U.S. patent application number 10/881878 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-25 for method of using physical buttons in association with a display to access and execute functions available through associated hardware and software.
This patent application is currently assigned to Research Investment Network, Inc.. Invention is credited to Allport, David.
Application Number | 20040237052 10/881878 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23073399 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040237052 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Allport, David |
November 25, 2004 |
Method of using physical buttons in association with a display to
access and execute functions available through associated hardware
and software
Abstract
Systems and methods are described for using physical buttons on
a device in association with a display to display, access, and
execute functions available through associated hardware and
software. The physical buttons are programmable, and the function
of each button is displayed on an associated display when the
button is activated using a first type of motion, and the function
of the button is performed when the button is activated using a
second type of motion. This allows the display to be free of
unnecessary icons, tool-tips, menus, text, etc., and to be devoted
to actual content unless and until a user decides to perform a
function associated with the device containing the display.
Increasing the available display space is especially important in
the advancing art of electronics, where devices are becoming
smaller and smaller, yet consumers are demanding more and more
functionality.
Inventors: |
Allport, David; (Palo Alto,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DISCOVISION ASSOCIATES
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT
2355 MAIN STREET, SUITE 200
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Assignee: |
Research Investment Network,
Inc.
Irvine
CA
|
Family ID: |
23073399 |
Appl. No.: |
10/881878 |
Filed: |
June 29, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10881878 |
Jun 29, 2004 |
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09280512 |
Mar 30, 1999 |
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6757001 |
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09280512 |
Mar 30, 1999 |
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09221940 |
Dec 28, 1998 |
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6483548 |
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09221940 |
Dec 28, 1998 |
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09001841 |
Dec 31, 1997 |
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6097441 |
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09001841 |
Dec 31, 1997 |
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09001873 |
Dec 31, 1997 |
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6104334 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
715/840 ;
348/E5.103; 348/E5.105; 348/E5.108; 348/E7.031; 348/E7.077;
348/E7.081 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2300/407 20130101;
H04N 21/42204 20130101; G06F 3/0489 20130101; H04N 21/41265
20200801; G08C 2201/92 20130101; H04N 7/163 20130101; G06F 1/1626
20130101; H04N 7/14 20130101; H04N 21/42209 20130101; G08C 2201/33
20130101; G08C 2201/21 20130101; A63F 2300/403 20130101; H04N 21/47
20130101; H04B 1/202 20130101; H04N 21/42228 20130101; G08C 23/04
20130101; G06F 1/1662 20130101; H04N 21/426 20130101; H04N 7/088
20130101; H04N 7/147 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/840 |
International
Class: |
G09G 005/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method comprising: providing on a display, in response to a
first motion performed upon a first button, a description of a
function associated with said first button; and executing, in
response to a second motion performed upon said first button, the
function associated with said first button; wherein said first and
second motions are different motions performed on said first
button.
2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the first button is on a
hand-held device.
3. The method as in claim 2, further comprising providing for the
removal from the display after a suitable amount of time of
non-activity, the description of the function associated with the
first button.
4. The method as in claim 2, wherein the display is on the
device.
5. The method as in claim 1, further comprising providing for the
removal from the display, in response to another motion performed
upon said first button, the description of the function associated
with the first button.
6. The method as in claim 1, wherein the description of the
function associated with the first button is displayed on the
display adjacent to the first button.
7. A system comprising: a device having at least a first input
area; and a display; wherein a first manner of activation in said
first input area causes a description to be displayed on the
display, and a second manner of activation in said first input area
causes a function to be executed,
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the device is a hand-held
device.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the display is on the device.
10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a port, wherein when
said function is executed, a result occurs on said display or at
said port.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein said result at said port
comprises sending a signal from said hand-held device to a second
device.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein said second device is a
television.
13. The system of claim 11 wherein said second device is a set-top
box.
14. The system of claim 11 wherein said second device is a
recording device.
15. A hand-held device, comprising: a display and a port integrated
into said device; and a button having a first motion and a second
different motion, said first motion causing a description
associated with said button to be presented on the display and the
second different motion an said button causes an execution of a
function, wherein said execution of said function comprises either
causing said display to change to a new state or causing said port
to send an output signal to a second device.
16. The hand-held device of claim 15 wherein said second device is
a television.
