WO2003077108A2

WO2003077108A2 - Method for controlling a communication device and communication device controlled thus

Info

Publication number: WO2003077108A2
Application number: PCT/EP2003/050037
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ulrich Leiner; Alexander Jarczyk
Original assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2002-03-11
Filing date: 2003-02-28
Publication date: 2003-09-18
Also published as: DE10210637A1; AU2003219141A1; WO2003077108A3

Abstract

A method for controlling a communication device is disclosed, whereby a number of control objects (SO) are represented on a display (DSP) of the communication device, on operation of which a respective control process is carried out. The control objects comprise an operational area of a first respective size. On selection of one (ASO) of the number of control objects the operational area of the selected control object is extended to a second size which is greater than the first size. The user is thus provided with an improved visual representation of the selected object and is further provided with an enlarged contact area or operational area for operation of the selected desired control object.

Description

description

Method for controlling a communication device and communication device controlled thereby

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a communication device via a display or user interface, a communication device with a display for displaying a user interface and a program product for a communication device.

Communication devices, such as mobile radio devices or mobile telephones, tend to be smaller and smaller, which means that the display and input means, such as a keyboard, are also reduced in size. However, since an excessive reduction in the size of the display and thus the user interface shown on this display leads to a deterioration in the ease of use for the user, it is possible, in accordance with the principle already known in PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) to reduce to a minimum of necessary keys and characters (numbers, letters) using so-called soft keyboards, d. H. on the display of software-displayed keyboard areas.

Whereas the display on a conventional PDA (for example a "Palm V" model from Palm) shows a "Querty" keyboard (designation for a keyboard standard in which, according to an American computer keyboard, the "Q", "U", " E "," R "," T "," Y "can be found in an upper left section of the keyboard) is approximately 5 cm wide, the displays of future mobile phones, such as those from UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication Service) -

Mobile phones, however, are only about 3.5 cm wide. This is a "Querty" keyboard shown on the display of such a mobile phone, in particular by means of a Touch pen, difficult to use, since the individual software-generated keys on the display have very small dimensions, so that selecting the keys using the touch pen will be very difficult and can often lead to incorrect entries.

It is the object of the present invention to create a possibility for the safe selection of control objects shown on a display or a user interface of a communication device.

This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1, a communication device according to claim 20 and by a program product according to claim 23. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the subclaims.

A method for controlling a communication device via a display or a user interface shown in it comprises the following steps: First, a plurality of control objects is shown on the display or user interface, the actuation of which enables a respective predetermined control process to be carried out, the control objects being an actuating area with a respective first size. Depending on the type of control object, the control process carried out by operating this control object can be the execution of a specific application or a specific program that is stored in the communication device. However, it is also possible that, for example, when representing the control objects of software-generated keys on a keyboard, a character (number, letter, symbol, etc.) assigned to a respective control object can be entered into the communication device or a memory thereof. In the following step, one of the plurality of control objects shown is selected and then the actuating area of the selected control object is expanded to a respective second size, which is larger than the first size of the selected control object. By expanding the actuation The area of the selected object not only improves the visual perceptibility of the selected object, which advantageously provides a description of the control process that can be carried out by this object, it also increases the "attack surface" or actuation surface for a user who uses a specific control object Select pointing device, such as a mouse or a touch pen, to then operate it. It should be noted that the term "select" is a marking of a specific control element which does not yet cause a control operation assigned to the control object to be carried out, while the term "actuation" means such control of the control object by which the control operation assigned to the selected control object is carried out.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the respective control objects are arranged adjacent to one another. In this way it is possible to accommodate a large number of control objects even on a small display or user interface. In particular, it is advantageous to arrange the actuating surfaces of the respective control objects adjacent to one another, so that a maximum size of an “engagement surface” is created for a user in order to select or actuate a control object.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the respective control objects are arranged in a predetermined area of the display and fill this. This means that the control objects do not have to be provided on the entire display or on the user interface shown, but they do share at least part of the user interface.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, when a new one of the plurality of control objects is selected, the actuation area of this new selected control object is expanded (to a second size) while the size the actuation area of the last or originally selected control object, in particular to its respective first size, is reduced. This method step, generally reducing the size of the control object last selected after the selection criterion has been transferred to a new control object, enables the display of the control objects to require only a small amount of space.

