Method of using physical buttons in association with a display to access and execute functions available through associated hardware and software

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for using physical buttons on a device in association with a display to display, access, and execute functions available through associated hardware and software. The physical buttons are programmable, and the function of each button is displayed on an associated display when the button is activated using a first type of motion, and the function of the button is performed when the button is activated using a second type of motion. This allows the display to be free of unnecessary icons, tool-tips, menus, text, etc., and to be devoted to actual content unless and until a user decides to perform a function associated with the device containing the display. Increasing the available display space is especially important in the advancing art of electronics, where devices are becoming smaller and smaller, yet consumers are demanding more and more functionality.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method comprising: 
 providing on a display, in response to a first motion performed upon a first button, a description of a function associated with said first button; and    executing, in response to a second motion performed upon said first button, the function associated with said first button;    wherein said first and second motions are different motions performed on said first button.    
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the first button is on a hand-held device.  
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 2 , further comprising providing for the removal from the display after a suitable amount of time of non-activity, the description of the function associated with the first button.  
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 2 , wherein the display is on the device.  
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising providing for the removal from the display, in response to another motion performed upon said first button, the description of the function associated with the first button.  
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the description of the function associated with the first button is displayed on the display adjacent to the first button.  
     
     
         7 . A system comprising: 
 a device having at least a first input area; and    a display;    wherein a first manner of activation in said first input area causes a description to be displayed on the display, and a second manner of activation in said first input area causes a function to be executed,    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the device is a hand-held device.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the display is on the device.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a port, wherein when said function is executed, a result occurs on said display or at said port.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said result at said port comprises sending a signal from said hand-held device to a second device.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said second device is a television.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said second device is a set-top box.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said second device is a recording device.  
     
     
         15 . A hand-held device, comprising: 
 a display and a port integrated into said device; and    a button having a first motion and a second different motion, said first motion causing a description associated with said button to be presented on the display and the second different motion an said button causes an execution of a function,    wherein said execution of said function comprises either causing said display to change to a new state or causing said port to send an output signal to a second device.    
     
     
         16 . The hand-held device of  claim 15  wherein said second device is a television.  
     
     
         17 . The hand-held device of  claim 15  wherein said second device is a set-top box.  
     
     
         18 . The hand-held device of  claim 15  wherein said second device is a recording device.  
     
     
         19 . The hand-held device of  claim 15  wherein said output signal is a wireless signal.  
     
     
         20 . The handheld device of  claim 19  wherein said wireless signal is a radio frequency signal.  
     
     
         21 . The hand-held device of  claim 15  wherein said wireless signal is an infrared signal.  
     
     
         22 . A computer program product comprising: 
 a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a computer to perform an action, comprising,    computer readable program code means for causing a computer to provide on a display, in response to a first motion performed upon a first button, a description of a function associated with said first button; and    computer readable program code means for causing a computer to execute, in response to a second motion performed upon said first button, the function associated with said first button;    wherein said first and second motions are different motions performed on said first button.    
     
     
         23 . The computer program product as in  claim 22 , wherein the first button is on a hand-held device.  
     
     
         24 . The computer program product as in  claim 23 , further comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to provide for the removal from the display after a suitable amount of time of non-activity, the description of the function associated with the first button.  
     
     
         25 . The computer program product as in  claim 23 , wherein the display is integrated into the device.  
     
     
         26 . The computer program product as in  claim 22 , further comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to provide for the removal from the display, in response to another motion performed upon said first button, the description of the function associated with the first button.  
     
     
         27 . The computer program product as in  claim 22 , wherein the description of the function associated with the first button is displayed on the display adjacent to the first button.