Bezel based input mechanism and user interface for a smart watch
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorChandrasekhar Narayanaswami
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wearable mobile computing device/appliance (e.g., a wrist watch) with a high resolution display that is capable of wirelessly accessing information from the network and a variety of other devices. The mobile computing device/appliance includes a user interface employing a bezel-based input mechanism including a bezel ring which may be rotated and depressed for generating both rotation and wheel click events for enabling navigation, selection and entry of various displayed textual and graphical items.
Claims42
A wearable appliance implementing a user interface, said wearable appliance comprising:
- a high-resolution pixel-addressable display for displaying text and graphic items, at least one item including a cursor element;
- a bezel-based input mechanism comprising a bezel ring capable of being manipulated for generating signals representing bezel rotation events corresponding to user manipulation of said bezel ring for navigating said cursor element through said display, and wheel click events corresponding to user activation of a displayed item highlighted by said cursor;
- and,
- a control device for receiving said signals and enabling navigation, selection and entry of displayed items through said user interface.
A method for controlling user interface functions in a wearable appliance including a high-resolution display for displaying text and graphic items and a bezel-based input device having a bezel ring capable of being rotated and activated for executing user interface functions, said method comprising the steps of:
- generating display of said user interface functions via said display and initiating display of a cursor navigation element thereof;
- generating signals in response to rotation of said bezel ring for navigating said cursor through displayed graphic and text items;
- generating a signal in response to activation of said bezel-based input mechanism for selecting a displayed graphic and text item highlighted by said cursor;
- and,
- receiving said signals and effecting navigation, selection and entry of displayed items through said user interface.
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for controlling user interface functions in a wearable appliance including a high-resolution display for displaying text and graphic items and a bezel-based input device having a bezel ring capable of being rotated and activated for executing user interface functions, said method steps including the steps of:
- generating display of said user interface functions via said display and initiating display of a cursor navigation element thereof;
- generating signals in response to rotation of said bezel ring for navigating said cursor through displayed graphic and text items;
- generating a signal in response to activation of said bezel-based input mechanism for selecting a displayed graphic and text item highlighted by said cursor;
- and,
- receiving said signals and effecting navigation, selection and entry of displayed items through said user interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.