There are different ways of arranging the control objects on the display. According to an advantageous embodiment, the respective control objects are arranged next to one another in a row, with a selected control object expanding its width of its actuating area in the direction of the arrangement of the control objects and / or a height of its actuating area perpendicular to the direction of the arrangement of the control objects. On the one hand, it should be noted that the term "row" does not have to mean that the individual control objects are arranged in a strictly straight line, but that the row can also have a certain curvature. Furthermore, it should be noted that the terms “width” and “height” were chosen independently of the position or orientation of the control elements on the display, but only to define the expansion of the respective actuating surface of the selected control element in the direction or perpendicular to the direction of the Serve set of controls.

In addition to this linear arrangement, it is also conceivable according to a further advantageous embodiment to arrange the respective control objects in a matrix consisting of at least two rows and at least two columns. Such a matrix-like arrangement is particularly advantageous in the case of rectangular displays or user interfaces, since the space on the display to be taken up by the actuating areas of the respective control objects is optimally utilized. On the basis of this matrix representation of the control objects, it is possible according to a first variant to enlarge the column width of the column containing the selected control object in order to expand the actuating area of the selected control object. Instead of or in addition to this first variant, it is possible according to a second variant to increase the line height of the line containing the selected control object in order to expand the actuating area of the selected control object.

Starting from the matrix-like representation of the control objects or the method step according to the first variant, it is possible according to a third variant to increase the row height of the selected control object to expand the actuating area of the selected control object, while the row height of the at least one further one in the column of the selected one Control object located control object is reduced. It should be noted that either only the row height of the at least one further control object in the column of the selected control object or the row height of the row assigned to this at least one further control object can be reduced. According to this third variant, it follows that the selected control object or its actuating area is shown particularly large in comparison to the other non-selected control objects, which on the one hand improves the visual perceptibility but also the possibility of actuation for the user.

Again starting from the matrix-like representation of the control elements or from the method step according to the second variant, the column width of the selected control object is increased according to a fourth variant to expand the actuating area of the selected control object, while the column width of the at least one further one in the row of the selected one Control object located control object is reduced. It should be noted that either only the column width of the at least one further control object in the row of the selected control object or the column width of the column assigned to this at least one further control object. According to this fourth variant, too, it is again achieved that the size of the selected control object or its actuating area is greatly increased in comparison to the other non-selected control objects in order to improve the perceptibility and actuating area for the user.

As can be seen from the (advantageous) embodiments of the method described above (in particular variants 1 to 4 of the matrix arrangement of the control objects), the arrangement-related or positional relationship of the individual control objects advantageously continues to exist after the selection of a specific control object. This means that the position of a certain control object, for example in a matrix arrangement, does not change compared to the other control objects, even if it is selected. Then only the size of its operating area or the display attribute changes, as will be explained below.

To further improve the display of a selected control object, it is possible to assign a display attribute to the selected control object that is different from the display attribute of the other control objects that are not selected. For example, the control object or its actuation area can have a different color, the selected control object or its actuation area can be labeled differently (for example in font and representation, such as bold formatting, italic formatting, color formatting), the selected one The control object or its actuating surface flash periodically in a predetermined time interval

(by briefly changing to a different color or brightness level) etc. It is possible to effect a selection of a specific control object by means of a specific input device assigned to the communication device, such as the cursor block of a keyboard of a computer, in order to then actuate the selected control object, for example by means of the input key. However, it is advantageous to use a specialized input device in the form of a pointing device, such as a mouse, a track ball, a joystick, a control roller, etc., in order to move a pointing object (such as an arrow) shown on the display or user interface, to select any of the controls. It is also conceivable to select a control element by means of a stylus of a conventional capacitive touchscreen (insofar as it is integrated in the display) (for example by clicking once) and to actuate it (then by double-clicking). According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, it is also conceivable to use an inductive touch input module as the pointing device, which, after integration into the display of the communication device, can be designed as an inductive touch screen or inductive "touch screen". To operate the touch screen, an inductive pen is necessary, which ultimately forms the actual pointing device with the touch screen. Such an inductive touch screen can consist, for example, of an excitation coil and two sensor coils or one pair of sensor coils for a position direction (such as horizontal and vertical). All six coils (two excitation coils, each with two sensor coils) can be stored in a printed circuit board (PCB:

Printed Circuit Board), which is also referred to as a so-called "sensor board" or sensor circuit board, can be embedded. When the inductive touch screen is operated as an input device or a pointing device, an excitation coil generates a magnetic field with a defined frequency of, for example, 100 to 130 kHz for a short period of time (for example for 100 μs). With this time-modulated or changing magnetic field a resonant circuit or LC resonant circuit is excited in the inductive pen for the touch screen. After the excitation field generated by the excitation coil is switched off, the LC resonant circuit oscillates due to its high quality and radiates a magnetic field with the frequency characteristic of the LC resonant circuit. This induced magnetic field in turn induces a voltage in the sensor coils. The position of the pen can be determined via the ratio of the voltages generated in the respective sensor coil pairs. The position is evaluated via a control element, in particular in the form of a processor. Due to its functional principle of stimulating an inductive stylus located above the touch screen to emit its own magnetic field, the inductive touch screen not only allows position determination in a horizontal and vertical direction (XY plane or plane of the touch screen), but also in the Z direction. This means that the inductive touch screen can also draw conclusions about the distance of the inductive pin from the touch screen due to the voltages induced in the sensor coils. It is thus possible for a user to move the inductive pen a certain distance above the touch screen to correspondingly move a pointing object shown on the display or user interface, and then by touching the touch screen with the inductive pen in place of one Actuation area of a specific selected control object to actuate this control object. Thus, the user can only select and actuate certain objects by moving the inductive pen (in the X, Y and Z directions).

According to an advantageous embodiment, when selecting a specific control object, that control object is selected which is associated with a pointing device

Show object over the display (currently). This means that a user does not have to take any further action, such as clicking on a specific button, etc. make a selection process, he only has to arrange the pointing object above the actuating surface of a desired control object in order to select it.

The use of a pointing object on the display enables, for example, a modification of the above-mentioned variants 1 to 4 to expand the operating area of a selected control object. It is generally possible to expand the actuating surface of this neighboring control object with a decreasing distance from the pointing object to the neighboring control object when the pointing object located in the currently selected control object moves in the direction of an adjacent (not selected) control object. In other words, starting from a central position (in the vertical and / or horizontal direction) of the pointing object within a selected control object by moving the pointing object in the direction of an adjacent control object, the row height and / or column width of the adjacent control object can (with increasing distance from the central position) can be enlarged. This extension of the adjacent control object advantageously takes place at the expense of the actuating surface of the selected control object, i. H. the operating area of the selected control object is reduced by the amount by which the operating area of the adjacent control object is increased.

In particular with reference to the third variant mentioned above, when the pointing object located in the selected control object is moved in the direction of the at least one further control object located in the column of the selected control object, the row height of this at least one further control object can continuously decrease with a decreasing distance between the pointing object and the control object at least one further control object (or with increasing distance from the vertical center of the selected control object) can be expanded. Accordingly, in a modification of the fourth variant, with a movement of the selected control object located in the direction of the at least one further control object located in the row of the selected control object, the column width of this at least one further control object was continually borrowed with decreasing distance of the pointing object from the at least one further control object (or with increasing distance from the horizontal center of the selected control object) can be expanded. This measure of increasing the size of a future control object to be selected or its actuating area before this object is swept over by the pointing object causes a smooth transition from one selected control object to the other.

As already mentioned, a pointing object can be moved over the display by means of a pointing device shown above in order to select certain control objects. To actuate the selected control object, it is then necessary for the user to enter a specific actuation instruction via the pointing device, for example in the form of a double mouse click or a touch of a touch screen, etc., in order to actuate the control object. It should be noted that, according to the method according to the invention, the pointing object can be located in any section of the actuating surface of the selected control object in order to actuate the selected control object.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a communication device is created, by means of which the method described above or preferred configurations thereof are carried out. Such a communication device has a display for displaying a plurality of control objects, the actuation of which enables a respective predetermined control process to be carried out, the control objects having an actuating surface with a respective first size. Furthermore, the communication device comprises a control device for controlling the display, the control device device is designed such that one of the plurality of control objects is selected and the actuating area of the selected control object is expanded to a second size that is larger than the first size.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the communication device comprises an input device connected to the control device for inputting control instructions in order to select the control objects on the display via the control device.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the communication device can be designed as a computer, in particular a portable computer, such as a PDA, organizer, etc. Furthermore, the communication device can be designed as a mobile radio device or a cell phone, which operates in particular according to the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) standard or the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication Service) standard.