17. The hand-held device of claim 15 wherein said second device is
a set-top box.
18. The hand-held device of claim 15 wherein said second device is
a recording device.
19. The hand-held device of claim 15 wherein said output signal is
a wireless signal.
20. The handheld device of claim 19 wherein said wireless signal is
a radio frequency signal.
21. The hand-held device of claim 15 wherein said wireless signal
is an infrared signal.
22. A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium
having computer readable program code means embodied therein for
causing a computer to perform an action, comprising, computer
readable program code means for causing a computer to provide on a
display, in response to a first motion performed upon a first
button, a description of a function associated with said first
button; and computer readable program code means for causing a
computer to execute, in response to a second motion performed upon
said first button, the function associated with said first button;
wherein said first and second motions are different motions
performed on said first button.
23. The computer program product as in claim 22, wherein the first
button is on a hand-held device.
24. The computer program product as in claim 23, further comprising
computer readable program code means for causing a computer to
provide for the removal from the display after a suitable amount of
time of non-activity, the description of the function associated
with the first button.
25. The computer program product as in claim 23, wherein the
display is integrated into the device.
26. The computer program product as in claim 22, further comprising
computer readable program code means for causing a computer to
provide for the removal from the display, in response to another
motion performed upon said first button, the description of the
function associated with the first button.
27. The computer program product as in claim 22, wherein the
description of the function associated with the first button is
displayed on the display adjacent to the first button.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-provisional
patent application Ser. No. 09/280,512, filed on Mar. 30, 1999.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to efficient use of
display space on a data display device. More particularly, the
present invention relates to methods of using physical buttons to
access functions available from software and hardware associated
with the display device, without necessarily using the display
space on the display device to indicate the available functions
until prompted to do so by a user.
DEFINITIONS
[0003] As used in this application, "button" refers to various
types of buttons, such as push buttons, touch-buttons, switches,
sliders, knobs, dials, trackballs, mice, levers, pads, etc. Various
buttons are described and shown in more detail in the '873
application. The phrase "button set" is used herein to describe a
plurality of buttons, which, when activated in combination, have a
single effect as if the button set were a single physical button.
For example, activating two separate physical buttons substantially
simultaneously may initiate a first function, whereas activating
the same two buttons with a third button substantially
simultaneously may initiate a second function. Unless the context
indicates otherwise, whenever the display or function of a button
is discussed, it is to be understood that the discussion also
includes a button set.
[0004] "Activate" as used herein means to perform the required act
or acts on a button that indicate to a device associate with the
button, that the button has been engaged. For example, "activate"
may refer to pushing, touching, switching, sliding, turning,
dialing, rolling, clicking, etc., depending on the physical
characteristics of the button involved.
[0005] A particular button may have a variety of physical motions
associated therewith that could cause activation thereof, perhaps
for different purposes. For example, activation of a button by a
first type of physical motion (e.g., pushing forward) may cause a
first event to occur, such as displaying information on the display
to describe a function of the button. An activation causing this
type of event is referred to herein as a "display activation", and
the motion associated therewith is referred to herein as a "display
activation motion". An activation of the same button by a different
type of physical motion (e.g., pushing downward) may cause a second
event to occur, such as executing a function associated with the
button. An activation causing this type of event is referred to
herein as an "execution activation", and the motion associated
therewith is referred to herein as an "execution activation
motion". A particular motion associated with a particular button
may be a display activation motion, an execution activation motion,
or another type of motion, due to a predetermined or programmed
association.
[0006] Also in this application, the terms "user", "viewer", and
"consumer" are used interchangeably depending on the context, to
refer to a person using the methods and devices described herein. A
user may be a "logical user". A "logical user" may be a single
user, or a group of users having shared or aggregated program
preferences. For example, "kids" may be a logical user, for which
program preferences are determined by a parent. Or "critics'
choice" may be a logical user, for which program preferences are
determined by a group of program critics. Or "default" may be a
logical user, for which program preferences are determined by a
predetermined or random algorithm.
[0007] As used in this application, the term "action" refers to any
sequence of events performed or required to be performed by a user
to display, access, and/or execute an available function. Actions
include, but are not limited to, keyboard events (e.g., touching or
pressing a key or keys simultaneously or in sequence), mouse events
(moving, right- or left-clicking, double-clicking, dragging, etc.),
actuating a button (e.g., pressing, releasing, sliding, toggling,
squeezing, etc.), screen events (e.g., touching a screen), and any
other event in which a signal or other data is input to a device in
response thereto.
