United States Patent (19)
`Shields et al.
`
`USOO594.9418A
`Patent Number:
`11
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`5,949,418
`Sep. 7, 1999
`
`54) OPERATING SYSTEM FOR HANDHELD
`COMPUTING DEVICE HAVING GRAPHICAL
`WINDOW MINIMIZATION/ENLARGEMENT
`FUNCTIONALITY
`re.
`75 Inventors: Kevin Timothy Shields, Redmond;
`Anthony Kitowicz, Kirkland; Daniel
`Boone; Scott R. Shell, both of
`Redmond, all of Wash.
`73 Assignee: Microsoft Corporation, Redmond,
`Wash
`
`21 Appl. No.: 08/851,629
`22 Filed:
`May 6, 1997
`(51) Int. Cl." ........................................................ G06F 3/14
`52 U.S. Cl. ............................................. 345/342; 345/348
`58 Field of Search ..................................... 345/342, 339,
`345/340, 348, 354, 347, 343, 173; 395/682
`
`56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`a
`7/1993 Kerr et al. .............................. 345/340
`5,227,771
`5,617,526 4/1997 Oran et al. .............................. 345/326
`
`5,699,535 12/1997 Amro et al. ............................ 345/342
`5,704,050 12/1997 Redpath .................................. 345/339
`5,757,371 5/1998 Oran et al. .............................. 345/348
`Primary Examiner Matthew M. Kim
`ASSistant Examiner-Crescelle N. dela Torre
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lee & Hayes, PLLC
`57
`ABSTRACT
`A portable computing device has a processor and a touch
`p
`pulling
`p
`sensitive display. The display includes a touch-Sensitive area
`Superimposed on a viewing area, whereby the touch
`Sensitive area extends 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 oper
`ating System which executes on the processor to provide a
`graphical user interface environment capable of presenting a
`graphical window and a program taskbar within the viewing
`area. The program taskbar presents a program icon repre
`Senting a program that is active within the graphical window.
`The operating System is configured to minimize the graphi
`cal window to remove the graphical window from the
`Viewing area or to enlarge the graphical window to restore
`the graphical window in the Viewing area in response to
`contacting the program icon.
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`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
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`Sep. 7, 1999
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`1
`OPERATING SYSTEM FOR HANDHIELD
`COMPUTING DEVICE HAVING GRAPHICAL
`WINDOW MINIMIZATION/ENLARGEMENT
`FUNCTIONALTY
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`2
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The same reference numbers are used throughout the
`drawings to reference like components and features.
`FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a handheld computing
`device in an open position.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the handheld computing
`device.
`FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a touch-Sensitive
`display utilized in the handheld computing device. FIG. 3
`shows a taskbar user interface presented within a viewing
`area of the display.
`FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a graphical
`window presented above the taskbar and within the viewing
`area of the display.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`FIG. 1 shows a computing device implemented as a
`handheld computing device 20. As used herein, “handheld
`computing device' means a Small computing device having
`a processing unit that is capable of running one or more
`application programs, a display, and an input mechanism
`Such as a keypad, a touch-Sensitive Screen, a track ball, a
`touch-sensitive pad, a miniaturized QWERTY keyboard, or
`the like.
`The handheld computing device 20 is embodied as a
`handheld personal computer. The terms "handheld comput
`ing device” and “handheld personal computer” (or handheld
`PC or H/PC) are used interchangeably throughout this
`disclosure. However, in other implementations, the hand
`held computing device may be implemented as a personal
`digital assistant (PDA), a personal organizer, a palmtop
`computer, a computerized notepad, or the like. The invention
`can also be implemented in other types of computers and
`computer-like or computer-controlled devices having a
`graphical display.
`Computing device 20 has a casing 22 with a cover or lid
`24 and a base 26. The handheld computing device 20 has a
`liquid crystal display (LCD) 28 with a touch-sensitive screen
`mounted to the lid 24. The lid 24 is hingedly connected to
`the base 26 to pivot between an open position, which
`exposes display 28, and a closed position, which protects the
`display. The device is equipped with a stylus 30 to enter data
`through the touchscreen display 28 and a miniature
`QWERTY keyboard 32. The stylus 30 and keyboard 32 are
`both mounted in base 26.
`The handheld computing device 20 can also be imple
`mented with a wireless transceiver (not shown) Such as an IR
`(infrared) transceiver and/or an RF (radio frequency) trans
`ceiver. Although the illustrated implementation shows a
`two-member H/PC 20 with a lid 24 and a base 26, other
`implementations of the H/PC Might comprise an integrated
`body without hinged components, as is the case with com
`puterized notepads (e.g., Newton(E) from Apple Computers).
`FIG. 2 shows functional components of the handheld
`computing device 20. It has a processor 40, a memory 42, a
`display 28, and a keyboard 32. The memory 42 generally
`includes both volatile memory (e.g., RAM) and non-volatile
`memory (e.g., ROM, PCMCIA cards, etc.). An operating
`System 44 is resident in the memory 42 and executes on the
`processor 40. The operating System 44 is a multitasking
`operating System that allows Simultaneous execution of
`multiple applications. The operating System employs a
`graphical user interface windowing environment that pre
`Sents applications and documents in Specially delineated
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`TECHNICAL FIELD
`This invention relates to computing devices, and particu
`larly to handheld computing devices.
`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, per
`Sonal 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(R CE operating system for use on H/PCs,
`which is a scaled-down version of its popular Windows(R)
`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 inter
`face 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 advanta
`geous to develop user interfaces that can be effectively
`employed on the miniaturized Screen of a handheld com
`45
`puting device.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`This invention concerns a computing device having an
`operating System with improved user interfaces for minia
`turized Screens.
`The computing device has a processor and a touch
`Sensitive display. The computing device has an operating
`System that executes on the processor to provide a graphical
`user interface environment capable of presenting a graphical
`window and a program taskbar within the viewing area. The
`program taskbar presents a program icon representing a
`program that is active within the graphical window.
`The operating System is configured to minimize the
`graphical window to remove it from the Viewing area, or
`alternatively to enlarge the graphical window to restore it in
`the viewing area, in response to contacting the program icon
`in the taskbar. That is, when the window is viewable, the
`user taps the program icon with the Stylus to minimize the
`graphical window. Conversely, when the window is
`minimized, the user taps the program icon to enlarge the
`graphical window.
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`areas of the display screen called “windows. Each window
`can act independently, including its own menu, toolbar,
`pointers, and other controls, as if it were a virtual display
`device. It is noted, however, that the computing device may
`be implemented with other types of operating Systems that
`Support a window environment.
`The operating system 44 is preferably the Windows(R CE
`operating System from MicroSoft Corporation that is con
`figured to include the “window minimization” feature dis
`cussed below, as represented by the window minimization
`(win min) manager 48. The Windows(R CE operating system
`is a derivative of Windows(R brand operating systems, such
`as Windows(R 95, that is especially designed for handheld
`computing devices.
`The H/PC 20 has a power Supply 46 that Supplies power
`to the electronic components. The power Supply 46 is
`preferably implemented as one or more batteries. The power
`Supply 46 might further represent an external power Source
`that overrides or recharges the built-in batteries, Such as an
`AC adapter or a powered docking cradle.
`FIG. 3 shows the LCD 28 in more detail. It comprises a
`touch-Sensitive Screen having a touch-Sensitive area 50
`Superimposed on a viewing area 52. The touch-Sensitive area
`50 extends slightly beyond the viewing area 52 to form a
`border 54. The border 54 is inside the touch-sensitive area 50
`and responsive to touch contact from the Stylus, but is
`outside of the viewing area 52. The border 54 may surround
`the Viewing area 52, as shown in FIG. 3, or run along one
`or more sides of the viewing area.
`The LCD28 has a taskbar 60 along the bottom of viewing
`area 52. The taskbar UI 60 resembles the familiar taskbar of
`the Windows(R 95 operating system. It presents the “Start”
`button 62 and active application icons, as represented by the
`“Word” button 64 for the word processing program manu
`factured and sold by Microsoft Corporation under the trade
`mark Word. The taskbar UI 60 also has a time/date area 66.
`It is noted that the Word button 64 is shown for example
`purposes, and buttons for different or additional programs
`may be displayed in the taskbar UI 60. Furthermore, the
`button may be configured to have a different graphical
`appearance other than the rectangular shape shown in FIG.
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`FIG. 4 shows the LCD 28 with an active application
`window 70 on the viewing area 52. In this example, the
`application window 70 is a graphical user interface for the
`word processing program Sold under the trademark Word.
`The user interface window 70 contains a tool bar 72 with a
`close window button 74 in the upper right hand corner. Due
`to Screen size constraints of the LCD 28, the window 70 does
`not appear as an independent framed unit, as is customary in
`the user interface of the Windows(R 95 operating system.
`Instead, the window 70 appears to consume the entire
`viewing area above the taskbar 60. In other
`implementations, the window 70 might appear as an inde
`pendent framed unit.
`One feature in the popular Windows(R 95 operating sys
`tem is the “window minimize' feature. Windows can be
`minimized and removed from the primary viewing area of
`the display by moving the mouse pointer to a “minimize”
`button in the upper right hand corner of the window and
`clicking on the minimize button. The minimize button is
`represented as a Square containing a flat line " ' near the
`bottom. The window is removed from the screen and rep
`resented as an icon, typically in the form of an application
`button, at the bottom of the Screen. The user can move the
`icon to different areas of the Screen as desired for Screen
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`management. When the user wants to see the window again,
`the user clicks on the application button and then clicks on
`an “enlarge” button next to the minimize button to return the
`window to its normal size. The minimize and enlarge
`buttons are positioned beside the close window button,
`which is represented as a Square with an “X”.
`Due to limited Screen Space, handheld PCs do not Support
`a mouse pointer nor the minimize and enlarge buttons in the
`graphical window. Notice in FIG. 4 that the user interface
`window 70 does not Support a minimize button or an enlarge
`button. Accordingly, the conventional technique for imple
`menting the “window minimize' feature cannot be imported
`to the operating system 44 of the H/PC.
`An aspect of this invention pertains to a new user interface
`for achieving the “window minimize' feature in a handheld
`PC. As shown in FIG. 2, the operating system 44 has a
`window minimize (win min) manager 48 that controls
`minimizing and enlarging the window.
`To alternately minimize and enlarge a graphical window,
`the user taps the button in taskbar 60 that corresponds to
`window. In this example, the window 70 contains the Word
`program, and hence the user taps the corresponding "Word”
`button 64 in the taskbar 60. The window minimize manager
`48 of the operating system 44 interprets this input to either
`minimize or enlarge the window 70 associated with the
`button 64, depending upon the present State of the window.
`More particularly, when the window is active and view
`able (FIG. 4), tapping the “Word” button 64 minimizes the
`window 70 to remove it entirely from the screen, as is shown
`in FIG. 3. In this state, the button 64 graphically appears
`undepressed and lacking focus. When the window is active
`and minimized (i.e., not viewable on the Screen), tapping the
`“Word” button 64 restores the window to full screen, as
`shown in FIG. 4. In this state, the button 64 graphically
`appears depressed as having focus.
`Although the invention has been described in language
`Specific to Structural features and/or methodological Steps, it
`is to be understood that the invention defined in the
`appended claims is not necessarily limited to the Specific
`features or Steps described. Rather, the Specific features and
`StepS are disclosed as preferred forms of implementing the
`claimed invention.
`We claim:
`1. A computing device comprising:
`a proceSSOr,
`a display;
`an operating System executing on the processor to provide
`a graphical user interface environment capable of pre
`Senting a graphical window and a program taskbar on
`the display, the program taskbar having a program icon
`representing a program active within the graphical
`window; and
`the operating System being configured to minimize the
`graphical window to remove the graphical window
`from the display in direct response to actuating the
`program icon with Single contact.
`2. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the
`operating System is configured to enlarge the graphical
`window to restore the graphical window on the display in
`response to actuating the program icon.
`3. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the
`display is a touch-Sensitive display and the operating System
`is configured to minimize or enlarge the graphical window
`on the display in response to contacting the program icon.
`4. For a computing device having a touch-Sensitive
`Screen, an operating System embodied on a computer
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`readable medium to provide a graphical user interface
`environment capable of presenting a graphical window and
`a program taskbar on the Screen, the program taskbar having
`a program icon representing a program active within the
`graphical window, the operating System being configured to
`alternately, in response to contact of the program icon, (1)
`minimize the graphical window to remove the graphical
`window from the viewing area and (2) enlarge the graphical
`window to return the graphical window to the viewing area.
`5. A method for operating a computing device having a
`touch-Sensitive display, comprising the following Steps:
`presenting a graphical user interface environment within
`a viewing area of the touch-Sensitive display, the
`graphical user interface environment Supporting a
`graphical window and a program taskbar,
`showing a program icon within the program taskbar that
`represents a program active within the graphical win
`dow; and
`alternately minimizing and enlarging the program win
`dow in direct response to Single contact of the program
`icon.
`6. An operating System embodied on a computer-readable
`medium having computer-executable instructions for per
`forming the Steps of the method as recited in claim 5.
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`7. A computer-readable medium having computer
`executable instructions for performing the Steps of the
`method as recited in claim 5.
`8. A handheld computing device, comprising:
`a proceSSOr,
`a touch-Sensitive LCD display;
`an operating System executing on the processor to provide
`a graphical user interface environment capable of pre
`Senting a graphical window and a program taskbar on
`the touch-Sensitive LCD display, the program taskbar
`having a program icon representing a program active
`within the graphical window; and
`the operating System being configured to minimize the
`graphical window to remove the graphical window
`from the touch-Sensitive LCD display in response to
`contacting the program icon.
`9. A handheld computing device as recited in claim 8,
`wherein the operating System is configured to enlarge the
`graphical window to restore the graphical window on the
`touch-Sensitive LCD display in response to contacting the
`program icon.
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