Patent Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and devices for displaying information in a handheld device, comprising displaying information in a dynamically sizable cell in the display of the handheld device, wherein the cell comprises a portion of the display and the size of the cell is adjusted in response to the amount of information it contains. Embodiments of the present invention are enabled to display the information in a plurality of dynamically sizable cells which display different categories of information. Embodiments are also enabled to adjust cell size in response to the size of the other cells in the display.

Full Description:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS 
     This application incorporates herein by reference, and claims priority to, the commonly-owned co-pending provisional patent application U.S. Ser. No. 60/467,794, entitled “MULTI-MODE CONFERENCE CALL SETUP AND MANAGEMENT AND DATA BROWSING USER INTERFACE TECHNIQUE (‘MULLET DATEBOOK’) AND DYNAMIC SIZING USER INTERFACE TECHNIQUE FOR DATA DISPLAY AND TEXT-KEY CUSTOMIZATION FOR AUDIO MENU SELECTION,” filed May 1, 2003, and to the commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,516,202 B1, entitled “MOBILE COMPUTER SYSTEM DESIGNED FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION EXPANSION,” issued on Feb. 4, 2003, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of user interaction with data displayed in handheld portable electronic devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As the components required to build a computer system have reduced in size, new categories of computer systems have emerged. A relatively recent category of computer system is the portable or handheld computer device. A handheld computer system is a computer that is small enough to be held in the hand. As a result, these devices are readily carried about in a briefcase or purse, and some handheld devices are compact enough to fit into a person&#39;s pocket. By virtue of their size, handheld computer systems are also lightweight and so are exceptionally portable and convenient. 
     Further development of handheld devices has enabled their use for more and more tasks. For example, portable, and even wireless, access to computer networks is now readily available with suitably configured devices. The portability and convenience of handheld devices has enabled the even more exciting possibilities encompassed by the combination of the capabilities of handheld devices with the communication convenience of wireless telephones, e.g. cellular phones. 
     As more and more of these devices are carried in everyday activities, the demand for more and more capability from these versatile machines also grows. The demanding environment of modern working life sometimes requires multi-tasking by the individual, requiring a careful scheduling of daily events as well as the events of the busy workplace, often using the assistance of planning or scheduling aids or planners. Often these weekly and monthly planners need to be accessed while the user is on the go. 
     As convenient as handheld computing devices are, users demand ease of use. Often a simple task such as quickly checking the time of an upcoming event, scheduling a meeting, or checking a meeting attendance list or agenda topic requires two hands and a convenient lap or desk. This is often caused by the existence of more relevant data than is displayed in the existing display view. It would be desirable to simplify the graphical user interface experience for a user and present helpful daily information in an intuitive manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and system for viewing daily information, e.g., messages from others, to-do data and organized calendar data in a database. The method can be implemented in a portable computing device, such as a handheld computing device, and user input to navigate through the database can be accepted by alpha-numeric input, touch-screen display tactile input or by five-way navigation button, for example. 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and devices for displaying information in a handheld device, comprising displaying information in a dynamically sizable cell in the display of the handheld device, wherein the cell comprises a portion of the display and the size of the cell is adjusted in response to the amount of information it contains. Embodiments of the present invention are enabled to display the information in a plurality of dynamically sizable on-screen displayed cells or windows which display different categories of information. Embodiments are also enabled to adjust cell size in response to the size of the other cells in the display and/or based on the data to be displayed and/or user defined cell display options. 
     Embodiments of the present invention are also presented which are enabled to present windows or cells that include a list of appointments, a list of daily tasks to accomplish and an email window. The combination of cells can be referred to as a “Today View” in some embodiments, and can show information a user needs to know for the ensuing twenty four hours. Embodiments can also display a clock with events, To-Do items, and messages that will impact or are useful to the user over the next twenty four hours. 
     When Today View displays information, it uses a pointer system that adjusts what is displayed on-screen based on how much information needs to be displayed, and from what application. When ranking information, a focus is to convey scheduling information, such as for appointments or events. The second focus of data to convey is To-Do items, and the last is messaging information. Appointments and events are listed in a cell that can be called an “agenda” cell, a “timed events” cell, or simply an “events” cell. The above ranking is one example only. As discussed, this data is displayed in cells. Appointments and events listed may be created in other parts of the present invention or in other applications, known as “creator” applications. 
     According to embodiments of the present invention, appointment and to-do cells are dynamically sized. Today View efficiently takes advantage of as much screen display area as possible to convey important daily items. When Agenda has more items from the creator applications than can be displayed individually, it aggregates items based on priority. The overall strategy is to present these aggregation messages as a link to the respective creator view that can always appear in the same, persistent default setting and filtering state. 
     Messages, being the lowest in priority in some embodiments, can be aggregated and limited to just one display line. In many embodiments, the Today View is enabled to convey a count of messages that have been received and already read and those that have been received and are as yet unread. Embodiments are enabled to launch an email client application, revealing the messages, with a “tapping” on the touch screen or other selection of the message line text. 
     In some embodiments, the aggregation rule can next apply to tasks to accomplish, or “ToDo” items. If there is enough display area available, time-based ToDo items can be displayed as separate line items with the current day&#39;s due items on top of the list. ‘Hidden’ time based ToDo&#39;s can be aggregated as “Due Today,” “Past Due,” etc. The user can optionally select not to display the to-do cell and/or the messages cell. 
     Embodiments of the present invention employ five-way navigation usable in calendar viewing. Some embodiments are enabled to employ a “Tall Screen” display which allows an active input area of the touch screen display to be collapsed to present more display area in a rectangular format. Embodiments are also enabled to orient displayed information to a “landscape” format, where the long axis of the rectangular display is horizontal, or to a “portrait” format, where the long axis is vertical. Embodiments are also enabled to present user-selected background images in each of these display formats. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The operation and components of this invention are described by reference to the drawings. 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates, in block flow diagram, a computer implemented method for browsing, manipulating and viewing data consistent with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates, in block flow diagram, a computer implemented method for dynamically sizing cells in a display consistent with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates an embodiment of dynamically sizable cells in a display in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates interrelated sizing of dynamically sizable cells in a display in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2C  illustrates another interrelated sizing of dynamically sizable cells in a display in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2D  illustrates another interrelated sizing of dynamically sizable cells in a display in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2E  illustrates another interrelated sizing of dynamically sizable cells in a display in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2F  illustrates an interrelated sizing of dynamically sizable cells in which cells have no listed information in a display in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2G  illustrates another interrelated sizing of dynamically sizable cells in which cells have no listed information in a display in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2H  illustrates another interrelated sizing of dynamically sizable cells in which cells have no listed information in a display in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a display options window in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 3B ,  3 C,  3 D and  3 E illustrate selecting a background image in a display of a handheld computing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 3F and 3G  illustrate creating and editing a timed event in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a rectangular display in portrait mode with a collapsible active input area in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 4C and 4D  illustrate a rectangular display in landscape mode with a collapsible active input area in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4E  illustrates a rectangular display in portrait mode with a background image in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates sizing a background image in a rectangular display in portrait mode in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary physical embodiment of a portable computer system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7A  illustrates an exemplary physical embodiment of a portable computer system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7B  illustrates an exemplary physical embodiment of a portable computer system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention with an extended screen mode. 
         FIG. 7C  illustrates a physical embodiment of a portable computer system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention with an extended screen mode and a graphical user interface. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a physical embodiment of a portable computer system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention presented in landscape mode. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary portable computer system, optionally enabled as a telephone, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments are chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application; to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents. 
     These descriptions of specific embodiments incorporate herein by reference, and claims priority to, the commonly-owned co-pending provisional patent application U.S. Ser. No. 60/467,794, entitled “MULTI-MODE CONFERENCE CALL SETUP AND MANAGEMENT AND DATA BROWSING USER INTERFACE TECHNIQUE (‘MULLET DATEBOOK’) AND DYNAMIC SIZING USER INTERFACE TECHNIQUE FOR DATA DISPLAY AND TEXT-KEY CUSTOMIZATION FOR AUDIO MENU SELECTION,” filed May 1, 2003, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. 
     In this discussion of some embodiments of the present invention, the terms, “handheld device,” “cell phone,” “portable electronic device” and “portable computing device” are used more or less interchangeably, as noted previously. In each case, they refer to a class of relatively small, user-portable, computing devices that are capable of performing the functions of portable computing devices and, importantly, accept user input in the form of pressure applied to, for instance, a touch-screen display/input device, through alpha-numeric key input, or through a multi-directional navigation button, etc. Some of the above terms are also used to refer to devices that combine the functions of portable computing devices with those of wireless telephones. 
     It is noted here that specific names are used herein for many of the features presented in embodiments of the present invention. The names are used in this discussion only for example and illustration. Embodiments can be implemented with different names and can present different languages without limiting the functions and features found in these embodiments. 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates, in block flow diagram form, a computer implemented method for displaying calendar information in a handheld device. There, process  100  begins by displaying information in the display of a handheld device  110 . The information displayed can be any type of information but in this embodiment of the present invention it is envisioned as daily information, e.g., appointment and task information listed in text and graphical format in on-screen cells or windows that are dynamically sizable. Some embodiments are enabled to provide a graphic image as background or “wallpaper.” Other embodiments of the present invention are enabled to provide graphic information in a number of dynamically sizable cells. 
     Process  100  continues by sizing the dynamically sizable cell in response to the amount of information contained in it at  120 . The size of the cell, in this embodiment, expands or contracts as necessary to display the items listed in the type of information associated with the cell. An appointment cell for example, in this embodiment, shows all the listed appointments, or other events, that are scheduled, up to a certain limit. That limit can be settable by the user within a certain range. The upper limit is constrained so that there is always display area available to show a message line in the display and, if there are tasks, or “to-do,” listed, a task list cell. The minimum limit for the appointment cell, also known as the “timed events” cell, is one appointment or a line informing the user that there are no appointments scheduled. 
     At  130 , other dynamically sizable cells are displayed, e.g., the cell listing to-do items. Each cell is also sized according to the amount of information to be displayed. In this embodiment, a cell showing message information can also be displayed and may remain sized for one line of information. 
     The relative size of the timed events cell and the to-dos cell in this embodiment is dynamic. As shown at  140 , the cells maximize and minimize interdependently, reflecting the number of items to be displayed at any one time and taking into consideration the number of active cells for display. The maximum extension of the two cells is flexible and relational, depending on the amount of left-over display area available. However, in case of conflict, there is a minimum number of rows defined for each cell. If the number of items to be displayed equals or exceeds this minimum, the cell will not contract. 
     For a square display, or a rectangular display with an uncollapsed active input area, the relational minimum cell size in this embodiment of the present invention is seven rows for events and two rows for to-do in one exemplary embodiment. For a rectangular display, also known as a “Tall App state,” it is eleven rows for events and four rows for to-dos as one example. The sizes of the cells described herein are based on the screen size of the employing device. It is noted that other embodiments can have more or fewer allocated rows for information without altering the scope of the dynamically sizable cell embodiments herein described. 
     It is noted here that cells are also sized so that, if each cell has such a small list of items to display that the aggregate of items will not fill the available display area, each cell can expand to jointly take up the spare space. In other embodiments, each cell can shrink to a user-preferred minimum and the surplus display area can remain unused. 
     In one embodiment, the message display cell and the to-do display cell are optional and may be deactivated according to user configurations. If the to-do cell is suppressed, in one example, the events cell automatically may increase in size. Alternatively, if the messages cell is suppressed, then the to-do cell may increase in size. If both the to-do cell and messages cell are suppressed, then the event cell may increase in size automatically. If the to-do cell does not use all its area to display, the spare area may be used to automatically enlarge the events cell. In embodiments of the present invention, a cell is not enlarged, as described above, unless it contains information to display in the expanded area. 
       FIG. 1B  illustrates a method by which interrelational dynamic sizing is achieved in one embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment,  FIG. 1B  may be viewed as an expansion of step  140  in  FIG. 1 . If the to-do cell is suppressed  151 , and the message cell is not suppressed  153 , then the event cell is expanded as needed  155  up to absorb the area made available by the to-do cell&#39;s suppression. If the to-do cell is suppressed  151 , and the message cell is suppressed  153 , then the events cell can expand to use up to all of the display area as needed  156 . 