BACKGROUND
[0008] Many electronic and other devices have various functions
associated therewith, and access to those functions may occur
through a wide variety of mechanisms. Numerous combinations of
physical buttons and software or on-screen buttons are provided to
enable users to access available functions. Although eventually a
user may memorize the actions required to access and execute some
or all of the available functions, prior to that point there needs
to be a way to communicate the information to the user. Typically,
there is a separate User's Guide, cheat-sheet, display screen or
other visual indicator associated with the device that is used for
that purpose.
[0009] A simple example is a personal computer, used in combination
with a keyboard, mouse, or other data input device, a display
monitor, and associated software. It is well-known in the art of
personal computing to use industry standard keys (such as ALT,
CTRL, SHIFT, Apple Command, and Windows Command) in combination
with other available keys, to access and execute a desired
function. Similarly, it is well-known to use Function keys, such as
F1, F2, etc., or to use a mouse to point-and-click or
point-and-double-click a specified icon or menu option to access
and/or execute a function associated therewith.
[0010] In each of the above-mentioned situations, however, the
functions associated with a particular keystroke sequence or other
input action are typically displayed in response to a first action
or set of actions, and then the desired function is executed by use
of a second action or set of actions. For example, it is common for
application software programs to have help icons or help menus,
which are accessible by a particular mouse or keyboard sequence.
Once within the help module, a user can navigate to determine a
second set of actions required to perform the desired function.
Many times this even requires a user to engage the use of various
cooperating input devices, such as a mouse to point to the menu,
and then a keyboard to navigate through the menu and eventually
access and execute the desired function.
[0011] An example of a dual-function button wherein two functions
are performed from the same button, is a shutter button on some
types of cameras. On SLR cameras that have manual focus but
automatic exposure control, typically pressing the shutter button
half-way will give an indication of what the exposure rate will be,
and following through and fully depressing the shutter button
result in the picture being taken. Similarly, on many auto-focus
cameras, depressing the shutter half-way causes the auto-focus
mechanism to set for the subject currently in view, and full
shutter depression then takes the picture. The functions of these
"dual-function" buttons on cameras, however, are not
programmable.
[0012] Another dual-function functionality known as "tool tips` is
common in software. Tool tips are short pop-up textual descriptions
associated with visual icons. The icons represent buttons that
provide different kinds of program functionality such as opening,
saving, or printing files. If a user moves the mouse over these
icons and holds it there for a second or two, the text description
pops up telling the user what the button will do if the user
subsequently clicks on it. These tool-tips are similar to the
"balloon help" provided with Macintosh computers, and they are
common in programs such as Microsoft Word.
[0013] Tool-tips may be useful user interface devices in standard
computer applications, because they enable novice users to simply
point to an on-screen icon, and find out what it will do. For more
experienced users, they can simply click on the icon representing
the functional tool, without waiting for the description of the
function to pop up. However, there are at least two major drawbacks
to tool-tips. First, they depend on a "mouse and keyboard" input
metaphor, where it is possible to point the mouse at an icon
without clicking on that icon. However, for devices with graphical
touch-screens, the natural interaction method is to point one's
finger at an icon by touching the screen, and have it activated
immediately. In this case, there is no distinction possible between
"pointing" and "clicking". Some touch-screen-based applications do
create this distinction using a pen, and requiring that the pen be
tapped twice in quick succession in order to create a "click",
whereas just touching the pen once to the touch-screen surface
constitutes a "point". But this is an awkward interaction style,
especially if one is using one's finger instead of a physical
pen.
[0014] Another significant drawback with tool-tips is that they
take up screen display space. For each function button to which one
wishes to attach a tool-tip, it is necessary to provide an icon,
such that pointing to it will cause the textual description to
pop-up. In the context of a small-screen display, the continuous
display of such icons uses up precious display space resources even
when the icons are not in use.
[0015] The Palm Pilot, by 3-Com, Corporation, has a small
touch-screen and a small number of physical buttons. However, the
Palm Pilot's physical buttons are dedicated to always performing a
single operation. The buttons are not at all versatile. They simply
switch between four primary program application screens, and have
no other use.
[0016] A desirable method of overcoming the above-referenced
drawbacks in the prior art is to provide physical buttons on the
devices, that may be programmable, wherein a function of each
button or combination of buttons (button set) is displayed on an
associated display when said button or button set is activated
using a display activation motion, and a function of the button or
button set is executed when the button or button set is activated
using an execution activation motion, different than the display
activation motion. This would allow the display to be free of
unnecessary icons, menus, text, etc., and to be devoted to actual
content, unless and until a user has a need or desire to view
information related to the function of a button associated with the
device containing the display.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] As technology has been advancing at a rapid pace, devices
have become increasingly small in size, and many such devices exist
with fully integrated input, processing, and display features, in a
compact device suitable for being hand-held and operated. For
example, hand-held calculators and hand-held video games have
existed for many years, and more recently hand-held electronic
organizers such as 3-Com Corporation's Palm Pilot have become
available. In addition, the '873 application discloses a hand-held
remote controller for consumer devices, having an integrated
display.
[0018] As the size of these electronic devices has been decreasing,
the degree of functionality associated with them has been
increasing. This is due to better technology, market demand, and
other factors. With these smaller devices, both the display area
and the available space for physical buttons are limited, and it is
therefore desirable to make efficient use of the space available in
both respects. It thus becomes important to pack a high degree of
functionality into such devices, using a relatively small number of
physical buttons, and without using valuable display space to
display to the user what the functions of each button are.
[0019] The present invention accomplishes these goals by providing
physical buttons (preferably programmable) on the devices, wherein
the function of each button or button set is displayed on an
associated display when said button or button set is activated
using a display activation motion, whereas the function of the
button or button set is executed when the button or button set is
activated using an execution activation motion, different than the
display activation motion, wherein the execution activation motion
is not necessarily preceded by the display activation motion.
[0020] The present invention thus provides systems and methods to
allow maximally efficient use of screen space on these types of
devices, while preserving maximal ease-of-use for consumers. The
display space on an associated device is thus free from unnecessary
clutter for experienced users familiar with the functions of the
buttons, and the experienced user is thus required to perform only
an execution activation motion associated with the button, never
having to take time or waste display space associated with
performing a display activation motion associated with the button.
At the same time, less experienced users may enjoy the clutter-free
display until they need to check to see what function a particular
button or set of buttons performs, in which case they can simply
perform a display activation motion in which case indications of
the appropriate functions will appear on the display temporarily.
The user may then perform an execution activation motion on the
desired button or button set, to perform the desired function.
Alternatively, the user may activate an escape sequence to clear
the clutter from the display, or may perform a display activation
motion on a second button or button set to see what function is
associated with the second button or button set, or may simply wait
for a suitable amount of time of non-activity to occur for the
display to clear itself from clutter. Non-activity refers to no
other buttons being activated on the device, and a suitable time
may be either predetermined or programmed.
[0021] Thus, one aspect of the present invention involves using a
first physical button on a device, in association with a display,
to display and execute a function associated with the first
physical button, by performing a display activation motion
associated with the first physical button upon the first physical
button; displaying on the display, in response to the display
activation motion performed upon the first physical button, a
description of a function associated with the first physical
button; performing an execution activation motion associated with
the first physical button upon the first physical button; and
executing, in response to the execution activation motion performed
upon the first physical button, the function associated with the
first physical button; wherein the display activation motion
associated with the first physical button is of a different type
than the execution activation motion associated with the first
physical button.
[0022] Another aspect of the present invention involves using a
first physical button on a device comprising the first physical
button and a second physical button, in association with a display,
to display and execute a function associated with the first
physical button, by performing a display activation motion
associated with the first physical button upon the first physical
button; displaying on the display, in response to the display
activation motion performed upon the first physical button, a
description of a function associated with the first physical
button; displaying on the display, in response to the display
activation motion performed upon the first physical button, a
description of a function associated with the second physical
button; performing an execution activation motion associated with
the second physical button upon the second physical button; and
executing, in response to the execution activation motion performed
upon the second physical button, the function associated with the
second physical button.
[0023] Another aspect of the present invention involves using a
first physical button set on a device comprising the first physical
button set and a second physical button set, in association with a
display, to display and execute a function associated with the
first physical button set, by performing a display activation
motion associated with the first physical button set upon the first
physical button set; displaying on the display, in response to the
display activation motion performed upon the first physical button
set, a description of a function associated with the first physical
button set; displaying on the display, in response to the display
activation motion performed upon the first physical button set, a
description of a function associated with the second physical
button set; performing an execution activation motion associated
with the second physical button set upon the second physical button
set; and executing, in response to the execution activation motion
performed upon the second physical button set, the function
associated with the second physical button set.
[0024] Thus, the systems and methods of the present invention allow
the use of a display that is free of unwanted clutter typically
present to describe the functions of physical buttons. The systems
and methods of the present invention also provide a user with the
ability to determine the function of a button if desired, and to
have the function executed either with or without having first
performed a display activation motion.
[0025] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
be apparent from the detailed description which follows, when read
in conjunction with the associated drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 shows a hand-held device having physical buttons and
a display area, as an example of a device embodying the concepts of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] For devices such as those described in the '873 application
(titled "Portable Internet-Enabled Controller And Information
Browser For Consumer Devices") the use of physical buttons was
described on hand-held devices to perform different program
functions, including navigation, on different application screens.
"Hand-held" refers generally to the size and weight of the device,
and is used to indicate that the device may generally be held
and/or operated using a single hand. Sometimes the buttons perform
functions related to a particular screen such as playing a CD or
scrolling the contents of a program display. In other cases the
buttons switch between different screens, for example between a
"welcome screen" and a "pictures" screen. A preferred embodiment of
the present invention is used in conjunction with the hand-held
devices described in the '873 application. Those devices have a
display, and associated integrated programmable software used in
conjunction therewith, such that the devices may act as intelligent
interactive remote controllers for consumer devices.
[0028] In general the function buttons described in the '873
application are very versatile, but a user may often need to be
reminded of what the buttons do in a particular context. In
response to this concern, it is common to always have a graphical
display continuously indicating the current functionality of each
button. FIG. 1 shows a sample device 10 having physical buttons
15a, 15b, 15c, and 15d, corresponding graphical labels 20a, 20b,
20c, and 20d, which indicate the functions of their associated
physical buttons 15, and a display area 25 displaying a "welcome"
screen. The device 10 is a sample of a device described in the '873
application.
[0029] There appears to be no problem with overcrowding on the
"welcome" screen shown in FIG. 1, but on other screens, even on the
same display area 25, the labels 20 occupy screen space that might
other-vise be used for showing more content-related information.
Such other screens may include a screen displaying Electronic
Program Guide information, or a screen listing a user's CD
collection.
[0030] The present invention allows users to "reclaim" the display
space taken up by labels 20 for the content information, whilst
retaining the user's ability to quickly see what each button 15 is
used for if the user so desires. The buttons 15 preferably have
multiple distinct physical motions, movements or activation
requirements associated therewith. Preferably there are exactly two
distinct motions that effect actuation of the button 15, but there
may be three,-or four, or five, or six, or even more. In the
embodiment where a button has exactly two distinct physical motions
associated therewith that effect actuation thereof, it is preferred
that one of the motions is a display activation motion, while the
other is an execution activation motion.
[0031] Various buttons 15 may have various amounts of distinct
movements (e.g., some may have two movements, some may have three
movements, etc.). Also, preferably each button 15 in and of itself
has a multiple-function characteristic, but the multiple-function
characteristic may be associated with a button set, such as two
particular buttons (e.g., 15a and 15b), or three particular buttons
(e.g., 15a, 15b, and 15c), or some other combination of buttons 15.
With button sets, buttons 15 may have various shapes, contours,
thicknesses, sizes, colors, physical actuation requirements (i.e.
push, slide, roll, switch, touch, etc), or other attributes, such
that there are distinct classes or kinds of buttons 15. Specific
combinations of shapes, colors, etc., may be programmed to perform
desired functions. For example, if there are four round buttons 15,
then performing a display activation motion on any two may result
in the display of a first function, any three may result in the
display of a second function, and all four in the display of a
third function. Performing an execution activation motion on any
two, three, or four would execute the associated function. Each
individual round button 15 could still correlate to a separate and
unique function.
[0032] Turning back to the embodiment wherein a particular button
15 has two distinct activation motions associated therewith, an
example is that a first activation requirement could be sliding the
button 15 forward towards the display area 25, while the second
activation requirement could be pressing down on the button 15, or
vice versa. Note, however, that the same advantages apply with
other types of dual movement, such as moving down half-way then
down all the way, or forward half then full, or twisting right then
left, etc., so long as the two motions are distinct. A particular
advantage of having the motions be distinct is that the user may
rely solely on the sense of touch to operate the device, and may
therefore do so effectively in situations wherein the devices are
used in dark or sparsely lit areas (e.g., in a user's home at
night). In such situations, it would be more difficult to operate
the device if the display activation motion and the execution
activation motion were the same, but merely followed in sequence,
because a light, sound, or other indicator would be required to
inform the user whether the next activation motion would be a
display activation or an execution activation.
[0033] As the preferred embodiment of the present invention is to
have only two distinct activation motions associated with each
button 15, the examples henceforth will refer to this embodiment.
However, the invention is not to be so limited. The two different
motions are associated with two different functions in application
and/or system software that is preferably integrated into the
display device having the buttons 15.
[0034] In one embodiment, when the button 15 is activated using an
activation motion associated with the first distinct motion, a
"pop-up" graphical button or text (e.g., 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d in
FIG. 1) is displayed with text explaining the current function of
the physical button 15. Preferably, the location of the graphical
buttons 20 are such that they may be easily associated with the
physical buttons 15 to which they correspond, as seen in FIG. 1.
When the button is activated using an activation motion associated
with the second distinct motion, the programmed functionality
(i.e., the displayed function 20) for the associated button 15 is
executed.
[0035] Alternatively, activating a button 15 by performing the
button's associated display activation motion may cause a pop-up
display of functions for all physical buttons 15, so it is easy to
see what all the buttons 15 do just by activating one of them. A
novice could then intelligently execute the function associated
with any physical button 15 by performing the appropriate execution
activation motion associated therewith. Still alternatively,
activating a button 15 by performing the button's associated
display activation motion may cause a pop-up display of functions
for all physical buttons 15 in the same class (i.e. of "like
kind"), so it is easy to see what all the buttons 15 of like kind
do just by activating one of them. Again, the function ultimately
executed would depend on which button the user performed the
appropriate execution activation motion to.
[0036] In the case where button sets are used, display activation
of a particular set may cause display of the function associated
with that set, or it may cause display of the functions associated
with all similar sets. For example, activating two square buttons
by performing the associated display activation motion may cause a
display of two squares and an associated function, three squares
and an associated function, four squares and an associated
function, etc.).
[0037] In either case, whether single buttons 15 or button sets are
used, there may be an escape sequence to clear the display 25 of
clutter. There may be a specific dedicated button for escaping, or
the display may be cleared automatically after a predetermined or
programmed time delay. The escape sequence may even be simply to
repeat the same display activation motion on the same button 15. In
the latter case, the first motion causes information to be
displayed, while the second, repeat motion causes the information
to be cleared. For example, a forward motion would cause display.
After the display, a second repeat forward motion would cause the
display to be cleared, whereas a different motion (e.g., pushing
down), would cause the proper function to be executed.
[0038] The latter embodiment might be desirable, because as
previously described, using such a repeat sequence is not suitable
for displaying and then executing a function, so using the sequence
as an escape sequence would not use up a sequence potentially
available for other programming. The disadvantages previously
described (i.e., the need for an audible or visual indicator),
would not be as problematic in this scenario, because the display
activation motion is distinct from the execution activation motion,
so there is less risk of accidentally executing a function while
attempting to display a description of a function on the display
25.
[0039] Additionally or alternatively, there may be a predetermined
or programmable time delay before which the display 25
automatically clears itself of clutter. Additionally or
alternatively, the user could perform the display activation motion
associated with a second button or button set to change the display
to show the functions associated with the second button or button
set. For example, after activating a square button 15 by performing
the button's associated display activation motion thereon, and then
seeing on the display either the function associated with that
button 15, or the functions associated with each square button 15,
depending on the embodiment, if the user then performed a proper
display activation motion upon a circular button, the system would
switch to displaying the function associated with that particular
circular button, or all circular buttons, depending on the
embodiment.
[0040] The software implementation of the behavior of the buttons
15 is also straightforward, and preferably the software is
integrated into the device 10 having the buttons 15 and display 25.
The device 10 may thus be programmed to improve the overall
usability of the present invention. For illustration purposes, the
paradigm case of the expert user of a device embodying the concepts
of the present invention is someone who is so familiar with the
different application screens that he or she always knows which
button 15 or button set does what, and never needs to look at the
pop-up descriptions 20 for help. The paradigm device is a device
such as those described in the '873 application used to control
consumer devices, but the device may be any device that implements
our multiple-motion programmable function buttons 15. The expert
likes to have the extra space on the display 25 for displaying
content such as program titles, etc.
[0041] Also for illustration purposes, the paradigm case of the
novice user is someone who does not know what any of the buttons 15
do, and who would prefer to have the pop-up descriptions 20 of the
button functions always present. This novice does not mind
sacrificing a little screen space (and hence sometimes needing to
do more scrolling to see all the information), in order to have a
clearer understanding of exactly what state the device 10 is
in.
[0042] However, the nave categorization of users into "experts" or
"novices" is an oversimplification. In most cases, a single user
will be a novice as to the functions of the buttons 15 on some
screens (which are used infrequently), but will be an "expert" on
the functions of the buttons 15 on screens that he or she uses
frequently. In a preferred embodiment, the software may be used to
program the device 10 to take these considerations into account as
follows.
[0043] When a new user first uses a device embodying the concepts
of the present invention, the descriptions 20 of the buttons 15 or
function keys could appear on all screens, for the entire duration
of the user's visit to that screen. The system can keep track for
each user of how many times a given screen has been visited, and
decrease the amount of time that the description displays remain
visible as the number of user visits increase. At any stage, there
could be manual override of the automatic description display
mechanism. For example, by activating any button 15 three times in
rapid succession, the display of all the descriptions could toggle
from normally shown to normally hidden and vice versa. Or this can
be accomplished by activating only a designated button 15, while
such a series of activations to other buttons 15 may be used to
indicate to the associated software that the user wishes to toggle
the "always shown/always hide" status of those other buttons 15. As
described more fully in the '873 application, various users or
logical users may have access to the device being used, in which
case the associated software would remember the "show /hide" status
for all buttons 15 associated with each user, and would reinstate
said status upon verification that a particular user was "logged
in" to the device.
[0044] Additionally, some screens, such as the "welcome screen"
shown in FIG. 1, do not have a need to display large amounts of
information simultaneously. For these screens, the default state of
the graphical buttons 20 may always be set to "show" or "visible".
Furthermore, for some users, such as young children, it may be
advantageous to always have the descriptions visible, no matter how
frequently individual screens are visited. In such cases, the
default adaptive behavior of the device may be overridden, by
editing the user profiles as described more fully in the '873 and
'841 applications.
[0045] Software may also be used to achieve dynamic association of
functions to physical buttons 15. For example, whether a particular
activation motion associated with a particular button is to be
treated as a display activation motion, an execution activation
motion, or another type of motion, may depend on whether certain
other events have occurred prior to the activation motion. The
device may be programmed such that a particular motion associated
with a particular button is normally to be treated as a display
activation motion, but is to be treated as an execution activation
motion if the motion is performed within a specified time period
after another button has been activated, with no intervening
activations. Such dynamic determination of the treatment of an
activation motion may be limited to only situations wherein the
other (first) button 15 activated was of a "like kind" to the
second button 15 and/or was activated by a "like motion".
[0046] Thus, the use of physical buttons 15 with programmable
functionality and multiple distinct physical motions, in
conjunction with a device having a display, have been described and
disclosed. Preferably, one of the motions is a display activation
motion, and another is an execution activation motion. The concepts
of the present invention are applicable to other devices that
combine screen usage with physical button inputs, but are most
notably beneficial when used in conjunction with hand-held devices
or other devices having a small display area 25.
[0047] While certain embodiments are illustrated in the drawings
and are described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in
the art that many modifications can be made to the embodiments
without departing from the inventive concepts described. For
example, the associated software discussed herein may be firmware;
it may be preloaded, or downloaded from an independent source such
as the Internet; it may be programmable using the associated device
itself, or it may be programmable using an independent source such
as a personal computer or the Internet, etc. Accordingly, the
invention is not to be restricted except by the claims which
follow.
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