AU8361701A - Personal computing device - Google Patents

Description

S&FRef: 574843

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha 30-2, Shimomaruko 3-chome, Ohta-ku Tokyo 146 Japan Zhenya Alexander Yourlo Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower,Level 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Personal Computing Device ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION DETAILS [33] Country [31] Applic. No(s) AU PR1488 [32] Application Date 14 Nov 2000 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5815c -1- PERSONAL COMPUTING DEVICE Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to portable computing devices and, in particular, to their associated user interfaces. The present invention relates to a personal computing device having a plurality of user selectable interfaces.

Background Art User interface tokens, which are used for a variety of interface tasks, are known.

A user typically carries a number of such tokens on their person, in order to select a particular token for a corresponding task. It is often difficult for the user to quickly find an appropriate interface token, particularly if a significant number of tokens are being i carried. The difficulty is exacerbated by the fact that tokens are typically randomly stored in a user's pocket, or elsewhere, since a logical grouping is difficult to maintain.

Furthermore, surface abrasion of the tokens can occur as a result of repeated insertion and removal of the token from a token reading device, particularly in relation to tokens which are used on a frequent basis.

Summary of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more disadvantages of existing arrangements.

S 20 According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a personal computing system comprising: a first plurality of user interface tokens each comprising a user selectable indicium on an operative surface of the token, and a memory for storing data associated with the indicium; and a token store comprising: 161000; 11:37; 10/16/00; 11:44 AM 513410.doc -2a second plurality of token pockets, in a user selectable disposition, into each of which one of the first plurality of user interface tokens can be inserted; and (ii) a reader adapted for reading data from a token which has been inserted into a user selected pocket.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a token store for a personal computing system including a first plurality of user interface tokens each having a user selectable indicium on an operative surface of the token, and a memory for storing data associated with the indicium; said token store comprising: a second plurality of token pockets, in a user selectable disposition, into each of which one of the first plurality of user interface tokens can be inserted; and a reader adapted for reading data from a token which has been inserted into a user selected pocket.

t Brief Description of the Drawings At least one embodiment of the present invention will now be described with 15 reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a first configuration of a token store; Fig. 2 illustrates a view of the token store of Fig. 1 showing an internal view thereof; and o:ooo Fig. 3 shows a second configuration of a token store.

20 Detailed Description including Best Mode Where reference is made in any one or more of the accompanying drawings to steps and/or features, which have the same reference numerals, those steps and/or features have for the purposes of this description the same function(s) or operation(s), unless the contrary intention appears.

161000; 11:37; 10116/00; 11:44 AM 513410.doc -3- In the context of this specification, the word "comprising" means "including principally but not necessarily solely" or "having" or "including" and not "consisting only of'. Variations of the word comprising, such as "comprise" and "comprises" have corresponding meanings.

Fig. 1 shows a token store 100 which has the appearance of a card-wallet, or equivalently, of a standard paper-backed, or hard-cover book. The token store 100 has a front cover 106 upon which a label, or other identifying or decorative pattern, can be placed, or embossed, and has a spine 104 for housing batteries and various electronic components. An infra-red transceiver 102 is evident at the upper extremity of the spine 104, to enable communications to be established with a base station (not shown). The base station can, in turn, be connected over a telecommunications network to other devices (not shown), thereby forming, together with the token store 100, a personal .computing system.

:The token store 100 has a number of token pockets 108 arranged much in the manner of pages in a book, and accordingly, the token pockets, ie pages, can be "turned" one or more at a time, in order to find a desired token pocket, or "page". User interface i.

tokens can be placed in the token pockets, thereby providing a convenient and simple mechanism for storing the tokens, and also for providing convenient operational access to .ooooi the stored tokens, as will be described in more detail in regard to Figs. 2 and 3. The user 20 interface tokens can be implemented using smart cards having on-board memory.

Fig. 2 shows an internal view of the token store 100, and also shows a user interface token 206 prior to insertion into one of the set of pockets 108. Fig. 2 shows the infra-red transceiver 102 at the upper extremity of the spine 104 (see Fig. and shows the token pockets 108. A particular pocket 200 is depicted face up in Fig. 2, thereby 161000; 11:37; 10/16/00; 1 1:44 AM 513410.doc -4being disposed to conveniently allow the user interface token 206 to be inserted into the pocket 200, as depicted by an arrow 208.

Each pocket, exemplified by the pocket 200, has a transparent touch panel, depicted by a dashed rectangle 222, on the front surface thereof, thereby enabling user selectable indicia 210, 212 and 214 to be visible, and thus selectable by the user, through the touch panel 222 of the pocket 200. The pocket 200 also has contacts 218 which are arranged to make contact with corresponding contacts of a memory on a rear surface of the user interface token 206. The contacts 218 are visible in Fig. 2 since the token 206 has not yet been inserted into the pocket 200. Once the token is inserted, the contacts are hidden from view. The contacts 218 are connected by conductive strips 220 which are printed on the pocket, to the electronics housed in the spine 104 of the token store 100.

