Appeal No. 2002-1041
Application 08/866,402
BACKGROUND
The invention relates to a system, method, and computer
instructions on a computer usable medium for visually indicating
that a key on a display screen has been selected. Although the
invention is disclosed in connection with a touch screen display,
only one claim requires this feature. When a key is selected,
the size of the key on the screen enlarges or "splats" and the
appearance changes to indicate a depressed key, e.g., by
decreasing the size of the bevels of the key graphic.
Claim 20 is reproduced below.
20. In a system having a processor, a display for producing
a visual representation of a plurality of keys, a position
sensing subsystem for providing signals indicating that an
area on the display has been selected by an operator and a
memory for storing programming instructions for controlling
the operation of the system, an apparatus for providing
improved visual feedback to the operator that an area in the
visual representation has been selected, said apparatus
comprising:
(a) a circuit responsive to signals provided by said the
position sensing subsystem to provide an key-identifying
signal indicating that a particular key in the visual
representation of said plurality of keys has been selected
by the operator; and
(b) display control logic responsive to the key-identifying
signal to alter the visual representation of the selected
key by enlarging said the visual representation and by
changing said visual representation to have the appearance
of a depressed key, said altered visual representation
providing visual confirmation of the key selection.
The examiner relies on the following references:
Greanias et al. (Greanias) 4,686,332 August 11, 1987
Volk et al. (Volk) 5,687,331 November 11, 1997
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