Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02572659 2012-02-03
ON-SCREEN CURSOR NAVIGATION ON A HANDHELD COMMUNICATION
DEVICE DISPLAYING A MODIFIED WEBPAGE
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is
subject to copyright protection.
FIELD
The present disclosure is directed toward handheld communication devices, and
more particularly, to navigation among user-actuable links displayed on a
display screen
of a handheld communication device.
BACKGROUND
With the advent of more robust wireless communications systems, compatible
handheld communication devices are becoming more prevalent, as well as
advanced. In a
broader sense, these devices are referred to as handheld electronic devices,
which include
devices without communication functions. Where in the past such handheld
communication devices typically accommodated either voice (cell phones) or
text
transmission (pagers and PDAs), today's consumer often demands a combination
device
capable of performing both types of transmissions, including sending and
receiving e-mail.
The suppliers of such mobile communication devices and underlying service
providers are
anxious to meet these demands, but the combination of voice and textual
messaging, as
well as other functionalities such as those found in PDAs, have caused
designers to have
to improve the means by which information is input into the devices by the
user, as well as
provide better facilitation for the user to navigate within the webpages
and/or menus and
selectable link presentations necessary for efficient user interface with
these more
complicated devices.
For many reasons, user-actuable links are often utilized on webpages as a way
to
allow users to make selections to obtain further information. Among other
reasons, users
are accustomed to such user-actuable links for function selection. A prime
example is the
personal computer "desktop" presented by Microsoft's Windows operating system
and
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Internet Explorer . Because of the penetration of such programs into the user
markets,
most electronics users are familiar with what has basically become a
convention of
selectable link-based functionality. Even with many user-actuable links
presented on a
personal computer's "browser" or "webpage", however, user navigation and
selection
among the different selections is easily accomplished utilizing a conventional
mouse and
employing the point-and-click methodology. The absence of such a mouse from
handheld
wireless communication devices, however, has caused a different protocol to
develop for
selectable link navigation and selection.
As depicted in FIGS. 2a-2g, the user-actuable links displayed on a native
webpage
of an interne browser of a personal computer, for example, are typically
presented in an
array of horizontally and vertically oriented rows and columns. As an example,
as shown
in FIGS 2a-2g, a native "Blackberry.com" webpage presents horizontally
oriented user-
actuable links for "Press Releases", "Developers", "Partners", "Support",
"Careers", and
"Legal." Accordingly, when using the "tab" button on most personal and laptop
computers, a highlighting cursor can be used to navigate to successive and/or
serial user-
actuable links horizontally arranged on the display to form a row.
Accordingly, each
successive assertion of the "tab" button causes the highlighting cursor to
navigate to a
successive horizontally oriented selectable link. While this type of
navigation is sufficient
for accomplishing its intended task, a problem arises when such webpage is
modified to fit
upon the smaller screen of a handheld communications device.
More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3a-3g, in order for the "Blackberry.com"
webpage to fit upon the lighted display of a handheld device, several of the
previously
horizontally oriented and serial user-actuable links of the native webpage
must be
"wrapped" to the next row in order to be vertically arranged. While this, in
and of itself, is
not problematic, the now vertically appearing user-actuable links,
nonetheless, retain their
serial horizontal selectability. An example of a wrapped webpage on a handheld
device is
more clearly illustrated in FIGS. 3a-3g, which shows that a formerly single
row of user-
actuable links from the native webpage, i.e., "Press releases", "Developers",
"Partners",
"Support", "Careers", and "Legal", have been wrapped and rearranged to form a
pair of
rows; a first row containing user-actuable links labeled "Press Releases",
"Developers",
"Partners", and "Support", and a second row containing user-actuable links
labeled
"Careers", and "Legal". Accordingly, because the wrapped modification of the
webpage
retains the horizontal serial relationship of the user-actuable links, as
shown in FIGS. 3b-
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3d, in order for a user to navigate from the selectable link labeled "Press
Releases",
disposed in a first row, to the selectable link labeled "Legal" on a second
row, using, for
example, a handheld communication device comprising a thumbwheel, the user
must
scroll through a number of undesired user-actuable links, such as "Developers"
or
"Partners", that remain horizontally disposed relative to one another. That
is, the user
cannot directly vertically navigate between the first row and the second row
due to the
"wrapping." Accordingly, in the case wherein a wrapped webpage comprises a
large
number of horizontally oriented links, it can take a significant amount of
time and effort
for a user to scroll to a desired selectable link. Consequently, the above
described
condition can be frustrating to users.
