Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-10
2001-07-10
Sax, Steven (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06259449
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of graphical user interfaces, and more particularly to integrating separate communication applications within a single user interface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
With the advent of the modem and other network interface devices, the personal computer has evolved from a personal productivity device to a communications gateway. As personal computers have become increasingly used for network and telephone based communication, many different communication programs, such as electronic mail (e-mail), Internet communication, fax, and even basic voice telephone communications have developed as popular applications for personal computers.
Presently, different communication applications for most personal and workstation computers are available as separate programs from different vendors, each with their own user interfaces, and command and data formats. Therefore, in order to use different communication applications, the user is forced to learn and access several different programs. For example, a user may use one program for e-mail, a separate program for fax, and a third program for web access. These programs require the user to initialize and bring up each of the programs to access the particular communication function. This requires the opening of separate application programs or windows, and the familiarization with different program interfaces and command conventions. The use of separate communication programs also requires the use of cumbersome translator programs if content from one communication medium is transferred via a different medium (e.g., fax to e-mail).
It is thus desirable to provide a system which integrates various communication applications available on a computer system.
It is further desirable to provide a graphical user interface which provides an intuitive and simple to use interface through which a user can access several separate and distinct communication programs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention discloses a graphical user interface which integrates separate communication applications in a unified interface. A graphical user interface includes a first interface screen which provides display areas for information regarding files and messages sent and received by a computer. The first interface screen also includes option buttons which invoke one or more communication programs executable by the computer. A second interface screen is displayed when an appropriate option button is selected. The second interface screen is depicted as an extension panel connected to the first interface screen. The second interface screen includes information relating to the status of data files or messages sent or received by the computer, or information relating to the identity of remote devices accessible by the computer over a network or phone connection.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the communication programs include a speaker phone, video phone, answering machine, fax, e-mail, and web browser all accessible through the integrated interface. In this embodiment, the main communication interface is depicted in the form of a cellular phone with a standard numeric keypad and display screens. Extension panel display screens corresponding to various communication functions such as messages, mailboxes, phone books, and greetings are displayed when the appropriate functions are selected in the main interface. The extension panels screens are displayed as physical extensions to the cellular telephone display, and can be revealed or hidden by a toggle option button.
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Ring Central, Version 3.0, ring Zero systems, inc.—PC Telephony into the 21st Century.
Nakano Hiroaki
Saxena Parichay
Zhang Xiaohui
Blakely , Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman LLP
Sax Steven
Sony Corporation
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