Portable electronic apparatus and associated method

Abstract

A portable electronic apparatus including a touch-sensitive display on a first side surface of the apparatus housing; a first input device arranged to be actuated with a first digit of a hand of a typical user; a second input device arranged to be actuated with a second digit of the hand of the typical user, allowing the user to operate at least the first input device and the second input device without change of grip; and a controller coupled to the touch-sensitive display, the first input device and second input device, the controller displaying content on the touch-sensitive display. The controller can affect the display of content on the touch-sensitive display in a first manner when the first input is actuated and to affect the display of content on the touch-sensitive display in a second manner when the second input is actuated.

1 . A portable electronic apparatus comprising: 
 an apparatus housing;    a touch-sensitive display provided on a first side surface of said apparatus housing;    a first input device arranged to be actuated with a first digit of a hand of a typical user;    a second input device arranged to be actuated with a second digit of said hand of said typical user, allowing said typical user to operate at least said first input device and said second input device without change of grip; and    a controller coupled to said touch-sensitive display, said first input device and second input device, said controller being capable of displaying content on said touch-sensitive display;    wherein said controller is configured to affect the display of content on said touch-sensitive display in a first manner when said first input is actuated and to affect the display of content on said touch-sensitive display in a second manner when said second input is actuated.    
   
   
       2 . The portable electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to move said content on said touch-sensitive display when said first input device is actuated, and to change zoom factor of said content when said second input device is actuated.  
   
   
       3 . The portable electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first input device and said second input device are arranged to allow said portable electronic apparatus to be held by said hand of said typical user.  
   
   
       4 . The portable electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first input device is a key located on said first side surface of said apparatus housing, and said second input device is located on a second side surface of said apparatus housing, non-parallel to said first side surface.  
   
   
       5 . The portable electronic apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said first input device is arranged to be actuated with a thumb of said hand of said typical user, said first input device being located at least a threshold distance from an edge of said first side, said edge being an edge of said first side being closest to where said thumb is connected to the rest of said hand.  
   
   
       6 . The portable electronic apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said second side surface is essentially perpendicular to said first side surface.  
   
   
       7 . The portable electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to affect the display of content on said touch-sensitive display in a third manner when a writing tool is detected on said touch-sensitive display.  
   
   
       8 . The portable electronic apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said third manner is selected from the group comprising panning, selecting text, and actuating a user interface element to display new content.  
   
   
       9 . The portable electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said portable electronic apparatus is a pocket computer.  
   
   
       10 . The portable electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said portable electronic apparatus is selected from the group comprising a mobile communication terminal, a portable gaming device and a personal digital assistant.  
   
   
       11 . A user interface method of a portable electronic apparatus, said portable electronic apparatus comprising an apparatus housing and a touch-sensitive display provided on a first side surface of said apparatus housing, said method comprising: 
 receiving a first input detected by a first input device, when said first input device is actuated by a first digit of a hand of a user;    as a response to said first input, affecting how, in a first manner, content is displayed on said touch-sensitive display;    receiving a second input detected by a second input device, when said second input device is actuated by a second digit of said hand of said user; and    as a response to said second input, affecting how, in a second manner, content is displayed on said touch-sensitive display.    
   
   
       12 . The user interface method according to  claim 11 , wherein said receiving a first input and said receiving a second input are performed without an intermediate change of grip of said hand by said user.  
   
   
       13 . The user interface method according to  claim 11 , wherein said first manner is moving content, and said second manner is zooming content.  
   
   
       14 . The user interface method according to  claim 11 , furthermore comprising: 
 receiving a third input detected by said touch-sensitive display, when said third input device is actuated by a writing tool by said user;    as a response to said third input, affecting how, in a third manner, content is displayed on said touch-sensitive display.    
   
   
       15 . The user interface method according to  claim 14 , wherein said third manner is selected from the group comprising panning, selecting text, and actuating a user interface element to display new content.  
   
   
       16 . A computer program product directly loadable into a memory of a portable electronic apparatus, said computer program product comprising software code portions for performing the method according to  claim 11.