Device interface

Abstract

The present invention relates to a small computing device with an improved interface. The interface comprises a display screen which extends the majority of length of the face of the housing, and a plurality of multi-function buttons extending on either side of the display screen.

1 . A small computing device, including a housing and a display screen extending along a face of the housing lengthwise, a first plurality of keys positioned adjacent one side of the screen and a second plurality of keys positioned adjacent the opposite side of the screen.  
     
     
         2 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 1 , the first and second plurality of keys being positioned in rows extending substantially the same direction as the length of the face of the housing.  
     
     
         3 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 2 , each of the first and second plurality of keys being positioned in rows of single key width.  
     
     
         4 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 1 , the first and second plurality of keys being positioned on the face of the housing.  
     
     
         5 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 1  the first and second plurality of keys being positioned on respective sides of the housing adjacent the face.  
     
     
         6 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising control means arranged to control operation of the small computing device, the control means being arranged to control the small computing device to operate of a plurality in operating modes wherein the keys operate as multi-function keys, the particular function of the key in a particular operating mode being designated by indicia appearing on the display screen.  
     
     
         7 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the control means is arranged to control the small computing device so that the particular function of a key in a particular operating mode is designated by indicia appearing on the display screen adjacent the key.  
     
     
         8 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of keys comprises three or more keys and the second plurality of keys comprises three or more keys.  
     
     
         9 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the first plurality of keys comprises between four and ten keys inclusive and the second plurality of keys comprises between four and ten keys inclusive.  
     
     
         10 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the first plurality of keys comprises between six and eight keys inclusive and the second plurality of keys comprises between six and eight keys inclusive.  
     
     
         11 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein in one of the plurality of operating modes, at least a plurality of keys are associated with numerals, operation of the plurality of keys resulting in the input of numerals.  
     
     
         12 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the first plurality of keys comprises at least 5 keys and the second plurality of keys comprises at least 5 keys, and at least 5 keys of each of the first and second plurality of keys are associated in one operating mode with each of the ten digits of the decimal numeral system appearing as indicia on the display screen.  
     
     
         13 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the control means is arranged to control the small computing device in a hard key operating mode, and where at least a plurality of the keys are associated with hard labels which indicate function of the keys in the hard key operating mode.  
     
     
         14 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the hard labels are arranged on the keys.  
     
     
         15 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the hard labels include numerics and in the hard key operating mode the control means controls the at least plurality of keys to input numerics corresponding to the hard labels.  
     
     
         16 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the hard key operating mode the control means is arranged to operate the at least plurality of the keys to input the characters from the Arabic alphabet, and the hard labels include Arabic characters.  
     
     
         17 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein in one of the plurality of operating modes a plurality of the keys operate to provide a scrolling function, instructing the information on the display screen to be scrolled.  
     
     
         18 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 6 , in a menu operating mode the control means being arranged to cause the display screen to display a plurality of menu options, each menu option being designated by an associated one of the plurality of keys, whereby one of the plurality of menu options may be selected by actuating the appropriate one of the plurality of keys.  
     
     
         19 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 18 , the control means being arranged, on actuation in the menu operating mode of one of the plurality of keys to select a menu option, to control the display to present a plurality of menu item for the particular menu option selected, each menu items being associated with one of the plurality of keys, whereby operation of a key results in selection of the associated menu item.  
     
     
         20 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 19 , the device being arranged so that the menu options include a number of menu items which are less than or equal to the number of the first and second plurality of keys, whereby selection of a menu item is a two key step process, comprising, firstly, selection of the menu option and, secondly, selection of the menu item within the menu option.  
     
     
         21 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein in one of the plurality of operating modes the control means being arranged to control the display screen to present a plurality of items for selection, each of the items being associated with one of the first or second plurality of keys, selection of the associated item being carried out on actuation of the associated key, the control means being arranged to enable that more than one of the displayed items can be selected.  
     
     
         22 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein in one of the plurality of the operating modes the control means is arranged to control the display screen to present a plurality of items for selection, each one of the items being associated with one of the first or second plurality of keys, selection of the associated item being carried out on selection of the associated key, the control means being arranged to enable only one of the displayed items to be selected.  
     
