Computer device, method and article of manufacture for utilizing sequenced symbols to enable programmed applications and commands

Abstract

A computer device, such as a mobile phone or PDA for example, is able to access an application program or command, based upon selection of corresponding sequences of symbols. Such symbols can be polysemous in nature and thus be associated with a plurality of different meanings depending upon other symbols sequenced therewith. By utilizing polysemous symbols, a relatively large number of sequences can be developed and associated with programs and / or commands of the computer device, with only a relatively small number of symbols displayed. In devices such as PDAs and mobile phone where display space is a premium, such access to commands and programs can be invaluable.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] The present application is directed to a computer device, method, and article of manufacture which utilizes sequenced symbols to enable application programs and / or commands. More preferably, the computer device, method, and article of manufacture enable or execute application programs or commands in response to selection of an associated sequence of symbols. This technology is applicable to all areas of computer and electronic devices including but not limited to portable digital assistants (PDAs) mobile telephones, personal computers, internet applications utilizing computers, etc. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] PDAs, such as the Palm™ devices including the PalmPilot™ for example, allow users to catalog and access a great deal of information utilizing a small portable device. The PalmPilot™ for example, includes an operating system which allows for navigation through many application programs including ones permitting access to internet applications, u...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] The present application is directed to a computer device, article of manufacture, interface or method for enabling an application program, and / or for executing a command, based upon selected corresponding symbol sequences. By utilizing these symbol sequences, multiple levels of application programs and commands of the computer device can be accessed. For example, the sequenced symbols can be used as a navigation tool at the operating system level, as a method of selecting and switching in and out of application programs (“applications”); it can serve as a method of executing available operating system and application commands such as new, open, quit, cut, undo, etc., as well as navigational commands such as page up, page down, etc.; and it can further provide inter-application support from within various available applications such as copy to, paste from, etc., to thus enhance capabilities of the computer device. The methodology can be applied to any computer device including but not limited to PDAs, personal computers, mobile phones, etc., and can be applied to internet navigation as well as voice recognition technology.

[0014] The symbols used are preferably polysemous in nature and can thus be associated with a plurality of different meanings depending upon other symbols sequenced therewith. By utilizing polysemous symbols, a relatively small number of symbols can be used and displayed in a relatively small portion of a display, to thereby provide quick and easy access of a multitude of applications and commands, while utilizing only a small amount of valuable display area. Further, even non-polysemous symbols can be used in certain applications, when sequenced together properly.

Problems solved by technology

Although a plethora of information and programs are provided by and / or accessible through the PDA, accessing desired information through a pull-down menu system can be slow and cumbersome.

Further, it can be difficult to locate desired information through the use of pull-down menus.

As such, operating these command functions can be tedious and can involve a large amount of time and effort before the operation is fully performed.

These commands, such as page up, up, page down, down, etc., can be difficult to access due to display space restrictions and may take some time and effort to be performed.

With regard to the keys, while they provide quick access to application programs, only a small number of these keys can be included due to the fact that they take up space on the device.

Again, however, utilizing these single meaning symbols, only a limited number of symbols can be displayed on the screen at any one time to access a limited number of applications, and they do not appear continuously within an application or program to permit-switching to another application or program.

This process can be slow and tedious.

Accordingly, while the PDA provides many applications and various computer command sets available within applications, as well as access to internet applications, locating and particularly using and navigating through a particular application can be tedious and cumbersome.

This is true not just with the PDA, described in an exemplary manner above, but is also true with any computer device including personal computers, mobile phones, etc. further, as more and more functionality is added to the PDA 10, accessing desired application programs and using these application programs in an efficient manner will become more and more difficult.

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