Accordingly, the instantly presented solutions focus on enabling a user to
directly
navigate a highlighting cursor between rows of horizontal and serially
oriented links on a
modified webpage using a non-directionally limited auxiliary user input.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Exemplary methods and arrangements conducted and configured according to the
advantageous solutions presented herein are depicted in the accompanying
drawings
wherein:
FIG. 1 depicts a handheld communication device cradled in the palm of a user's
hand;
FIG. 2a depicts a native webpage displayed on a display of a personal
computer;
FIG. 2b depicts a native webpage displayed on a display of a personal computer
wherein a highlighting cursor has been tabbed to highlight a selectable link
labeled "Press
Releases";
FIG. 2c depicts a native webpage displayed on a display of a personal computer
wherein a highlighting cursor has been tabbed to highlight a selectable link
labeled
"Developers";
FIG. 2d depicts a native webpage displayed on a display of a personal computer
wherein a highlighting cursor has been tabbed to highlight a selectable link
labeled
"Partners";
FIG. 2e depicts a native webpage displayed on a display of a personal computer
wherein a highlighting cursor has been tabbed to highlight a selectable link
labeled
"Support";
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FIG. 2f depicts a native webpage displayed on a display of a personal computer
wherein a highlighting cursor has been tabbed to highlight a selectable link
labeled
"Careers";
FIG. 2g depicts a native webpage displayed on a display of a personal computer
wherein a highlighting cursor has been tabbed to highlight a selectable link
labeled
"Legal";
FIG. 3a depicts a known handheld communication device cradled in a user's hand
and displaying a modified webpage wherein a highlighting cursor has been moved
to
highlight a selectable link labeled "Blackberry for Life";
FIG. 3b depicts a known handheld communication device cradled in a user's hand
and displaying a modified webpage wherein a highlighting cursor has been moved
to
highlight a selectable link labeled "Press Releases";
FIG. 3c depicts a known handheld communication device cradled in a user's hand
and displaying a modified webpage wherein a highlighting cursor has been moved
to
highlight a selectable link labeled "Developers";
FIG. 3d depicts a known handheld communication device cradled in a user's hand
and displaying a modified webpage wherein a highlighting cursor has been moved
to
highlight a selectable link labeled "Partners";
FIG. 3e depicts a known handheld communication device cradled in a user's hand
and displaying a modified webpage wherein a highlighting cursor has been moved
to
highlight a selectable link labeled "Support";
FIG. 3f depicts a known handheld communication device cradled in a user's hand
and displaying a modified webpage wherein a highlighting cursor has been moved
to
highlight a selectable link labeled "Careers";
FIG. 3g depicts a known handheld communication device cradled in a user's hand
and displaying a modified webpage wherein a highlighting cursor has been moved
to
highlight a selectable link labeled "Legal";
FIG. 4a depicts a novel handheld communication device cradled in a user's hand
and displaying a modified webpage wherein a highlighting cursor has been moved
to
highlight a selectable link labeled "Blackberry for Life";
FIG. 4b depicts a novel handheld communication device cradled in a user's hand
and displaying a modified webpage wherein a highlighting cursor has been moved
to
highlight a selectable link labeled "Press Releases";
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FIG. 4c depicts a novel handheld communication device cradled in a user's hand
and displaying a modified webpage wherein a highlighting cursor has been moved
to
highlight a selectable link labeled "Support";
FIG. 4d depicts a novel handheld communication device cradled in a user's hand
and displaying a modified webpage wherein a highlighting cursor has been moved
to
highlight a selectable link labeled "Legal";
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary wireless handheld
electronic device incorporating a trackball assembly as at the auxiliary user
input;
FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary QWERTY keyboard layout;
FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary QWERTZ keyboard layout;
FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary AZERTY keyboard layout;
FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary Dvorak keyboard layout;
FIG. 10 illustrates a QWERTY keyboard layout paired with a traditional ten-key
keyboard;
FIG. 11 illustrates ten digits comprising the numerals 0-9 arranged in a
telephone
keypad configuration, including the * and # flanking the zero;
FIG. 12 illustrates a numeric phone key arrangement according to the ITU
Standard E.161 including both numerals and letters;
FIG. 13 is a front view of an exemplary handheld electronic device including a
full
QWERTY keyboard;
FIG. 14 is a front view of another exemplary handheld electronic device
including
a full QWERTY keyboard;
FIG. 15 is a front view of an exemplary handheld electronic device including a
reduced QWERTY keyboard;
FIG. 16 is a detail view of the reduced QWERTY keyboard;
FIG. 17 is a detail view of an alternative reduced QWERTY keyboard; and
FIG. 18 is a block diagram representing a wireless handheld communication
device
interacting in a communication network.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As intimated hereinabove, one of the more important aspects of the handheld
electronic device to which this disclosure is directed is its size. While some
users will
grasp the device in both hands, it is intended that a predominance of users
will cradle the
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device in one hand in such a manner that input and control over the device can
be affected
using the thumb of the same hand in which the device is held, however addition
control
can be effected by using both hands. As a handheld device that is desirably
pocketable,
the size of the device must be kept relatively small. Of the device's
dimensions, limiting its
width is important for the purpose of assuring cradleability in a user's hand.
Moreover, it
is preferred that the width of the device be maintained at less than ten
centimeters
(approximately four inches). Keeping the device within these dimensional
limits provides
a hand cradleable unit that users prefer for its useability and portability.
Limitations with
respect to the height (length) of the device are less stringent when
considering hand-
cradleability. Therefore, in order to gain greater size, the device can be
advantageously
configured so that its height is greater than its width, but still remain
easily supported and
operated in one hand.
A potential problem is presented by the small size of the device in that there
is
limited exterior surface area for the inclusion of user input and device
output features.
This is especially true for the "prime real estate" on the front face of the
device, where it is
most advantageous to include a display screen that outputs information to the
user. The
display screen is preferably located above a keyboard that is utilized for
data entry into the
device by the user. If the screen is provided below the keyboard, a problem
occurs in that
viewing the screen is inhibited when the user is inputting data using the
keyboard.
Therefore it is preferred that the display screen be above the input area,
thereby solving
the problem by assuring that the hands and fingers do not block the view of
the screen
during data entry periods.
To facilitate textual data entry, an alphabetic keyboard is provided. In one
version,
a full alphabetic keyboard is utilized in which there is one key per letter
(see Fig. 14 for an
example). This is preferred by some users because it can be arranged to
resemble a
standard keyboard with which they are most familiar. In this regard, the
associated letters
can be advantageously organized in QWERTY, QWERTZ, AZERTY or Dvorak layouts,
among others, thereby capitalizing on certain users' familiarity with these
special letter
orders. In order to stay within the bounds of a limited front surface area,
however, each of
the keys must be commensurately small when, for example, twenty-six keys must
be
provided in the instance of the English language. An alternative configuration
is to
provide a reduced keyboard in which at least some of the keys have more than
one letter
associated therewith (see Fig. 17 for an example). This means that fewer keys
are required
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which makes it possible for those fewer keys to each be larger than in the
instance when a
full keyboard is provided on a similarly dimensioned device. Some users will
prefer the
solution of the larger keys over the smaller ones, but it is necessary that
software or
hardware solutions be provided in order to discriminate which of the several
associated
letters the user intends based on a particular key actuation, a problem the
full keyboard
avoids. Preferably, this character discrimination is accomplished utilizing
disambiguation
software included on the device. To accommodate software use on the device, a
memory
and microprocessor are provided within the body of the handheld unit for
receiving,
storing, processing, and outputting data during use. Therefore, the problem of
needing a
textual data input means is solved by the provision of either a full or
reduced alphabetic
keyboard on the presently disclosed handheld electronic device. It should be
further
appreciated that the keyboard can be alternatively provided on a touch
sensitive screen in
either a reduced or full format.
Keys, typically of a push-button or touchpad nature, perform well as data
entry
devices but present problems to the user when they must also be used to affect
navigational control over a screen-cursor. In order to solve this problem, the
present
handheld electronic device preferably includes an auxiliary input that acts as
a cursor
navigational tool and which is also exteriorly located upon the front face of
the device. Its
front face location is particularly advantageous because it makes the tool
easily thumb-
actuable like the keys of the keyboard. In a particularly useful embodiment,
the
navigational tool is a trackball which is easily utilized to instruct two-
dimensional screen
cursor movement in substantially any direction, as well as act as an actuator
when the ball
of the trackball is depressed like a button. The placement of the trackball is
preferably
above the keyboard and below the display screen; here, it avoids interference
during
keyboarding and does not block the user's view of the display screen during
use (see Fig. 1
for an example).
In some configurations, the handheld electronic device may be standalone in
that it
does not connect to the "outside world." One example would be a PDA that
stores such
things as calendars and contact information but is not capable of
synchronizing or
communicating with other devices. In most situations, such isolation will be
viewed
detrimentally in that synchronization is a highly desired characteristic of
handheld devices
today. Moreover, the utility of the device is significantly enhanced when
connectable
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within a system, and particularly when connectable on a wireless basis in a
network in
which voice, text messaging, and other data transfer are accommodated.
In an embodiment, a handheld electronic communication device is programmed to
permit substantially vertical user navigation on a display screen of the
device across a
plurality of serially associated, user-actuable links without progressing
sequentially
through the series of the user-actuable links. In such embodiment, the device
includes a
display screen having a width and a height, which is located above a keyboard
suitable for
accommodating textual input to the handheld communication device. A processor
is
programmed to display on the display screen, a viewable page including a
plurality of
serially associated user-actuable links. The serially associated user-actuable
links have a
display length that is greater than the width of the display screen and the
processor is
programmed to wrap the user-actuable links into a plurality of vertically
stacked link
segments that at least partially fit on the display screen for user viewing
and actuation. An
auxiliary user input device, capable of directing two-dimensional navigation
on the display
screen is provided and the processor is programmed to direct substantially
vertical
navigation of a cursor between vertically stacked, user-actuable links in
response to a
corresponding user request, input via the auxiliary user input device, without
progressing
sequentially through the series of user-actuable links.
In an embodiment, the auxiliary user input is one of a trackball, touchpad or
joystick. In some embodiments, the user-actuable links are functionally
horizontally
serially associated with one another yet arranged in a vertical appearing
relationship. In
still yet some embodiments, the substantially vertical navigation is
accomplished by
asserting a longitudinally directed force upon the auxiliary user input
device. In some
embodiments, the handheld electronic device comprises an additional auxiliary
input for
accomplishing said substantially vertical navigation. In some embodiments, the
additional
auxiliary input is disposed proximate at least one of a top and bottom of said
keyboard of
said handheld communication device and/or the additional auxiliary input is a
keyboard
button. In some embodiments, the keyboard button is one of keyboard a button
labeled
and
In an embodiment, a method for affecting substantially vertical user
navigation on
a display screen of an electronic handheld device across a plurality of
serially associated,
user-actuable links without progressing sequentially through the series of
user-actuable
links, wherein the electronic handheld device comprises a display screen,
having a width
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and a height, located above a keyboard suitable for accommodating textual
input to the
handheld communication device, comprises programming a processor to display on
the
display screen, a viewable page comprising a plurality of serially associated
user-actuable
links. The serially associated user-actuable links have a display length
greater than the
width of the display screen and a programmed processor wraps the user-actuable
links into
a plurality of vertically stacked link segments that at least partially fit on
the display screen
for user viewing and actuation. The method further includes inputting a
navigation
request using an auxiliary user input device to direct two-dimensional
navigation of a
cursor on the display screen. The programmed processor directs substantial
vertical
navigation of the cursor between the vertically stacked, user-actuable links
in response to
the input, wherein the two-dimensional navigation occurs without progressing
sequentially
through the series of user-actuable links.
In an embodiment of the method, the auxiliary user input is a trackball. In an
embodiment of the method, the user-actuable links are functionally
horizontally serially
associated with one another and arranged in vertical appearing relationship.
In some embodiments of the method, the substantially vertical navigation is
accomplished by asserting a longitudinally directed force upon the auxiliary
user input
device. In some embodiments of the method, the handheld device comprises an
additional
auxiliary input for accomplishing the substantially vertical navigation. In
still yet some
embodiments, the additional auxiliary input is disposed proximate at least one
of a top and
bottom of said keyboard of the handheld communication device. In some
embodiments,
the additional auxiliary input is a keyboard button and is one of the keyboard
buttons
labeled "T" and "B."
Referring now to FIGS. 2a-2g, which illustrates display 200 of a personal
computer (not shown) having a "normal" or "full" size, an intemet browser 202
is shown
as displaying native webpage 204, which has a plurality of user-actuable links
206
arranged thereabout, including horizontally and serially oriented user-
actuable links 208
located toward a lower portion of the webpage. In the native webpage,
horizontally and
serially oriented user-actuable links 208 form a single row. Horizontally and
serially
oriented user-actuable links 208 include links 210, 212, 214, 216, 218 and
220, labeled
"Press Releases", "Developers", Partners", Support", "Careers" and "Legal"
respectively.
Lacking a mouse or similar type of "point and click" device, in order for a
user to navigate
to, and amongst, the horizontally and serially oriented user-actuable links
208, such user
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utilizes the "tab" button of a keyboard (not shown). Accordingly, as shown
successively
in FIGS. 2b-2g, each successive assertion of the "tab" button (not shown)
causes
highlighting cursor 222 to serially navigate from selectable link 210, to
selectable link
212, to selectable link 214, and ultimately to selectable link 220 with
further assertions of
the "tab" button.
Referring now to FIGS. 3a-3g, which illustrate display 252 of a handheld
electronic device 250 as being smaller relative to the display 200 of personal
computer; an
internet browser 254 is shown as displaying modified webpage 256, which has
been
modified from its native form to fit on display 252. Modified webpage 256
includes a
plurality of user-actuable links 258 arranged thereabout, including
horizontally and
serially oriented user-actuable links 260 located toward a lower portion of
the webpage
and forming first row 262 and second row 264. For accommodation upon the
smaller
display of the handheld electronic device, the single row of user-actuable
links from the
native webpage 204 have been "wrapped" to form a pair of rows, which have a
vertically
appearing relationship relative to one another. First row 262 is shown as
consisting of
horizontally and serially oriented user-actuable links 266, 268, 270, and 272,
corresponding to "Press Releases", "Developers", "Partners", "Support" labels,
respectively. Second row 264 is shown as consisting of horizontally and
serially oriented
user-actuable links 274 and 276, corresponding to "Careers" and "Legal"
labels,
respectively.
Handheld device 250 is shown without a mouse or similar type of "point and
click"
device, and, accordingly, comprises rotatable thumbwheel 280 for navigating
highlighting
cursor 278 amongst the plurality of user-actuable links 258. Consequently,
because a
number of user-actuable links 258 of modified webpage 256 appear vertically
oriented
relative to one another, yet retain the horizontal and serial relationship of
native webpage
204, in order for a user to navigate to, and amongst, the horizontally and
serially oriented
user-actuable links 260, e.g., as in first row 262 and second row 264, a user
must rotate
rotatable thumbwheel in an upward or downward direction to affect highlighting
cursor
278 movement. Therefore, when each row of a pair of rows comprises a single
selectable
link, movement of the thumbwheel in the direction of the arrow will cause the
highlighting
link to directly move from one row to the next. However, in the case where
first row 262
and second row 264 are disposed one above the other and each contain a
plurality of links,
when a user highlights link 266 (see FIG. 3b) in the first row and desires to
navigate to
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link 276 in the second row (See FIG. 3g), the user must rotate thumbwheel 280
in the
direction of the arrow such that highlighting cursor 278 moves rightward along
the first
row. Upon reaching link 272 at the end of the first row, continued rotation of
the
thumbwheel causes the highlighting cursor to be wrapped and passed to link 274
of the
second row. Further rotation of the thumbwheel in the direction of the arrow
ultimately
moves the highlighting cursor to link 276. Accordingly, a user is required to
successively
pass and highlight each of link 268, 270, 272 and 274 in order to highlight
link 276.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4a-4d; as shown in FIG. 1, the novel handheld
electronic device 300 is cradleable in the palm of a user's hand. The handheld
electronic
device is provided with a keyboard 332 to enter text data and place telephone
calls and a
display screen 322 for communicating information to the user. A connect/send
key 605 is
preferably provided to aid in the placement of a phone call. Additionally,
a
disconnect/end key 609 is provided. The send key 605 and end key 609
preferably are
arranged in a row of keys including a navigation tool 328. Additionally, the
row of keys
including the navigation tool preferably has a menu key 606 and an escape key
608. The
menu key 606 is used to bring up a menu and the escape key 608 is used to
return to the
previous screen or previous menu selection. As may be further appreciated from
FIG. 1,
the device 300 is of unibody construction, but it is also contemplated that
the device may
be of an alternative construction such as that commonly known as "clamshell"
or "flip-
phone" style. Regardless, in the operable configuration for the device 300,
non-
directionally limited auxiliary user input 328 is located essentially between
the display
screen 322 and the keyboard 332. In the illustrated embodiment, the non-
directional
auxiliary user input is a trackball 121. Motion of the trackball 121 can be
assessed using a
plurality of sensors that quantify rotational motion of the trackball 121
about axes
intersecting with the trackball. Trackball 121 can also be configured to be
depressable for
purposes of selecting a function that is highlighted with a highlighting
cursor. Also, it
should be appreciated by those having skill in the art that other non-
directionally limited
auxiliary user input devices can be used in the place of the trackball, e.g.,
touchpads,
joysticks and the like, and that handheld electronic device 300 can further
comprise
additional auxiliary inputs 350 for purposes of navigating highlighting cursor
about the
screen and/or for selecting highlighted functions.