     If the to-do cell is not suppressed  151 , and there is extra space available in the to-do cell  152 , then, again, the event cell is expanded to take up available display area as needed  155 . If, however, the to-do cell does not have extra space  152 , and the message cell is suppressed  154 , then the to-do cell is expanded to absorb the message cell&#39;s unused space as needed  158 . If the message cell is not suppressed  154 , but the event cell has extra area  157 , then the to-do cell is again expanded as needed  158 , this time absorbing display area remaining from the event cell. In each case, in this embodiment, the cells display the maximum amount of appropriate information that can be shown in the available area  161 . When the information changes or when appropriateness of the information changes, such as when the scheduled time of an event passes, for example, then the process is repeated,  199 . The process is also repeated when the user enters new information or when the user enters new preferences. 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in which dynamically sizable cells are displayed on the screen of an electronic device. Exemplary square format display  201  comprises a clock display  202 , date display  204 , display select buttons  203 , dynamically sizable events cell  221 , dynamically sizable to-do cell  222 , and message cell  223 . In one embodiment, message cell  223  lists only one line of information. That line includes the total number of messages received and the number of those as yet unread. Other embodiments can enlarge the message cell information to include other information such as the title or sender of a high priority message, for example. 
     Dynamically sizable to-do cell  222  lists user-created tasks. The tasks, like the events listed in events cell  221 , are created in “creator” applications, such as an electronic calendar or appointment book software application. Embodiments of the present invention are enabled to accept events and tasks from a variety of applications. The exemplary task shown in cell  222 , in  FIG. 2A , includes a due date and a past-due date. These time-constrained items can function, in this embodiment, as alarms. 
     Dynamically sizable events cell  221  is also shown. In addition to “today&#39;s” timed events, events upcoming soon are listed under “tomorrow.” This embodiment of the present invention lists the time of the event and the name or other reference as well as a “past” icon  205  or an “upcoming” icon  206 . In some embodiments, these icons change in accordance with the relation between the scheduled time and the clock time. In other embodiments, these icons can be changed by user input. 
     It is noted here that user input can be accepted in a number of ways in this embodiment. A user can touch the icon in the touch-screen display, in this example, with a stylus or other object. The user can also step through the icons and other screen entities using a five-way navigation button then change the icon status by using a select or other key. User input can also, in some embodiments, be accepted from an alpha-numeric keyboard. 
     The dynamic sizability of events cell  221  and to-do cell  222  are interdependent and their sizes also relate to the amount of information to be listed and to the number of active cells displayed. A user can, in this embodiment, select whether to display a cell or to suppress it entirely (e.g., deactivate it).  FIG. 2B  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in which the to-do cell  222  is suppressed. Events cell  221 , in this example, automatically expands to absorb the display area otherwise used by the to-do cell and events cell  221  is able to list more of its contained event listings. Message cell  223 , in this example, remains at one message count line. Events cell  221  expands in size, in this example, only if it contains data to be displayed in the expanded area. 
     In  FIG. 2C , message cell  223  has also been suppressed and events cell  221  expands to absorb all of the available display  201 , assuming it contains data to be displayed in the expanded area. Clock  202  and view select buttons  203  are not absorbed in this example, however. When events cell  221  is able to absorb all available display  201  area, a large number of event items can be listed. In this example, three events are listed for the day shown and five for the following day, each with schedule times and icons. Other embodiments are enabled to list more. 
       FIG. 2D  illustrates a display in which message cell  223  has been suppressed and to-do cell  222  has expanded to take advantage of the now-available display area. In this embodiment of the present invention, the event cell  221  remains at its original size and the to-do cell  222  expands to absorb the area made available by suppression of the message cell  223 . 
       FIG. 2E  illustrates the interrelational nature of dynamic sizing in these embodiments of the present invention. The layout of the timed events cell  221  and the to-do cell  222  is dynamic. The cells maximize and minimize interdependently, reflecting the number of items to be displayed at any given time and the active cells. The maximum extension of the two cells is flexible and relational and depends on how much left-over display area is available. However, in case of conflict there is a minimum number of rows defined for each cell which is user-selectable in this embodiment. Here, to-do cell  222  has automatically contracted one line to allow events cell  221  to list another upcoming event because cell  221  needed more area and cell  222  did not need the area. 
