US6141011A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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User interface methodology supporting light data entry for microprocessor device having limited user input
Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
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Filing: 1998-11-04
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Granted: 2000-10-31
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Expires: 2018-11-04
Abstract
Abstract A portable computing device or "information appliance" having terse user input (e.g., limit set of keys) is provided with an improved user interface. A six-key embodiment is described that provides a "super-key" light entry and editing input system for ultra-portable devices, thus making it well suited for use with credit card-sized devices. In a preferred six-button embodiment, a credit card-sized device is modified to include an additional input button, an EDIT key. In user operation, pressing the EDIT key brings up a context sensitive pop-up menu, thus invoking the super-key feature. Customized user input controls, such as a Text Input Control (e.g., letter and number strips), are provided at appropriate times, for facilitating input. Underlying the super-key input is a heuristic sub-system that remembers and anticipates user input. In this fashion, the system can present in-context options for each application running on the target device, and present appropriate options during different phases of the execution of a variety of tasks. By remembering what the user has previously inputted and by using context-sensitive menus and adaptive "quick" lists, the system can anticipate what the user needs to do at any given time and can guide the user through a step-by-step process to complete each task, thus facilitating the tasks that users most often perform. By including adaptive techniques or built-in intelligence that allows the device to be faster and easier to use with each user session, the target device may anticipate the tasks users need to perform in specific situations and thus make those tasks increasingly easier.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric O. Bodnar
- 👤 Jennifer J. Lee
- 👤 Philippe R. Kahn
- 👤 Roy W. Feague
- 👤 David E. Jorgensen
- 👤 Gwoho H. Liu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/023; G06F3/0233; G06F3/0236; G06F3/0237; H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/26; H04M1/27; H04M1/274; H04M1/2745; H04M1/2753; H04M1/2757
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 60
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
In a computing device having a limited set of input keys, a method for assisting a user with entering user input, the method comprising: providing a terse set of physical input keys comprising navigation keys, a select key, and an edit key; at a different location on said computing device than where said physical input keys are located, displaying a user interface that requires input of information from the user; receiving user input at the navigation keys for moving a screen cursor to different regions of the user interface; with the screen cursor positioned at a particular region of the user interface, receiving user input at the edit key for invoking a context-sensitive input system; determining a set of appropriate user input entries for the device for the particular region of the user interface where the screen cursor is currently positioned; displaying at the particular region a control based on at least some of said set of appropriate user input entries; receiving user input at the navigation keys for positioning the screen cursor at a desired entry from said set of appropriate user input entries; and receiving user input at the select key for inputting the desired entry as user input for the device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
In a computing device having a limited set of input keys, a method for assisting a user with entering user input, the method comprising: providing a terse set of physical input keys comprising navigation keys, a select key, and an edit key; at a different location on said computing device than where said physical input keys are located, displaying a user interface that requires input of information from the user; receiving user input at the navigation keys for moving a screen cursor to different regions of the user interface; with the screen cursor positioned at a particular region of the user interface, receiving user input at the edit key for invoking a context-sensitive input system; determining a set of appropriate user input entries for the device for the particular region of the user interface where the screen cursor is currently positioned; displaying at the particular region a control based on at least some of said set of appropriate user input entries; receiving user input at the navigation keys for positioning the screen cursor at a desired entry from said set of appropriate user input entries; and receiving user input at the select key for inputting the desired entry as user input for the device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said input of information required comprises a selected one of alphabetic, alphanumeric, numeric, time, and date information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said input of information is inputted at least in part using a text input control.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said text input control comprises a character strip displaying selected alphanumeric information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said input of information is inputted at least in part using a tabbed input control.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein display of said control ceases when input at the control is not required.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving additional user input at the edit key for terminating invocation of the context-sensitive input system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: after receiving input at the control, marking the control as having received input.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8, further comprising: altering movement of the screen cursor during navigation based on which controls have been marked as having received input.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8, wherein each control is marked only if the user has not canceled input.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said set of appropriate user input entries comprises selected ones of system default entries and user-provided entries.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said set of appropriate user input entries comprises an ordered list, said list being ordered according to how likely each entry is to be selected by the user.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying a status bar having hint information about operation of at least one of the keys.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the hint information for at least one of the keys changes during input for indicating additional functionality of the key during input.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the hint information includes graphical information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said graphical information comprises an icon identifying a particular key.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the hint information includes text describing how at least one key operates.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said navigation keys comprise up, down, forward, and reverse keys.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said user interface provides a module selector view displaying an application icon for each of a plurality of applications.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein each key of said terse set of input keys operates in response to a single click of the key by the user.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
204 words
In a computing device requiring input of information, a method for assisting a user with completing input, the method comprising: displaying a user interface comprising a sequence of input controls that are arranged sequentially for receiving user input, said user input including user-supplied information for input into said computing device; marking all input controls as initially unfilled, for indicating that each of the controls has not yet received input from the user; and assisting the user with completing input for the input controls, by: (1) receiving navigational input for moving a screen cursor among the sequence of input controls; (2) if the navigational input specifies forward movement, positioning the screen cursor at a next one of the sequence of input controls that is unfilled; (3) if the navigational input specifies backward movement, positioning the screen cursor at a previous one of the sequence of input controls that is unfilled; (4) receiving input from the user for the input control that the screen cursor is currently positioned at; (5) upon completion of input by the user at the control, marking the control as filled, for indicating that the control has received input; and (6) repeating substeps (1)-(5) until the user has completed all input desired.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
204 words
In a computing device requiring input of information, a method for assisting a user with completing input, the method comprising: displaying a user interface comprising a sequence of input controls that are arranged sequentially for receiving user input, said user input including user-supplied information for input into said computing device; marking all input controls as initially unfilled, for indicating that each of the controls has not yet received input from the user; and assisting the user with completing input for the input controls, by: (1) receiving navigational input for moving a screen cursor among the sequence of input controls; (2) if the navigational input specifies forward movement, positioning the screen cursor at a next one of the sequence of input controls that is unfilled; (3) if the navigational input specifies backward movement, positioning the screen cursor at a previous one of the sequence of input controls that is unfilled; (4) receiving input from the user for the input control that the screen cursor is currently positioned at; (5) upon completion of input by the user at the control, marking the control as filled, for indicating that the control has received input; and (6) repeating substeps (1)-(5) until the user has completed all input desired.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 21, further comprising: selectively ceasing displaying of at least one of the input controls, based on user input entered at another control.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said input controls are capable of receiving input that comprises a selected one of alphabetic, alphanumeric, numeric, time, and date information.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the navigational input is coupled with operation of an edit key, so that selection of the edit key invokes a context-sensitive menu selection.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 24, wherein said sequence of input controls are divided into individual groups for display on a sequence of pages, each particular group being displayed on a particular page.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
323 words
In a computing device requiring input of information, a method for assisting a user with completing input, the method comprising: displaying a user interface comprising a sequence of input controls that are arranged sequentially for receiving user input; marking all input controls as initially unfilled, for indicating that each of the controls has not yet received input from the user; and assisting the user with completing input for the input controls, by: (1) receiving navigational input for moving a screen cursor among the sequence of input controls; (2) if the navigational input specifies forward movement, positioning the screen cursor at a next one of the sequence of input controls that is unfilled; (3) if the navigational input specifies backward movement, positioning the screen cursor at a previous one of the sequence of input controls that is unfilled; (4) receiving input from the user for the input control that the screen cursor is currently positioned at; (5) upon completion of input by the user at the control, marking the control as filled, for indicating that the control has received input; and (6) repeating substeps (1)-(5) until the user has completed all input desired; wherein the navigational input is coupled with operation of an edit key, so that selection of the edit key invokes a context-sensitive menu selection; wherein the navigational input is coupled with operation of an edit key, so that selection of the edit key invokes a context-sensitive menu selection; wherein said sequence of input controls are divided into individual groups for display on a sequence of pages, each particular group being displayed on a particular page; marking all pages as initially activated, for indicating that each of the pages has input controls that should be displayed for receiving input from the user; and upon receiving input at a control of one page, marking another page as deactivated, for indicating that the page has input controls that no longer need to receive input.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
323 words
In a computing device requiring input of information, a method for assisting a user with completing input, the method comprising: displaying a user interface comprising a sequence of input controls that are arranged sequentially for receiving user input; marking all input controls as initially unfilled, for indicating that each of the controls has not yet received input from the user; and assisting the user with completing input for the input controls, by: (1) receiving navigational input for moving a screen cursor among the sequence of input controls; (2) if the navigational input specifies forward movement, positioning the screen cursor at a next one of the sequence of input controls that is unfilled; (3) if the navigational input specifies backward movement, positioning the screen cursor at a previous one of the sequence of input controls that is unfilled; (4) receiving input from the user for the input control that the screen cursor is currently positioned at; (5) upon completion of input by the user at the control, marking the control as filled, for indicating that the control has received input; and (6) repeating substeps (1)-(5) until the user has completed all input desired; wherein the navigational input is coupled with operation of an edit key, so that selection of the edit key invokes a context-sensitive menu selection; wherein the navigational input is coupled with operation of an edit key, so that selection of the edit key invokes a context-sensitive menu selection; wherein said sequence of input controls are divided into individual groups for display on a sequence of pages, each particular group being displayed on a particular page; marking all pages as initially activated, for indicating that each of the pages has input controls that should be displayed for receiving input from the user; and upon receiving input at a control of one page, marking another page as deactivated, for indicating that the page has input controls that no longer need to receive input.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 26, further comprising: receiving navigational input for moving the screen cursor from a current page to another page; if the navigational input specifies forward movement, positioning the screen cursor at a next one of the sequence of pages that is activated; and if the navigational input specifies backward movement, positioning the screen cursor at a previous one of the sequence of pages that is activated.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 21, wherein each control is marked as filled only if the user has not canceled input.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21, wherein at least some of the input controls display a set of appropriate user input entries.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 29, wherein said set of appropriate user input entries comprises selected ones of system default entries and user-provided entries.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said set of appropriate user input entries comprises an ordered list, said list being ordered according to how likely each entry is to be selected by the user.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 21, further comprising: displaying a status bar having hint information about operation of at least one key of the computing device during input.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 32, wherein the hint information for at least one of the keys changes during input for indicating additional functionality of the key during input.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 32, wherein the hint information includes graphical information.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 34, wherein said graphical information comprises an icon identifying a particular key.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 32, wherein the hint information includes text describing how at least one key operates.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said navigational input is generated by user activation of navigation keys provided by the computing device.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 37, wherein said navigation keys comprise keys having directional arrows.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 38, wherein each key of said navigation keys operates in response to a single click of the key by the user.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21, wherein display of an input control ceases when input at the control is no longer required.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 21, wherein at least one input control is determined to no longer require input based, at least in part, on input already received at another input control.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 21, wherein at least one input control is determined to no longer require input based, at least in part, on absence of input having been received at another input control.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
239 words
A microprocessor-based device with improved user input capability comprising: a device having a microprocessor, a memory, a display, and a set of input keys, said device requiring input of information by a user, said display for displaying input controls for receiving input in response to user activation of at least some of said input keys said input including user-supplied information for input into said device; initialization logic for initializing all input controls to an activated and an unfilled state; control logic operating to: set focus of input to a first located input control that is activated and unfilled if one is located, and otherwise transfer control to navigation logic of the device; entry logic operating to: process input by a user at an input control currently having focus and thereafter mark the input control as filled and transfer control to the control logic of the device, and otherwise transfer focus to a prior input control that is activated and unfilled; and navigation logic operating to: set, in response to a forward navigation request from the user, focus of input to a next located input control that is activated and unfilled if one exists, set, in response to a backward navigation request from the user, focus of input to a prior input control that is activated and unfilled if one exists, and transfer, in response to an edit request from the user, control to the entry logic of the device.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
239 words
A microprocessor-based device with improved user input capability comprising: a device having a microprocessor, a memory, a display, and a set of input keys, said device requiring input of information by a user, said display for displaying input controls for receiving input in response to user activation of at least some of said input keys said input including user-supplied information for input into said device; initialization logic for initializing all input controls to an activated and an unfilled state; control logic operating to: set focus of input to a first located input control that is activated and unfilled if one is located, and otherwise transfer control to navigation logic of the device; entry logic operating to: process input by a user at an input control currently having focus and thereafter mark the input control as filled and transfer control to the control logic of the device, and otherwise transfer focus to a prior input control that is activated and unfilled; and navigation logic operating to: set, in response to a forward navigation request from the user, focus of input to a next located input control that is activated and unfilled if one exists, set, in response to a backward navigation request from the user, focus of input to a prior input control that is activated and unfilled if one exists, and transfer, in response to an edit request from the user, control to the entry logic of the device.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 43, wherein said set of input keys comprises a terse key set.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 43, wherein said set of input keys comprises navigation keys, an edit key, a select key, and a home key.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 45, wherein said navigation requests are generated by user activation of said navigation keys.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 45, wherein said edit request is generated by user activation of said edit key.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 43, wherein display of an input control is suppressed if the control is not activated.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 43, further comprising: deactivating at least one input control based on input received at another input control and, thereafter, ceasing display of said deactivated at least one input control.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 43, wherein said input controls are capable of receiving input that comprises a selected one of alphabetic, alphanumeric, numeric, time, and date information.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
155 words
An input system for a device having a terse set of input keys, the system comprising: means for displaying a plurality of pages, each page having a plurality of input controls, each input control being initialized to an unfilled state, each said input control capable of receiving user-supplied information for input into said device; means for setting focus of input to a first located input control that is unfilled; means for processing input by a user at an input control currently having focus and thereafter marking the input control as filled; and means for transferring focus to another input control that is unfilled, said means operating in response to a forward navigation request from the user to set focus of input to a next located input control that is unfilled, and operating in response to a reverse navigation request from the user to set focus of input to a prior input control that is unfilled.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
155 words
An input system for a device having a terse set of input keys, the system comprising: means for displaying a plurality of pages, each page having a plurality of input controls, each input control being initialized to an unfilled state, each said input control capable of receiving user-supplied information for input into said device; means for setting focus of input to a first located input control that is unfilled; means for processing input by a user at an input control currently having focus and thereafter marking the input control as filled; and means for transferring focus to another input control that is unfilled, said means operating in response to a forward navigation request from the user to set focus of input to a next located input control that is unfilled, and operating in response to a reverse navigation request from the user to set focus of input to a prior input control that is unfilled.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 51, wherein said means for displaying operates to initialize each input control to an activated state.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 52, further comprising: means for selectively deactivating an input control, so that the input control is no longer displayed.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 53, wherein said means for selectively deactivating an input control operates based on input entered at an input control other than the one being deactivated.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 52, wherein focus is preferentially set to an input control that is activated and unfilled.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-10-31 | 2004-05-01 | 2004-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-31 | 2008-05-01 | 2008-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-31 | 2012-05-01 | 2012-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |