U.S. patent application number 11/740704 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-16 for alternate key options for launching applications in mobile communication devices.
Invention is credited to Robert Y. Haitani, Jeffrey C. Hawkins.
Application Number | 20070188448 11/740704 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34840868 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070188448 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hawkins; Jeffrey C. ; et
al. |
August 16, 2007 |
ALTERNATE KEY OPTIONS FOR LAUNCHING APPLICATIONS IN MOBILE
COMMUNICATION DEVICES
Abstract
A system and a method are disclosed for using an application
button on a hand-held computing device to launch a plurality of
applications including a primary application and an alternate
application. A primary application is associated with an
application button and an alternate application is associable with
the application button. Responsive to a received input requesting
launching the alternate application, the primary application is
temporarily disassociated with the application button and the
alternate application is temporarily associated with the
application button. This causes the alternate application to be
launched when the application button is activated. Multiple
alternate applications may be associable with an application button
so that different inputs including the application button activate
different applications.
Inventors: |
Hawkins; Jeffrey C.;
(Atherton, CA) ; Haitani; Robert Y.; (Menlo Park,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FENWICK & WEST LLP
SILICON VALLEY CENTER
801 CALIFORNIA STREET
MOUNTAIN VIEW
CA
94041
US
|
Family ID: |
34840868 |
Appl. No.: |
11/740704 |
Filed: |
April 26, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11112178 |
Apr 22, 2005 |
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11740704 |
Apr 26, 2007 |
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09977870 |
Oct 14, 2001 |
6975304 |
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11112178 |
Apr 22, 2005 |
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60297817 |
Jun 11, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
345/156 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0236 20130101;
G06F 3/04886 20130101; G06F 3/0489 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/156 |
International
Class: |
G09G 5/00 20060101
G09G005/00 |
Claims
1. A method for launching a plurality of applications, the method
comprising: associating a first application with an application
button and having a second application associable with the
application button; receiving input from a first key or the
application button to temporarily disassociate the first
application with the application button and temporarily associate
the second application with the application button; and receiving
input from depressing the application button; and launching the
second application associated with the application button.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: disassociating the
second application with the application button; and reassociating
the first application with the application button.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving input from a first key
or the application button comprises: receiving input from a first
key indicative of the second application; and receiving input from
the application button.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first key indicative of the
second application comprises an option key.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving input from the first
key or the application button comprises pressing and holding the
application button for longer than an immediate release of the
application button.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a
configuration command from a user, the configuration command
assigning the second application associable with the application
button to an input including the application button.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a first
configuration command from a user, the first configuration command
assigning the second application associable with the application
button to a first input including the application button; and
receiving a second configuration command from a user, the second
configuration command assigning a third application associable with
the application button to a second input including the application
button.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second application associable
with the application button comprises a system-level
application.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the system-level application
comprises an application selected from a group consisting of: a
power management application, a keyguard application and a display
manager application.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second application
associable with the application button comprises a general
application.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the general application
comprises an application selected from a group consisting of: a
calendar, a contact database, a text editor, an email editor, a
calculator, an interactive map, a web browser, a file manager, an
image capture application and a messaging application.
12. A mobile computing device having telephone functionality for
launching a plurality of applications comprising: an option key; an
application button; and a computer program product stored in a
memory for launching the plurality of applications using the
application button, wherein the computer program product comprises
instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor
to: associate a first application with the application button and
have a second application associable with the application button;
receive input from the option key or the application button to
temporarily disassociate the first application with the application
button and temporarily associate the second application with the
application button; receive input from depressing the application
button; and launch the second application associated with the
application button.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein the input from the option key
or the application button comprises: pressing and releasing the
option key and thereafter pressing and immediately releasing the
application button.
14. The device of claim 12, wherein the input from the option key
or the application button comprises: pressing and holding the
application button for longer than an immediate release of the
application button.
15. The device of claim 12, further comprising: a plurality of
application buttons; and a computer program product stored in the
memory for launching the plurality of applications using the
plurality of application buttons, wherein the computer program
product comprises instructions that when executed cause the
processor to: associate a first application with each of the
plurality of application buttons and have at least a second
application associable with a combination of at least one of the
plurality of application buttons and the option key.
16. The device of claim 12, wherein the second application
associable with the application button comprises a system-level
application.
17. The device of claim 16, wherein the system-level application
comprises an application selected from a group consisting of: a
power management application, a keyguard application and a display
manager application.
18. The device of claim 12, wherein the second application
associable with the application button comprises a general
application.
19. The device of claim 18, wherein the general application
comprises an application selected from a group consisting of: a
calendar, a contact database, a text editor, an email editor, a
calculator, an interactive map, a web browser, a file manager, an
image capture application and a messaging application.
20. A computer readable medium configured to store instructions,
the instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor
to: associate a first application with the application button and
have a second application associable with the application button;
receive input from the option key or the application button to
temporarily disassociate the first application with the application
button and temporarily associate the second application with the
application button; receive input from depressing the application
button; and launch the second application associated with the
application button.
21. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein receiving
input from the option key or the application button comprises:
receiving input from a first key indicative of the second
application; and receiving input from the application button.
22. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the first key
indicative of the second application comprises an option key.
23. The computer readable medium of claim 20, further comprising
instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
receive a configuration command from a user, the configuration
command assigning the second application associable with the
application button to an input including the application
button.
24. The computer readable medium of claim 23, further comprising
instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
receive a second configuration command from a user, the
configuration command assigning a third application associable with
the application button to a second input including the application
button.
25. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the second
application associable with the application button comprises a
system-level application.
26. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the second
application associable with the application button comprises a
general application.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/112,178, filed Apr. 22, 2005, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/977,870 filed
Oct. 14, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,975,304, which claims priority
under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
60/297,817, filed on Jun. 11, 2001. The disclosures of these
applications are all incorporated by reference herein in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of Art
[0003] The disclosure generally relates to the field of mobile
computing, in particular to launching applications on a mobile
communication device.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Mobile computing devices, particularly hand-held devices and
computers, are becoming increasingly more powerful and functional
devices. Many hand-held devices are multifunction devices with
multiple device roles, such as personal digital assistant (PDA),
cellular phone, portable media player, voice recorder, video
recorder, global positioning system (GPS), camera and electronic
file storage. This increased functionality has caused hand-held
devices to use an increased number of applications. Further,
hand-held devices have become increasingly more compact and
portable while their functionality has increased. This combination
of increased functionality and reduced size has made hand-held
device use more prevalent.
[0006] Hand-held devices use specialized applications to provide
different functions, so increases in functionality have increased
the number of applications used by hand-held devices. However, the
compact size of hand-held devices limits the number of data entry
mechanisms, such as buttons or activation areas, capable of
launching these different applications. Although increasing
hand-held device size would increase the number of possible data
entry mechanisms for application launching, such an increase would
reduce the portability of the hand-held device.
[0007] Alternatively, more complex data entry mechanisms, such as
special key sequences, allow hand-held devices to remain compact
while providing a mechanism for launching additional applications.
However, requiring users to memorize complex key sequences for
application launching complicates the user interface of the
hand-held device. Further, using key sequences to launch
applications increases the time necessary to launch
applications.
[0008] From the above, there is a lack of a method for quickly
launching applications on a hand-held device having physical size
limitations.
SUMMARY
[0009] Using various embodiments disclosed herein, a mobile
computing device, for example, a hand-held computing device, uses
an application button to launch a plurality of applications. This
simplifies launching applications on a hand-held computing device
by allowing multiple applications to be launched using an
application button. In particular, different inputs including the
application button can be used to intuitively launch multiple
applications without requiring the hand-held computing device to
implement a complex user interface.
[0010] In one embodiment, the hand-held computing device initially
associates a primary application with an application button. At
least one alternate application is also associable with the
application button so that an alternate application is launched
through an input that includes the application button. For example,
an input including the application button and an option button
enables the alternate application or an input of pressing and
holding the application button enables the alternate application.
