US6154210A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for implementing button interface compatibility in touch-screen equipped digital imaging device
Assignee: FlashPoint Technology Inc
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Filing: 1998-11-25
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Granted: 2000-11-28
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Expires: 2018-11-25
Abstract
Abstract A system for implementing button interface compatibility for button aware applications executing on a touch-screen equipped digital imaging device. A touch-screen is coupled to the digital imaging device and is adapted to accept input from a user. An embedded computer system is built into the digital imaging device for implementing functionality for the digital imaging device. The embedded computer system includes a processor coupled to a memory, wherein the memory stores computer readable code which, when executed by the processor, causes the computer system to implement a hardware abstraction layer, a touch-screen manager, a button interface manager, and an event manager. The hardware abstraction layer is coupled to the touch-screen and is adapted to abstract the functionality of the touch-screen. The button interface manager is coupled to the touch-screen and is adapted to interface with a button aware application. The event manager is coupled to accept input from the touch-screen manager and the button interface manager, wherein the event manager interfaces a touch-screen aware application with the touch-screen by communicating with the interface manager and interfaces a button aware application with the touch-screen by communicating with the button event manager, wherein the touch-screen manager emulates button events to the button event manager such that the button aware application transparently interface with the touch-screen to accept the inputs from the user.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric C. Anderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:45
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/02; G03B17/18; G03B17/20; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0488; G06F3/04886; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/451
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
A digital imaging device, comprising; a touch-screen for accepting input from a user; and an embedded computer system built into the digital imaging device for implementing functionality for the digital imaging device, the computer system having a processor coupled to a coupled to a memory, the computer capable of executing software applications including a button aware application and a touch-screen aware application the memory storing computer readable code which when executed by the processor causes the computer system to implement; a hardware abstraction layer coupled to the touch-screen, the hardware abstraction layer for abstracting the functionality of the touch-screen; a touch-screen manager coupled to the touch-screen via the hardware abstraction layer; a button interface manager for interfacing with the button aware application, the button interface manager coupled to the touch-screen manager; and an IO event manager coupled to accept input from the touch-screen manager and the button interface manager, wherein if the touch-screen aware application is executed by the computer, the IO event manager interfaces the touch-screen aware application with the touch-screen by communicating with the touch screen manager, and if the button aware application is executed by the computer, the IO event manager interfaces the button aware application with the touch-screen by communicating with the button interface manager, wherein the touch-screen manager emulates button events to the button interface manager such that the button aware application transparently interfaces with the touch-screen to accept input from the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
A digital imaging device, comprising; a touch-screen for accepting input from a user; and an embedded computer system built into the digital imaging device for implementing functionality for the digital imaging device, the computer system having a processor coupled to a coupled to a memory, the computer capable of executing software applications including a button aware application and a touch-screen aware application the memory storing computer readable code which when executed by the processor causes the computer system to implement; a hardware abstraction layer coupled to the touch-screen, the hardware abstraction layer for abstracting the functionality of the touch-screen; a touch-screen manager coupled to the touch-screen via the hardware abstraction layer; a button interface manager for interfacing with the button aware application, the button interface manager coupled to the touch-screen manager; and an IO event manager coupled to accept input from the touch-screen manager and the button interface manager, wherein if the touch-screen aware application is executed by the computer, the IO event manager interfaces the touch-screen aware application with the touch-screen by communicating with the touch screen manager, and if the button aware application is executed by the computer, the IO event manager interfaces the button aware application with the touch-screen by communicating with the button interface manager, wherein the touch-screen manager emulates button events to the button interface manager such that the button aware application transparently interfaces with the touch-screen to accept input from the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The digital imaging device of claim 1, wherein the digital imaging device is adapted to initialize to a default mode wherein the IO event manager is pre-initialized to interface the button aware application with the touch-screen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The digital imaging device of claim 2, wherein the digital imaging device is adapted to exit the default mode to interface the touch-screen aware application with the touch-screen when the button aware application is not running.