It should be noted that according to the method according to the invention, for example, a user interface for an operating system of a communication device, or else a user interface for an application program, through which control instructions, in particular characters (numbers, letters,

Symbols) into which the communication device can be entered. The method according to the invention can thus serve as the basis for an application program which, for example, provides an input option in the form of a software-generated keyboard, by which a user of the communication device can easily enter characters by selecting and actuating the software-generated keys (softkeys).

According to a further aspect of the invention, a program product for a communication device is created, which contains software code sections with which the method described above or advantageous refinements thereof can be executed on the communication device. The program product can be executed by suitable implementation of the method in a programming language and translation into code that can be executed by the communication device. The software code sections are stored for this. A program product is understood to mean the program as a tradable product. It can be in any form, e.g. B. on paper, a computer readable disk or distributed over a network.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Show it:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a mobile phone as a, in this case portable, communication device to explain the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of the essential components of a touch screen which can be used, for example, in the mobile telephone shown in FIG. 1;

Figure 3 is a view of a user interface for a communication device for entering characters according to a first embodiment;

Figure 4 is a view of a portion of a user interface for a communication device according to a second embodiment;

Figures 5 and 6 are respective views of a portion of a user interface for a communication device to show a modification the second embodiment shown in Figure 4.

FIG. 1 shows a mobile telephone MFG which is intended to serve as a representation of a communication device, here a portable communication device, to explain the present invention. The mobile phone MFG has a control device STE, which in particular has a microprocessor and a program memory. In this case, program codes can be contained in the program memory, the processing of which by means of the control device STE realizes the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the control device STE is connected to a display DSP, which can be designed, for example, as an LCD (LCD: Liquid Cristal Display = liquid crystal display) and can be used to display letters, numbers, symbols, images, etc. , This display, which is represented by a frame with a thickened line, is in this case part of a so-called touch screen, through which software-generated control objects (softkeys) can be selected and actuated by touching a stylus ST provided for this purpose on the display. A detailed description of the operation of the DSP display will be given below with reference to FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 1, a user interface is currently shown on the DSP display, on which an application program represents a softkey keyboard, which softkey keys for the respective digits "0 to 9" and for the ^"■ *" - and has the "#" symbol. It should be noted that other "keyboards" can also be shown on the display DSP, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 3 to 6. Furthermore, an arrow P is provided on the displayed user interface, which is moved by means of a pointing device (which in this case consists of the touch screen and the stylus ST provided therefor.) If any of the numbers or symbols shown are selected and actuated, they are converted into one with the Control device STE connected buffer ZWS written and advantageously displayed in the space not occupied by the control objects of the display DSP for control. The mobile telephone MFG shown in FIG. 1 is shown in such a way that it is only a massive button

(Hardkey) EA for switching the MFG mobile phone on and off. However, the mobile phone MFG can also have other massive buttons for carrying out certain control processes. It should be noted that the control device STE and the intermediate memory ZWS are shown in dashed lines, since they are normally provided in the interior of the mobile telephone MFG and are not visible to the user.

The mobile telephone MFG also has a microphone MIK and a loudspeaker LS, which are used in conventional telephone calls (in the operating state) in which voice signals are transmitted. Furthermore, the mobile telephone MFG has an antenna ANT, which is connected to a radio module (not shown), which serves to transmit or transmit voice or data via an air interface to a base station, which is part of a communication network receive. The mobile phone MFG and the communication network including base station (s) can work, for example, in accordance with the GSM standard or UMTS standard. However, the invention is not limited to such standards.

As already mentioned, a display DSP in the form of a touch screen (touch screen) is provided in this mobile phone shown in FIG. 1. This touch screen is based on an inductive effect and is now to be shown schematically with reference to FIG. 2. It should be noted that for reasons of clarity, the mobile phone MFG and the actual display element (for example the LCD) have been omitted. In a composite form of the touch screen DSP, the display element would be arranged above the sensor circuit board SLP shown in FIG. 2. The one shown in FIG. 2 based on an inductive effect The input device or pointing device essentially comprises three components, namely a pin ST with an inductance-capacitance circuit or an LC element LCG, a sensor circuit board SLP with at least one excitation coil ES and at least one sensor coil SS1 / SS2, and a control element PR to determine the position of the pin above the sensor circuit board SLP. It should be noted that the SLP and PR components are part of the DSP touch screen. Although only one excitation coil ES and two sensor coils SSI and SS2 are shown in the illustration in FIG. 2, it is conceivable that the number of the respective coils can be varied depending on the intended use, in particular to improve the accuracy of the detection of the pen position.

The principle for detecting the pin position above the sensor circuit board SLP provided with the excitation and sensor coils essentially works as follows. To initiate position detection of the pin ST, the control element PR causes a current pulse through the excitation coil ES. This current pulse causes a change in the magnetic field through the coil ES, which in turn can be perceived by the coil of the LC element LCG in the pin. This magnetic coupling between the excitation coil ES and the coil of the LC element LCG produces an inductive interaction between the two coils in accordance with the principle of a voltage transformer. More specifically, a magnetic alternating field is generated in the excitation coil ES with a defined frequency, for example in the range from 100 to 130 kHz, for a predetermined short period of time (for example in the range of 100 μs), by means of which the LC element provided in the pin ST contributes Corresponding adaptation of the inductance or capacitance components can be excited into a resonance oscillation (magnetic resonance), this resonance oscillation remaining after the predetermined short period of time after the excitation pulse has been switched off. In the time intervals (for example in the range of 900 μs) in which no excitation pulse is emitted by the excitation coil ES the alternating magnetic field emitted by the pin or its LC element are detected by the sensor coils SSI and SS2, and, for example, the position of the pin can be deduced from the detected different field strengths.

The inductive position determination not only makes it possible to determine the position of the pin ST in the plane of the sensor circuit board SLP (XY plane), but also the position of the pin ST above the sensor circuit board SLP or the display element above it (Z direction) , In this way, it is possible to move the arrow P shown in FIG. 1 on the display by moving the pen ST in an X or Y direction, for example to move a specific one of the control objects shown (numbers "0-9" , "*" Symbol, "+" symbol) as long as the stylus is at a certain (minimum) distance above the sensor circuit board SLP or the display element arranged above it. If, on the other hand, the pin ST is brought into a distance smaller than the predetermined minimum distance from the printed circuit board or the display element located above it, in particular in such a way that it touches the display element, the control element above which the entry is below the minimum distance or there is contact with the display element.

This possibility of selecting and actuating a control element which has just been illustrated will now be described in detail in the following with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

Reference is first made to FIG. 3, in which a section of a user interface is shown, on the basis of which the selection or actuation of a control object according to a first embodiment is to be explained. On Such a section of a user interface can be arranged in the display DSP shown in FIG. 1 instead of the 12 control objects shown there (digits "0-9", "*" symbol, "+" symbol). As can be seen from FIG. 3, the control objects (softkey keys) are arranged in a matrix arrangement consisting of 11 columns and 4 rows. More precisely, the control objects are arranged in a predetermined section of the display or user interface DSP, namely a so-called software-generated key section or softkey section SKA. The dashed line at the upper section of the frame representing the display DSP is intended to illustrate that the display DSP is not limited to the section shown, but can, for example, still be continued upwards. As can also be seen in FIG. 3, the individual control objects (all of which, including the selected control element, are to be designated with the reference symbols SO) have a rectangular shape, so that they are optimal, ie without wasting space on the display DSP, fit into the SKA section.

The method for selecting a specific control object SO according to a first embodiment will now be explained below. As has already been mentioned, the arrow P can be controlled by means of the inductive pen ST (FIG. 2) in such a way that it can be moved over the entire display DSP, in particular the area SKA. If the arrow P is moved over a control object SO (in the following, the terms "control object" and "actuating surface" refer to the same surface sections on the display), then the control object SO on which or above which is located the arrow P is automatically marked as the selected control object ASO. In the in The case shown in FIG. 3 is the control object with the designation "Y", which is located in the first column SP1 and the fourth row ZE4 of the matrix of control elements SO. As can be seen, by selecting the character "Y", the column width of the entire column SP1 was expanded (to approximately twice) in order to give the user of the pen ST a larger "contact surface" or "operating surface" for actuating the character " Y "to create. As can also be seen, the display attribute of the control object "Y" has been changed compared to the control objects not selected. In this case, the designation of the character "Y" was displayed in a bold image format in order to distinguish it from the non-selected control elements. However, other possibilities are conceivable to differentiate the selected object ASO from the non-selected control objects.

If the user now wants to select the "X" character, he can move the arrow P to the right using the ST pen, the control object "X" being selected automatically when the arrow head of the arrow P is swept over the actuating surface of the control object "X". In such a new selection process, the column width of the column SP1 is then reduced to an amount (first size) as shown for the column SP2 in FIG. 3, the column SP2 now assuming a width (second size) as shown in picture 3 for the column SPl is shown. Furthermore, to distinguish the selected object, the control object "X" is displayed in a bold image format.

A corresponding change in the column width occurs when, for example, the user object "Y" or another character from another column. This means that in addition to the widening of the column width of the column in which the selected control object is located, the selected control object is additionally emphasized by a changing display attribute compared to the other control objects.

If control objects are arranged in a softkey section whose height is greater than its width, it is also conceivable to transfer the method of widening the column width shown in FIG. 3 to an extension of the line height of the line in which the selected object is located ,

Reference is now made to FIG. 4, in which a section of a user interface, here only the softkey section SKA, in which the software-generated control objects (keys) SO are provided, for the purpose of clarification, to explain a method for selecting the control objects according to a second embodiment is shown. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the control object "G" arranged in the sixth column SP6 and the third row ZE3 is marked as the selected control object ASO. Similar to the first embodiment explained in relation to FIG. 3, the column width of the column in which the selected control object ASO is located is enlarged compared to the other columns for better visualization and actuation. It is characteristic of this second embodiment that in addition to an increase in the column width of the column of the selected control object ASO, the row height of the selected control object ASO is also increased. More precisely, as can be seen in FIG. 4, only the row height of the selected object ASO is increased, where however, the row heights of the control objects located in the same column (SP6) are reduced. In this way, a substantial enlargement of the selected control object ASO compared to the non-selected control objects is created, through which a clear visual highlighting of the selected object ASO and thus an easy or comfortable operation of this object by a user, for example by the above-mentioned pen ST, is created.

It should be noted that, in order to further differentiate the selected control object ASO, its display attribute, as also in the case of the first embodiment explained in FIG. 3, can be modified compared to those not selected.

If a user now wants to use the pointing object P to select another control object, such as the control object "T", he only has to move the pointing element onto the control object "T". If the tip of the pointing object P reaches the control object "T", this is marked as the selected object, in which, in addition to the increased column width, its row height (again at the expense of the other control objects located in the same column) is increased.

On the other hand, if the user wants to select a control object that is in an adjacent column, such as the control object "H" that is in the seventh column SP7, then he has to move the pointing object P horizontally in the direction of the control object "H", such as it has already been carried out in FIG. 5. In accordance with the explanation of FIG. 4, the control object in FIG. jekt "H" marked as the selected control object ASO. Again, the non-selected control objects in the same column (SP7) are reduced in their row height in order to emphasize the selected control object ASO.

In addition to this variant of the second embodiment shown so far, that a selected control object ASO suddenly or suddenly changes its size when it is brought from a non-selected to a selected state, there is also the possibility of changing the size of a newly selected control object that changes is located adjacent to the selected control object ASO, depending on the movement of the arrow P to change continuously. Such a second variant will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the pointing object P, more precisely the tip of the pointing object P, is viewed approximately in the vertical direction in the middle of the selected control object ASO, with the selected control object ASO still having its maximum line height in this position of the pointing object having. If, on the other hand, the pointing object P is moved from this central position by a certain amount in the vertical direction upwards in the direction of the control object "Z", the line height of the selected control object "H" is reduced, the line height of the control object "Z "increased in favor of the row height of the object" H ". As shown in FIG. 6, the pointing object P is already located on an upper section of the control object "H" and is therefore relatively close to the control object "Z" to be newly selected. This means that the line height of the new control object to be selected becomes dependent on the proximity of the pointing object to it control object to be newly selected is continuously increased (in this case at the expense of the line height of the currently selected control object "H"). In other words, it can be said that starting from a central position of the pointing object P (ie here a central position in the vertical direction) within a selected control object by moving the pointing object in the direction of an adjacent control object (located in the same column), the row height of the neighboring control object (advantageously at the expense of the currently selected control object) is enlarged. Again, it should be mentioned that such a principle can also be applied to a softkey section in which the amount of the height of the softkey section is greater than the amount of the width and thus the line height of the line in which the selected control object is located , is generally widened, while for the identification of the selected control object, its column width is also enlarged compared to the control objects located in the same line.