When input requesting the launching of the alternate application is
then received, the alternate application is temporarily associated
with the application button and the primary application is
temporarily disassociated with the application button. This causes
the application button to launch the alternate application.
[0011] In an embodiment, input is received from a user that assigns
a first input including the application button to a first alternate
application and assigns a second input including the application
button to a second alternate application. This allows an
application button to launch multiple applications when different
inputs including the application button are received.
[0012] The features and advantages described in the specification
are not all inclusive and, in particular, many additional features
and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art
in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it
should be noted that the language used in the specification has
been principally selected for readability and instructional
purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or
circumscribe the described subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0013] The disclosed embodiments have other advantages and features
which will be more readily apparent from the detailed description,
the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0014] Figure (FIG.) 1A illustrates a front perspective view of one
embodiment of a hand-held computing device.
[0015] FIG. 1B illustrates a rear perspective view of one
embodiment of a hand-held computing device.
[0016] FIG. 1C illustrates a front side view of one embodiment of a
hand-held computing device.
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of one embodiment of a
hand-held computing device.
[0018] FIG. 3A illustrates an example embodiment of a keyboard of
the hand-held computing device.
[0019] FIG. 3B illustrates an example embodiment of a layout of the
application buttons on a hand-held computing device.
[0020] FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a hand-held computing
device comprising a handwriting area.
[0021] FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart of one embodiment of
launching an alternate application associated with an application
button.
[0022] FIG. 6 illustrates an example embodiment of a user interface
for associating applications with input sequences.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] The Figures (FIGS.) and the following description relate to
preferred embodiments by way of illustration only. It should be
noted that from the following discussion, alternative embodiments
of the structures and methods disclosed herein will be readily
recognized as viable alternatives that may be employed without
departing from the principles described herein.
[0024] Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments,
examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. It
is noted that wherever practicable similar or like reference
numbers may be used in the figures and may indicate similar or like
functionality. The figures depict embodiments of the disclosed
system (or method) for purposes of illustration only. One skilled
in the art will readily recognize from the following description
that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods
illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the
principles described herein.
Architectural Overview
[0025] FIG. 1A illustrates a front view of a mobile computing
device, such as a hand-held computing device 100, according to one
embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment, the
hand-held computing device 100 comprises a case 101 having a front
side 104 and one or more sides, such as a first side 102. The front
side 104 comprises a display area 128, a keyboard 103 and
application buttons 112, 114, 116, 118 and 120. As shown in FIG.
1A, the hand-held computing device 100 is structured to be of a
form factor that can be conveniently held in a user's hand, such as
the form factor of a personal digital assistant (PDA) or the form
factor of a smart phone. For example, the hand-held computing
device 100 can have dimensions ranging from 7.5 to 15.5 centimeters
in length, 5 to 12.75 centimeters in width, 0.64 to 2.2 centimeters
in height and weigh between 57 and 227 grams.
[0026] The display area 128 comprises an active matrix liquid
crystal display (AMLCD), a thin-film transistor liquid crystal
display (TFT-LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), an
interferometric modulator display (IMOD), a liquid crystal display
(LCD), or other suitable display device. In an embodiment, the
display displays color images. In another embodiment, the display
area 128 further comprises a touch-sensitive display (e.g.,
pressure-sensitive (resistive), electrically sensitive
(capacitative), acoustically sensitive (SAW or surface acoustic
wave), photo-sensitive (infra-red)) including a digitizer for
receiving input data, commands or information from a user. The user
may use a stylus, a finger or another suitable input device for
data entry, such as selecting from a menu.
[0027] Application buttons 112, 114, 116, 118 and 120 allow a user
to load an application or perform another action. Each application
button 112, 114, 116, 118 and 120 is associated with at least one
application or action. Activation, or selection, of an application
button 112, 114, 116, 118 or 120 causes the immediate launch, or
execution, of an application associated with the activated
application button 112, 114, 116, 118 or 120. For example,
application button 112 is associated with a telephone application,
application button 114 is associated with a calendar application,
application button 116 is associated with a scroll-up/scroll-down
feature and application button 118 is associated with an Internet
access application. In another embodiment, an application button
120 may be associated with a messaging service, such as email,
short messaging service (SMS), media messaging service (MMS), or
another messaging service. In another embodiment, application
button 116 comprises a five-way navigation switch, a jog rocker or
another input device capable of receiving multiple types of user
input. One or more application buttons 112, 114, 116, 118 or 120
are associated with more than one function or more than one
application, allowing one application button 112, 114, 116, 118 or
120 to directly launch multiple applications or perform multiple
actions. For example, pressing and immediately releasing an
application button 112, 114, 116, 118 or 120 directly launches a
primary application, while pressing and holding the application
button 112, 114, 116, 118 or 120 for longer than an immediate
release of the application button 112, 114, 116, 118 or 120
launches an alternate application. Hence, the application buttons
112, 114, 116, 118 or 120 simplify the user-interface of the
hand-held computing device by allowing a user to directly launch
one or more applications.
[0028] In an embodiment, the hand-held computing device 100 further
comprises an optional lid 106. For example, the lid 106 is a flip
lid that is hinged 144 above the display area 128 that includes a
transparent portion 108 through which a user can see the display
area 128 even when the lid 106 is closed. In an embodiment, the lid
106 further comprises a speaker 110.
[0029] In another embodiment, the hand-held computing device 100
further comprises a side user input device 126, such as a jog
rocker, a button or other input device located on the first side
102. Also included on the first side 102 of the device 100 is a
socket 130 allowing a device, such as a full headset, a single
earpiece, a hands-free speaker device, headphones or other device
to be connected to the hand-held computing device 100.
[0030] FIG. 1B illustrates a rear side 142 of the hand-held
computing device 100. A top side 146 of the hand-held device 100
includes an antenna 136 and a ringer switch 132 (further described
below in conjunction with FIG. 2) inside of the case 101 that
provides for radio communications using cellular telephone
functionality. In an embodiment, the antenna 136 also provides for
data communication using a wireless communication system, such as
general packet radio service (GPRS), IEEE 802.11 (WiFi), IEEE
802.16 (WiMax) or another suitable wireless communication system.
In an embodiment, a light emitting diode (LED) 152 is shown on the
top side 146 of the device. The top side 146 of the hand-held
computing device 100 also includes an opening for a stylus holder
134 which extends cylindrically down the rear side 142 of the
hand-held computing device 100. The rear side 142 of the hand-held
device 100 further comprises a door 140. In one embodiment, the
door 140 is structured to receive a component, for example, an
identification card such as a subscriber identification module
(SIM) card typically used with the Global System for Mobile (GSM)
communication networks or a data storage device, such as a Secure
Digital (SD) card that interoperates with a user or the hand-held
computing device 100. This allows the user to place the card, or
other data storage device, in another device. For example, if a
user is on another continent, the user can insert the card into
another communication device, such as a telephone configured to
operate at the frequencies allocated for that continent, country or
group of countries.
[0031] FIG. 1C illustrates a view of the front side of the
hand-held computing device 100 with the lid 106 in a closed
position. The lid 106 extends over the keyboard 103 and the display
area 128 in the closed position. In an embodiment, the lid 106
comprises a transparent portion 108 to protect the display area 128
while also allowing the user to view the display 128.
