US7512901B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Context sensitive labels for an electronic device
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
•
Filing: 2004-05-20
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Granted: 2009-03-31
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Expires: 2024-05-20
Abstract
Abstract A control panel unit for a computing device includes buttons having characteristics that define individual button states. Upon actuation of a button, the viewable states of the buttons may change. A portion of the button may be illuminated to represent the state and/or include an icon depicting an application controlled by the button. The control panel unit may include a display for displaying plural soft labels corresponding to the buttons and representing the current context that will be initiated when the corresponding button is actuated. The soft labels may identify users or applications available to one user. Upon actuation of an application, the soft labels can change to represent various actions or functions available in the application. In the user interface, each user may be assigned a specific color scheme. The color schemes allow a person to visually determine who is logged into the system and/or which individual has new information.
Inventors
- 👤 William H. Vong
- 👤 Corinne Broom
- 👤 Steven T. Kaneko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/14; G06F3/1423; G06F3/1431
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A control panel unit for a computer system comprising: a display screen having first and second display regions for displaying first and second soft labels, respectively; and first and second button inputs located external to the display screen, the first button input configured to display a first viewable state thereon and the second button input configured to display a second viewable state thereon, wherein the first and second soft labels are associated with and adjacent to the first and second button inputs, respectively and wherein in a first context, the first viewable state and first soft label represent functionality of the first button input and the second viewable state and the second soft label represent functionality of the second button input, and responsive to actuation of the first button input in the first context, the second viewable state and the second soft label changing to represent the functionality of the second button input in a second context.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
A control panel unit for a computer system comprising: a display screen having first and second display regions for displaying first and second soft labels, respectively; and first and second button inputs located external to the display screen, the first button input configured to display a first viewable state thereon and the second button input configured to display a second viewable state thereon, wherein the first and second soft labels are associated with and adjacent to the first and second button inputs, respectively and wherein in a first context, the first viewable state and first soft label represent functionality of the first button input and the second viewable state and the second soft label represent functionality of the second button input, and responsive to actuation of the first button input in the first context, the second viewable state and the second soft label changing to represent the functionality of the second button input in a second context.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The control panel unit according to claim 1 , wherein responsive to actuation of the first button input in the first context, the first viewable state and the first soft label changing to represent functionality of the first button input in the second context.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
The control panel unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first viewable state displayed on the first button input is the same as the second viewable state displayed on the second button input, the first viewable state representing a first action associated with the first button input and the second viewable state representing a second action associated with second button input, the first and second actions being different.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The control panel unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second viewable states represent first and second actions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The control panel unit according to claim 4 , wherein the first action includes launching an application when the first button input is actuated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The control panel unit according to claim 5 , wherein the application is a messaging, music, calendar or news application.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The control panel unit according to claim 5 , wherein the application is launched on a computer coupled to said control panel unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The control panel unit according to claim 4 , wherein the first and second actions represent responses to an alert.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The control panel unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first button input includes at least one illuminable portion for defining the first viewable state.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The control panel unit according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one illuminable portion is located on the periphery of the first button input.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The control panel unit according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one illuminable portion is an icon located on a central portion of the first button input.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The control panel unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first button input includes a portion configured to change color, the first viewable state including a particular color.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The control panel unit according to claim 12 , wherein the color represents a specific user of the computer system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The control panel unit according to claim 1 , wherein responsive to actuation of the first button input when data displayed on the display screen is selected, initiating an action associated with the data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
162 words
A control panel unit for a computer system comprising: a display having at least first and second display regions; at least first and second button inputs adjacent to the first and second display regions, respectively; and first and second soft labels displayed in the first and second display regions, respectively, the first and second soft labels associated with the first and second button inputs, respectively, at least one of the first soft label and the second soft label configured to change in response to actuation of the first button input in a first state, wherein the first and second soft labels respectively represent first and second users of the computer system, wherein each of the first and second soft labels includes a color specifically associated with the user represented by the respective soft label, and wherein the first soft label changes appearance responsive to an event independent of actuation of the first button input, the event being receipt of an email message.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
162 words