Claims

claims

1. Method for controlling a communication device (MFG), with the following steps:

Representing a plurality of control objects (SO), by the actuation of which a respective predetermined control process can be carried out, on a display (DSP) of the communication device, the control objects having an actuating area with a respective first size;

Selecting one (ASO) of the plurality of control objects (SO);

Extend the operating area of the selected control object (ASO) to a second size that is larger than the first size.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the respective control objects (SO) are arranged adjacent to one another.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the control objects are arranged in a predetermined area (SKA) of the display (DSP) and fill this.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when a new one of the plurality of control objects (SO) is selected, the operating area of the new selected control object is expanded to a second size, while the size of the operating area of the last selected control object is reduced.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the respective control objects are arranged side by side in a row, with a selected control object having a width of its actuating surface in the direction of the arrangement of the control objects and / or a height of its actuating supply area perpendicular to the direction of the arrangement of the control objects is expanded.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the respective control objects are arranged in a matrix consisting of at least two rows and at least two columns.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, in which the column width of the column (SP1, SP6, SP7) containing the selected control object (ASO) is increased in order to expand the actuating area of the selected control object.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, in which the line height of the line containing the selected control object is increased in order to expand the actuating area of the selected control object.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6 or 7, in which the row height (ZE3) of the selected control object (ASO) is increased in order to expand the actuating area of the selected control object, while the row height of the at least one further control object located in the column of the selected control object is reduced becomes.

10. The method according to claim 6 or 8, in which the column width of the selected control object is increased to expand the actuating area of the selected control object, while the column width of the at least one further control object located in the row of the selected control object is reduced.

11. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10, in which the selected control object (ASO) is assigned a display attribute which characterizes it.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, in which a display object (P) is also shown on the display that is movable on the display (DSP) to select any of the controls.

13. The method according to claim 12, in which a control object (ASO) is selected by sweeping over its actuating surface by means of the pointing object (P).

14. The method as claimed in claims 9 and 13, in which, when the pointing object (P) located in the selected control object is moved in the direction of the at least one further control object located in the column of the selected control object, the row height of this at least one further control object is also included decreasing distance from the pointing object to the at least one further control object is expanded.

15. The method according to claim 10 and 13, in which when the pointing object (P) located in the selected control object moves in the direction of the at least one further control object located in the row of the selected control object, the column width of this at least one further control object continuously with decreasing distance to which at least one further control object is expanded.

16. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the pointing object (P) is controlled by means of a pointing device assigned to the communication device (ST, DSP).

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a selected one

Control object (ASO) is operated by an operating instruction of the pointing device while the pointing object (P) is located in any section of the operating surface of the selected control object (ASO).

18. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 17, wherein the pointing device comprises a mouse, a trackball, a joystick or a roller.

19. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 17, wherein the display (DSP) comprises an inductive touch screen, which forms an inductive pointing device together with an inductive pen (ST).

20. Communication device, in particular for performing a method according to one of claims 1 to 19, with the following features:

a display (DSP) for displaying a plurality of control objects (SO), by the actuation of which a respective predetermined control process can be carried out, the control objects having an actuating area with a respective first size;

a control device (STE) for controlling the display, the control device being designed to select one (ASO) of the plurality of control objects and the actuating surface of the selected control object to a second one

Expand size larger than the first size.

21. Communication device according to claim 20, further comprising an input device (DSP, ST) connected to the control device (STE) for inputting control instructions in order to select the control objects (SO) on the display via the control device.

22. Communication device according to claim 20 or 21, which is designed as a mobile radio device or a computer, in particular a portable computer.

23. Program product for a communication device which contains software code sections with which a method according to at least one of claims 1 to 19 can be carried out on a communication device (MFG).