Abstract:
Method and apparatus with a user interface for controlling the apparatus are provided in which a currently selected menu item is magnified in height relative to other items in the menu so as to distinguish the item. While in addition to providing an appealing way to indicate which item is currently selected, the magnification makes the item easier to read, particularly in poorer lighting conditions.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to communication devices, and more particularly to a graphical user interface for controlling such devices.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART  
       [0002]     Designers of user interfaces, particularly a graphical user interface (GUI) for controlling wireless mobile devices are faced with a number of challenges. Wireless devices are usually much smaller relative to less portable computing devices such as laptops and desktop computers. Inherently then, a visual display such as an LCD or other display screen component of the wireless mobile device has a small display area. Text and other objects rendered on the device are dimensioned accordingly which can make visualization difficult.  
         [0003]     In addition to being small, the screen component may not be adjustable for brightness and contrast for ambient lighting sensitivities. Often, text or other objects displayed on the screen component can be washed out in certain lighting conditions.  
         [0004]     Accordingly, there is a resulting need for a method and apparatus that addresses one or more of these shortcomings.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     The invention relates to a method, graphical user interface and apparatus for controlling an apparatus.  
         [0006]     In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for controlling an apparatus comprising: providing a graphical user interface (GUI) to control operation of the apparatus, said GUI comprising a menu of a plurality of items at least some of which items are selectable by a user to facilitate the control and a one of said items defining a currently selected item; and in response to an input to display the menu, displaying the menu of items such that the height of the currently selected item is magnified thereby to indicate the currently selected item in the menu.  
         [0007]     In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising: a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions and a processor coupled to the storage medium to execute the programming instructions to enable the apparatus to: provide a graphical user interface (GUI) to control operation of the apparatus, said GUI comprising a menu of a plurality of items a least some of which items are selectable by a user to facilitate the control and a one of said at least some items defining a currently selected item; and in response to an input to display the menu, display the menu of items such that the height of the currently selected item is magnified thereby to indicate the currently selected item in the menu.  
         [0008]     These and other aspects will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art including a computer program product such as a machine readable medium storing computer program code executable to perform a method aspect of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     Embodiments of present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to attached figures, wherein:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram which illustrates pertinent components of a wireless communication device adaptable in accordance with an embodiment of the invention and which communicates within a wireless communication network;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a detailed diagram of a preferred wireless communication device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]     FIGS.  3  to  6  are each an illustration of an example of a menu component of a graphical user interface, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, for a wireless communication device such as the devices of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ;  
         [0013]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are each an illustration of an example of a menu component of a graphical user interface, in accordance with respective further embodiments of the invention;  
         [0014]      FIGS. 9 and 10  are each an illustration of an example of a menu component of a graphical user interface in accordance with the embodiment of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0015]      FIGS. 11A, 11B  and  11 C illustrate a further embodiment of a menu component of a graphical user interface.  
         [0016]      FIG. 12  is a flowchart for operations of a user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a communication system  100  which includes a mobile station  102  which communicates through a wireless communication network  104  symbolized by a station. Mobile station  102  preferably includes a visual display  112 , a keyboard  114 , and perhaps one or more auxiliary user interfaces (UI)  116 , each of which are coupled to a controller  106 . Controller  106  is also coupled to radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry  108  and an antenna  110 .  
         [0018]     Typically, controller  106  is embodied as a central processing unit (CPU) which runs operating system software in a memory component (not shown). Controller  106  will normally control overall operation of mobile station  102 , whereas signal processing operations associated with communication functions are typically performed in RF transceiver circuitry  108 . Controller  106  interfaces with device display  112  to display received information, stored information, user inputs, and the like. Keyboard  114 , which may be a telephone type keypad, full alphanumeric keyboard or full or condensed QWERTY keypad, is normally provided for entering data for storage in mobile station  102 , information for transmission to network  104 , a telephone number to place a telephone call, commands to be executed on mobile station  102 , and possibly other or different user inputs.  
         [0019]     Mobile station  102  sends communication signals to and receives communication signals from the wireless network  104  over a wireless link via antenna  110 . RF transceiver circuitry  108  performs functions similar to those of a base station and a base station controller (BSC) (not shown), including for example modulation/demodulation and possibly encoding/decoding and encryption/decryption. It is also contemplated that RF transceiver circuitry  108  may perform certain functions in addition to those performed by a BSC. It will be apparent to those skilled in art that RF transceiver circuitry  108  will be adapted to particular wireless network or networks in which mobile station  102  is intended to operate.  
         [0020]     Mobile station  102  includes a battery interface (IF)  134  for receiving one or more rechargeable batteries  132 . Battery  132  provides electrical power to electrical circuitry in mobile station  102 , and battery IF  132  provides for a mechanical and electrical connection for battery  132 . Battery IF  132  is coupled to a regulator  136  which regulates power to the device. When mobile station  102  is fully operational, an RF transmitter of RF transceiver circuitry  108  is turned on only when it is sending to network, and is otherwise turned off or placed in a low-power mode to conserve power. Similarly, an RF receiver of RF transceiver circuitry  108  is typically periodically turned off to conserve power until it is needed to receive signals or information (if at all) during designated time periods.  
         [0021]     Mobile station  102  operates using a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)  140  which is connected to or inserted in mobile station  102  at a SIM interface (IF)  142 . SIM  140  is one type of a conventional “smart card” used to identify an end user (or subscriber) of mobile station  102  and to personalize the device, among other things. Without SIM  140 , the mobile station terminal is not fully operational for communication through the wireless network. By inserting SIM  140  into mobile station  102 , an end user can have access to any and all of his/her subscribed services. SIM  140  generally includes a processor and memory for storing information. Since SIM  140  is coupled to SIM IF  142 , it is coupled to controller  106  through communication lines  144 . In order to identify the subscriber, SIM  140  contains some user parameters such as an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). An advantage of using SIM  140  is that end users are not necessarily bound by any single physical mobile station. SIM  140  may store additional user information for the mobile station as well, including date book (or calendar) information and recent call information.  
         [0022]     Mobile station  102  may consist of a single unit, such as a data communication device, a multiple-function communication device with data and voice communication capabilities, a personal digital assistant (PDA) enabled for wireless communication, or a computer incorporating an internal modem. Alternatively, mobile station  102  may be a multiple-module unit comprising a plurality of separate components, including but in no way limited to a computer or other device connected to a wireless modem. In particular, for example, in the mobile station block diagram of  FIG. 1 , RF transceiver circuitry  108  and antenna  110  may be implemented as a radio modem unit that may be inserted into a port on a laptop computer. In this case, the laptop computer would include display  112 , keyboard  114 , one or more auxiliary UIs  116 , and controller  106  embodied as the computer&#39;s CPU. It is also contemplated that a computer or other equipment not normally capable of wireless communication may be adapted to connect to and effectively assume control of RF transceiver circuitry  108  and antenna  110  of a single-unit device such as one of those described above. Such a mobile station  102  may have a more particular implementation as described later in relation to mobile station  202  of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a detailed block diagram of a preferred mobile station  202 . Mobile station  202  is preferably a two-way communication device having at least voice and advanced data communication capabilities, including the capability to communicate with other computer systems. Depending on the functionality provided by mobile station  202 , it may be referred to as a data messaging device, a two-way pager, a cellular telephone with data messaging capabilities, a wireless Internet appliance, or a data communication device (with or without telephony capabilities). Mobile station  202  may communicate with any one of a plurality of fixed transceiver stations  200  within its geographic coverage area.  
         [0024]     Mobile station  202  will normally incorporate a communication subsystem  211 , which includes a receiver, a transmitter, and associated components, such as one or more (preferably embedded or internal) antenna elements and, local oscillators (LOs), and a processing module such as a digital signal processor (DSP) (all not shown). Communication subsystem  211  is analogous to RF transceiver circuitry  108  and antenna  110  shown in  FIG. 1 . As will be apparent to those skilled in field of communications, particular design of communication subsystem  211  depends on the communication network in which mobile station  202  is intended to operate.  
         [0025]     Network access is associated with a subscriber or user of mobile station  202  and therefore mobile station  202  requires a Subscriber Identity Module or “SIM” card  262  to be inserted in a SIM IF  264  in order to operate in the network. SIM  262  includes those features described in relation to  FIG. 1 . Mobile station  202  is a battery-powered device so it also includes a battery IF  254  for receiving one or more rechargeable batteries  256 . Such a battery  256  provides electrical power to most if not all electrical circuitry in mobile station  202 , and battery IF  254  provides for a mechanical and electrical connection for it. The battery IF  254  is coupled to a regulator (not shown) which provides power V+ to all of the circuitry.  
         [0026]     Mobile station  202  includes a microprocessor  238  (which is one implementation of controller  106  of  FIG. 1 ) which controls overall operation of mobile station  202 . Communication functions, including at least data and voice communications, are performed through communication subsystem  211 . Microprocessor  238  also interacts with additional device subsystems such as a display  222 , a flash memory  224 , a random access memory (RAM)  226 , auxiliary input/output (I/O) subsystems  228 , a serial port  230 , a keyboard  232 , a speaker  234 , a microphone  236 , a short-range communications subsystem  240 , and any other device subsystems generally designated at  242 . Some of the subsystems shown in  FIG. 2  perform communication-related functions, whereas other subsystems may provide “resident” or on-device functions. Notably, some subsystems, such as keyboard  232  and display  222 , for example, may be used for both communication-related functions, such as entering a text message for transmission over a communication network, and device-resident functions such as a calculator or task list. Operating system software used by microprocessor  238  is preferably stored in a persistent store such as flash memory  224 , which may alternatively be a read-only memory (ROM) or similar storage element (not shown). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the operating system, specific device applications, or parts thereof, may be temporarily loaded into a volatile store such as RAM  226 .  
         [0027]     Microprocessor  238 , in addition to its operating system functions, preferably enables execution of software applications on mobile station  202 . A predetermined set of applications which control basic device operations, including at least data and voice communication applications, will normally be installed on mobile station  202  during its manufacture. A preferred application that may be loaded onto mobile station  202  may be a personal information manager (PIM) application having the ability to organize and manage data items relating to the user such as, but not limited to, instant messaging (IM), e-mail, calendar events, voice mails, appointments, and task items. Naturally, one or more memory stores are available on mobile station  202  and SIM  262  to facilitate storage of PIM data items and other information.  
         [0028]     The PIM application preferably has the ability to send and receive data items via the wireless network. In a preferred embodiment, PIM data items are seamlessly integrated, synchronized, and updated via the wireless network, with the mobile station user&#39;s corresponding data items stored and/or associated with a host computer system thereby creating a mirrored host computer on mobile station  202  with respect to such items. This is especially advantageous where the host computer system is the mobile station user&#39;s office computer system. Additional applications may also be loaded onto mobile station  202  through network  200 , an auxiliary I/O subsystem  228 , serial port  230 , short-range communications subsystem  240 , or any other suitable subsystem  242 , and installed by a user in RAM  226  or preferably a non-volatile store (not shown) for execution by microprocessor  238 . Such flexibility in application installation increases the functionality of mobile station  202  and may provide enhanced on-device functions, communication-related functions, or both. For example, secure communication applications may enable electronic commerce functions and other such financial transactions to be performed using mobile station  202 .  
         [0029]     In a data communication mode, a received signal such as a text message, an e-mail message, or web page download will be processed by communication subsystem  211  and input to microprocessor  238 . Microprocessor  238  will preferably further process the signal for output to display  222 , to auxiliary I/O device  228  or both. A user of mobile station  202  may also compose data items, such as e-mail messages, for example, using keyboard  232  in conjunction with display  222  and possibly auxiliary I/O device  228 . Keyboard  232  is preferably a telephone type keypad, full alphanumeric keyboard or full or condensed QWERTY keypad. These composed items may be transmitted over a communication network through communication subsystem  211 .  
         [0030]     For voice communications, the overall operation of mobile station  202  is substantially similar, except that the received signals would be output to speaker  234  and signals for transmission would be generated by microphone  236 . Alternative voice or audio I/O subsystems, such as a voice message recording subsystem, may also be implemented on mobile station  202 . Although voice or audio signal output is preferably accomplished primarily through speaker  234 , display  222  may also be used to provide an indication of the identity of a calling party, duration of a voice call, or other voice call related information, as some examples.  
         [0031]     Serial port  230  in  FIG. 2  is normally implemented in a personal digital assistant (PDA)-type communication device for which synchronization with a user&#39;s desktop computer is a desirable, albeit optional, component. Serial port  230  enables a user to set preferences through an external device or software application and extends the capabilities of mobile station  202  by providing for information or software downloads to mobile station  202  other than through a wireless communication network. The alternate download path may, for example, be used to load an encryption key onto mobile station  202  through a direct and thus reliable and trusted connection to thereby provide secure device communication.  
         [0032]     Short-range communications subsystem  240  of  FIG. 2  is an additional optional component which provides for communication between mobile station  202  and different systems or devices, which need not necessarily be similar devices. For example, subsystem  240  may include an infrared device and associated circuits and components, or a Bluetooth™ communication module to provide for communication with similarly-enabled systems and devices. Bluetooth™ is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.  
         [0033]     In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, mobile station  202  is configured for sending and receiving data items and includes a PIM for organizing and managing data items relating to the user such as, but not limited to, instant messaging (IM), e-mail, calendar events, calendar appointments, and task items, etc. By way of example, mobile station  202  is configured for voice (which may include push to talk over cellular (POC)) and data services, voice mail service, e-mail service, SMS and chat services to which the user subscribes. To provide a user-friendly environment to control the operation of mobile station  202 , PIM together with the operation system and various software applications resident on the station  202  provides a GUI having a main screen at one or more sub-screens, menus, dialogs or other GUI display components from which to access and control various services via applications stored on said device or available to it.  
         [0034]     Persons of ordinary skill in the art will be familiar with a menu component of a GUI comprising a list of a plurality of items to facilitate controlling the device presenting the menu. In use, a user may select one and, in some implementations and applicable situations, possibly more items for further activity. In one mode, a focus such as a cursor or other visual tool is moved about the menu to select the item. The menu may be rendered on a display screen over an existing display or to replace an existing display.  
         [0035]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is an example illustration of a menu component  300 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, for display  222  of mobile station  202  providing a portion of a graphical user interface for controlling mobile station  202 . Menu component  300  comprises a list of items  302 . Though list  302  comprises eight (8) items, more or less may be used. In the present embodiment, the list  302  has been grouped into three (3) exemplary groups separated by separators  304  and  306  as is known. Each of items  302  is represented by a text description portion (e.g. “Item  1 ”, “Item  2 ”, . . . “Item  8 ”). Though not shown, menu  300  my also include a graphic image (icon) to denote the particular item or a shortcut key representation (e.g. “Ctrl+U”) for invoking the item either directly or through menu  300 .  
         [0036]     In accordance with the present embodiment of the invention, a currently selected item, namely “Item  2 ”  308  of items  302  is indicated by magnifying the height of the item  308  relative to the other of items  302 . This magnified height distinguishes the selected item  308  from the remaining items  302  which may render the currently selected item more readable on display screen  222 .  
         [0037]     The currently selected item may be selected in the menu of items  300  by a user by moving a focus or cursor (e.g. via a thumbwheel or pointing device) about the menu  300 . With reference to  FIG. 4 , the currently selected item is changed to “Item  3 ”  404 . The height of “Item  3 ”  404  is magnified relative to the remaining items  302 . With reference to  FIG. 3 , “Item  2 ”, which is unselected by the move to “Item  3 ”  404 , is unmagnified in  FIG. 3  to indicate it is no longer the currently selected item.  
         [0038]     Box  402  surrounding the unselected item  308  and selected item  404  denotes the a minimal portion of menu  300  that is updated or redisplayed relative to  FIG. 3  to display the change. In this way, the height of menu  300  may be fixed and a minimal portion redisplayed to avoid a complete redisplay of menu  300  and at least a portion of any underlying and visible GUI component. Minimizing display changes typically provides a more satisfying user experience, avoiding apparent screen flickering. As well reducing display changes typically results in faster processing on a mobile station  202  or other device where such changes push the limits of the processors for such devices.  
         [0039]      FIG. 5  illustrates menu  300  of  FIG. 4  with portion  404  comprising “Item  3 ”  404 , which is the currently selected item, “Item  4 ”  502 , which is about to be selected, and separator  304  disposed between these two items  404 ,  502 . Portion  402  in this view of menu  300  shows the minimal portion of menu  300  to be updated should “Item  4 ”  502  become the currently selected item.  FIG. 6  illustrates this update to menu  300 . It is apparent that following the demagnification of the unselected item, the position separator  304  relative to the list of items  302  moves slightly as the currently selected item moves between groups. Thus portion  404  is determined, at least in part, from the height of the currently selected item, the unselected item and any separators between them. Again, a minimal change to menu  300  may be made to update the current selected item without necessarily redisplaying the entire menu  300 .  
         [0040]      FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate further embodiments of the invention in which the currently selected item  702  and  802  is denoted by its magnified height as well as other visual features. In  FIG. 7 , the text portion of the currently selected item  702  is bolded as well as magnified in height. Bolding emphasizes width. In  FIG. 8 , item  802  is shown in reverse video (i.e. white on black) mode. Other features may be used such as a color change or a boarder around the selected item (not shown).  
         [0041]     When magnifying an item, persons of ordinary skill will appreciate that the horizontal size of the item may increase. Thus an initial horizontal size of menu  300  should be determined to accommodate any anticipated horizontal change or the text portion of the item configured accordingly to fit when magnified within the confines of menu  300 .  
         [0042]     In some views of a menu, some individual items may not be active for selecting. For example, in an editing mode having a menu presenting “copy”, “cut” and “paste” items, the “copy” and “cut” items may not be available if an object under edit is not pre-selected before the menu is invoked.  FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate a menu  300  in an embodiment of the invention of  FIG. 7  wherein “Item  3 ”  902  is not available as indicated by a different text shade. In  FIG. 9 , “Item  2 ”  702  is the currently selected item. In  FIG. 10 , “Item  2 ” is the unselected item and the currently selected item is “Item  4 ”  1002 . Any unavailable item between an unselected item and the currently selected item may be treated like a separator (e.g.  304 ). The minimal portion to be redisplayed may be determined accordingly.  
         [0043]      FIGS. 11A, 11B  and  11 C illustrate a further embodiment of a menu component of a graphical user interface. There is illustrated a screen view  1100  comprising a main screen component  1102  having a menu component  1104  rendered over top. With reference to  FIG. 11A , “Hide Menu”  1106  is the currently selected item. Following respect user inputs to move the focus in menu component  1104 , “Open”  1108  and then “Mark Open”  1110  are the respective currently selected item in  FIGS. 11B  and C. In the present embodiment, the currently selected item is magnified in accordance with an aspect of this invention. As well, the focus on the current item is indicated by a reverse video presentation relative to the other menu items. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that additional items that may not appear within the menu  1104  due to a size of the display  222  may be viewed using a navigation tool such as is indicated by down arrow  1112 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 12  illustrates operations  1200  of a menu component of a user interface in accordance with embodiments of the invention. With reference to  FIGS. 11A, 11B  and  11 C, operations  1200  commence at start  1202 , typically following a change to a focus in a menu to select a new item. The view of a menu is redisplayed in response to the change. The minimal portion to be redisplayed is determined (step  1204 ) relative to the unselected item, currently selected item and any intervening separator (including any unavailable items, if applicable). The vertical size or height of the unselected item is re-sized down or unmagnified (step  1206 ) and the height of the currently selected item is magnified or re-sized up (step  1208 ). At step  1210 , the portion of the menu to be redisplayed is redisplayed and operations end at step  1212 . Re-sizing may be accomplished in accordance with a predetermined font size for rendering text portions of an item. A first size may be defined for unselected items of a menu and a second size, typically of the same font type, defined for the currently selected item.  
         [0045]     Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that their may be differences in implementing certain steps of the operations described depending on the configuration of the GUI. For example, the magnification feature may be user configurable via an option of the GUI. The user may select or unselect magnification of the currently selected item and operations  1100  can be invoke in accordance with such a user option. Additional options may also be available to turn bolding reverse video, color or the like on or off or in combination with one another.  
         [0046]     While menu  300  is represented as a row-oriented list of times with a single item per row, a column-oriented list may be employed, particularly for column-oriented languages.  
         [0047]     Though described with reference to a mobile station device, persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the user interface and methods herein described may be usefully incorporated into other computing devices which may not be mobile such as personal computers, workstations, telephone handsets and the like.  
         [0048]     The above-described embodiments of the present application are intended to be examples only. Those of skill in the art may effect alterations, modifications and variations to the particular embodiments without departing from the scope of the application. The invention described herein in the recited claims intends to cover and embrace all suitable changes in technology.