     In the example shown, the relational minimum size of the two dynamic cells defines the number of rows composing the two cells, if the number of items to be displayed equals or exceeds the user-defined minimum for both cells. It is noted that this occurrence has a higher probability in an embodiment employing a square aspect display. If the relational minimum size of one dynamic cell exceeds the number of items to be displayed, it will automatically contract and cede display area to the other cell. For to-do cell  221  on a square aspect display, this amount that can be ceded is only one row in this embodiment. The timed events is then enabled to display one more (single row) item. It is noted that other embodiments are enabled to expand and contract over more items, depending on the total screen size available. 
       FIG. 2F  illustrates the display of an embodiment of the present invention when there is no content for a cell to display or no content of a particular type. If there is no content for an active cell, it does not fully collapse but rather displays a corresponding message and the other cell can absorb the remaining display up to the minimum reserved size of the no-content cell. Here, there are no events scheduled for “today” and the one-line message reads “No Appointments Today.” However the “tomorrow” portion of events cell  221  has content and that content is displayed as normal. To-do cell  222  also has no content and displays only the one line message “No ToDo Items Due.” It is noted here that these messages can vary in various embodiments. The specific wording used in this embodiment is only used here for illustrative purposes. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2G , if both cells are devoid of information to be listed, both shrink to their relational minimums. The remaining display area remains blank, in this embodiment of the present invention. 
     It is noted that there are both timed and untimed events that can be scheduled in this embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2H  illustrates both timed and untimed events listed in events cell  221 . The untimed events for today are listed, in this example, at  251 , shown just below the date line. Tomorrow&#39;s untimed events are listed at  252 , in the upcoming events section of events cell  221 , in this embodiment. Untimed events in this embodiment also are denoted with an icon that is different from those of timed events and lack a start time indication. In this embodiment, with future days&#39; untimed events being listed above timed events, a sufficient number of untimed events can displace timed future events to outside the events cell&#39;s available listing space and scrolling is required to view those timed future events. In other embodiments, however, untimed events may be listed beneath timed events. 
     Timed events, in this embodiment of the present invention, are shown in the events cell and scroll through the cell as time passes. Over time, timed events migrate to the top and, if there are no more hidden events for today, the timed events make room for future events in other days. 
     Today&#39;s events show the event title in bold font in this embodiment of the present invention, running over one line. If the event has a location field attached, the location field is shown on a second line. 
     Future events, though shown only as “tomorrow” in these illustrations, also include all other future days. If there is sufficient space available, future day&#39;s events are listed under the headings for the applicable days. 
     The display illustrated in this embodiment of the present invention enables the user to select a number of preferred settings for the display&#39;s presentation. The aforementioned minimum size for cells is one set of many selectable settings. 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates the options pull-down menu employed in one embodiment of the present invention. “Display Options” is shown selected at  302 . Upon selection of display options, the display changes to that shown in  FIG. 3B . Here, display options window  310  is characterized by a title bar  304 , view select button  305 , view indicators  307 , and window closing buttons  306  which are, in this example, “OK,” signifying acceptance of settings changes, and “Cancel,” signifying rejection of any entered settings changes. Display  310  also shows cell select buttons  311  and selected image window  312 . It is noted that in this embodiment of the present invention, an image can be selected from a group of images and used as background to many of the displays. The group of images can be assorted stock images or user created images or photographs. The Select Image display appears when the “Background Image” icon box is selected. 
       FIG. 3C  illustrates selecting a background image in the select image display. Here, title bar  323  is labeled “choose an image” but some embodiments may use other phrasing. In this embodiment of the present invention, a selection of thumbnail images is presented for user selection at  321 . If there are more thumbnail images than can be presented at one time, the remaining images can be viewed by either stepping down by use of a navigation button or by stroking scroll arrow  322  with a stylus in the touch-screen display. 
     When an image is selected, its name appears in window  312  as shown in  FIG. 3D  and, in the embodiment, display  310  re-appears showing the selected image name. When “OK” is selected, the display returns to the today view display,  330 , with the selected image in the background. In this embodiment, the information listed in the dynamically sizable cells is not affected by the presence of a background image. 
       3 E,  3 F 
       FIG. 3G  illustrates accessing a creator application in order to modify a timed event. Here, an upcoming timed event is highlighted  341  in display  223 . Highlighting and selecting, in this embodiment, causes the appearance  341  of day view display  342 . The selected timed event is denoted on the day view display as a highlighted time indicator  343 . In this embodiment, another selection, of the highlighted time indicator, allows further editing of the timed event. It is noted that the exemplary timed event in  FIG. 3G  has a start time of “4:30.” In the day view time listing, however, only times on the hour are listed. An “off-hour” time is only listed when an off-hour time has been selected as a start time for the timed event.  FIG. 3G  is also, in this embodiment, characterized by a date window  346  and a day of the week indicator button set  344 . Days of the week can be selected forward or backward in time by selecting arrows  345 . 
     Embodiments of the present invention can also be implemented in a rectangular display format as shown in display  400  in  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B . A rectangular display  400  can be called a “Tallscreen” display or a “Tall App State” in some embodiments. It is noted that display  400  is presented in a portrait orientation, with the vertical axis of the display aligned with the long axis of the touch-screen display. As shown in  FIG. 4A , there is an active input area (AIA)  401  for user alpha-numeric input in the touch-screen display. The square area above the active input area is treated in the same manner as a square format display with events cell  221 , to-do cell  222  and message cell  223  shown in their square display relative sizes. Also present in display  400  are status bar  402 , clock display  202  and view select buttons  203 . 
     The active input area can be collapsed, or minimized, as shown in  FIG. 4B , making its display area available to the dynamically sizable cells. When the display area is available, events cell  221  and to-do cell  222  each enlarge to take advantage of the increased area. It is noted that, in the default relationship in this embodiment of the present invention, an extra nine to eleven rows become available to event cell  221  and four rows become available to to-do cell  222  upon active input area collapse. Navigation in the listed information presented in a tallscreen display is in the same manner as in a square screen display. 
     A tallscreen display can be presented in a landscape orientation as shown in  FIG. 4C  and  FIG. 4D . Here the vertical axis of display  410  is oriented with the short axis of the rectangular touch-screen. When the active input area is maximized, is presented, in this embodiment, on the right side of the display. It is noted here that some embodiments are enabled to present the active input area on the left side of the screen when in landscape mode. Again, when the active input area is maximized, the dynamically sizable cells are presented in a default square aspect display, as shown in  FIG. 4C . 
       FIG. 4D  illustrates the behavior of display  410  when the active input area is collapsed. Unlike the increase in available rows that occurs in portrait mode, event cell  221 , to-do cell  222  and message cell  223  increase in width to take advantage of the increased available display area. While no increase occurs in listed items, increased area is available more information as shown. It is noted that the status bar  402  in this embodiment occupies the end of the rectangular display, not having changed from its location in portrait mode. The clock  202  and view select buttons move, however, to remain in their respective locations in the display  410 . 
       FIG. 4E  illustrates the behavior of a background image in tallscreen portrait mode when the active input area is minimized. In this embodiment, the image retains its size and orientation. If the stored image is larger than the presented image, then more of the stored image is presented. If the stored image and the presented image are of the same size, the presented image remains and a blank background is presented in the increased area. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates sizing a stored image to be presented as a background image in the tallscreen display, in portrait mode. Image  501  is larger than the area  502  that can be presented in the tallscreen display,  500 . In this embodiment of the present invention, the presented image is taken from the center of the stored image with an equal amount of cropping occurring on the left and right sides and on the top and bottom. In other embodiments, the user can select a portion of a stored image to present as a background. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a portable electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this illustration, the portable electronic device is implemented as a handheld computing device  600 . Device  600  is enabled with a touch-screen display  601  and an active input area (AIA)  602 . 
     Device  600  is also implemented with application buttons  604  and five-way navigation buttons  603 . The five-way navigation buttons shown at  603  comprise “up” button  605 , “down” button  606 , “left” button  607 , “right” button  608  and “pick” button  609 . “Pick” button  609  can also be known as a “select” button. 
     It is noted that the presence, use, and position of application buttons  604  may vary in different implementations without limiting effect on embodiments of the present invention. Device  600  is also equipped with a stylus  610  which allows a user to easily input to the device via the pressure sensitive membrane or digitizer of the touch-screen display,  601 . 
     Embodiments may employ variations of touch-screen display  601 . The implementation illustrated is a “tall screen” device, meaning that it is enabled to present more information than a substantially square screen device in that it is enabled to use active input area (AIA)  602  as an extension of the normal, square, display area. A tall screen device can also be known, when expanded, as a “Tall App State” device. It is noted that the presence, use, and position of application buttons  604  may vary in different implementations without limiting effect on embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7A  illustrates another portable electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this illustration, the portable electronic device is implemented as a handheld computer,  700 , enabled with wireless phone capabilities. Device  700  is enabled with a touch-screen display  701 . 
     It is noted that the particular device  700  illustrated is implemented in a folding or telescoping form factor. In this illustration, line  710  illustrates a dividing line between upper body portion  711  and lower body portion  712  which is shown slid over touch-screen display  701 , thus showing only the uppermost portion of the display. The form factor shown is only an example of implementations available in embodiments of the present invention and is not meant to limit embodiments to any particular form factor. 
     Portable electronic device  700  is enabled with a numeric keypad  703  which comprises, in this implementation, numeric keys 0-9 as well as “star” and “pound” keys. The exemplary keypad shown is only for illustration and is not meant to limit alpha-numeric input devices any particular form in embodiments of the present invention. 
     Portable electronic device  700  is also enabled with a five-way navigation button,  603 . The five-way navigation button comprises “up” button  605 , “down” button  606 , “left” button  607 , “right” button  608  and “pick,” or “select,” button  609 . 
       FIG. 7B  illustrates portable electronic device  700  in an open position, with lower portion  712  retracted and exposing the full expanse of rectangular touch-screen display  301 . In the display&#39;s exposed position, active input area  702  is shown. 
     As discussed previously, embodiments of the present invention are enabled with an active input area,  702 , that can be “collapsed.” Collapsing the active input area allows the effective display area to expand, making use of the active input area when not needed for input.  FIG. 7C  illustrates portable electronic device  700  with active input area  702  collapsed to allow a graphical user interface display to be shown in the full expanse of the display area. 
       FIG. 8  is an illustration of a handheld computing in which embodiments of the present invention can be presented in a landscape mode. Device  800  presents touch-screen display  801 , which includes collapsible active input area  802 . Also included are application buttons  604  whose functions are the same as previously illustrated handheld devices. Five-way navigation buttons  803  are located in the same physical place in the device as when the display is presented in portrait mode. However, the functions of the individual navigation buttons change so that the user is able to keep the same user friendly orientation of up button  808 , down button  807 , left button  805  and right button  806 , and their associated cursor movements. 
     Embodiments of the present invention are expected to operate in a computer system, such as a handheld computing device. A configuration typical to a generic computer system is illustrated, in block diagram form, in  FIG. 9 . Here, generic computer  900  is characterized by a processor  901 , connected electronically by a bus  910  to a volatile memory  902 , a non-volatile memory  903 , possibly some form of data storage device  904  and a display device  905 . 
     While it is noted that display device  905  can be implemented in different forms, embodiments of the present invention are implemented in devices equipped with touch-screen displays combining a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen and a pressure-sensitive input membrane overlaying the display. Other embodiments can be implemented with cathode ray tube (CRT) displays or other implementations. 
     Bus  950  also connects an alpha-numeric input device  906  and cursor control  907 . Embodiments of the present invention are enabled to accept alpha-numeric input by reading handwritten characters in the touch-screen display. In discussions above of embodiments of the present invention, handwritten characters are written in the active input area (AIA). Other embodiments can accept alpha-numeric input from keystrokes in a keypad. Cursor control in embodiments of the present invention is by either tapping appropriate areas of the touch-screen display with a stylus or by pressing appropriate elements of a five-way navigation button. 
     Communication I/O device  908  can be implemented as a serial port, USB, or infrared port. In various implementations, communication I/O device  908  may be realized as a modem, an Ethernet connection, a wireless device, or any other means of communicating signals between a computer system and a communications network. Some embodiments are enabled as wireless telephones. These phone-enabled devices also are equipped with telephone module  909 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8