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The digital imaging device of claim 1, wherein the digital imaging device is adapted to implement button event input areas on the touch-screen to accept input from a user and provide input to the button aware application.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The digital imaging device of claim 4, wherein the digital imaging device graphically renders the button event input areas on the touch-screen in a semi-transparent manner to provide a visual cue to the user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The digital imaging device of claim 1, wherein the touch-screen is configured to use a sub-area to render a graphical user interface for the button aware application and use a remaining area to render a representation of a button interface to accept input from a user.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The digital imaging device of claim 6, further comprising: a display manager implemented by the computer system, the display manager adapted to control the representation of the button interface to interact with the user.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
201 words
A computer readable memory device for a touch-screen equipped digital imaging device, the computer readable memory device for storing computer readable code, which when executed by an embedded computer system built into the digital imaging device causes the digital imaging device to implement: a hardware abstraction layer coupled to the touch-screen, the hardware abstraction layer for abstracting the functionality of the touch-screen; a touch-screen manager coupled to the touch-screen via the hardware abstraction layer; a button interface manager for interfacing with a button aware application, the button interface manager coupled to the touch-screen manager; and an IO event manager coupled to accept input from the touch-screen manager and the button interface manager, wherein if a touch-screen aware application is executed by the computer, the IO event manager interfaces the touch-screen aware application with the touch-screen by communicating with the touch screen manager, and if the button aware application is executed by the computer, the IO event manager interfaces the button aware application with the touch-screen by communicating with the button interface manager, wherein the touch-screen manager emulates button events to the button interface manager such that the button aware application transparently interfaces with the touch-screen to accept input from the user.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
201 words
A computer readable memory device for a touch-screen equipped digital imaging device, the computer readable memory device for storing computer readable code, which when executed by an embedded computer system built into the digital imaging device causes the digital imaging device to implement: a hardware abstraction layer coupled to the touch-screen, the hardware abstraction layer for abstracting the functionality of the touch-screen; a touch-screen manager coupled to the touch-screen via the hardware abstraction layer; a button interface manager for interfacing with a button aware application, the button interface manager coupled to the touch-screen manager; and an IO event manager coupled to accept input from the touch-screen manager and the button interface manager, wherein if a touch-screen aware application is executed by the computer, the IO event manager interfaces the touch-screen aware application with the touch-screen by communicating with the touch screen manager, and if the button aware application is executed by the computer, the IO event manager interfaces the button aware application with the touch-screen by communicating with the button interface manager, wherein the touch-screen manager emulates button events to the button interface manager such that the button aware application transparently interfaces with the touch-screen to accept input from the user.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer readable memory device of claim 8, wherein the touch screen manager is configured to communicate directly with the IO event manager to support the button aware application.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer readable memory device of claim 8, wherein the computer readable code is operable to cause the digital imaging device to initialize to a default mode wherein the IO event manager is pre-initialized to interface the button aware application with the touch-screen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer readable memory device of claim 10, wherein the computer readable code is operable to cause the digital imaging device to exit the default mode to interface the touch-screen aware application with the touch-screen when the button aware application is not running.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer readable memory device of claim 8, wherein the computer readable code is operable to cause the digital imaging device to implement button event input areas on the touch-screen to accept input from a user and provide input to the button aware application.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
The computer readable memory device of claim 12, wherein the computer readable code is operable to cause the digital imaging device to configure a sub-area of the touch-screen to render a graphical user interface for the button aware application and use a remaining area to render a representation of a button interface to accept input from a user.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer readable memory device of claim 13, wherein the computer readable code causes the digital imaging device to further implement an interface manager adapted to control the representation of the button interface to interact with the user.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer readable memory device of claim 8, wherein the computer readable memory device adapted to be removable from the digital imaging device.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for implementing button interface compatibility for button aware applications executed on the touch screen equipped digital imaging device, the method comprising to the steps of: a) executing a boot sequence in a touch-screen equipped digital imaging device; b) pre-initializing an operating environment of the digital imaging device to a default mode to support button aware applications; c) launching either a button aware application or a touch-screen aware application; d) when the touch-screen aware application is launched, supporting the touch-screen aware application by interfacing the touch-screen aware application with the touch-screen via an I/O event manager; and e) when the button aware application is launched, supporting the button aware application by: interfacing the button aware application with the touch-screen by communicating with the I/O event manager using a button interface manager; and emulating button events to the button interface manager using the touch-screen manager such that the button aware application transparently interfaces with the touch-screen to accept inputs from the user.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for implementing button interface compatibility for button aware applications executed on the touch screen equipped digital imaging device, the method comprising to the steps of: a) executing a boot sequence in a touch-screen equipped digital imaging device; b) pre-initializing an operating environment of the digital imaging device to a default mode to support button aware applications; c) launching either a button aware application or a touch-screen aware application; d) when the touch-screen aware application is launched, supporting the touch-screen aware application by interfacing the touch-screen aware application with the touch-screen via an I/O event manager; and e) when the button aware application is launched, supporting the button aware application by: interfacing the button aware application with the touch-screen by communicating with the I/O event manager using a button interface manager; and emulating button events to the button interface manager using the touch-screen manager such that the button aware application transparently interfaces with the touch-screen to accept inputs from the user.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 16, wherein step d) further includes the step of: exiting the default mode to interface the touch-screen aware application with the touch-screen when the button aware application is not running.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 16, wherein step e) further includes the step of: implementing button event input areas on the touch-screen to accept input from the user and provide input to the button aware application.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 18, wherein the digital imaging device graphically renders the button event input areas on the touch-screen in a semi-transparent manner to provide a visual cue to the user.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 16, wherein step e) further includes the steps of: configuring a sub-area of the touch-screen to render a graphical user interface for the button aware application; and using a remaining area to render a representation of a button interface to accept input from the user.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the digital imaging device is a digital camera.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the digital imaging device is a printer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
186 words
A digital imaging device having button interface compatibility for button aware applications executing on a touch-screen equipped digital imaging device, comprising; a touch-screen for accepting input from a user; an embedded computer system built into the digital imaging device for implementing functionality for the digital imaging device, the computer system having a processor coupled to a memory, the computer capable of executing software applications, wherein the software applications are button aware applications and touch-screen aware applications, the memory storing computer readable code which when executed by the processor causes the computer system to implement a touch-screen manager operable for controlling the touch-screen; and the touch screen manager configured to provide button events or touch screen events to the software applications running on the touch screen equipped digital imaging device, wherein if the touch-screen aware application is executed by the processor, the touch-screen aware application interfaces with the touch-screen through the touch-screen manager, and if the button aware application is executed by the processor, the touch-screen manager emulates button events such that the button aware application transparently interfaces with the touch-screen to accent input from the user.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
186 words
A digital imaging device having button interface compatibility for button aware applications executing on a touch-screen equipped digital imaging device, comprising; a touch-screen for accepting input from a user; an embedded computer system built into the digital imaging device for implementing functionality for the digital imaging device, the computer system having a processor coupled to a memory, the computer capable of executing software applications, wherein the software applications are button aware applications and touch-screen aware applications, the memory storing computer readable code which when executed by the processor causes the computer system to implement a touch-screen manager operable for controlling the touch-screen; and the touch screen manager configured to provide button events or touch screen events to the software applications running on the touch screen equipped digital imaging device, wherein if the touch-screen aware application is executed by the processor, the touch-screen aware application interfaces with the touch-screen through the touch-screen manager, and if the button aware application is executed by the processor, the touch-screen manager emulates button events such that the button aware application transparently interfaces with the touch-screen to accent input from the user.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-28 | 2004-05-29 | 2004-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-28 | 2008-05-29 | 2008-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-28 | 2012-05-29 | 2012-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |