Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1997-06-03
2001-09-04
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C379S093230, C379S110010, C455S566000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06285364
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The invention relates to electronic communication systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a system for organizing and displaying Internet and telephone information on an Internet-capable appliance from databases distributed over an electronic network.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electronic networks are increasingly being used to store and distribute a variety of data. Examples of such electronic networks include the Internet, and intranet systems. For example, a World Wide Web (Web) page may include text, graphical displays, video displays, animation, and sounds.
The Web is usually accessed via telephone lines by a modem-connected computer. However, the Web may also be accessed through other devices, including personal data assistants, fax machines, televisions, and Internet-capable telephones. One telephone that could be used to provide Web access is described in M. Valentaten, B. Moeschen, Y. Friedman, Y.-T. Sidi, Z.
Bikowsky, Z. Peleg, Multi-Mode Home Terminal System that Utilizes a Single Embedded General Purpose/DSP Processor and a Single Random Access Memory, U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,940 (Oct. 5, 1993).
A Web page is most commonly encoded in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), although other formats are available. HTML can be used to link text and/or images, such as icons, to another document or section of a document. The user activates a link by clicking on it, and the linked database is directly accessed. Links are used to access related information, or to contact a person or entity.
An Internet-capable telephone may connect to the Web, provide e-mail services, store an address book, as well as provide traditional telephone functions. In addition to such traditional functions, advanced functions may be provided that include caller ID, speed dial, call waiting, call forwarding, and redial.
However, Internet functions and traditional telephone functions often conflict. Telephone functions are typically interrupt functions. Thus, a telephone call may interrupt any Internet function. For example, a telephone call during a Web session may require termination of that session.
Furthermore, the screen size of an Internet-capable telephone is limited. In many personal computers, a common display technique, referred to as “windows” is used. However, there may not be sufficient available screen display space to permit the simultaneous display of an Internet graphical user interface, e.g. Including multiple windows, and a telephone function screen on an Internet-capable telephone. The display of a telephone function screen can therefore cause the user to lose track of Internet functions being performed at the time of the telephone call.
Because of the small screens, display “real estate” is very valuable. Several prior art schemes attempt to solve the problems inherent to use of such restricted screen display space. Screen organizers, such as status bars, tool bars, scroll bars, buttons, and menu bars, are frequently placed around the edges of the screen. Such screen organizers are used to provide access to functions, commands, or files that are not currently displayed on the screen.
However, such organizers still significantly limit the viewable area available to display data. Screen organizers are displayed and occupy screen real estate, even when they are not being used. For example, Web pages include not only the viewable display area but also controls for the browser functions. These controls remain on display whenever the browser application is active. Furthermore, these screen organizers are not automatically displayed and must be manually pulled down.
One presently available product, Le. Web TV, includes a slide-up window that is manually activated by the user. When activated, the window slides up to cover a previous screen display. The window is then manually de-activated, and retracts to show the original display. However, such slide-up window is not displayed automatically in response to specific operating conditions. Thus, the slide-up window is not interrupt-driven or context sensitive.
It would therefore be an advantage to provide a system that integrates Internet functions with traditional telephone functions. It would be a further advantage if such system provides a manually or automatically controlled user-friendly graphical user interface that maintains the context of a user's activities while permitting control of both Internet and telephone functions. It would be an additional advantage to provide an interrupt driven, context based, extension of available display real estate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a method and apparatus for organizing and displaying Internet and telephone information. The preferred embodiment of the invention is adapted for use with a communications appliance, such as an Internet-capable telephone. However, alternative embodiments of the invention are adapted for use with any Internet access device.
An integrated graphical user interface is provided for both of the Internet and telephone function screens. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the integrated graphical user interface includes a home screen having selectable areas that represent a primary level of Internet and telephone functions, referred to herein as contexts. Screens for related functions are hierarchically organized within each context. Each lower level screen displays a selectable area that returns to the home screen. The selectable areas are preferably implemented as large buttons on a touch-sensitive screen. Within a selected context, each display screen has a context-sensitive button bar displaying some or all of the available functions within that context.
A telephone function screen automatically slides up to cover a portion of a previously-displayed screen in response to a selected condition or interrupt. The previously displayed screen is not entirely covered during the telephone session. Significantly, this allows the user to remain aware of the context of any existing session or function. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, such condition may include receiving or initiating a telephone call. The slide-up window may also be manually controlled by the user.
In this example, the slide-up window displays information related to the telephone call being initiated or in progress. Additionally, the slide-up window includes selectable areas that permit the user to control functions relating to the telephone call.
Such functions include answering the telephone, initiating a call, implementing telephone company services such as caller ID or call forwarding, and user defined functions, such as adding information to an address book. Upon termination of the selected condition, for example, hanging up the telephone, the telephone function screen slides down to expose the previously displayed screen. In addition, the slide-up window can be “put away” manually after it was activated by the telephone, but the user can remain on the telephone.
Text or icon representations may be used to represent information on a screen. One embodiment of the invention is upgradeable via downloading from the Web. New features and programmable icons may thereby be added to the Internet-capable telephone.
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Giordano, III Joseph
Hanen Udi
Bautista X. L.
Bayerl Raymond J.
Cisco Technology Inc.
Ritchie David B.
Thelen Reid & Priest LLP
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