Abstract:
A method for cleaning a touch screen display in a touch screen device without inadvertently activating a feature or inputting unwanted data by touching the touch screen display. The method operates by entering a clean touch screen mode wherein individual touches of the touch screen display are not recognized by the touch screen device. This allows the user to clean the touch screen display by wiping it with a cloth without inadvertently activating a feature or inputting unwanted data. The touch screen display turns bright white when it is in the clean touch screen mode to illuminate dirt and oil on the touch screen display to allow for easier cleaning of the touch screen display. The touch screen device exits the clean touch screen mode in response to input from the user. The user can depress any key on a keyboard attached to the touch screen device or the user can simultaneously touch opposite corners of the touch screen display to exit the clean touch screen mode. The touch screen device will also exit the clean touch screen mode after a predetermined amount of time without input from the user.
Abstract:
A data display device including a memory for storing records, an information display, a processor, a display control and a user input. The processor organizes the data base records into groups, and includes a balancer for selecting groups whereby the number of records organized into each group are selectively similar. The display control controls the information display to indicate the discrete field ranges of the groups in a display organization area, and the records in a selected group in a display data area. The user input, such as touch sensitive areas, allows selection of a group to display in the data display area. A second input allows modifying the data base and the processor includes a rebalancer for selectively initiating the balancer after a selected modification of the data base. The displayed field ranges for each group may have upper and lower limits equal to the highest and lowest fields in the records of the group to indicate gaps to the user.
Abstract:
Methods, systems, and computer program products can enable a pair of panes to be displayed on a display screen. A first object, which can be, for example, a month calendar view or a day diary view, is displayed in the first pane. Similarly, a second object, which can also be a month calendar view or a day diary view, is displayed in the second pane. A third object can then be displayed in the first pane while maintaining the second object in the second pane in its current state. Information, such as calendar and/or day diary information, can therefore be conveyed via a pair of panes on a display screen. Thus, while the present invention is applicable to any size display, it may be particularly useful in computing devices having small display screens because information can be conveyed using only two panes. Moreover, the meaning associations between the information presented in the two panes are preserved, which allows a user to navigate between the views in a natural manner.
Abstract:
A service provider such as a physician or an automobile mechanic is identified from a wireless communicator based on categories of service providers such as physicians or automobile mechanics. In particular, a radiotelephone call is initiated from the wireless communicator to a first telephone number that corresponds to a first service provider of a first category, for example a first physician. The wireless receiver then detects that the radiotelephone call is not successfully completed, for example by detecting that a busy signal is obtained from the first telephone number, by detecting that a radiotelephone call to the first telephone number is repeatedly initiated during a predetermined time and/or by detecting that radiotelephone calls to multiple telephone numbers corresponding to service providers of the first category are initiated during a predetermined time. If the radiotelephone call is not successfully completed, a listing is obtained at the wireless communicator of at least a second telephone number that corresponds to at least a second service provider of the first category. At least part of the listing is displayed on the wireless communicator, so that a radiotelephone call may be initiated from the wireless communicator in response to selection of the second service provider of the first category. Thus, in the example where the service provider is a physician, if a radiotelephone call to a first physician is initiated and is not successfully completed, a listing of physicians may be displayed on the wireless communicator display so that other physicians may be called.
Abstract:
Methods, systems, and computer program products can enable a pair of panes to be displayed on a display screen. A first object, which can be, for example, a month calendar view or a day diary view, is displayed in the first pane. Similarly, a second object, which can also be a month calendar view or a day diary view, is displayed in the second pane. A third object can then be displayed in the first pane while maintaining the second object in the second pane in its current state. Information, such as calendar and/or day diary information, can therefore be conveyed via a pair of panes on a display screen. Thus, while the present invention is applicable to any size display, it may be particularly useful in computing devices having small display screens because information can be conveyed using only two panes. Moreover, the meaning associations between the information presented in the two panes are preserved, which allows a user to navigate between the views in a natural manner.
Abstract:
A service provider such as a physician or an automobile mechanic is identified from a wireless communicator based on categories of service providers such as physicians or automobile mechanics. In particular, a radiotelephone call is initiated from the wireless communicator to a first telephone number that corresponds to a first service provider of a first category, for example a first physician. The wireless receiver then detects that the radiotelephone call is not successfully completed, for example by detecting that a busy signal is obtained from the first telephone number, by detecting that a radiotelephone call to the first telephone number is repeatedly initiated during a predetermined time and/or by detecting that radiotelephone calls to multiple telephone numbers corresponding to service providers of the first category are initiated during a predetermined time. If the radiotelephone call is not successfully completed, a listing is obtained at the wireless communicator of at least a second telephone number that corresponds to at least a second service provider of the first category. At least part of the listing is displayed on the wireless communicator, so that a radiotelephone call may be initiated from the wireless communicator in response to selection of the second service provider of the first category. Thus, in the example where the service provider is a physician, if a radiotelephone call to a first physician is initiated and is not successfully completed, a listing of physicians may be displayed on the wireless communicator display so that other physicians may be called.
Abstract:
Intelligent profile management systems, computer program products, and related methods are disclosed in which a profile manager controls one or more profiles with each profile including a virtual filing card, and, optionally, a virtual business card. The virtual business card may originate from a first entity (e.g., a user, a business, an organisation, etc.) with which the virtual business card is associated. A virtual filing card, on the other hand, may originate from any second entity that wishes to record information (e.g., quality of services offered by a first entity) about some first entity. A virtual business card and virtual filing card associated with the same entity are thus paired together to comprise a profile for that entity. A communication device may receive a request for a referral (i.e., information) for another entity (i.e., an entity not associated with the communication device). In response to the request, the communication device may send a virtual filing card associated with the requested entity to the requesting communication device. Accordingly, virtual filing cards may facilitate the sharing of information among a network of second entities, including subjective information (i.e., experiences of the second entity with services offered by a first entity) accumulated by a second entity that pertains to a first entity.
Abstract:
In a data processing system such as a personal communicator, a method for operating a messaging device includes defining a plurality of content types and receiving an information entity. The method further includes associating the information entity with any combination of the plurality of content types. The method further includes displaying identifying information and content type information for the information entity. Thus, users can specify inclusion of information entities having any different content type in heterogeneous collections which may be displayed and managed on the communicator.
Abstract:
A method is provided for creating and using a web shortcut for conducting a web transaction on the World Wide Web ("web"). In one aspect of the invention, a web shortcut is created by performing the following steps: (1) recording a web page's uniform resource location ("URL") as a node in a history tree; (2) filling in a web form to provide web form information; (3) recording a web page's reuse policy; and (4) saving the recorded node, web form information, and reuse policy to a file. In another aspect of the invention, the web shortcut is utilized when an online user selects a node in the history tree.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for moving an object on a touchscreen display of a portable intelligent communications device or a separate computer is disclosed as including the steps of touching first and second areas on the display screen associated with the object to select the object, and identifying a new location for the object on the display screen. The object is selected when the first and second areas are touched within a predetermined time period, and moved to the new location when the location is identified on the screen within an additional predetermined time period. In touching the areas associated with an object to select the object, the screen is contacted at first and second points within a selection range about the object. From these points, the touches move in unison towards the center of the object, terminating at a point abutting or inside the periphery of the object. The first and second touches may be on opposite sides of the object and accomplished using a thumb and finger.