[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a
system 200 comprising units making up the hardware and/or software
for performing these functions. In an embodiment, the system 200 is
implemented in a printed circuit board. The system 200 comprises a
microprocessor 202, a read only memory (ROM) 204, a synchronous
dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) 206, an input/output (I/O)
module 208 for processing input from the keyboard 103, the side
user input device 126, the ringer switch 132, the power switch 138
or any other suitable input device. In another embodiment, the user
interface unit 208 also determines the position of the lid 106 to
determine whether the lid 106 is open or closed. Charging circuitry
210 is also adapted to communicate with the microprocessor 202 for
providing power to the microprocessor 202 from the battery 212
and/or for providing power to the battery 212 from a cradle
connector 226. The microprocessor 202 is adapted to communicate
with a display unit 216 and a backlight unit 218 to provide output
to a user using display area 128. In an embodiment, the
microprocessor 202 is also adapted to communicate with a touch
panel unit 216 to receive input from the display area 128.
[0033] The microprocessor 202 is also connected to a peripheral
device transceiver 224, such as a universal Serial Bus (USB)
transceiver, a Bluetooth transceiver, an IEEE 1394 transceiver or
any other wired or wireless transceiver that transmits and receives
data from a peripheral device, and an input/output (I/O) port 222,
such as an EIA-232 port, an RS-232 port or other port capable of
transmitting and/or receiving data. In an embodiment, the
peripheral device transceiver 224 and/or the I/O port 222 are also
connected to the cradle connector 226. The microprocessor 202 is
also connected to an infrared communication transceiver 220, such
as an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) transceiver. The
microprocessor is also connected with a speaker unit 228, such as a
piezo speaker, a red/green light emitting diode (LED) unit 230, a
vibrator unit 232 or another device capable of providing output to
a user.
[0034] The microprocessor 202 is also connected to a radio module
234 providing radio communications including cellular telephone
functionality. In an embodiment, the radio module 234 also provides
wireless data communication functionality. The radio module 234
also can provide Internet access, text messaging or other
communication functionality. An example text messaging service
provided by the radio module 234 is the short message service (SMS)
which provides for sending and receiving short text messages from
the hand-held computing device 100 to another communication device
such as a personal digital assistant, a mobile phone, a smart-phone
or other suitable communication device. The radio module 234 is
connected to an antenna 236 and an amplifier 238, which is also
connected to an internal speaker 240. The radio module 234 is also
connected to an internal microphone 242 as well as a card detector
unit 244. In an embodiment, the radio module 234 is further
connected to a hands-free attachment connector 246.
[0035] Logic enclosed within the hand-held computing device 100,
such as hardware and/or software, processes input from user input
devices in different forms and performs functions with respect to
the input. For example, the user interface unit 208 may be embodied
in hardware and/or software under the control of the microprocessor
202 which executes software instructions for receiving input and
responding to the received input using software application
programs 205 stored in a memory such as read only memory 204,
random access memory, such as the illustrated SDRAM 206, or the
user interface unit 208.
[0036] FIG. 3A illustrates a keyboard 103 that is included in the
hand-held computing device 100 in an embodiment of the invention.
Keyboard 103 allows users to accurately enter data for e-mail,
other forms of electronic messaging, text editing, device
configuration or other actions involving entered data. In an
embodiment, the keyboard 103 comprises a layout with the
Q-W-E-R-T-Y keys contiguous within a row (e.g., a "QWERTY" layout
or a "QWERTY" keyboard). The keyboard 103 includes 26 keys for the
letters A-Z, keys for punctuation marks, and an option key 628. The
option key 628 is a dedicated key for performing an alternate
action when another key is depressed. Keyboard 103 also includes
keys for certain functions such as "space," "return," "backspace,"
or other functions used for data entry and/or modification. In an
embodiment, the keyboard 103 is a representation of a QWERTY
keyboard displayed the display area 128. The keys receive input
from a user that is subsequently processed and used by the
hand-held device 100. Hence, the keyboard receives input from the
user which is subsequently interpreted by the hand-held device 100
to determine appropriate processing for the received input.
[0037] In an embodiment, keyboard 103 also includes specialized
keys, such as the option key 628, a shift key 630 and/or a
menu/command key 632, which perform predefined operations. Input
from the option key 628 causes an option symbol associated with a
key to be entered when the key is activated. In the example shown
in FIG. 3A, the "y" key 610 has an option symbol of "1," so after
the option key 628 is activated, activating the "y" key 610 causes
a "1" to be entered. Input from the shift key 630 causes a modified
version of a key, such as a capitalized version of the key, to be
entered when the key is activated. Input from the menu/command key
632 causes a menu screen or command entry screen to be displayed in
the display area 128.
[0038] FIG. 3B shows the layout of one embodiment of the
application buttons 112, 114, 116, 118 and 120 of the hand-held
computing device 110. Each application button 112, 114, 116, 118
and 120 is associated with a primary application which is loaded
when the application button is activated. In an embodiment, a first
application button 112 is associated with a telephone application,
a second application button 114 is associated with a calendar
application, a third application button 118 is associated with an
Internet access application and a fourth application button 120 is
associated with a messaging application. In an embodiment, a fifth
application button 116 is associated with a scroll-up/scroll down
feature. Although the example illustrated in FIG. 3B shows five
application buttons 112, 114, 116, 118 and 120, in other
embodiments the hand-held computing device 110 can contain
additional application buttons or fewer application buttons.
[0039] One or more of the application buttons 112, 114, 116, 118
and 120 are also associable with one or more alternate
applications, allowing a single application button 112, 114, 116,
118 or 120 to launch the primary application or an alternate
application. In an embodiment, when the option key 628 is activated
and then the first application button 112 is activated, an
alternate application, such as a telephone directory, is launched
rather than the primary application associated with the first
application button 112. In an alternative embodiment, when a user
depresses and holds an application button 112, 114, 116, 118 or
120, an alternate application is launched. In an embodiment, one or
more application buttons 112, 114, 116, 118 or 120 are associated
with multiple alternate applications, allowing a single application
button 112, 114, 116, 118 or 120 to launch multiple applications.
For example, pressing and immediately releasing the first
application button 112 launches a telephone application, depressing
the option key 628 then depressing the first application button 112
launches a telephone directory application and pressing and holding
the first application button 112, for longer than an immediate
release, activates a push-to-talk application.
[0040] In an embodiment, the primary application associated with an
application button 112, 114, 116, 118 or 120 and alternate
applications associable with an application button 112, 114, 116,
118 or 120 are modified or defined by a user according to user
preferences or requirements. For example, a user specifies that
related applications such as a telephone application, a telephone
directory application, a voice recorder application and a push to
talk application are activated by the first application button 112.
Alternatively, the primary application associated with an
application button 112, 114, 116, 118 or 120 and alternate
applications associable with an application button 112, 114, 116,
118 or 120 are predefined so an application button 112, 114, 116,
118 or 120 activates the same group of applications on multiple
hand-held computing devices 100. In yet another embodiment, a
combination of predefined and customizable application associations
is used so a user can customize a subset of the applications
associated with an application button 112, 114, 116, 118 or 120
while other applications associated with an application button 112,
114, 116, 118 or 120 remain fixed.
[0041] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the hand-held
computing device 100 of FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C. In the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 4, the hand-held computing device 100 comprises
a handwriting area 702 on which a user enters symbols using a
stylus or another contact data entry device. Icons surrounding the
handwriting area 720 perform functions when tapped or otherwise
activated. For example, an application icon 708 opens applications
when activated, a menu icon 710 displays a menu when activated, a
calculator icon 706 displays a calculator when activated and a find
function icon 704 allows a user to search data for text. In an
embodiment where the hand-held computing device 100 comprises a lid
106, when the lid is closed, the hand-held computing device 100
illustrated in FIG. 4 appears as the hand-held computing device 100
depicted in FIG. 1C. The hand-held computing device 100 shown in
FIG. 4 also comprises a system, such as described above in
conjunction with FIG. 2, comprising logic, such as hardware and/or
software, for providing communication services and symbol
processing. For example, the hand-held computing device 100
illustrated in FIG. 4 also includes radio communication
functionality such as cellular, or mobile, telephone functionality
as described above.
