Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-28
2001-10-16
Sax, Steven (Department: 2773)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06304261
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to portable handheld computing devices, such as handheld personal computers (H/PCs).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Small, handheld computing devices have been steadily growing in popularity in recent years. The devices go by different names, including palmtops, pocket computers, personal digital assistants, personal organizers, and the like. In this disclosure, this class of computing devices is generally referred to as “handheld personal computers”, “handheld PCs”, or “H/PCs”.
H/PCs are small, pocket-sized devices having an LCD (liquid crystal display) with a touch-sensitive screen, a stylus to enter data through the screen, and an input device such as a keypad or miniature QWERTY keyboard. H/PCs have a microprocessor, memory, and are capable of running an operating system and one or more applications on the operating system. Microsoft Corporation recently released the Windows CE operating system for use on H/PCs, which is a scaled-down version of its popular Windows operating systems manufactured for personal computers.
One of the most desirable characteristics of H/PCs is their portability. The compact, portable H/PCs provide a user with real computer-like applications—such as email, PIM (personal information management), Internet browser, spreadsheet, word processing. A traveling user can receive email messages, schedule meetings or appointments, and browse the Internet from the H/PC.
Chief among the design compromises is an undersized display. Screen space is very limited. Traditional user interface techniques which users are accustomed to on desktop computers are not available for H/PC displays due to the limited size. Additionally, the screen must be efficiently utilized to enable effective data input from the stylus.
In view of this design constraint, it would be advantageous to develop user interfaces that can be effectively employed on the miniaturized screen of a handheld computing device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention concerns a portable handheld computing device having an operating system with improved user interfaces for miniaturized screens.
The handheld computing device has a processor and a touch-sensitive display. The display includes a touch-sensitive area superimposed on a viewing area, whereby the touch-sensitive area extends slightly beyond the viewing area to form a border outside of the viewing area but within the touch-sensitive area. The handheld computing device has an operating system that executes on the processor to provide a graphical user interface environment capable of presenting a program taskbar within the viewing area.
The operating system is configured to alternately present and hide a taskbar within the viewing area in response to contact from a stylus or other tool in the border beneath the viewing area. When the taskbar is hidden, the user taps the border to make the taskbar reappear within the viewing area. When the taskbar is visible, the user transfers focus to any place other than the taskbar, such as by tapping a program icon or tapping an active window, to make the taskbar disappear.
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Kitowitz Anthony
Manning Raymond A.
Shields Kevin Timothy
Lee & Hayes PLLC
Microsoft Corporation
Sax Steven
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