Referring now to FIGS. 4a-4d, which illustrate display 302 of a handheld
electronic device 300 as being smaller relative to the display 200 of a
personal computer
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and further modified relative to display 252 of known device 250; an interne
browser 304
is shown as displaying modified webpage 306, which has a plurality of user-
actuable links
308 arranged thereabout, including horizontally and serially oriented user-
actuable links
310 located toward a lower portion of the webpage and forming a first row 312
and a
second row 314. For accommodation upon the minimized display of the handheld
electronic device 300, the single row of user-actuable links from the native
webpage 204
have been "wrapped" to form three rows, which appear to maintain a vertically
relationship relative to one another. First row 312 is shown as consisting of
horizontally
and serially oriented user-actuable links 316 and 318, corresponding to "Press
Releases"
and "Developers" labels, respectively. Second row 314 is shown as consisting
of
horizontally and serially oriented user-actuable links 320, 322 and 324,
corresponding to
"Partners", "Support" and "Careers" labels, respectively. Third row 315 is
shown as
consisting of horizontally and serially oriented selectable link 326,
corresponding to
"Legal" label.
As previously described, handheld electronic device 300 comprises a trackball
121
for navigating a highlighting cursor 328 amongst the plurality of user-
actuable links 258.
While user-actuable links 258 retain the horizontal and serial relationship of
the native
webpage 204, the application of the trackball 121, in combination with a
processor
preprogrammed determining the location of the various horizontally oriented
and user-
actuable links in a modified webpage, allows a user to directly navigate
between rows
without having to highlight each successive link in a row in order to pass to
a neighboring
row. As more clearly shown in FIGS. 4b-4d, if a user desires to navigate from
the link
316, "Press Releases", to the link 326, the user need merely apply a
longitudinally directed
rotational force upon the trackball 121 in the direction of the arrow. Upon
applying such
force, the highlighting cursor 328 is passed from the link 326 in the first
row 312, to the
link 322 in the second row 314. Continued rotation of the trackball in the
direction of the
arrow causes the highlighting cursor to travel to link 326 of the third row
316.
Accordingly, the use of the trackball 121 with the handheld electronic device
300 provides
a more efficient route for navigating a cursor between links which retain a
horizontal and
serial relationship from a native website.
Also, the device 300 can be configured such that the highlighting cursor can
"skip"
intermediately disposed user-actuable links on a modified webpage and navigate
substantially directly to user-actuable links disposed at the top, bottom or
sides of a
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webpage. For example, an additional auxiliary user input 350, which can
comprise a
button disposed near the bottom of the keyboard, or the "B" button to
represent the term
"bottom", can be used to immediately move the highlighting cursor to a link at
the bottom
of the modified webpage. Similarly, a button disposed near the top of the
keyboard, or the
"T" button, for instance, to represent the term "top", can be used to
immediately move the
highlighting cursor to a link at the top of the modified webpage. Similarly
functioning
buttons can be provided for moving the highlighting cursor to user-actuable
links disposed
at the sides of the modified webpage.
Further aspects of the environments, devices and methods of employment
described hereinabove are expanded upon in the following details. An exemplary
embodiment of the handheld electronic device 300 as shown in FIG. 1 is
cradleable in the
palm of a user's hand. The size of the device is such that a user is capable
of operating the
device 300 using the same hand that is holding the device 300. In a preferred
embodiment, the user is capable of actuating all features of the device 300
using the thumb
of the cradling hand; however, in other embodiments features may require the
use of more
than just the thumb of the cradling hand. The preferred embodiment of the
handheld
electronic device 300 features a keyboard on the face of the device 300, which
is actuable
by the thumb of the hand cradling the device 300. The user may also hold the
device 300
in such a manner to enable two thumb typing on the device 300.
The handheld electronic device 300 includes an input portion and an output
display
portion. The output display portion can be a display screen 322, such as an
LCD or other
similar display device.
The input portion includes a plurality of keys that can be of a physical
nature such
as actuable buttons or they can be of a software nature, typically constituted
by virtual
representations of physical keys on a display screen (referred to herein as
"software
keys"). It is also contemplated that the user input can be provided as a
combination of the
two types of keys. Each key of the plurality of keys has at least one actuable
action which
can be the input of a character, a command or a function. In this context,
"characters" are
contemplated to exemplarily include alphabetic letters, language symbols,
numbers,
punctuation, insignias, icons, pictures, and even a blank space. Input
commands and
functions can include such things as delete, backspace, moving a cursor up,
down, left or
right, initiating an arithmetic function or command, initiating a command or
function
specific to an application program or feature in use, initiating a command or
function
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CA 02572659 2006-12-29
programmed by the user and other such commands and functions that are well
known to
those persons skilled in the art. Specific keys or other types of input
devices can be used
to navigate through the various applications and features thereof. Further,
depending on
the application or feature in use, specific keys can be enabled or disabled.
In the case of physical keys, all or a portion of the plurality of keys have
one or
more indicia, representing character(s), command(s), and/or functions(s),
displayed at their
top surface and/or on the surface of the area adjacent the respective key. In
the instance
where the indicia of a key's function is provided adjacent the key, the
indicia can be
printed on the device cover beside the key, or in the instance of keys located
adjacent the
display screen 322. Additionally, current indicia for the key may be
temporarily shown
nearby the key on the screen 322.
In the case of software keys, the indicia for the respective keys are shown on
the
display screen 322, which in one embodiment is enabled by touching the display
screen
322, for example, with a stylus to generate the character or activate the
indicated
command or function. Some examples of display screens 322 capable of detecting
a touch
include resistive, capacitive, projected capacitive, infrared and surface
acoustic wave
(SAW) touchscreens.