System Operation
[0042] FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart of a method 500 for
activating an alternate application associated with an application
button 112, 114, 116, 118 and 120 according to one embodiment of
the present invention. In an embodiment, the steps of the method
500 are implemented by the microprocessor 202 executing software
instructions that cause the described actions. Those of skill in
the art will recognize that one or more of the methods may be
implemented in embodiments of hardware and/or software or
combinations thereof. For example, instructions for performing the
described actions are embodied or stored within a computer readable
medium. Furthermore, those of skill in the art will recognize that
other embodiments can perform the steps of FIG. 5 in different
orders. Moreover, other embodiments can include different and/or
additional steps than the ones described here.
[0043] Initially, application buttons 112, 114, 116, 118 and 120
are associated 510 with one or more alternate applications so an
application button 112, 114, 116, 118 or 120 activates a primary
application and one or more alternate applications. For example, a
software process executing on a processor allows a user to
associate 510 an application button 112, 114, 116, 118 or 120 with
at least one alternate application. Alternatively, hardware and/or
firmware predefines the alternate applications associated 510 with
an application button 112, 114, 116, 118 or 120. In another
embodiment, a combination of hardware and software is used to
associate 510 applications with an application button 112, 114,
116, 118 or 120, allowing a set of applications associated with an
application button 112, 114, 116, 118 or 120 to be predefined and
another set of applications associated with an application button
112, 114, 116, 118 or 120 to be user-defined. For example, the
primary applications associated with an application button 112,
114, 116, 118 or 120 are predefined using hardware, while the
alternate applications associable with an application button 112,
114, 116, 118 and 120 are specified using software and can be
modified during operation.
[0044] Upon receiving 520 input to launch an alternate application,
the application associated with the received input is launched 530.
In an embodiment, when the received input comprises pressing then
immediately releasing an application button a primary application
is launched. Alternatively, the received input comprises pressing
then releasing an application after a specified time interval. A
user may provide the input to launch the alternate application by
using a key sequence, such as activating the option key 628 then
activating an application button 112, 114, 116, 118 or 120,
activating the option button 628, activating the shift key 630 then
activating an application button 112, 114, 116, 118 or 120.
Alternatively, a user may launch an alternate application by
pressing and holding an application button 112, 114, 116, 118 or
120 for longer than an immediate release. The received input
determines which alternate application is launched 530, allowing an
application button 112, 114, 116, 118 or 120 to launch 530 multiple
applications depending on the received input.
User Interface
[0045] As described above, a user may specify how applications are
associated with received inputs, such as depressing an application
button 112, 114, 116, 118 or 120, holding an application button
112, 114, 116, 118 or 120 down, entering a key sequence including
an application button 112, 114, 115, 118 or 120 or another suitable
input. This allows the user to assign different input sequences
with different alternate applications, allowing an application
button to launch multiple alternate applications. FIG. 6 shows an
embodiment of a user interface for associating applications with
input sequences according to an embodiment of the invention. Those
of skill in the art will recognize that different embodiments can
provide the information and functionality of FIG. 6 in different
ways. Moreover, other embodiments can include different and/or
additional features and/or layouts than the ones described
here.
[0046] In one embodiment, the display area 128 of the hand-held
computing device 100 displays a configuration display, such as a
preference panel, describing the application buttons 612, input
sequences 634, 640 and 650 including the application buttons 612,
and applications 620 launched by the input sequences 634, 640 and
650. The configuration display may be accessed according to
standard user-interface techniques for the hand-held computing
device 100, such as selecting an option from a configuration menu,
entering a key input sequence or depressing a configuration button.
In the example shown in FIG. 6, each row and column indicates the
application 620 activated by an input sequence 634, 640 and 650. In
the example of FIG. 6, depressing Button 1 611 launches
Application_1 613, depressing the option key 628 then depressing
Button_1 611 launches Application_11 615, holding Button_1 611
launches Application_10 617 and depressing the shift key 630 then
the option key 628 then Button_1 611 launches Application_12
619.
