Patent Application
20120081286
The present application relates generally to alerting users of shortcuts on computers and in particular of shortcut keystrokes of which a user otherwise might not be aware.
As computers grow ever more sophisticated they provide a host of capabilities, applications, etc. not all of which may be apparent to the user. Some of the capabilities may be complex and some relatively simple but useful, but regardless, owing to the large number of them many capabilities go unnoticed and thus unexploited by the user.
As an example, the operating system (OS) executed by the processor of the computer can provide many simple but useful functions including keyboard shortcuts that may be invoked by pressing a special key such as a meta key (sometimes established by a “Windows Key” or “WinKey” located in the bottom row of most keyboards on the left side between the “control” and “alt” keys) simultaneously with another key typically corresponding to a letter. A user temporarily leaving his computer while in a non-secure place, for instance, can simultaneously press the WinKey with the “L” key to lock the computer, bringing up a password entry screen into which a password must be entered to resume operation. Other keys pressed simultaneously with the WinKey can have other functions but most users have no idea that these functions exist.
Accordingly, a computing device has a processor, a video display controlled by the processor, and a keypad communicating with the processor to send user selection signals to the processor. The keypad includes a meta key and plural character keys. First character keys have respective functions apart from entry of their respective character when pressed simultaneously with the meta key, while second character keys have no respective functions apart from entry of their respective character when pressed simultaneously with the meta key. Visual indication is provided on each first character key of its respective function when pressed simultaneously with the meta key.
In some embodiments each of the first and second character keys bears respective character indicia representing the respective character they respectively represent when pressed individually. The second character keys but not the first character keys can bear respective meta key function indicia representing their respective functions when pressed simultaneously with the meta key. The meta key function indicia may be icons or words.
Alternatively or in addition to the meta key function indicia, the second character keys but not the first character keys can be backlit by respective backlight lamps underlying a transparent or translucent key substrate on the top surface of which appears the respective character index. If desired, all backlit keys can be illuminated with the same color as each other or backlit keys are illuminated with respective different colors representing their respective functions when pressed simultaneously with the meta key.
In another aspect, a computing device has a processor, a video display controlled by the processor, and a keypad communicating with the processor to send user selection signals to the processor. The keypad includes a meta key and plural character keys. First character keys have respective functions apart from entry of their respective character when pressed simultaneously with the meta key, while second character keys have no respective functions apart from entry of their respective character when pressed simultaneously with the meta key. The processor presents a user interface (UI) on the display which lists the function each first character key has when pressed simultaneously with the meta key.
In another aspect, a computing device has a processor, a video display controlled by the processor, and a keypad communicating with the processor to send user selection signals to the processor. The keypad includes plural single purpose keys that, when manipulated, invoke respective software applications or services.
The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:
Referring initially to
To undertake present principles, the processor 16 may access one or more computer readable storage media 20 such as but not limited to RAM-based storage, a chip implementing dynamic random access memory (DRAM)) or flash memory or disk storage. Software code implementing present logic executable by the device 12 may be stored on one of the memories shown to undertake present principles.
The processor 16 can receive user input signals from various input devices, including a keyboard or keypad 22 (hereinafter “keypad” without loss of generality), a point and click device such as a mouse or joystick 24, etc. “Keypad” without additional modifiers is intended to cover any keyed computer input device suitable for purposes below and including multiple keys corresponding to letters, numbers, and non-alphanumeric characters, usually arranged for English speaking countries in a QWERTY layout but having other possible key arrangements as well. A network interface 30 such as a wired or wireless modem or wireless telephony transceiver may also be provided and may communicate with the processor 16.
As describe above the keypad 22 may be a QWERTY keypad but for simplicity only a few keys are labeled in the top row and discussed herein. A “show shortcuts” key 34 may be provided for purposes discussed below. Also, the letter keys “B”, “C”, “D”, “E”, and “L” are shown. Assume that the letter keys “B” and “D” have no functions when pressed simultaneously with the meta key 32 but that the letter keys “C”, “E”, and “L” do have respective functions when pressed simultaneously with the meta key 32 apart from simple entry of their respective characters into the processor 16.
In one implementation given the above example, those keys having functions when pressed simultaneously with the meta key 32 include respective character indicia 36 representing the character they respectively represent when pressed individually and respective meta key function indicia 38 representing their respective functions when pressed simultaneously with the meta key 32. Thus, for example, the “L” key may have an “L” character on it as shown as well as an index such as an icon appearing as a padlock, to represent its locking function when pressed simultaneously with the meta key 32. The respective meta key function index 38 representing a key's respective function when pressed simultaneously with the meta key 32 may be a word such as, in the example case of the letter “L”, the word “lock”.
In another implementation, as in the embodiment above those letters having functions when pressed simultaneously with the meta key 32 include character indicia 36 representing the character they respectively represent when pressed individually, just as other keys, but no separate meta key function index is inscribed on the letters having functions when pressed simultaneously with the meta key 32. Instead, those keys having functions when pressed simultaneously with the meta key 32 are backlit by illuminating a respective backlight lamp 40 underlying a transparent or translucent key substrate 42 (
In one example, an example compound action can be simultaneously pressing the meta key with the control key which then shows another set of options via backlighting, e.g., pressing the meta key with the control key can cause backlighting to be illuminated under the tab key, number keys, etc.
Principles above can apply to meta keys other than the WinKey, e.g., to function keys typically arranged in a top row of many keypads. Or, only those function keys having Fn Functions (e.g., F5, F6, F7, Up, Down, Left, Right, etc.) are backlit while unused function keys are not backlit.
In yet another embodiment or in addition to the visual feature described above, a user interface (UI) such as the UI 46 shown in
As contemplated herein, a user can be allowed to manually configure keys during an out of box experience (OOBE), i.e., the first time the computer is energized after purchase.
Commencing at block 60, at OOBE (first time launch of the computer) a service is launched at boot up that by default backlights the keys which have functions when pressed simultaneously with the meta key. Decision diamond 62 indicates that when the keypad is already backlit with a secondary color option, the logic moves to block 64 to set the default meta key to use the secondary color; otherwise, the logic flows to block 66 to set the default meta key to use a primary color and to remove back lighting from non-meta keys. These preferences are saved at block 68.
Proceeding to block 70, a user input signal is received indicating that the user launches the application and sets preferences. The keys having special functions when pressed with the meta key are illuminated at block 72, and then at block 74 the helper GUI of
Block 78 simply indicates that the user continues normal use of the computer, and when the meta key is used at block 80 it is determined at decision diamond 82 whether the keys of the keypad are capable of being back-illuminated in more than a single color. If not, the keys having special functions when pressed with the meta key are illuminated at block 84 and all other keys are de-illuminated. If the GUI of
Now turning to
A user input is received from the UI and at decision diamond 94 it is determined whether the input indicates that the user wishes to customize the hotkey settings. If so, the logic flows to block 96 to receive user input defining functions for the hotkeys, which are saved at block 98. Otherwise, the default functions for the hotkeys are set at, block 100 and saved at block 98. The hotkey functions are then booted into the operating system at block 102 for future execution when the relevant hotkeys are pressed.
Similarly, beside the image corresponding to an email key, a menu listing two possible email applications to be invoked when the email key is pressed is shown, from which the user can select a preferred email application that the processor 16 thereafter invokes whenever the email key is pressed.
In the case of a favorite site key, beside the image corresponding to it may be an entry tool established by a field into which the desired website's address can be typed, along with a prompt 112 to do so. In any case, the applications and services invoked by the hotkeys may be established by the user as desired.
While the particular ALERTING USER TO SHORTCUTS ON COMPUTER is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.
