Abstract: There is provided a contact force determination method comprising obtaining, at a computing device, at least one physiological signal indicative of at least one physiological parameter of a user, the at least one physiological signal obtained from at least one contact-based physiological sensor embedded in a wearable device secured to a body part of the user; determining, at the computing device, one or more statistical parameters of the at least one physiological signal; determining at the computing device, based on the one or more statistical parameters, a contact force between the wearable device and the body part; and outputting, at the computing device, the contact force as determined.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of synchronizing objects between first and second object stores. A synchronization manager in accordance with the invention maintains a reference store containing identifying data segments corresponding respectively to a plurality of objects that have previously been synchronized between the first and second object stores. An application program that maintains the first object store has associated interfaces that allow the synchronization manager to compare and manipulate objects. One such interface allows the synchronization manager to submit an identifying data segment associated with a particular object. In response, this interface returns a handle that corresponds to the submitted identifying data segment. Another interface accepts a handle that refers to an identifying data segment, and determines if the object corresponding to the identifying data segment has been changed in the first object store since the last synchronization.

Abstract: A user interface for a hand-held device is provided that allows users to activate the full “card” for an entry using one gesture on a button while also giving the user the ability to reach a menu of context dependent commands using a second gesture on a button. In particular, certain button inputs are recognized as context menu gestures. When these gestures are made, a context menu appears. The user is then able to select a command in the context menu that is to be performed. A user is also allowed to open context menus while only using one hand to operate and hold the device.

Abstract: A method and system for receiving user input data into a computer system having a graphical windowing environment. A touch-sensitive display screen for displaying images and detecting user activity is provided. A management component connects to the graphical windowing environment to create an input panel window for display on the screen. An input method which may be a COM object is selected from multiple input methods available, and installed such that the input method can call functions of the management component. Each input method includes a corresponding input panel, such as a keyboard, which it draws in the input panel window. When the user taps the screen at the input panel, the input method calls a function of the management component to pass corresponding input information appropriate information such as a keystroke or character to the management component.

Abstract: The present invention adds a new category of contacts and tasks to hand-held devices. This new category provides a list of the most recent contacts or tasks that the user has accessed. Under most embodiments, the contacts and tasks shown in the RECENT list may be manipulated by the user in the same manner in which contacts and tasks are manipulated in other lists on the hand-held device. Thus, the user is shown the actual contacts or tasks entries and not just a link to those entries. Under most embodiments, the user is able to display a list of recent contacts and tasks by accessing a “RECENT” entry in a categories list provided on many hand-held devices.

Abstract: A method and system for receiving user input data into a computer system having a graphical windowing environment. A touch-sensitive display screen for displaying images and detecting user activity is provided. A management component connects to the graphical windowing environment to create an input panel window for display on the screen. An input method which may be a COM object is selected from multiple input methods available, and installed such that the input method can call functions of the management component. Each input method includes a corresponding input panel, such as a keyboard, which it draws in the input panel window. When the user taps the screen at the input panel, the input method calls a function of the management component to pass corresponding input information appropriate information such as a keystroke or character to the management component.

Abstract: Voice recording is initiated immediately upon pressing a record button on a digital computing device such as a palm computer. To enable an immediate response to the button being pressed without a delay that would be normally be incurred to load a user interface and a recording application, a stub program is continuously executed on the device, even when a main user interface program is not running. When the record button is pressed, the stub program immediately begins recording a digital signal corresponding to the sound waves incident on a microphone of the device in a compressed format. If the record button is depressed for more than a second, the recorded digital signal is stored in a file so that it can subsequently be played back, and if the record button was pressed for less than one second, the file is not retained. Sound recording can be initiated in an “eyes free” mode, e.g., while using the device under low ambient light conditions, or while engaged in another activity.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for extending the functionality of application buttons on a limited resource computing device. Alternative application functions are launched based on the length of time an application button is pressed. A default function for an application is launched if the button is pressed for a short, i.e., normal, period of time. An alternative function of the application is launched if the button is pressed for a long, (e.g., at least one second), period of time. Still another function can be launched if the application button is pressed multiple times within a short period of time, e.g., double click.

Abstract: The hand-held computing device user interface (UI) of the present invention displays information for an active application program in a middle portion of the screen, and displays a shell program controlled navigation bar at a top portion of the screen. The navigation bar includes a navigation icon which when tapped by the stylus aids the user in navigating to other application programs. The navigation bar also includes a title for the active application program, thus saving vertical real estate on the screen. The UI of the present invention also displays an application menu bar at a bottom portion of the screen so that the user of the hand-held device can manipulate data from the active application by tapping menu items with a stylus without blocking view of the middle portion of the display.

Abstract: The present invention provides a user interface for a hand-held device that allows users to activate the full “card” for an entry using one gesture on a button while also giving the user the ability to reach a menu of context dependent commands using a second gesture on a button. In particular, the present invention recognizes certain button inputs as context menu gestures. When these gestures are made, a context menu appears. The user is then able to select a command in the context menu that is to be performed. The present invention also allows a user to open context menus while only using one hand to operate and hold the device.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of synchronizing objects between first and second object stores. A synchronization manager in accordance with the invention maintains a reference store containing identifying data segments corresponding respectively to a plurality of objects that have previously been synchronized between the first and second object stores. An application program that maintains the first object store has associated interfaces that allow the synchronization manager to compare and manipulate objects. One such interface allows the synchronization manager to submit an identifying data segment associated with a particular object. In response, this interface returns a handle that corresponds to the submitted identifying data segment. Another interface accepts a handle that refers to an identifying data segment, and determines if the object corresponding to the identifying data segment has been changed in the first object store since the last synchronization.

Abstract: The present invention provides a user interface for a pen-based device that allows users to activate the full “card” for an entry using a single tap while also giving the user the ability to reach a menu of context dependent commands using a simple gesture. In particular, the present invention recognizes certain stylus and/or button inputs as context menu gestures. When these gestures are made, a context menu appears. The user is then able to select a command in the context menu that is to be performed. The present invention also allows a user to open context menus while only using one hand to operate and hold the device.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of synchronizing objects between first and second object stores. A synchronization manager in accordance with the invention maintains a reference store containing identifying data segments corresponding respectively to a plurality of objects that have previously been synchronized between the first and second object stores. An application program that maintains the first object store has associated interfaces that allow the synchronization manager to compare and manipulate objects. One such interface allows the synchronization manager to submit an identifying data segment associated with a particular object. In response, this interface returns a handle that corresponds to the submitted identifying data segment. Another interface accepts a handle that refers to an identifying data segment, and determines if the object corresponding to the identifying data segment has been changed in the first object store since the last synchronization.

Abstract: The UI of the present invention increases the number of contacts initially shown to the user of a hand-held device to aid the user in finding information in a Contacts database. While displaying a list of Contacts database entries, the UI displays a column which contains single letters indicating the type of information displayed for the names represented in the list of entries. A tap on a letter in that column causes a sub-list of other most commonly needed information to be deployed for the corresponding entry, potentially eliminating the need for the user to open the entire record for that entry.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for extending the functionality of application buttons on a limited resource computing device. Alternative application functions are launched based on the length of time an application button is pressed. A default function for an application is launched if the button is pressed for a short, i.e., normal, period of time. An alternative function of the application is launched if the button is pressed for a long, (e.g., at least one second), period of time. Still another function can be launched if the application button is pressed multiple times within a short period of time, e.g., double click.

Abstract: A method and system for receiving user input data into a computer system having a graphical windowing environment. A touch-sensitive display screen for displaying images and detecting user activity is provided. A management component connects to the graphical windowing environment to create an input panel window for display on the screen. An input method which may be a COM object is selected from multiple input methods available, and installed such that the input method can call functions of the management component. Each input method includes a corresponding input panel, such as a keyboard, which it draws in the input panel window. When the user taps the screen at the input panel, the input method calls a function of the management component to pass corresponding input information appropriate information such as a keystroke or character to the management component.

Abstract: A user interface utilizes a variable or changeable displayed field label and an associated data entry field for displaying and entering stored database properties. A pop-up list box is associated with the displayed field label, to be selectively displayed in response to a user's selection. When displayed, the pop-up list box contains a list of available field labels that can be alternatively selected by the user as the displayed field label. Each of the field labels corresponds to a different stored property. The data entry field corresponding to the displayed field label can be selected and used to enter a value for the stored property corresponding to the displayed field label. The pop-up list box contains an indication of any existing values for the stored properties corresponding to the available field labels.