     
         23 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein in one operating mode, the control means is arranged to control the device so that selection of alpha-numerics may occur by operation of the keys, to enable entry of text to the device, and wherein the device is provided with text sense means arranged to provide a suggestion of characters to be entered by a user of the device, and the control means controlling the display so that the text sense suggestion appears on the display screen associated with one of the plurality of the keys and may be selected by actuation of the associated key.  
     
     
         24 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein the text sense means is arranged to provide a suggestion of characters which may include one or more characters but does not provide a complete word but only a start or continuation of a word.  
     
     
         25 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein the text sense means is arranged to provide a suggestion of one or more of characters to complete the word.  
     
     
         26 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 1 , and further comprising “yes” and “no” keys positioned below the screen.  
     
     
         27 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 1 , and further comprising one or more “direction” keys positioned below the display screen.  
     
     
         28 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the computing device includes means enabling it to be worn by a user.  
     
     
         29 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 1 , the small computing device not being provided with a standard numeric keypad.  
     
     
         30 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising communication circuitry to enable a communications function.  
     
     
         31 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 30 , arranged as a mobile telephone.  
     
     
         32 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the device is pre-configured so that at least a plurality of the keys have dedicated, single function operation.  
     
     
         33 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein at least a plurality of the keys have pre-configured dedicated single function operation, at least one of the functions instructing the communication circuitry to connect to a predetermined telephone number.  
     
     
         34 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 31 , the device being configurable so that at least a plurality of the keys may be allocated a dedicated single function and locked so that they can only be operated to provide that single function.  
     
     
         35 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 34 , wherein the single function effects an instruction to the communications circuitry to dial a predetermined telephone number.  
     
     
         36 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a speaker area positioned on the face of the display screen.  
     
     
         37 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the display screen is arranged to be touch sensitive and the control means is arranged to control the device so that data may be input by touching the screen.  
     
     
         38 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 20 , the mobile telephone not including a standard numeric key pad.  
     
     
         39 . A small computing device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the display screen extends for the majority of the length of the face.  
     
     
         40 . A communications device including a housing and a display screen extending substantially the length of a face of the housing for the majority of the length of the face, a first plurality of keys positioned sequentially adjacent one side of the screen and a second plurality of keys positioned sequentially adjacent the opposite side of the screen, the device including means enabling the device to be worn by a user.  
     
     
         41 . A communications device in accordance with  claim 40 , wherein the device is substantially watch size and may be worn as a watch or a pendant.  
     
     
         42 . A communications device in accordance with  claim 40 , wherein the device is a mobile telephone.  
     
     
         43 . A communications device in accordance with  claim 40 , the device further comprising controls arranged to control operation of the communications device, a control means is being arranged to control the device to operate in the plurality of operating modes, wherein the keys operate as multi-function keys.  
     
     
         44 . A communications device in accordance with  claim 43 , wherein a particular function of a key in a particular operating mode is designed by indicia appearing on the display screen.  
     
     
         45 . A communications device in accordance with  claim 40 , wherein the first and second plurality of keys are positioned on the sides of the device adjacent the face.  
     
     
         46 . A computer program arranged to control a small computing device to implement a small computing device of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         47 . A computer readable medium providing a computer program in accordance with  claim 45 .  
     
     
         48 . A small computing device including a control means for controlling operation of the small computing device, a housing mounting the control means, a interface including a display screen and input means for inputting data, and a text sense means arranged to provide a suggestion of characters, wherein the suggestion may include one or more characters but does not provide a complete word but only a start or continuation of a word.  
     
     
         49 . A device in accordance with  claim 48 , wherein the text sense means is arranged to provide a suggestion of one or more of the characters to complete the word.  
     
     
         50 . A device in accordance with  claim 48 , wherein the text sense means is arranged to provide a suggestion of characters to commence a word.  
     
     
         51 . A mobile telephone, including a housing and a display screen extending substantially along the length of the face of the housing for the majority of the length of the face, a first plurality of keys positioned adjacent one side of the screen a second plurality of keys positioned adjacent the opposite side of the screen.