Mobile computer with minimized function display and maximized content display

Claim 2

Apparatus comprising: a display device displaying visual images to a human observer, the display device defining a display area; a microcontroller coupled to the display device; memory devices coupled to the microcontroller and receiving and storing and delivering digitally encoded data used by the microcontroller in executing control programs; and digitally encoded application program data stored in the memory devices and effective upon execution by the microcontroller to drive the display on the display device of a markup language document and associated status and command functions; the application program data and the microcontroller and the display cooperating when the microcontroller is executing the application program data to display at least a portion of the content of a markup language document in the majority of the display area and to display, along one side edge of the display area, browser jump status, document title information, document display status, and a plurality of selected browser command functions.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the application program data and the microcontroller and the display cooperate when the microcontroller is executing the application program data to display, along an upper side edge of the display area, browser jump status, document title information, document display status, and a plurality of selected browser command functions.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the application program data and the microcontroller and the display cooperate when the microcontroller is executing the application program data to display an animated icon in one corner of the display area as indicative of browser jump status.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the application program data and the microcontroller and the display cooperate when the microcontroller is executing the application program data to display a portion of the content of a markup language document in the majority of the display area and to display, in one corner of the display area, an iconic indication of the location in the document of the content portion then being displayed.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the application program data and the microcontroller and the display cooperate when the microcontroller is executing the application program data to display a portion of the content of a markup language document in the majority of the display area and to display, in one corner of the display area, an animated icon indicative of browser jump status and, in an opposite corner of the display area, a location icon indicative of the location in the document of the content portion then being displayed.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the application program data and the microcontroller and the display cooperate when the microcontroller is executing the application program data to display the document title information and the plurality of selected browser command functions in an area defined between the animated icon and the location icon.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the one corner is the upper left corner of the display area as oriented to the document content displayed.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the application program data and the microcontroller and the display cooperate when the microcontroller is executing the application program data to display the document title information and the plurality of selected browser command functions in an area defined between the animated icon and the location icon.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the opposite corner is the upper right corner of the display area as oriented to the document content displayed.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the application program data and the microcontroller and the display cooperate when the microcontroller is executing the application program data to display the document title information and the plurality of selected browser command functions in an area defined between the animated icon and the location icon.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the microcontroller is a microprocessor.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the application program data and the microcontroller and the display cooperate when the microcontroller is executing the application program data to enable access to browser jump command functions by selection of an animated icon in one corner of the display area for initiating action.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the application program data and the microcontroller and the display cooperate when the microcontroller is executing the application program data to enable access to browser document command functions by selection of a location icon in one corner of the display area for initiating action.

Claim 15

Apparatus comprising: a display device displaying visual images to a human observer, the display device defining a display area; a microprocessor coupled to the display device; memory devices coupled to the microprocessor and receiving and storing and delivering digitally encoded data used by the microprocessor in executing control programs; and digitally encoded application program data stored in the memory devices and effective upon execution by the microprocessor to drive the display on the display device of a markup language document and associated status and command functions; the application program data and the microprocessor and the display cooperating when the microprocessor is executing the application program data to display a portion of the content of a markup language document in the majority of the display area and to display: in one corner of the display area, an animated icon indicative of browser jump status; in an opposite corner of the display area, a location icon indicative of the location in the document of the content portion then being displayed; and along one side edge of the display area and in an area defined between the animated icon and the location icon, document title information and a plurality of selected browser command functions.

Claim 16

Apparatus comprising: a display device displaying visual images to a human observer, the display device defining a display area; a microprocessor coupled to the display device; memory devices coupled to the microprocessor and receiving and storing and delivering digitally encoded data used by the microprocessor in executing control programs; and digitally encoded application program data stored in the memory devices and effective upon execution by the microprocessor to drive the display on the display device of a markup language document and associated status and command functions; the application program data and the microprocessor and the display cooperating when the microprocessor is executing the application program data to display a portion of the content of a markup language document in the majority of the display area and to display: in one corner of the display area, an animated icon indicative of browser jump status; in an opposite corner of the display area, a location icon indicative of the location in the document of the content portion then being displayed; and along one side edge of the display area and in an area defined between the animated icon and the location icon, document title information and a plurality of selected browser command functions.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the one corner is the upper left corner and the opposite corner is the upper right corner, both as oriented to the document content displayed.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the application program data and the microprocessor and the display cooperate when the microprocessor is executing the application program data to enable access to browser jump command functions by selection of an animated icon in one corner of the display area for initiating action.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the application program data and the microprocessor and the display cooperate when the microprocessor is executing the application program data to enable access to browser document command functions by selection of a location icon in one corner of the display area for initiating action.

Claim 20

A mobile client computer comprising: a housing sized to be held and manipulated by the hand of a user; a processor mounted within the housing and processing digital data; memory mounted within the housing and storing digital data and coupled to the processor; a display mounted in the housing and coupled to the processor and the memory to define a display area in which information derived from digital data processed by the processor is displayed; an input digitizer mounted in the housing and overlaying the display, the digitizer being coupled to the processor for input of digital data by a user; and a browser program stored in the memory and accessible by the processor for directing the processing of digital data by the processor, the browser program and the processor and the display cooperating when the processor is executing the browser program to display at least a portion of the content of a markup language document in the majority of the display area and to display, along one side edge of the display area, browser jump status, document title information, document display status, and a plurality of selected browser command functions.

