WO1994022070A1

WO1994022070A1 - Computer adapted to store graphics images

Info

Publication number: WO1994022070A1
Application number: PCT/GB1994/000533
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephen Randall
Original assignee: Eden Group Limited
Priority date: 1993-03-17
Filing date: 1994-03-16
Publication date: 1994-09-29
Also published as: GB9305499D0; JPH08507891A

Abstract

A computer, adapted to store a graphics image in one function, is operable to generate, on the display of the computer, an icon indicative of the presence of the stored graphics image when in a related function.

Description

Computer adapted to store graphics images

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a computer, particularly one adapted to store graphics images.

Description of the Prior Art

Pen computers are well known and generally comprise a stylus or pen that can co- operate with a digitising tablet overlying an LCD display. This is a paπicularly convenient design for small, hand held computers, known as "Personal Digital Assistants" or "PDAs", as exemplified by the Amstrad Penpad, Apple Newton and EO products. Such products, as well as their larger counterpaπs, typically use a graphical user interface which comprises a personal organiser display metaphor in which different software application programs are locatable in different sections of the organiser, with there being some form of simulated tabbed index page to indicate the staπ of the relevant section. For example, in the Penpoint operating system designed by Go Corp., when the user touches a simulated tab with the pen, the section or pages associated with that tab are opened.

Such computers allow the input of graphics images, such as handwriting, which can be stored as a bit mapped image. For example, the user can use the stylus as if the stylus were a pen and the simulated page in the organiser were paper, i.e. where the user touches the stylus to the screen the underlying pixels of the display darken. This is commonly called 'electronic inking'. It is paπicularly useful when annotating text or drawing pictures.

In some PDAs and the operating systems of other computers, for example, Windows for Pens from Microsoft, diary, address book and scribble pad modes .are included. Electronic inking is useful in such modes since, for example, when in the address mode, the user can draw a map of the road system for a given address. Pen computers which use the personal organiser metaphor and offer electronic inking closely mimic the conventional paper-based personal organiser to provide a high level of user-friendliness, but provide added functionality. Further reference may be made to GB 2229301B. When a graphic is stored there is usually a need to indicate the presence of that graphic on a contents or index page, or some other form of related page. For example, the user may enter the 'Diary' mode of the pen computer and use a function that allocates a simulated page covering a single day to fill the entire screen. The user may input a graphic which fills most of that simulated page. The computer may offer a function that allocates a simulated page covering all seven days of the week to fill the entire screen: there has to be some approach to indicating that there is a graphic entered on the One day per week' function. Conventionally, this has been achieved by generating a reduced size image of the actual graphic, commonly known as a 'stamp'. However, this approach requires processing of the original graphic to generate the 'stamp', adding to the processing burden placed on the computer, which in most instances is already very heavy.

Objects of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer adapted to store graphics images that overcomes the above drawbacks, enabling the need to indicate the presence of stored graphics in one function to be apparent when viewing a related function to be reconciled with the desirability of minimising the processing burden on the computer.

Statement of the Invention

In accordance with the present invention, a computer adapted to store a graphics image in one function is operable to generate, on the display of the computer, an icon indicative of the presence of the stored graphics image when in a related function.

The icon is simply a predetermined symbol so that in this approach, no processing of the original graphic to generate a 'stamp' is required at all, thus leading to faster processing and the possibility of using less sophisticated processing units, giving an overall cost saving. Preferably, the icon is sufficiently small such that the screen layout used in the related function does not have to be adapted to accommodate the icon. This is particularly useful since, in the prior an 'stamp' approach, the 'stamp' was generally too big to allow very condensed versions of the information in the original function. This is because only a degree of size reduction is possible before the 'stamp' is completely illegible. To return to the example used earlier, the related function in the "Diary' mode would not be able to show all seven days of the week but perhaps only three. The icon approach obviates this problem entirely, since even the smallest icon will suffice to indicate adequately the presence of a graphic, yet clearly will not effect the design of the screen layout for the related function.

Preferably, the icon is itself representative of a real world object associated with the act of writing. In one embodiment, the icon is of a pen.

The present invention may be implemented in software or firmware and may operate on a conventional computer, typically a pen computer. The software routines that would enable the generation of the icon and the placing of the icon in the related function are within the compass of the skilled implementer and will not however be described here.

In a fuπher aspect, the present invention therefore comprises the recordable media which when used in conjunction with a conventional computer, allows the above described invention to be performed or implemented. In a still fuπher aspect, the present invention comprises the recordable media which when used in conjunction with a conventional computer adapted to store a graphics image in one function, renders the computer operable to generate, on the display of the computer, an icon indicative of the presence of the stored graphics image when in a related function.

The recordable media may be a magnetic floppy disc, ROM, CD-ROM, flash memory, or other memory device. In a yet fuπher aspect, the invention comprises a method of manufacturing such a recordable media.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of indicating the presence of a graphics image stored in association with a first function of a computer, comprising the step, when in a second function, of generating on a display of the computer an icon indicative of the presence of the stored graphics image. Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be fuπher described with reference to the accompanying drawings which depict a pen computer in accordance with the present invention, and more particularly which show: in Figure 1 a schematic view of the main components of a pen computer in accordance with the present invention; in Figure 2 an embodiment of the invention displaying a representation of the screen display showing a graphics image in one function; in Figure 3 an embodiment of the invention displaying a representation of the screen display showing an icon indicative of the presence of the stored graphics image in a related function.

Detailed Description

Referring now to Figure 1, a display means, preferably comprising a LCD type display 3, is shown forming pan of a pen computer indicated generally at 1. The input arrangement for this type of pen computer is well known in this an and will only be briefly described here. Pen computer 1 comprises an electromagnetic induction digitising mat or tablet 2 underlying the display 3, together with an electromagnetic stylus 4. The digitising mat 2 comprises an electrically conducting grid with conductors running parallel to an X-axis, overlaying a similar grid with conductors running parallel to a Y-axis. The stylus 4 comprises an energisable coil (not shown) which can be excited with alternating current . The amplitude of the voltages induced in the conductive grids provide an indication of the position of the stylus 4 relative to the Caπesian co-ordinate system defined by the X and Y axes. The detailed operation of this form of digitiser is well known in this field.

Further reference may be made, for example, to US 4570033. Using this digitising system, the user can easily and naturally input graphical information for storage and viπually simultaneous display on the display 3. Whilst the transducer pad 2 is shown schematically underlying the LCD type display 3, it may in practice be embedded within it or positioned above it.

It will be appreciated that a variety of components, e.g. a power supply, is necessary for the functioning of the apparatus and will have to be present in the apparatus but these are not expressly detailed here in the interests of brevity and clarity.

Returning to the figure, the stylus 4 is touching the display 3 and electrical signals indicative of the position (X Y Co-ordinates) at which it contacts the display 3 are supplied to an A to D convener 11 feeding a data path or system bus 15. A CPU 12 is connected for bi-directional data flow to the bus 15, as is a RAM 17. A ROM 18 is also connected to bus 15, being programmed with the operating system for the apparatus, including the telecommunications procedures and the word processing and graphics software which allows users to input, amend and edit textual or graphic information on screen using the stylus. By way of example, the stylus can be used as an electronic pen to input handwritten graphics and can be used in an eraser mode whereby as it is moved over displayed text that text is deleted from display. More specifically, the user can use the stylus on the display area 3 overlying page 23 just as if the stylus were a pen and the page 23 were paper, i.e. where the user touches the stylus to the screen the underlying pixels of screen 3 are darkened. This is commonly called 'electronic inking'.

CPU 12 provides all control signals via bus 15 and fuπher includes an internal clock which allows all inputs to the device to be flagged with a time signal indicating when that input was made. RAM 17 stores the user input, i.e. all original input plus any annotations or amendments the device user might wish to make to that input. A display driver 14 is connected to bus 15 and drives the display 20. A communications poπ 19 is shown connected to the bus 15 and allows the present apparatus to be networked to other electronic devices, e.g. other apparatus like the present invention.

Turning now to figure 2, the pen computer 1 is shown in plan form. The display 3 is shown shaded and the stylus 4 is shown connected to the control circuitry by cabling 21. The display 3 shows a representation of a ring binder with a simulated diary page 23 for a single day bound into the ringbinder. The page 23, labelled in the representation as '18 March 1993' in the top right hand corner, is shown foremost in the ring binder. A graphics image of a line 5 has been written on this simulated diary page. The user can move from this 'page per day' function to a 'page per week' function, in which all seven days of the week are shown on a single simulated diary page, as illustrated in Figure 3. An icon 25 of a writing pen can be seen on the 18 March section of the week, indicating to the user that there is a graphic on the 'page per day' function for that day. There are a variety of ways of providing for the presence of a graphics image in a given 'page per day' section to be noted so that the appropriate icon 25 is displayed when the computer is in the 'page per week' function. These are within the range of the skilled implementer and will not be detailed here.

Claims

1. A computer, adapted to store a graphics image in one function, operable to generate, on the display of the computer, an icon indicative of the presence of the stored graphics image when in a related function.

2. The computer as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the icon is a predetermined symbol.

3. The computer as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the icon is sufficiently small such that screen layout used in the related function does not have to be adapted to accommodate the icon.

4. The computer as claimed in Claim wherein the icon is itself representative of a real world object associated with the act of writing.

5. The computer as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the icon is of a pen.

6. The compurer as claimed in any of Claims 1 - 5 being a pen computer.

7. Recordable media which when used in conjunction with a conventional computer, renders the combination a computer as claimed in Claims 1 - 6.

8. Recordable media which when used in conjunction with a conventional computer adapted to store a graphics image in one function, renders the computer operable to generate, on the display of the computer, an icon indicative of the presence of the stored graphics image when in a related function.

9. Recordable media as claimed in Claim 7 or 8 being a magnetic floppy disc, ROM, CD-ROM, flash memory, or other memory device.

10. A method of manufacturing the recordable media.claimed in Claims 7 - 9

11. A method of indicating the presence of a graphics image stored in association with a first function of a computer, comprising the step, when in a second function, of generating on a display of the computer an icon indicative of the presence of the stored graphics image.