A control panel unit for a computer system comprising: a display having at least first and second display regions; at least first and second button inputs adjacent to the first and second display regions, respectively; and first and second soft labels displayed in the first and second display regions, respectively, the first and second soft labels associated with the first and second button inputs, respectively, at least one of the first soft label and the second soft label configured to change in response to actuation of the first button input in a first state, wherein the first and second soft labels respectively represent first and second users of the computer system, wherein each of the first and second soft labels includes a color specifically associated with the user represented by the respective soft label, and wherein the first soft label changes appearance responsive to an event independent of actuation of the first button input, the event being receipt of an email message.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The control panel unit according to claim 15 , wherein the first and second soft labels and content on the display are displayed in a format associated with the first user in response to actuation of the first button input in the first state.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The control panel unit according to claim 15 , wherein the first and second soft labels represent first and second applications associated with the first user in a second state responsive to the first button input being actuated in the first state.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The control panel unit according to claim 17 , wherein at least one of the applications is a messaging, music, calendar or news application.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The control panel unit according to claim 15 , wherein responsive to actuation of the first button input in the first state, the first and second soft labels representing actions customized for the first user.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a computer system having a display screen and first and second button inputs adjacent to the display screen, a method comprising the steps of: displaying the first button input in a first viewable state and the second button input in a second viewable state, the first and second viewable states representing functionality of the first and second button inputs, respectively, in a first context; displaying a first soft label in a first display region of the display screen located adjacent to the first button input, the first soft label being associated with the first button input; displaying a second soft label in a second display region of the display screen located adjacent to the second button input, the second soft label being associated with the second button input; and responsive to actuation of the first button input, changing the second viewable state and the second soft label to represent the functionality of the second button input in a second context.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a computer system having a display screen and first and second button inputs adjacent to the display screen, a method comprising the steps of: displaying the first button input in a first viewable state and the second button input in a second viewable state, the first and second viewable states representing functionality of the first and second button inputs, respectively, in a first context; displaying a first soft label in a first display region of the display screen located adjacent to the first button input, the first soft label being associated with the first button input; displaying a second soft label in a second display region of the display screen located adjacent to the second button input, the second soft label being associated with the second button input; and responsive to actuation of the first button input, changing the second viewable state and the second soft label to represent the functionality of the second button input in a second context.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein the first viewable state represents an action.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein the action represents a response to an alert.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein the first viewable state represents an application.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 23 , wherein the application is a messaging, music, calendar or news application.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein the first and second viewable states represent first and second users of the computer system, respectively.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein the step of changing the second viewable state includes illuminating or de-illuminating a portion of the second button input.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 26 , wherein the step of illuminating or de-illuminating includes illuminating or de-illuminating a peripheral portion of the second button input.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 26 , wherein the step of changing the second viewable state includes illuminating or de-illuminating an icon.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein the step of changing the second viewable state label includes changing a color of a portion of the second button input.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 20 , further including the step of changing the first viewable state and the first soft label responsive to actuation of the first button input.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 30 , wherein the first and second viewable states represent first and second actions.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 31 , further comprising the step of initiating the first action in response to actuation of the first button input.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
142 words
In a computer system having at least first and second display regions, and at least first and second button inputs associated with the first and second display regions, respectively, a method comprising the steps of: displaying first and second soft labels in the first and second display regions, respectively, the first and second soft labels associated with the first and second button inputs, respectively; and responsive to actuation of the first button input, changing at least one of the first soft label and the second soft label, wherein in a first state the first and second soft labels respectively represent first and second users of the computer system, wherein the first and second soft labels represent actions in an alert screen associated with the first user in a second state responsive to the first button input being actuated in the first state.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
142 words
In a computer system having at least first and second display regions, and at least first and second button inputs associated with the first and second display regions, respectively, a method comprising the steps of: displaying first and second soft labels in the first and second display regions, respectively, the first and second soft labels associated with the first and second button inputs, respectively; and responsive to actuation of the first button input, changing at least one of the first soft label and the second soft label, wherein in a first state the first and second soft labels respectively represent first and second users of the computer system, wherein the first and second soft labels represent actions in an alert screen associated with the first user in a second state responsive to the first button input being actuated in the first state.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 33 wherein the alert screen provides a notification message in a third display region.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 33 , wherein the alert screen provides a message related to status of the computer system.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2012-03-30 | 2012-09-29 | 2013-03-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2016-03-30 | 2016-09-29 | 2017-03-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2020-03-30 | 2020-09-29 | 2021-03-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |