User interface for palm-sized computing devices and method and apparatus for displaying the same

Patent 6727917 Issued on April 27, 2004. Estimated Expiration Date:

May 4, 2020. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Status bar for application windows
Patent #: 5588105
Issued on: 12/24/1996
Inventor: Foster, et al.

Method and apparatus for recognizing handwriting of different users of a pen-based computer system
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Issued on: 09/09/1997
Inventor: Beernink, et al.

Tool set for navigating through an electronic book Patent #: 6243071
Issued on: 06/05/2001
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Inventors

Assignee

Microsoft Corporation

Application

No. 09564928 filed on 05/04/2000

US Classes:

345/179Stylus

Examiners

Primary: Nguyen, Cao (Kevin)

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Westman, Champlin & Kelly, P.A.

International Class

G06F 314

Abstract

The hand-held computing device user interface (UI) of the present invention displays information for an active application program in a middle portion of the screen, and displays a shell program controlled navigation bar at a top portion of the screen. The navigation bar includes a navigation icon which when tapped by the stylus aids the user in navigating to other application programs. The navigation bar also includes a title for the active application program, thus saving vertical real estate on the screen. The UI of the present invention also displays an application menu bar at a bottom portion of the screen so that the user of the hand-held device can manipulate data from the active application by tapping menu items with a stylus without blocking view of the middle portion of the display.