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US 7,256,767 B2Granted
Automatic orientation-based user interface for an ambiguous handheld device
AssigneePalm, Inc.
InventorsYoon Kean Wong, William Robert Hanson, Shawn R. Gettemy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electronic device is provided that includes a user-interface feature, a detection mechanism and one or more internal components. The user-interface feature is configurable to have a selected orientation about one or more axes. The detection mechanism can detect orientation information about the electronic device. The one or more components may select the orientation of the user-interface feature based on the detected orientation information.
Claims26
An electronic device comprising:
- a set of user-interface features provided on a face of a housing of the electronic device;
- one or more components, including at least one processor, that is configured to (i) identify whether the electronic device is being operated in a first orientation or in a second orientation, and (ii) assign one or more functions to each of the set of user-interface features based on whether the electronic device is being operated in the first orientation or in the second orientation;
- wherein the processor is configured to assign the one or more functions to each of the set of user-interface features by assigning, for at least a first user-interface feature in the set, (i) a first function for when the first user-interface feature is actuated while the electronic device is operated in the first orientation, and (ii) a second function for when the first user-interface feature is actuated while the electronic device is operated in the second orientation;
- and
- wherein each of the first function and second function excludes any function assigned to any other user-interface feature in the set of user-interface features in both of the first orientation and the second orientation.
2 more elements
A method for configuring an electronic device, the method comprising:
- detecting at least one user interaction with a first user-interface feature in a set of user-interface features of an electronic device;
- interpreting an orientation of the electronic device being operated by the user, based on the interaction of the user with the user-interface feature;
- and
- configuring at least the first user-interface feature in the set of user-interface features according to the interpreted orientation, by assigning, for at least the first user-interface feature, (i) a first function for when the first user-interface feature is actuated while the electronic device is interpreted as being operated in the first orientation, and (ii) a second function for while the first user-interface feature is actuated when the electronic device is interpreted as being operated in the second orientation;
- and
- wherein each of the first function and second function excludes any function assigned to any other user-interface feature of the set of user-interface features in both of the first orientation and the second orientation.
3 more elements
A method for operating an electronic device, the method comprising:
- detecting whether the electronic device is being operated in either a first orientation or a second orientation;
- automatically selecting a configuration for at least a first user-interface feature in a set of one or more user-interface features by assigning the first user-interface features to have one of (i) a first function for when the electronic device is in the first orientation, or (ii) a second function for when the electronic device is in the second orientation, wherein the set of user-interface features are separate from a display of the electronic device;
- and
- wherein each of the first function and second function of the first user-interface feature excludes any function assigned to any other user-interface feature in the set of user-interface features in both of the first orientation and the second orientation.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.