Physical and software keys can be combined in many different ways as
appreciated
by those skilled in the art. In one embodiment, physical and software keys are
combined
such that the plurality of enabled keys for a particular application or
feature of the
handheld electronic device 300 is shown on the display screen 322 in the same
configuration as the physical keys. Using this configuration, the user can
select the
appropriate physical key corresponding to what is shown on the display screen
322. Thus,
the desired character, command or function is obtained by depressing the
physical key
corresponding to the character, command or function displayed at a
corresponding
position on the display screen 322, rather than touching the display screen
322.
The various characters, commands and functions associated with keyboard typing
in general are traditionally arranged using various conventions. The most
common of
these in the United States, for instance, is the QWERTY keyboard layout.
Others include
the QWERTZ, AZERTY, and Dvorak keyboard configurations. The QWERTY keyboard
layout is the standard English-language alphabetic key arrangement 44 shown in
FIG. 6.
The QWERTZ keyboard layout is normally used in German-speaking regions; this
alphabetic key arrangement 44 is shown in FIG. 7. The AZERTY keyboard layout
44 is
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CA 02572659 2006-12-29
normally used in French-speaking regions and is shown in FIG. 8. The Dvorak
keyboard
layout was designed to allow typists to type faster; this alphabetic key
arrangement 44 is
shown in FIG. 9.
Alphabetic key arrangements are often presented along with numeric key
arrangements. Typically, the numbers 1-9 and 0 are positioned in the row above
the
alphabetic keys 44, as shown in FIGS. 6-9. Alternatively, the numbers share
keys with the
alphabetic characters, such as the top row of the QWERTY keyboard (see Fig. 13
for an
example). Yet another exemplary numeric key arrangement is shown in FIG. 10,
where a
"ten-key" style numeric keypad 46 is provided on a separate set of keys that
is spaced from
the alphabetic/numeric key arrangement 44. The ten-key styled numeric keypad
46
includes the numbers "7", "8", "9" arranged in a top row, "4", "5", "6"
arranged in a
second row, "1", "2", "3" arranged in a third row, and "0" in a bottom row.
Further, a
numeric phone key arrangement 42 is exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 11.
As shown in FIG. 11, the numeric phone key arrangement 42 may also utilize a
surface treatment on the surface of the center "5" key. This surface treatment
is
configured such that the top surface of the key is distinctive from the
surface of other keys.
Preferably the surface treatment is in the form of a raised bump or recessed
dimple 43.
Alternatively, raised bumps may be positioned on the housing around the "5"
key and do
not necessarily have to be positioned directly on the key.
It is desirable for handheld electronic devices 300 to include a combined text-
entry
keyboard and a telephony keyboard. Examples of such mobile communication
devices
300 include mobile stations, cellular telephones, wireless personal digital
assistants
(PDAs), two-way paging devices, and others. Various keyboards are used with
such
devices and can be termed a full keyboard, a reduced keyboard, or phone key
pad.
In embodiments of a handheld electronic device 300 having a full keyboard, the
alphabetic characters are singly associated with the plurality of physical
keys. Thus, in an
English-language keyboard of this configuration, there are at least 26 keys in
the plurality
so that there is at least one key for each letter.
Devices 300 incorporating full keyboards for the alphabetic characters are
shown
in FIGS. 13 and 14. While both devices feature numeric keys, the device shown
in FIG.
13 incorporates the numeric keys in a single row, whereas the device of FIG.
14 features
numeric keys arranged according to the ITU Standard E.161 as shown in FIG. 11.
The
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CA 02572659 2006-12-29
latter numeric arrangement can be described as an overlaid numeric phone
keypad
arrangement.
As intimated above, in order to further reduce the size of a handheld
electronic
device 300 without making the physical keys or software keys too small, some
handheld
electronic devices 300 use a reduced keyboard, where more than one
character/command/function is associated with each of at least a portion of
the plurality of
keys. This results in certain keys being ambiguous since more than one
character is
represented by or associated with the key, even though only one of those
characters is
typically intended by the user when activating the key.
Thus, certain software usually runs on the processor of these types of
handheld
electronic device 300 to determine or predict what letter or word has been
intended by the
user. Some examples of software include predictive text routines which
typically include
a disambiguation engine and/or predictive editor application. The software
preferably also
has the ability to recognize character letter sequences that are common to the
particular
language, such as, in the case of English, words ending in "ing." Such systems
can also
"learn" the typing style of the user making note of frequently used words to
increase the
predictive aspect of the software. Other types of predictive text computer
programs may
be utilized with the reduced keyboard arrangements described herein, without
limitation.
Some specific examples include the multi-tap method of character selection and
"text on
nine keys".
The keys of reduced keyboards are laid out with various arrangements of
characters, commands and functions associated therewith. In regards to
alphabetic
characters, the different keyboard layouts identified above are selectively
used based on a
user's preference and familiarity: for example, the QWERTY keyboard layout is
most
often used by English speakers who have become accustomed to the key
arrangement.
FIG. 1 shows a handheld electronic device 300 that carries an example of a
reduced keyboard using the QWERTY keyboard layout on a physical keyboard array
of
twenty keys comprising five columns and four rows. Fourteen keys are used for
alphabetic characters and ten keys are used for numbers. Nine of the ten
numbers share a
key with alphabetic characters. The "space" key and the number "0" share the
same key,
which is centered on the device and centered below the remainder of the
numbers on the
keyboard 332. While in other embodiments, the number "0" may be located on
other
keys.