[0047] Further, the configuration panel allows a user to specify or
modify the applications 620 associated with at least a subset of
the input sequences 634, 640 and 650. This allows the user to
customize the input sequence 634, 640 and 650 used to launch
various applications 620. In an embodiment, the user manually
specifies the application 620 launched by each input sequence 634,
640 and 650. Alternatively, the user manually specifies a subset of
the applications 620 launched by each input sequence 634, 640 and
650, while certain applications 620 are statically associated with
certain input sequences 634, 640 and 650. For example, in FIG. 6,
Application_1 613 could be statically associated with Button 1 611
while the input sequence 634, 640 and 650 associated with
Application_11 615, Application_10 617 and Application_12 619 are
specified by the user by modifying the contents of the
configuration panel. The contents of the configuration panel can be
modified in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, the user taps the
display area 128 in the location where the contents are to be
changed and then enters an application 620 or selects an
application 620 from a list. Alternatively, the user uses an
application button 112, 114, 116, 118 or 120, the side user input
device 126, or other navigation device, to highlight the location
where the contents are to be changed, presses a key, an application
button 112, 114, 116, 118 or 120 or another user input device to
select the location then enters an application 620 or selects an
application 620 from a list.
[0048] The applications 620 associated with the input sequences
634, 640 and 650 comprise a variety of applications or actions
performed by a hand-held device 100. For example, the application
620 comprises a general application for performing user-specified
tasks, such as a calendar, a contact database, a text editor, an
email editor, a calculator, an interactive map, a web browser, a
file manager, an image capture application, a push to talk
application or other software capable of performing end-user tasks.
Alternatively, the applications associated with the input
techniques 634, 640 and 650 comprise system-level applications such
as a keyguard, a volume control, a power management application, a
display manager application or other application modifying
system-level functions or characteristics of the hand-held
computing device 100.
[0049] Some portions of above description describe the embodiments
of the invention in terms of algorithms and symbolic
representations of operations on information. These algorithmic
descriptions and representations are commonly used by those skilled
in the data processing arts to convey the substance of their work
effectively to others skilled in the art. These operations, while
described functionally, computationally, or logically, are
understood to be implemented by computer programs or equivalent
electrical circuits, microcode, or the like. Furthermore, it has
also proven convenient at times, to refer to these arrangements of
operations as modules, without loss of generality. The described
operations and their associated modules may be embodied in
software, firmware, hardware, or any combinations thereof.
[0050] As used herein any reference to "one embodiment" or "an
embodiment" means that a particular element, feature, structure, or
characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is
included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase
"in one embodiment" in various places in the specification are not
necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
[0051] Some embodiments may be described using the expression
"coupled" and "connected" along with their derivatives. It should
be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for
each other. For example, some embodiments may be described using
the term "connected" to indicate that two or more elements are in
direct physical or electrical contact with each other. In another
example, some embodiments may be described using the term "coupled"
to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or
electrical contact. The term "coupled," however, may also mean that
two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but
yet still co-operate or interact with each other. The embodiments
are not limited in this context.
[0052] As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising,"
"includes," "including," "has," "having" or any other variation
thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For
example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a
list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements
but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to
such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, unless
expressly stated to the contrary, "or" refers to an inclusive or
and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is
satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B
is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is
true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).
[0053] In addition, use of the "a" or "an" are employed to describe
elements and components of the embodiments herein. This is done
merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the
invention. This description should be read to include one or at
least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is
obvious that it is meant otherwise.
[0054] Upon reading this disclosure, those of skill in the art will
appreciate still additional alternative structural and functional
designs for a system and a process for using application buttons to
quickly launch multiple applications without modifying the design
of hand-held computing devices through the disclosed principles
herein. Thus, while particular embodiments and applications have
been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the
present invention is not limited to the precise construction and
components disclosed herein and that various modifications, changes
and variations which will be apparent to those skilled in the art
may be made in the arrangement, operation and details of the method
and apparatus of the embodiments disclosed herein without departing
from the spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims.
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