Io. ~A second token pocket 216 on the left hand side of the token store 100 also has ~contacts 202 which come into contact with corresponding contacts of a memory on the rear surface of a user interface token (not shown) which is inserted into the pocket 216.

The contacts 202 are connected by conductive strips 204, which are printed on the pocket, to the spine 104 of the token store in a similar manner to that described in regard to the token pocket 200. The transparent touch panel associated with the token pocket 216 is not visible in Fig. 2, since Fig. 2 presents a view of the rear of the token pocket 216. In order to see the touch panel associated with the token pocket 216, it is necessary to turn 20 the pocket 216 to the right, much as one would turn the page of a book, thereby swinging the token pocket 216 into a position equivalent to that shown for the token pocket 200.

It is apparent that the token store 100 provides a convenient and advantageous arrangement for storing a significant number of user interface tokens, and furthermore, for allowing quick and convenient operational access to the control functionality provided by each of the tokens. The user of the token store 100 merely has to open the token store 161000; 11:37; 10/16/00; 11:44 AM 513410.doc 100, which in the arrangement shown activates the token store, by means of a microswitch, or alternative device, which detects that the token store 100 has been opened. The tokens eg. 206, which have been inserted into the separate pockets in the wallet are electrically connected to the token store 100 by means of a contact area eg. 218 in each pocket which comes into electrical contact with corresponding memory contacts on the rear surface of each were interface token eg. 206. The front, ie. operative, surface of each card, eg. 206, is thus visible to the user through the front touch panel eg. 222 of a respective pocket, eg. 200.

Once the token store 100 has been opened and activated as described, the user is able to rapidly flip through the pockets, until the desired user interface token is visible.

The user selected token pocket is thereby brought into user interactable disposition, enabling the user to peruse, and select, user selectable indicia (eg. 210 to 214 in Fig. 2) on the selected token, as desired. The user is thus able to interact with the user interface, which is printed onto the surface of the token, by touching areas of the touch panel on the 15 pocket which correspond to the indicia desired. As each interaction occurs, :corresponding data is sent to the base station previously described via the infrared transceiver 102 which is incorporated into the spine of the wallet 100 (see Fig. 1).

Fig. 3 shows a token store 300, this being in the form of a notepad structure having a spiral hinge 318 located at the upper end of the token store 300. This token store 20 300 operates in a different manner to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, individual pages of the store 300 being flipped upwards, one or more at a time, in order to find a desired pocket, ie. "page". The store 300 has a spine 304 which contains batteries and other electronic components, and an infra-red transceiver 302 situated at the upper end of the spine. A number of token pockets 316 are arranged to be hingeable, as depicted by a curved arrow 320, about the spiral hinge 318. In this manner, the user is able to flip through the token 161000; 11:37; 10/16/00; 11:44 AM 513410.doc -6pockets 316 in order to find a desired pocket eg 326. Clearly, a "desired token pocket" is merely a token pocket into which a "desired token" has been inserted.

Each of the pockets eg 316 is equipped with contacts 306 which are connected to the electronics in the spine 304 by means of conductive strips 308 printed onto the pocket.

The contacts 306 are visible since a token has not yet been inserted into the pocket 316.

Once the token is inserted, the contacts are hidden from view. In the present arrangement, each token pocket eg 316 has an inflexible segment 310 upon which the conductive ends 322 of the conductive strips 308 are presented in a position suitable for mating with a connector 312, which is fixed on the spine 304.

A single transparent touch panel 314 is arranged in a hingeable manner, enabling it to be swung closed, in a direction depicted by a curved arrow 324, to come to rest over a selected pocket 326. This enables the user to view indicia printed on the front surface of the inserted token, and to select a desired indicium by touching a corresponding surface "area on the touch screen.

15 Once a desired pocket, eg 326, is located, by flipping all previous undesired pockets up and back over the hinge 318, the pocket 326 is urged towards the right, as •gee depicted by an arrow 328, by the hinged closure of the transparent touch panel 314.

When this "rightward" urging occurs, the exposed conductive ends 322 are driven into mechanical and electrical contact with the matching connector 312, thereby bringing the 20 selected user token which has been inserted into the pocket 326 into electrical connection

.I

with the electronics in the spine 304.

In the configuration of Fig. 3, the token store 300 incorporates only a single transparent touch panel 314 which swings out to enable a desired pocket, eg 326, to be selected. The panel 314 can also swing back in, to drive the selected pocket, and thus the selected token, into electrical contact with the token store electronics, and also to bring 161000; 11:37; 10/16/00; 11:44 AM 513410.doc -7the touch panel 314 into an operational position which allows the user to view and select indicia on the selected token through the screen 314.

In a similar manner to that described in relation to Fig. 2, the user is able to insert as many user interface tokens as desired, each into a separate pocket in the token store 300. This insertion brings the user interface token contacts into electrical connection with the corresponding contacts of each pocket.

The token store 300 is activated either by a user touch on the touch panel 314, or preferably, by a separate on/off switch (not shown), since this latter method will avoid inadvertent operation of the token store 300. Once the token store 300 is activated, the user can select a desired token by flipping undesired token pockets out of the way, and then having found the desired token pocket, interact with the particular user token selected. The user may select a particular indicium which has been printed onto the surface of the token, by touching an appropriate area of the touch panel 314, through :..-.which the user token, and the indicia thereon can be seen. This user interaction results in 15 corresponding data being sent to the base station via the infrared transceiver 302, in a S" manner similar to that described in relation to Fig. 2.

oee* Although described user interaction has been provided using a transparent touch screen for both arrangements described, alternate sensing means can be used. Thus, for example, an RF transmitting stylus together with capacitive sensing means (as part of the o: 20 token pocket situated behind the interface token) can be used to provide the necessary sensing means for user interaction.

Furthermore, although an infrared transceiver (eg. 302 in Fig. 3) has been described as the transmission mechanism for establishing and maintaining communication between the token store and the base station, other types of wireless or hard-wired communication methods can be used. For example, a temporary cable attachment, or a 161000; 11:37; 10/16/00; 11:44 AM 513410.doc -8docking station into which the token store is inserted, can provide the necessary hardwired connection.

Furthermore, although the arrangements described in relation to Figs. 1 to 3 describe on-token electronic memories situated on the rear surface of the user interface token, other types of memory mechanisms can be used, such as magnetic stripes, or barcodes. It will be apparent that each type of different memory device used on the user interface token requires a corresponding reader and contact device in the token pockets.

Industrial Applicability It is apparent from the above that the arrangements described are applicable to the computer and data processing industries.

The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention, and modifications and/or changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, the embodiments being illustrative and not restrictive.

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Claims (9)

1. A personal computing system comprising: a first plurality of user interface tokens each comprising a user selectable indicium on an operative surface of the token, and a memory for storing data associated with the indicium; and a token store comprising: a second plurality of token pockets, in a user selectable disposition, into each of which one of the first plurality of user interface tokens can be inserted; and (ii) a reader adapted for reading data from a token which has been inserted into a user selected pocket. *999

2. A personal computing system according to claim 1, wherein the token store further comprises: 15 a communicator, responsive to the reader, for communicating the data read from the inserted token.

3. A personal computing system according to claim 2, further comprising: 9 a base station responsive to the communicator, the base station having at least 20 one of a local device and a remote device connected over a telecommunications network; wherein the at least one of a local device and a remote device are responsive to the data read from the inserted token. IC61000 117: -10/16/0: 11:44 AM 513410.doc

4. A personal computing system according to either one of claims 2 and 3, wherein the communicating of data read from the inserted token is performed using one of a wireless transmission medium and a hard-wired transmission medium.

5. A personal computing system according to claim 2, wherein: the second plurality of token pockets are arranged to enable the user selected token pocket to be brought into user interactable disposition; and the reader comprises a transparent touch sensitive membrane for each said user selected token pocket through which an operative surface of the respective inserted token in the user selected token pocket can be viewed, thereby allowing the user to select the indicium by touching the membrane above the indicium.

6. A personal computing system according to claim 2, wherein the second plurality of token pockets are arranged to enable the user selected 15 token pocket to be brought into user interactable disposition; and the reader comprises a common transparent touch sensitive panel positionable to allow an operative surface of the inserted token in the user selected token pocket to be viewed, thereby allowing the user to select the indicium by touching the panel above the indicium.

7. A personal computing system according to claim 1, wherein the interface tokens are programmable smartcards.

8. A token store for a personal computing system including a first plurality of user interface tokens each having a user selectable indicium on an operative surface of the 161000; 11:37; 10/16/00; 11:44 AM 5 13410.doc 11 token, and a memory for storing data associated with the indicium; said token store comprising: a second plurality of token pockets, in a user selectable disposition, into each of which one of the first plurality of user interface tokens can be inserted; and a reader adapted for reading data from a token which has been inserted into a user selected pocket.

9. A personal computing system substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, or with reference to Figs. 1 and 3. A token store substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, or with reference to Figs. 1 and 3. DATED this Sixteenth Day of October 2000 15 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON&FERGUSON *o o •e e* 161000; 11:37; 10/16/00; 11:44 AM 513410.doc