| US 7,358,956 B2 | ||
| Method for providing feedback responsive to sensing a physical presence proximate to a control of an electronic device | ||
| Kenneth P. Hinckley, Seattle, Wash. (US); Steven N. Bathiche, Redmond, Wash. (US); and William Vong, Seattle, Wash. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash. (US) | ||
| Filed on Mar. 13, 2001, as Appl. No. 9/804,383. | ||
| Application 09/804383 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/152443, filed on Sep. 14, 1998, granted, now 6,396,477. | ||
| Application 09/152443 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/152434, filed on Sep. 14, 1998, granted, now 6,456,275. | ||
| Application 09/152434 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/152432, filed on Sep. 14, 1998, abandoned. | ||
| Application 09/152432 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/200325, filed on Nov. 25, 1998, granted, now 6,333,753. | ||
| Application 09/200325 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/200321, filed on Nov. 25, 1998, granted, now 6,232,957. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/100261, filed on Sep. 14, 1998. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2001/0011995 A1, Aug. 09, 2001 | ||
| Int. Cl. G09G 5/00 (2006.01); G06F 3/048 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 345—156 [345/168; 345/167; 345/161; 715/711] | 15 Claims |
| 1. In a computer system including an auxiliary control and a display, a method comprising the steps of:
detecting a first physical presence proximate to or contacting a first auxiliary control for a predefined period in which
the first auxiliary control maintains an inactive state; and
generating feedback responsive to said step of detecting, the feedback providing an indication of the functionality of the
first auxiliary control, the functionality of the first auxiliary control and associated feedback being dependent upon which
one of a first application program and a second application program is active, the generating includes displaying a first
display widget on the display;
detecting a second physical presence proximate to or contacting a second auxiliary control different from the first auxiliary
control;
generating second feedback responsive to said step of detecting the second physical presence, the second feedback indicating
functionality associated with the second auxiliary control; the generating second feedback includes displaying second widget
on the display responsive to the step of detecting the second physical presence; and
discontinuing display of the first display widget responsive to detecting the second physical presence,
wherein the first auxiliary control has a first function in the first application program and a second function, different
from the first function, in the second application program.
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