Method and Apparatus for Interacting with a Portable Computer System

Abstract

A palmtop computer system that incorporates mechanical buttons that combine the task of turning the palmtop computer system on and starting a particular application program. Furthermore, the same mechanical button can be used to navigate the application program to find the information that is most likely needed by the user. Additionally, external devices can be coupled to the palmtop computer system in a manner that allows the external hardware device to initiate specific application programs that cooperate with the external hardware device.

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 detecting that a first application button of a plurality of mechanical application buttons is pressed;   in response to detecting that the first application button of a plurality of mechanical buttons is pressed,
 identifying a first application associated with the first application button; and commencing execution of the first application associated with the first application button; 
   in response to detecting that the first application button is pressed during said execution of the first application, performing a first function of one or more functions upon data associated with the first application.   
   
   
       2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising: in response to detecting a subsequent press of the first application button during execution of the first application, performing a subsequent function of the one or more functions upon data associated with the first application, wherein the one or more functions are performed in a particular repeating sequence. 
   
   
       3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the first function corresponds to display of a list of information belonging to a first category of one or more categories, the categories ordered in a particular repeating sequence. 
   
   
       4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , further comprising: in response to detecting a subsequent press of the first application button during execution of the first application, displaying of a list of information belonging to the next category in the particular repeating sequence. 
   
   
       5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein the set of categories is editable by a user. 
   
   
       6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein assignment of an item of information is editable by a user. 
   
   
       7 . A computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium carrying instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, perform the steps of:
 detecting that a first application button of a plurality of mechanical application buttons is pressed;   in response to detecting that the first application button of a plurality of mechanical buttons is pressed,
 identifying a first application associated with the first application button; and commencing execution of the first application associated with the first application button; 
   in response to detecting that the first application button is pressed during said execution of the first application, performing a first function of one or more functions upon data associated with the first application.   
   
   
       8 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 7 , further carrying instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, perform the step of: in response to detecting a subsequent press of the first application button during execution of the first application, performing a subsequent function of the one or more functions upon data associated with the first application, wherein the one or more functions are performed in a particular repeating sequence. 
   
   
       9 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the first function corresponds to display of a list of information belonging to a first category of one or more categories, the categories ordered in a particular repeating sequence. 
   
   
       10 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , further carrying instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, perform the step of: in response to detecting a subsequent press of the first application button during execution of the first application, displaying of a list of information belonging to the next category in the particular repeating sequence. 
   
   
       11 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the set of categories is editable by a user. 
   
   
       12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein assignment of an item of information is editable by a user. 
   
   
       13 . A device comprising:
 one or more processors, the one or more processors configured to perform the steps of:   detecting that a first application button of a plurality of mechanical application buttons is pressed;   in response to detecting that the first application button of a plurality of mechanical buttons is pressed,
 identifying a first application associated with the first application button; and 
 commencing execution of the first application associated with the first application button; 
   in response to detecting that the first application button is pressed during said execution of the first application, performing a first function of one or more functions upon data associated with the first application.   
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to perform the step of: in response to detecting a subsequent press of the first application button during execution of the first application, performing a subsequent function of the one or more functions upon data associated with the first application, wherein the one or more functions are performed in a particular repeating sequence. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the first function corresponds to display of a list of information belonging to a first category of one or more categories, the categories ordered in a particular repeating sequence. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to perform the step of: in response to detecting a subsequent press of the first application button during execution of the first application, displaying of a list of information belonging to the next category in the particular repeating sequence. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the set of categories is editable by a user. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein assignment of an item of information is editable by a user.