensional matrix of individual characters; a selection indication connected to the alphanumeric display for highlighting a second three-dimensional matrix of individual characters that is a subset of said first three-dimensional matrix of individual characters; and a processor connected to the alphanumeric display and the matrix-reduction selection keypad, and programmed to generate a screen display of said first and second three-dimensional matrices of individual characters; wherein, the matrix-reduction selection keypad is recursively used to reduce said first three-dimensional matrices of individual characters to said second three-dimensional matrices of individual characters, and if such is not a 1×1 matrix with a single member, then further to an nth subset of three-dimensional matrices of individual characters, and said user pushbuttons are used to select a next succeeding volume subset from its parent volume subset.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
160 words
A machine-user interface, comprising: a matrix-reduction selection keypad with corresponding user pushbuttons; an alphanumeric display proximate to the matrix-reduction selection keypad and providing for the display of a first three-dimensional matrix of individual characters; a selection indication connected to the alphanumeric display for highlighting a second three-dimensional matrix of individual characters that is a subset of said first three-dimensional matrix of individual characters; and a processor connected to the alphanumeric display and the matrix-reduction selection keypad, and programmed to generate a screen display of said first and second three-dimensional matrices of individual characters; wherein, the matrix-reduction selection keypad is recursively used to reduce said first three-dimensional matrices of individual characters to said second three-dimensional matrices of individual characters, and if such is not a 1×1 matrix with a single member, then further to an nth subset of three-dimensional matrices of individual characters, and said user pushbuttons are used to select a next succeeding volume subset from its parent volume subset.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The machine-user interface of claim 7, further comprising: an "undo" button that permits a recursive reduction to a smaller subset of three-dimensional matrix of individual characters to be returned to a parent three-dimensional matrix of individual characters.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The machine-user interface of claim 7, wherein: said first three-dimensional matrix of individual characters comprises a 3×3×3 array including alphabet letters A-Z.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The machine-user interface of claim 7, wherein: said second three-dimensional matrix of individual characters comprises a 3×3 two-dimensional plane array including as many as nine alphabet letters A-Z.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The machine-user interface of claim 7, wherein: said nth three-dimensional matrix of individual characters comprises a third one-dimensional linear array of individual characters and includes a subset of as many as three alphabet letters A-Z.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The machine-user interface of claim 7, wherein: said nth three-dimensional matrix of individual characters comprises a volume of dimension 1×1 and includes only one alphabet letter A-Z.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4742473A
Cited
US5581593A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-02-28 | 2003-08-30 | 2004-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-02-28 | 2007-08-30 | 2008-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-02-28 | 2011-08-30 | 2012-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |