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`
`US006593949Bl
`
`(12)United States Patent
`
`
`Chew et al.
`
`(10)Patent No.:US 6,593,949 Bl
`
`(45)Date of Patent:
`Jul. 15, 2003
`
`(54)SMART COLUMN FOR CONTACT
`
`
`INFORMATION ON PALM-SIZED
`
`COMPUTING DEVICES AND METHOD AND
`
`APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING THE SAME
`
`(51)Int. Cl.7 .................................................. G06F 3/00
`
`
`
`(52)U.S. Cl. ........................................ 345/841; 345/157
`
`
`(58)Field of Search ................................. 345/157, 169,
`
`345/173, 863, 762, 763, 764, 841
`
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(74)Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Westman, Champlin &
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`
`
`(US)
`
`(21)Appl. No.: 09/564,515
`(22) Filed:May 4, 2000
`
`(75) Inventors: Chee H. Chew, Redmond, WA (US);
`
`
`(56)
`
`Elizabeth A. Bastiaanse, Cambridge,
`
`MA (US); Ido Ben-Shachar,
`
`Sammamish, WA (US); Jeffrey R.
`6,269,369 Bl * 7/2001 Robertson ................... 709/203
`
`
`
`
`Blum, Seattle, WA (US); Mark H.
`
`
`6,404,884 Bl * 6/2002 Marvell et al. ............. 379/223
`
`
`Enomoto, Seattle, WA (US); Greg A.
`*cited by examiner
`
`
`Keyser, Sammamish, WA (US);
`
`Kathryn L. Parker, Fall City, WA
`Primary Examiner-Cao (Kevin) Nguyen
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(US); Kevin T. Shields, Redmond, WA
`
`
`
`
`
`(US); Sarah E. Zuberec, Seattle, WA
`
`Kelly, P.A.
`(US)
`(57)
`(73)Assignee: Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA
`The UI of the present invention increases the number of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`contacts initially shown to the user of a hand-held device to
`
`
`
`aid the user in finding information in a Contacts database.
`( *) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`While displaying a list of Contacts database entries, the UI
`
`
`
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`
`
`
`
`displays a column which contains single letters indicating
`
`U.S.C. 154(b) by O days.
`
`
`
`the type of information displayed for the names represented
`
`
`
`
`in the list of entries. A tap on a letter in that column causes
`
`
`
`a sub-list of other most commonly needed information to be
`
`
`
`
`deployed for the corresponding entry, potentially eliminat­
`
`
`
`
`ing the need for the user to open the entire record for that
`entry.
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`
`
`
`
`(60)Provisional application No. 60/175,109, filed on Jan. 6,
`2000.
`
`
`
`19 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
`
`� Contacts
`
`2:36p
`
`
`
`All Categories •
`
`402
`
`#ab cde fgh
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`Abbar, Anas
`Abercrombie,
`
`319 659-8080 Work tel
`
`319 285-5970 Home tel
`
`Akers, Kim
`
`319 295-6222 Mobile tel
`
`Akhtar, Sarah
`86
`319 330-0213 £ager
`
`Alboucq, Steve
`
`319 659-8081 Work
`310 Anderson, Am----��==---cr7"--u-'o,'
`
`
`Anderson, Charlie
`312 684-4890 h
`
`
`Atkinson, Teresa
`
`319 308-3098 w
`Bacon Jr., Dan K.
`
`312 267-4433 w
`
`Baldwin, Amie
`
`612 587-5099 w
`
`Barbariol, Angela
`
`440
`
`New Tools
`
`420
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 1 of 17
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 15, 2003
`
`Sheet 1 of 11
`
`US 6,593,949 B1
`
`MEMORY
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`INTERFACE
`
`OBJECT
`
`STORE 84
`
`COMMUNICATIO
`
`FIG. 1
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 2 of 17
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 2 of 17
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 15, 2003
`
`Sheet 2 of 11
`
`US 6,593,949 B1
`
`a)
`
`83
`
`O§ CO
`
`86
`
`—T
`
`FIG. 2
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 3 of 17
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 3 of 17
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 15, 2003
`
`Sheet 3 of 11
`
`US 6,593,949 B1
`
`2:36p
`
`yo
`
`310
`
`320 4) Contacts
`
` 316
`FabLede[tah[ik[manopq[est[avoyz
`405 882-5080 wla
` 308
`405 882-5940 h
`405 886-1098 w
`
`
`612 229-0990 w
`405 882-0099 w
`
`
`612 229-0900 w
`
`405 808-5643 wy
`
`
`
`Fse[11213415161718910|[=1@|
`TabIqlwle[ritlylulilolp{{{]
`[CAP]als[alflethlilki]s]+
`
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`~~
`
`|Shift]z]x|elv]b[n]{m]>]:ty
`
`CulfaaPf
`
`
`
`
`Aiken, Dan
`Anderson,Amy
`Benter, Sal
`Carter, Chris
`Charles, Jeff
`Davis, Jan
`
`New Tools
`
`304
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 4 of 17
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 4 of 17
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 15, 2003
`
`Sheet 4 of 11
`
`US 6,593,949 B1
`
`J"
`
`2:36p
`
`$8 Contacts
`—ab[ede[gh]Hk[mnJopg[rs
`All Categories |v
`aAnas
`19 659-8080 wiial
`319 659-8900 hN
`
`402
`
`310
`
`Abercrombie, Kim
`Akers, Kim
`Akhtar, Sarah
`Alboucgq,Steve
`Anderson, Amy
`Anderson, Charlie
`Atkinson, Teresa
`Bacon Jr., Dan K.
`Baldwin, Arnie
`Barbariol, Angela
`
`New Tools
`
`319 347-0098 w
`
`612 227-0090 w
`
`651 897-0099 w
`
`708 225-0900 w
`
`515 808-5643 w
`
`312 684-4890 h
`
`319 308-3098 w
`
`312 267-4433 w
`
`612 587-5099 wi
`[us A
`20 BIG, 4
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 5 of 17
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 5 of 17
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 15, 2003
`
`Sheet 5 of 11
`
`US 6,593,949 B1
`
`2:36p
`
`k
`
`402
`
`310
`
`440
`
`<8 Contacts
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Hab[ede[feb]iik]imn[opq[rst[uv]xyz,
`Taber Anas—
`319 659-8080ya
`
`
`
`Abercrombie,
`319 659-8080 Worktel
`
`Akers. Kim
`319 285-5970 Home tel
`
`cs,
`319 295-6222 Mobiletel
`
`
`
`
`Akhtar, Sarah
`
`
`
`319 330-0213
`Pager
`Alboueg, Steve 352081Was
`
`
`
`
`
`Anderson, Am
`,
`
`Anderson, Charlie
`515 808-5643 Ww
`
`
`
`
`Atkinson, Teresa
`312 684-4890 h
`
`
`Bacon Jr., Dan K.
`319 308-3098 w
`Baldwin, Arnie
`312 267-4433 w
`
`
`
`Barbariol, Angela
`612 587-5099 w
`
`New Tools
`
`”
`FIG. 5
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 6 of 17
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 6 of 17
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 15, 2003
`
`Sheet 6 of 11
`
`US 6,593,949 B1
`
`BQ Contacts
`All Categories »
`
`2:36p
`| |
`
`402
`
`310
`
`||Abbar, Anas
`Abercrombie,k
`Akers, Kim
`Akhtar, Sarah
`Alboucq Steve,
`°
`Anderson, Am
`Anderson, Charlie
`Atkinson, Teresa
`Bacon Jr., Dan K.
`Baldwin, Arnie
`Barbariol, Angela
`
`New Tools
`
`319 659-8080 vei]
`319 659-8080 Worktel
`319 285-5970 Hometel
`319 295-6222 Mobiletel
`319 330-0213
`Pager
`319 659-8081 Work f
`Abar@Micros... E-mail
`
`
` 86
`
`440
`
`515 808-5643
`312 684-4890 h
`319 308-3098 w
`312 267-4433 w
`612 587-5099 w
`fear
`
`A
`
`420 —
`
`FIG.6
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 7 of 17
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 7 of 17
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 15, 2003
`
`Sheet 7 of 11
`
`US 6,593,949 B1
`
`319 659-8900 h
`
`310
`
`
`SZ Contacts
`
` |Abbar, Anas
`
` 402
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 7
`
`Abercrombie, Kim
`Akers, Kim
`404
`Akhtar, Sarah
`Alboucgq, Steve
`Anderson, Amy
`Anderson, Charlie
`Atkinson, Teresa
`Bacon Jr., Dan K.
`Baldwin, Arnie
`Barbariol, Angela
`
`
`New Tools
`
`319 347-0098 w
`
`612 227-0090 w
`
`651 897-0099 w
`
`708 225-0900 w
`
`515 808-5643 w
`
`312 684-4890 h
`
`319 308-3098 w
`
`312 267-4433 w
`
`612 587-5099 w
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 8 of 17
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 8 of 17
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 15, 2003
`
`Sheet 8 of 11
`
`US 6,593,949 B1
`
`DP300
`
`2:36p
`$8 Contacts
`|
`|
`All Categories v
`#ab_|ode|fgh|ijk[Imn|opa|rst|uvw) xyz
`Abbar, Anas
`319 659-8081 f [|
`Abercrombie, Kim
`319 659-8900 h
`Akers, Kim
`319 347-0098 w
`Akhtar, Sarah
`612 227-0090 w
`Alboucgq, Steve
`651 897-0099 w
`American Express
`800 444-5555 w
`American Express
`800 555-4444 w
`Atkinson, Teresa
`312 684-4890 h
`Bacon Jr., Dan K.
`319 308-3098 w
`Baldwin, Arnie
`312 267-4433 w
`Barbariol, Angela
`612 587-5099 w |
`
`
`New Tools fac|4
`
`502
`504
`
`310
`
`“FIG. 8
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 9 of 17
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 9 of 17
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 15, 2003
`
`Sheet 9 of 11
`
`US 6,593,949 B1
`
` YQ Contacts
`
`2:36p
`
`
`
`
`fab[ede|fa]ik[imnJopg[rst[uvw]xyz,
`Abbar, Anas
`319 659-8081 f [a]
`
`
`
`Abercrombie, Kim
`319 659-8900 h
`
`Akers, Kim
`319 347-0098 w
`Akhtar, Sarah
`612 227-0090 w
`
`Alboucgq, Steve
`651 897-0099 w
`
`
`
`440
`
`
`
`Bacon Jr., Dan
`
`
`Baldwin, Arnie
`312 267-4433 w
`
`Barbariol, Angela
`
`New Tools
`
`
`420
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 10 of 17
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 10 of 17
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 15, 2003
`
`Sheet 10 of 11
`
`US 6,593,949 B1
`
`600
`
`>
`
`604
`
`DISPLAY THE LIST OF ENTRIES
`
`RECEIVE A FIRST INPUT FROM THE USER IN
`
`THE FORM OF A TAP ON A FIRST ENTRY
`
`602
`
`606
`
`
`
`DETERMINE WHETHER THE FIRST INPUT IS A TAP
`ON A FIRST PORTION OF THE FIRST ENTRY OR A
`
`
`TAP ON A SECOND PORTION OF THE FIRST ENTRY
`
`
`TAP ON
`
`
`TAP ON FIRST
`
`SECOND
`
`PORTION
`
`
`PORTION
`
`
`
`
`OPEN THE FIRST
`DISPLAY A SUB-LIST OF
`RECORD IF THE
`PRIMARY INFORMATION
`FIRST INPUT IS
`CANDIDATES FOR THE
`DETERMINED TO BE
`FIRST RECORD IF THE
`
`A TAP ON THE
`FIRST INPUT IS
`
`FIRST PORTION OF
`DETERMINED TO BE A TAP
`THE FIRST ENTRY
`ON THE SECOND PORTION
`OF THE FIRST ENTRY
`
`
`
`
`
`610
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 10
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 11 of 17
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 11 of 17
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 15, 2003
`
`Sheet 11 of 11
`
`US 6,593,949 B1
`
`620
`
`RECEIVE A SECOND INPUT FROM THE USER
`
`IN THE FORM OF A TAP ON ONE OF THE
`
`PRIMARY INFORMATION CANDIDATES IN THE
`
`
`
`
`SUB-LIST TO SELECT THE ONE OF THE
`
`PRIMARY INFORMATION CANDIDATES
`
`
`DETERMINE WHICH OF THE PRIMARY
`
`INFORMATION CANDIDATES WAS SELECTED
`
`SET THE SELECTED PRIMARY INFORMATION
`
`CANDIDATE AS THE PRIMARY INFORMATION
`
`DISPLAY THE LIST OF ENTRIES WITH THE
`
`SELECTED PRIMARY INFORMATION
`
`CANDIDATE DISPLAYED AS THE PRIMARY
`
`INFORMATION IN THE FIRST ENTRY
`
`
`
`622
`
`624
`
`626
`
`628
`
`FIG, 11
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 12 of 17
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 12 of 17
`
`

`

`US 6,593,949 B1
`
`1
`SMART COLUMN FOR CONTACT
`INFORMATION ON PALM-SIZED
`COMPUTING DEVICES AND METHOD AND
`APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING THE SAME
`
`REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
`
`The present application claims priority from U.S. Provi-
`sional Application serial No. 60/175,109, filed on Jan. 6,
`2000 Expired and entitled “SMART COLUMN FOR CON-
`TACT INFORMATION ON PALM-SIZED COMPUTING
`DEVICES AND METHOD AND APPARATUSFORDIS-
`PLAYING THE SAME.”
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to hand-held personal com-
`puting devices commonly known as hand-held devices or
`palm-sized devices. Moreparticularly, the present invention
`relates to Contacts database user interfaces (UIs) for hand-
`held devices.
`
`Hand-held devices are small electronic computing
`devices, sometimes also referred to as personal digital
`assistants (PDAs). Generally, these devices fit comfortably
`in the palm of a user’s hand. Hand-held devices have gained
`a niche as personal organizers, allowing users to view or
`changelists of contacts, tasks or calendar events on a display
`using an interface device such as a keyboard (typically
`integrated into a touch sensitive display) and a stylus.
`On a hand-held device, screenreal estate is limited (both
`horizontally and vertically). As such, they are only able to
`display a portion of the information stored on them at any
`given time. For example, a typical Contacts database stored
`on a hand-held device has several hundred entries in it, with
`each entry including addresses, phone numbers and other
`information. Thus, there is a need for methodsofefficiently
`accessing pertinent contact information on a limited size
`screen.
`
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention includes apparatus and methodsfor
`generating a Contacts information user interface (UI), for a
`stylus based hand held device, which maximizes the number
`of contacts initially shown to aid the user in finding the
`correct entry, and which provides a mechanism to efficiently
`retrieve the most commonly needed information for each
`contact entry. According to a first aspect of the invention,
`while displaying a list of Contacts database entries, the UI
`displays a column which contains single letters indicating
`the type of information displayed for the names represented
`in the list of entries. A tap on a letter in that column causes
`a sub-list of other commonly accessed information to be
`deployed for the corresponding entry, potentially eliminat-
`ing the need for the user to open the entire record to retrieve
`desired information.
`
`According to a second aspect of the present invention, a
`tap on the letter of the columnresults in truncated informa-
`tion displayed on the correspondingline ofthelist of entries
`to be displayed as fully as possible in the list of entries.
`According to a third aspect of the present invention, a
`single tap on a row of the sub-list described aboveresults in
`a changeof displayed information on the corresponding row
`of the list of entries.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hand-held device comput-
`ing environment in which many embodimentsofthe present
`invention may be practiced.
`
`2
`FIG. 2 is a front view of a hand-held computing device on
`which many embodiments of the present invention may be
`practiced.
`FIG. 3 is a screen-shot of a display showing a portion of
`a full Contacts list having a smart columnin accordance with
`embodiments of the invention and showing a soft input
`panel.
`FIG. 4 is a screen-shot of a display showing a portion of
`a full Contacts list having a smart columnin accordance with
`embodiments of the invention and showing the soft input
`panel removed from view.
`FIG. 5 is a screen-shot of a display showing the portion
`of the Contacts list of FIG. 4, but with a smart column
`sub-list deployed.
`FIG. 6 is a screen-shot of the display shown in FIG. 5,
`which illustrates a method of changing smart columninfor-
`mation.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`FIG. 7 is a screen-shot of a display showingthe results of
`the change of smart column information implemented in
`FIG. 6.
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`FIGS. 8 and 9 are screen-shots of a display showing a
`feature of the invention in which truncated names in the
`Contacts list are shown more fully upon deployment of a
`smart column sub-list.
`
`FIGS. 10 and 11 are flow diagramsillustrating methods of
`the present invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hand-held device 68, which
`is an exemplary computing environment for the present
`invention. Hand-held device 68 includes a microprocessor
`70, memory 72, input/output (I/O) components 74, a com-
`munication interface 76 for communicating with,
`for
`example, a separate computer or hand-held device. In one
`embodiment, the aforementioned components are coupled
`for communication with one another over a suitable bus 78.
`
`Memory 72 is implemented as non-volatile electronic
`memory such as random access memory (RAM) with a
`battery back-up module (not shown) such that information
`stored in memory 72 is not lost when the general power to
`mobile device 68 is shut down. A portion of memory 72 is
`preferably allocated as addressable memory for program
`execution, while another portion of memory 72 is preferably
`used for storage, such as to simulate storage on a disk drive.
`Memory 72 includes an operating system 80, application
`programs82 as well as an object store 84. During operation,
`operating system 80 is preferably executed by processor 70
`from memory 72. Operating system 80, in one preferred
`embodiment, is a “WINDOWSCE”brand operating system
`commercially available from Microsoft Corporation, which
`is also known as Microsoft Windows for Pocket PC. Oper-
`ating system 80 is preferably designed for hand-held
`devices, and implements database features that can be uti-
`lized by applications 82 through a set of exposed application
`programming interfaces and methods. The objects in object
`store 84 are maintained by applications 82 and operating
`system 80, at
`least partially in response to calls to the
`exposed application programming interfaces and methods.
`Input/output components 74 can include, for example,
`input devices such as a keyboard, a mouseor other pointing
`device,
`touch sensitive display components, and control
`buttons. Input/output components 74 can also include output
`devices such as liquid crystal displays and speakers. Further,
`input/output components 74 include electronics and/or soft-
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 13 of 17
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 13 of 17
`
`

`

`US 6,593,949 B1
`
`3
`ware associated with these devices or with other devices
`such as printers.
`Communication interface 76 represents numerous devices
`and technologies that allow hand-held device 68 to send and
`receive information. The devices include wired and wireless
`modems,satellite receivers and broadcast tuners to name a
`few. In some embodiments, mobile device 68 can also be
`directly connected to a computer to exchange data therewith.
`In such cases, communication interface 76 can be an infrared
`transceiverora serial or parallel communication connection,
`all of which are capable of transmitting streaming informa-
`tion. While communication interface 76 is included in
`various forms in many embodiments of the invention, com-
`munication interface 76 is optional is yet other embodiments
`if sending and receiving information is not required.
`FIG. 2 is a simplified pictorial illustration of device 68.
`Device 68 can be a desktop assistant sold under the desig-
`nation H/PC or a palm-sized PC designated as P/PC or as
`Pocket PC having software provided by the Microsoft
`Corporation. In one embodiment, device 68 includesa set of
`control buttons 83, display 85 and stylus 86. In the embodi-
`ment shown in FIG. 2, display 85 is a liquid crystal display
`(LCD) which uses a contact sensitive display screen in
`conjunction with stylus 86. Stylus 86 is used to press or
`contact display 85 at designated coordinates to accomplish
`certain user input functions. In some embodiments, a min-
`iaturized keyboard with alpha-numeric keysis provided with
`the mobile device. In other embodiments,a “soft” keyboard
`92 accessible through a soft
`input panel (SIP) icon 90
`provided through a contact sensitive display screen (shown
`in FIGS. 3-9). In yet other embodiments, a character rec-
`ognition module is employed to recognize characters written
`on the contact sensitive display screen using stylus 86.
`A problem on some conventional limited sized screen
`devices is that the user sometimes must trade off either
`
`seeing a long list of contacts or seeing the data for those
`contacts. If the user utilizes the full vertical space to list
`names (a typical record identifier), there’s little room to
`show the data for each name. At most, for a vertically
`oriented palm-size device, the user may be able to see one
`entry (e.g., a phone number) for each record. To access more
`information in these conventional hand-held devices,
`the
`user would typically have to open the entire data record and
`find any other information. This process can be inefficient.
`In some conventional hand-held device Contacts database
`UIs, the top portion (several lines of the display) is used to
`show common information (e.g., phone number,
`fax
`number, e-mail address, etc) for a selected record. Identifiers
`(typically names in Contacts databases) for the selected
`record and for several non-selected records are then typi-
`cally listed one per line below this top portion. Using this
`type of UI, some vertical real estate is used to show the
`selected record information, and therefore fewer record
`identifiers or namesare listed at a time on the display. It is
`also typically necessary to select the one record that the user
`cares about, meaning that the user can’t visually scan for the
`information. Also, since this type of UI often includes only
`the record name or identifier on each line, considerable
`screen space on the right side of the list can be wasted.
`The present invention includes a UIforefficiently access-
`ing pertinent contact information on a limited size screen.
`This UI design maximizes the number of contacts shown
`initially to aid the user in finding the correct entry in an
`efficient and convenient manner. The UI of the present
`invention also provides a mechanism to efficiently retrieve
`the most commonly needed information for each contact
`entry.
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`FIGS. 3-9 illustrate features of a Contacts window or UI
`300 that is shown on display 85 of FIG. 2 under various
`embodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3,
`Contacts window 300 includesa title bar 302 that indicates
`that this is the Contacts window and that provides a start
`menu icon 320. Window 300 also provides a menu bar 304,
`a soft input panel icon 90, a soft input panel 92, scroll bar
`308, Contacts list 310, alphabetical contact navigation bar
`312, Categories pull-down label 314 and edit control 316.
`Bytapping the stylus 86 on theletters of soft input panel 92,
`the useris ableto insert letters in edit control 316 to invoke
`
`a search algorithm to search a database of contacts. By
`tapping on soft input panel icon 90 with stylus 86, soft input
`panel 92 can be removed from view in window 300 to allow
`for additional screen real estate on which the Contactslist
`
`may be displayed. FIGS. 4—9illustrate window 300 with soft
`input panel 92 removed from view.
`Referring now to FIG. 4, it can be seen that in window
`300, Contacts list 310 is a vertically oriented list of contact
`names with a preset ordering of the most commonly
`accessed information type per entry. One such nameentry is
`identified for illustrative purposes as entry or record 402. For
`entry 402, next to the record identification name “Abbar,
`Anas”is displayed the most commonly accessed informa-
`tion 404 corresponding to this contact. In this case, most
`commonly accessed information 404 is a work telephone
`number as indicated by indicator 406, which is in the
`example the letter “W”. Indicator 406 of entry 402 and
`indicators of other entries in Contacts list 310 form a “smart
`column” 420 in accordance with aspects of the invention.
`The indicators (for example, 406) which form smart column
`420 are each associated with the displayed most commonly
`accessed information (for example 404) in the adjacent
`column for the corresponding record.
`There is provided a light weight mechanism to access the
`other most common data entries for a record, without
`opening the full data set. As mentioned above, information
`404 and indicator 406 are determined according to a pref-
`erential order that is preset (e.g. cell number, work number,
`home number, email address, fax number) in priority order
`to determine what information will be displayed on each line
`for the corresponding entry. These items are filled in by
`default, according to the preset list, so that no entries are
`blank. Shown on each line is data for the name entry
`skipping the entry if that record is empty. Smart column 420
`containing single unique letters on the far right edge indi-
`cates which of the data entries are being displayed for each
`particular entry.
`A single tap (with the stylus) activating the contact entry
`in most of a row (for example a tap on the nameor telephone
`number of entry 402) will open the entire data record.
`However, in some embodiments of the invention, a single
`tap on the one single character (for example letter 406
`corresponding to entry 402) from the smart column 420 will
`drop or deploy a sub-list 440 (shown in FIG. 5) listing the
`other smart column candidate entries filled out for that data
`
`record. In other embodiments, a tap and hold gesture is used
`to deploy sub-list 440. In these embodiments, the user holds
`the stylus in place on a smart column character for a
`predetermined period of time. A predetermined amount of
`stylus movementcan be allowed, while implementing a tap
`and hold gesture, to accommodate small unintentional stylus
`movements by the user. Once the stylus has been held in
`place for the predetermined period of time, the tap and hold
`gesture is recognized and sub-list 440 is deployed. In yet
`other embodiments, a double tap gesture is used to deploy
`the sub-list. Any of these gestures allow quick access to any
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 14 of 17
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 14 of 17
`
`

`

`US 6,593,949 B1
`
`6
`5
`of the most commondata entries associated with a record
`block 606, shownis the step of determining whetherthefirst
`
`without opening the data record. In some embodiments, the input is a tap onafirst portion of the first entry or a tap on
`single letter or character is made to appear different from the
`a secondportionofthefirst entry. In some embodiments, the
`remainderof the line to aid the user in identifying the smart
`first portion of thefirst entry includes portionsof the display
`column character as an item which can be activated dis-
`in which the name (or other record identifier) and the
`primary information 404 are displayed.
`In these same
`embodiments, the second portion ofthe first entry includes
`portions of the display in which the indicator 406 of the first
`entry is displayed.
`the first record is
`In the step illustrated at block 608,
`openedif thefirst input is determined to be a tap on thefirst
`portion of the first entry. In the alternative step illustrated at
`block 610, sub-list 440 of primary information candidates
`for the first record is displayedif the first input is determined
`to be a tap on the second portion of the first entry. In this
`manner, the user can conveniently access the entire record,
`or just a sub-list of most commonly accessed information
`types for the record.
`In some embodiments of the invention, while the sub-list
`440 is displayed, one or more other entries in list 310 are still
`displayed to thereby maximize the information available to
`the user. A further embodiment can be used when the name
`of the record is truncated prior to deploymentof the sub-list
`of primary information candidates as shown in FIG. 8. In
`this embodiment, upon deploymentof sub-list 440, the name
`is shown as fully as possible in the main entry line 502 as
`illustrated in FIG. 9.
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`tinctly from the rest of the listview items. For example, to
`ensure that the smart column characters are visually distinct
`on both black and white devices and color devices, the smart
`column characters can be made both bold and blue.
`
`The far right column of the sub-list 440 indicates what
`information is shown in the other column (the numbers in
`this screen shot) correspondingto the data. In this UI design,
`the user is able to see more namestotal in Contacts list 310
`
`at any given time, which makes scanningfor data faster. The
`most commoninformation for each contact record is shown
`in the sub-list so that, once the user finds the desired contact
`entry (e.g., record 402),it is not necessary to take any action
`beyond deploying the smart column sub-list.
`As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, using stylus 86 to select one
`of the other entries in sub-list 440 will cause that selected
`
`individual
`entry to become the preferred entry for that
`record. In FIG. 6, with the work telephone numberbeing the
`preferred entry for record 402, stylus 86 is used to tap the
`“Work fax” line of sub-list 440. As shown in FIG. 7, this
`results in a change of preferred information 404 and in the
`indicatororletter 406 of smart column 420 corresponding to
`entry 402. This allows the user to intuitively make excep-
`tions to the preference order for any particular person in the
`Contacts list database.
`Dueto horizontal screen constraints and the use of some
`
`horizontal space for smart column 420 and the associated
`preferred information, sometimesthe right half of a name for
`a particular record is truncated. Thisis particularly true for
`long company names. The result maybethatit is difficult to
`distinguish one entry from another. This can be seen for
`example in FIG. 8 in which the namesin each of records 502
`and 504 have been truncated.
`In this instance each of
`
`“American Express Customer Service” in record 502 and
`“American Express Travel Services” in record 504 have
`been truncated to “American Express.”
`FIG. 9 illustrates a method used by the UI of the present
`invention to aid the user in this situation. For truncated name
`
`records, when the smart column sub-list 440 is deployed for
`record 502, the duplicate smart column information (e.g.
`phone number for American Express Customer Service) is
`removed from view becauseit is also available in the sub-list
`440. This area is then used to as fully as possible show the
`previously truncated name on the line occupied by record
`502.
`
`FIG. 11 illustrates additional more particular steps which
`can be implemented if the first input is determined to be a tap
`on the second portion of the first entry, resulting in the
`deployment of a sub-list 440. The effects of these steps are
`illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 discussed above. In accordance
`with further method 620 of the present invention illustrated
`in FIG. 11, as shown at block 622, after deploymentof the
`sub-list a second input from the user can be received. The
`second input can be in the form of a second tap on oneof the
`primary information candidates in sub-list 440,
`thereby
`selecting the one of the primary information candidates.
`Next, as illustrated at block 624, a determination is made as
`to which of the primary information candidates was
`selected. Then,at the step of block 626, the selected primary
`information candidate is set as the new primary information
`404. Finally, at step 628, the list 310 of entries is displayed
`with the selected primary information candidate being dis-
`played as the new primary information 404 in conjunction
`with the entry name and with indicator 406 which is updated
`to identify a type for the new primary information candidate.
`In summary, the present inventors have recognized that
`improvement is needed in the User Interface (UT) surround-
`ing the Contacts information on a hand-held device.
`Specifically, in a palm-size computing device, improvement
`is needed in the UI mechanisms for displaying Contacts
`information to better utilize the limited available screen real
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`Exhibit 2005 / 15 of 17
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`The methodsof the present invention, which for example
`can be implemented using computer-executable instructions
`stored on a computer-readable medium for hand-held
`devices, are illustrated in the flow diagrams of FIGS. 10 and
`estate. To address this need, the present invention includes
`11. These method steps are further supported by the illus-
`apparatus and methods for generating a Contacts informa-
`trations of FIGS. 4—9 discussed above. Referring to method
`tion UI, for a stylus based hand held device, which maxi-
`600 in FIG. 10, shownat block 602 is the step of displaying
`mizes the numberof contacts initially shown to aid the user
`a list 310 of entries. As discussed above, each entry (for
`in finding the correct entry, and which provides a mechanism
`example entry 402) represents a record in the Contacts
`to efficiently retrieve the most commonly needed informa-
`database, and includes a record identifier (typically a name)
`tion for each contact entry.
`for the corresponding record, primary information 404 for
`the corresponding record, and an indicator 406 which iden-
`According toafirst aspect of the present invention, the UI
`tifies a type for the primary information. Typically, each
`displays a column 420 ofa high level list 310 which contains
`entry will occupy oneline of the display.
`single letters indicating the type of information displayed for
`At block 604, shownis the step of receiving a first input
`the contacts represented by the corresponding rows in the
`from the user in the form of a tap on a first entry (for
`high level list. A tap on a letter in that column causes a
`example entry 402) in the displayed list 310 of entries. At
`sub-list 440 to be displayed for the corresponding row in the
`
`Exhibit 2005 / 15 of 17
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`

`

`US 6,593,949 B1
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`high levellist, while at least some of the remaining rows of
`the high level list continue to be displayed.
`According to a second aspect of the present invention, a
`tap on the letter of the columnresults in truncated informa-
`tion displayed on the correspondingline of the high levellist
`to be displayed in full in the high level list or in the sub-list.
`According to a third aspect of the present invention, a
`single tap on a row of the sub-list described aboveresults in
`a changeof displayed information on the corresponding row
`of the high level list.
`Although the present invention has been described with
`reference to particular embodiments, workers skilled in the
`art will recognize that changes may be made in form and
`detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the
`invention.
`Whatis claimedis:
`
`8
`telephone numbers, pager numbers, electronic mail
`addresses, and facsimile machine numbers.
`6. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator for the
`displayed primary information for each entry in the list of
`entries comprises a single letter which identifies the type of
`the primary information for the entry.
`7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the
`first entry includes portions of the display in which the
`record identifier and the primary information of the first
`entry are displayed such that if it is determinedthat thefirst
`inputis a tap on either of the record identifier or the primary
`information ofthe first entry, then thefirst record is opened.
`8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second portion of
`the first entry includes portions of the display in which the
`indicator of the first entry is displayed such that if it is
`determinedthat the first input is a tap on the indicator of the
`first entry, then the sub-list of primary information candi-
`dates for the first record is displayed.
`1. A method of generating a Contacts database user
`9. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the sub-list
`interface on a stylus-based computing device having a
`of primary information candidates for thefirst record further
`display and a stylus for providing input to the display, the
`comprises displaying the sub-list while still displaying at
`method comprising:
`least one entry in the list of entries.
`displaying a list of entries with each entry representing a
`10. The method of c