Claim 21

A mobile client computer comprising: a housing sized to be held and manipulated by the hand of a user; a processor mounted within the housing and processing digital data; memory mounted within the housing and storing digital data and coupled to the processor; a display mounted in the housing and coupled to the processor and the memory to define a display area in which information derived from digital data processed by the processor is displayed; an input digitizer mounted in the housing and overlaying the display, the digitizer being coupled to the processor for input of digital data by a user; and a browser program stored in the memory and accessible by the processor for directing the processing of digital data by the processor, the browser program and the processor and the display cooperating when the processor is executing the browser program to display at least a portion of the content of a markup language document in the majority of the display area and to display, along one side edge of the display area, browser jump status, document title information, document display status, and a plurality of selected browser command functions.

Claim 22

A computer according to claim 18 wherein the browser and the processor and the display cooperate when the processor is executing the browser program to display, along an upper side edge of the display area, browser jump status, document title information, document display status, and a plurality of selected browser command functions.

Claim 23

A computer according to claim 18 wherein the browser program and the processor and the display cooperate when the processor is executing the browser program to display an animated icon in one corner of the display area as indicative of browser jump status.

Claim 24

A computer according to claim 18 wherein the browser program and the processor and the display cooperate when the processor is executing the browser program to display a portion of the content of a markup language document in the majority of the display area and to display, in one corner of the display area, an iconic indication of the location in the document of the content portion then being displayed.

Claim 25

A computer according to claim 18 wherein the browser program and the processor and the display cooperate when the processor is executing the browser program to display a portion of the content of a markup language document in the majority of the display area and to display, in one corner of the display area, an animated icon indicative of browser jump status and, in an opposite corner of the display area, a location icon indicative of the location in the document of the content portion then being displayed.

Claim 26

A computer according to claim 22 wherein the browser program and the processor and the display cooperate when the processor is executing the browser program to display the document title information and the plurality of selected browser command functions in an area defined between the animated icon and the location icon.

Claim 27

A computer according to claim 22 wherein the one corner is the upper left corner of the display area as oriented to the document content displayed.

Claim 28

A computer according to claim 24 wherein the browser program and the processor and the display cooperate when the processor is executing the browser program to display the document title information and the plurality of selected browser command functions in an area defined between the animated icon and the location icon.

Claim 29

A computer according to claim 24 wherein the opposite corner is the upper right corner of the display area as oriented to the document content displayed.

Claim 30

A computer according to claim 26 wherein the browser program and the processor and the display cooperate when the processor is executing the browser program to display the document title information and the plurality of selected browser command functions in an area defined between the animated icon and the location icon.

Claim 31

A computer according to claim 18 wherein the browser program and the processor and the display cooperate when the processor is executing the browser program to enable access to browser jump command functions by selection of an animated icon in one corner of the display area for initiating action.

Claim 32

A computer according to claim 18 wherein the browser program and the processor and the display cooperate when the processor is executing the browser program to enable access to browser document command functions by selection of a location icon in one corner of the display area for initiating action.

Claim 33

A mobile client computer comprising: a housing sized to be held and manipulated by the hand of a user; a processor mounted within the housing and processing digital data; memory mounted within the housing and storing digital data and coupled to the processor; a display mounted in the housing and coupled to the processor and the memory to define a display area in which information derived from digital data processed by the processor is displayed; an input digitizer mounted in the housing and overlaying the display, the digitizer being coupled to the processor for input of digital data by a user; and a browser program stored in the memory and accessible by the processor for directing the processing of digital data by the processor, the browser program and the processor and the display cooperating when the processor is executing the browser program the browser program and the processor and the display cooperating when the processor is executing the browser program to display a portion of the content of a markup language document in the majority of the display area and to display: in one corner of the display area, an animated icon indicative of browser jump status; in an opposite corner of the display area, a location icon indicative of the location in the document of the content portion then being displayed; and along one side edge of the display area and in an area defined between the animated icon and the location icon, document title information and a plurality of selected browser command functions.

Claim 34

A mobile client computer comprising: a housing sized to be held and manipulated by the hand of a user; a processor mounted within the housing and processing digital data; memory mounted within the housing and storing digital data and coupled to the processor; a display mounted in the housing and coupled to the processor and the memory to define a display area in which information derived from digital data processed by the processor is displayed; an input digitizer mounted in the housing and overlaying the display, the digitizer being coupled to the processor for input of digital data by a user; and a browser program stored in the memory and accessible by the processor for directing the processing of digital data by the processor, the browser program and the processor and the display cooperating when the processor is executing the browser program the browser program and the processor and the display cooperating when the processor is executing the browser program to display a portion of the content of a markup language document in the majority of the display area and to display: in one corner of the display area, an animated icon indicative of browser jump status; in an opposite corner of the display area, a location icon indicative of the location in the document of the content portion then being displayed; and along one side edge of the display area and in an area defined between the animated icon and the location icon, document title information and a plurality of selected browser command functions.

Claim 35

A computer according to claim 30 wherein the one corner is the upper left corner and the opposite corner is the upper right corner, both as oriented to the document content displayed.

Claim 36

A computer according to claim 30 wherein the browser program and the processor and the display cooperate when the processor is executing the application program data to enable access to browser jump command functions by selection of an animated icon in one corner of the display area for initiating action.

Claim 37

A computer according to claim 30 wherein the browser program and the processor and the display cooperate when the processor is executing the browser program to enable access to browser document command functions by selection of a location icon in one corner of the display area for initiating action.