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CA 02572659 2006-12-29
FIG. 16 shows an example physical keyboard array of 20 keys composed of five
columns and four rows. Fourteen keys on the keyboard 332 are associated with
alphabetic
characters and ten keys are associated with numbers. Many of the keys have
different
sizes than the other keys, and the rows are non-linear. In particular, the
keys in the middle
column 64 are wider than keys in the outer columns 60, 62, 66 and 68. To
readily identify
the phone user interface (the second user interface), the numeric phone keys 0-
9 include a
color scheme that is different from that of the remaining keys associated with
the
QWERTY key arrangement.
In this example, a color scheme of the numeric phone keys has a two tone
appearance, with the upper portion of the numeric keys being a first color and
the lower
portion of the numeric keys being a second color. The first color may be
lighter than the
second color, or darker than the second color. Furthermore, the send key 6 and
end key 8
are located on keys with alphabetic indicia have a background color and/or
color of the
symbols that are different from the other keys of the keyboard 332.
FIG. 17 shows a similar format for the reduced QWERTY arrangement of
alphabetic characters 44 as presented in FIG. 15, but the numeric phone key
arrangement
42 is positioned in the first 60, second 62, and third 64 columns instead of
being centered
on the keyboard 332. Thus, no numerals are presented on keys in the fourth 66
and fifth
68 columns. The first row 50 of keys includes in order the following key
combinations for
the text entry and telephony mode: "QW/1", "ER/2", "TY/3", "UI", and "OP". The
second
row 52 includes the following key combinations in order: "AS/4", "DF/5",
"GH/6", "JK/,",
and "L/." The third row 54 includes the following key combinations in order:
"ZX/7",
"CV/8", "BN/9", "M/sym" and "backspace/delete". The fourth row 56 includes the
following key combinations in order: "next/*", "space/0", "shift/4", "alt" and
"return/enter". The keys in each of the rows are of uniform size and the rows
and columns
are straight.
Another embodiment of a reduced alphabetic keyboard is found on a standard
phone keypad. Most handheld electronic devices having a phone key pad also
typically
include alphabetic key arrangements overlaying or coinciding with the numeric
keys as
shown in FIG. 12. Such alphanumeric phone keypads are used in many, if not
most,
traditional handheld telephony mobile communication devices such as cellular
handsets.
As described above, the International Telecommunications Union ("ITU") has
established phone standards for the arrangement of alphanumeric keys. The
standard
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CA 02572659 2006-12-29
phone numeric key arrangement shown in FIGS. 11 (no alphabetic letters) and 12
(with
alphabetic letters) corresponds to ITU Standard E.161, entitled "Arrangement
of Digits,
Letters, and Symbols on Telephones and Other Devices That Can Be Used for
Gaining
Access to a Telephone Network." This standard is also known as ANSI TI.703-
1995/1999
and ISO/IEC 9995-8:1994. Regarding the numeric arrangement, it can be aptly
described
as a top-to-bottom ascending order three-by-three-over-zero pattern.
FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing some of the typical components found in the
assembly of the handheld electronic device. The construction of the device
benefits from
various manufacturing simplifications. The internal components are constructed
on a
single PCB (printed circuit board) 102. The keyboard 332 is constructed from a
single
piece of material, and in a preferred embodiment is made from plastic. The
keyboard 332
sits over dome switches (not shown) located on the PCB 102 in a preferred
embodiment.
One switch is provided for every key on the keyboard in the preferred
embodiment, but in
other embodiments more than one switch or less than one switch per key are
possible
configurations. The support frame 101 holds the keyboard 332 and navigation
tool 328 in
place above the PCB 102. The support frame 101 also provides an attachment
point for
the display (not shown). A lens 103 covers the display to prevent damage. When
assembled, the support frame 101 and the PCB 102 are fixably attached to each
other and
the display is positioned between the PCB 102 and support frame 101.
The navigation tool 328 is frictionally engaged with the support frame 101,
but in a
preferred embodiment the navigation tool 328 is removable when the device is
assembled.
This allows for replacement of the navigation tool 328 if/when it becomes
damaged or the
user desires replacement with a different type of navigation tool 328. In the
exemplary
embodiment of FIG. 3, the navigation tool 328 is a ball 121 based device.
Other
navigation tools 328 such as joysticks, four-way cursors, or touch pads are
also considered
to be within the scope of this disclosure. When the navigation tool 328 has a
ball 121, the
ball 121 itself can be removed without removal of the navigation tool 328. The
removal of
the ball 121 is enabled through the use of an outer removable ring 123 and an
inner
removable ring 122. These rings 122, 123 ensure that the navigation tool 328
and the ball
121 are properly held in place against the support frame 101.
A serial port (preferably a Universal Serial Bus port) 330 and an earphone
jack 140
are fixably attached to the PCB 102 and further held in place by right side
element 105.
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CA 02572659 2006-12-29
Buttons 130-133 are attached to switches (not shown), which are connected to
the PCB
102.
Final assembly involves placing the top piece 107 and bottom piece 108 in
contact
with support frame 101. Furthermore, the assembly interconnects right side
element 105
and left side element 106 with the support frame 101, PCB 102, and lens 103.
These side
elements 106, 105 provide additional protection and strength to the support
structure of the
device 300. In a preferred embodiment, backplate 104 is removably attached to
the other
elements of the device.
An exemplary handheld electronic device 300 and its cooperation in a wireless
network 319 is exemplified in the block diagram of FIG. 18. This figure is
exemplary
only, and those persons skilled in the art will appreciate the additional
elements and
modifications necessary to make the device 300 work in particular network
environments.
The block diagram of FIG. 18 representing the communication device 300
interacting in the communication network 319 shows the device's 300 inclusion
of a
microprocessor 338 which controls the operation of the device 300. The
communication
subsystem 311 performs all communication transmission and reception with the
wireless
network 319. The microprocessor 338 further connects with an auxiliary
input/output
(I/0) subsystem 328, a serial port (preferably a Universal Serial Bus port)
330, a display
322, a keyboard 332, a speaker 334, a microphone 336, random access memory
(RAM)
326, and flash memory 324. Other communication subsystems 340 and other device
subsystems 342 are generally indicated as connected to the microprocessor 338
as well.
An example of a communication subsystem 340 is that of a short range
communication
subsystem such as BLUETOOTH communication module or an infrared device and
associated circuits and components. Additionally, the microprocessor 338 is
able to
perform operating system functions and preferably enables execution of
software
applications on the communication device 300.
The above described auxiliary I/O subsystem 328 can take a variety of
different
subsystems including the above described navigation tool. The navigation tool
is
preferably a trackball based device, but it can be a thumbwheel, navigation
pad, or
joystick. These navigation tools are preferably located on the front surface
of the device
300 but may be located on an exterior surface of the device 300. Other
auxiliary I/O
devices can include external display devices and externally connected
keyboards (not
shown). While the above examples have been provided in relation to the
auxiliary I/O
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CA 02572659 2006-12-29
subsystem, other subsystems capable of providing input or receiving output
from the
handheld electronic device 300 are considered within the scope of this
disclosure.
Additionally, other keys may be placed along the side of the device 300 to
function as
escape keys, volume control keys, scrolling keys, power switches, or user
programmable
keys, which may be programmed accordingly.
In an exemplary embodiment, the flash memory 324 is enabled to provide a
storage location for the operating system, device programs, and data. While
the operating
system in a preferred embodiment is stored in flash memory 324, the operating
system in
other embodiments is stored in read-only memory (ROM) or similar storage
element (not
shown). As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the operating system,
device
application or parts thereof may be loaded in RAM 326 or other volatile
memory.
In a preferred embodiment, the flash memory 324 contains programs/applications
358 for execution on the device 300 including an address book 352, a personal
information
manager (PIM) 354, and the device state 350. Furthermore, programs 358 and
other
information 356 including data can be segregated upon storage in the flash
memory 324 of
the device 300.
When the device 300 is enabled for two-way communication within the wireless
communication network 319, it can send and receive signals from a mobile
communication service. Examples of communication systems enabled for two-way
communication include, but are not limited to, the GPRS (General Packet Radio
Service)
network, the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication Service) network, the
EDGE
(Enhanced Data for Global Evolution) network, and the CDMA (Code Division
Multiple
Access) network and those networks generally described as packet-switched,
narrowband,
data-only technologies mainly used for short burst wireless data transfer. For
the systems
listed above, the communication device 300 must be properly enabled to
transmit and
receive signals from the communication network 319. Other systems may not
require
such identifying information. GPRS, UMTS, and EDGE require the use of a SIM
(Subscriber Identity Module) in order to allow communication with the
communication
network 319. Likewise, most CDMA systems require the use of a RUIM (Removable
Identity Module) in order to communicate with the CDMA network. The RUIM and
SIM
card can be used in multiple different communication devices 300. The
communication
device 300 may be able to operate some features without a SIM/RUIM card, but
it will not
be able to communicate with the network 319. A SIM/RUIM interface 344 located
within
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CA 02572659 2006-12-29
' ,
the device allows for removal or insertion of a SIM/RUIM card (not shown). The
SIM/RUIM card features memory and holds key configurations 351, and other
information 353 such as identification and subscriber related information.
With a properly
enabled communication device 300, two-way communication between the
communication
device 300 and communication network 319 is possible.
If the communication device 300 is enabled as described above or the
communication network 319 does not require such enablement, the two-way
communication enabled device 300 is able to both transmit and receive
information from
the communication network 319. The transfer of communication can be from the
device
300 or to the device 300. In order to communicate with the communication
network 319,
the device 300 in a preferred embodiment is equipped with an integral or
internal antenna
318 for transmitting signals to the communication network 319. Likewise the
communication device 300 in the preferred embodiment is equipped with another
antenna
316 for receiving communication from the communication network 319. These
antennae
(316, 318) in another preferred embodiment are combined into a single antenna
(not
shown). As one skilled in the art would appreciate, the antenna or antennae
(316, 318) in
another embodiment are externally mounted on the device 300.
When equipped for two-way communication, the communication device 300
features a communication subsystem 311. As is well known in the art, this
communication subsystem 311 is modified so that it can support the operational
needs of
the device 300. The subsystem 311 includes a transmitter 314 and receiver 312
including
the associated antenna or antennae (316, 318) as described above, local
oscillators (L0s)
313, and a processing module 320 which in a preferred embodiment is a digital
signal
processor (DSP) 320.
It is contemplated that communication by the device 300 with the wireless
network
319 can be any type of communication that both the wireless network 319 and
device 300
are enabled to transmit, receive and process. In general, these can be
classified as voice
and data. Voice communication is communication in which signals for audible
sounds are
transmitted by the device 300 through the communication network 319. Data is
all other
types of communication that the device 300 is capable of performing within the
constraints
of the wireless network 319.
Exemplary embodiments have been described hereinabove regarding both
handheld electronic devices, as well as the communication networks within
which they
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CA 02572659 2006-12-29
= =
cooperate. It should be appreciated, however, that a focus of the present
disclosure is on
enabling a user to directly navigate a highlighting cursor between rows of
horizontal and
serially oriented links on a modified webpage using a non-directionally
limited auxiliary
user input.
22
