Patent · US Expired

Method for controlling a handheld computer by entering commands onto a displayed feature of the handheld computer

US6956562B1 · kind B1 · utility

131Cited by
13References
66Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 18, 2000
Grant dateOct 18, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 18, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F3/0482
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for software control using a user-interactive display screen feature is disclosed that reduces stylus or other manipulations necessary to invoke software functionality from the display screen. According to the method, a graphical feature having a surface area is displayed on a touch-sensitive screen. The touch-sensitive screen is coupled to at least one processor and the graphical feature is generated by an operating system and uniquely associated with a particular software program by the operating system. To control software executing on the processor, a user-supplied writing on the surface area is received and the software is controlled responsive to the writing. In alternate embodiments, the method further controls data stored in a memory device responsive to the writing or further controls transmission of data from a radiation emitter, which may be coupled to voice and data networks.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.