Abstract: An untethered electrostatic pen/stylus for use with capacitive touch sensors, described herein, allows for a single device like the iPhone to receive input via both finger touches and a stylus. Stylus input is more precise for various uses including, for example, text input and drawing input.

Abstract: An input device and mobile electronic devices having improved user interface capabilities are described. In one embodiment, a “triple-threat” device is provided in the form of a mobile electronic device of a slider construction. A two-way slider mechanism is provided. In one embodiment, a screen of the mobile electronic device is touch-sensitive (touch input); in a first slider position, tactile-response keys are exposed (key input); in another slider position, a writing pad is exposed (stylus input).

Abstract: Extensions are provided for mobile electronic devices including cellphones, wherein different extensions may correspond to different communication contexts. In an exemplary embodiment, a call is answered using an automated answering system. The caller is requested to enter an extension number. In response to the extension number, a call alert (such as a ring tone) unique to that extension is activated.

Abstract: A system allows for more efficient circulation of articles through the postal system. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a smart mailer is provided having wireless communication and display capabilities. When an article is to be returned through the postal system, the postman uses a portable terminal (such as a cellphone) to check in the article and, at the same time, re-address the article for delivery to a subsequent (preferably local) customer. Preferably, these actions are both performed by a simple swiping of the portable terminal with respect to the article. Back-office infrastructure is provided for accounting of postal charges, etc. The utility of the portable terminal may be further increased by incorporating barcode reading capability, GPS capability, etc. The system may be used for articles of all descriptions, but is especially suited for smaller articles including media (recordings, books), jewelry, etc.

Abstract: A keyboard is provided with a touch sensor incorporated within a space bar thereof, allowing for cursor manipulation in two dimensions. The keyboard may be a split keyboard having an enlarged space bar. The touch sensor may be operated with the thumb of the user without removal of the user's fingers from the keyboard.

Abstract: An input device and mobile electronic devices having improved user interface capabilities are described. In one embodiment, An input device includes a display device, a capacitive touch sensor overlying the display device, and a pressure-sensing layer underlying the display device. The display device may be, for example, a cholesteric liquid crystal display that directly captures and displays writing in response to applied pressure. Such an input device may be used to greatly facilitate input of text and graphical information to mobile electronic devices. In another embodiment, a mobile electronic device includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion connected together in a hinged manner, a display housed by the first housing portion, and a pressure-sensing layer housed by the second housing portion for performing writing capture in response to a stylus.

Abstract: An input device and mobile electronic devices having improved user interface capabilities are described. In one embodiment, An input device includes a display device, a capacitive touch sensor overlying the display device, and a pressure-sensing layer underlying the display device. The display device may be, for example, a cholesteric liquid crystal display that directly captures and displays writing in response to applied pressure. Such an input device may be used to greatly facilitate input of text and graphical information to mobile electronic devices. In another embodiment, a mobile electronic device includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion connected together in a hinged manner, a display housed by the first housing portion, and a pressure-sensing layer housed by the second housing portion for performing writing capture in response to a stylus.

Abstract: The present invention, generally speaking, provides a method and apparatus for setting up a telephone connection using an email address or the like. In many cases, an email address or other Internet address such as a URL may be easily remembered or, in the case of a company, for example, may often be correctly guessed, whether the company is local, out-of-state, or in another country. Telephone numbers, on the other hand, are remembered only with considerable difficulty, and can be guessed correctly only through clairvoyance. (In fact, memory experts that have astounded audiences by memorizing large portions of the local telephone directory have done so by converting the numbers to words or phrases using a set of rules.) In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a character string is entered into an electronic system such as a personal computer, a deskset smartphone, or a cellular smartphone. A determination is made as to whether or not the character string is a telephone number.

Abstract: The present invention, generally speaking, provides a method and apparatus for setting up a telephone connection using an email address or the like. In many cases, an email address or other Internet address such as a URL may be easily remembered or, in the case of a company, for example, may often be correctly guessed, whether the company is local, out-of-state, or in another country. Telephone numbers, on the other hand, are remembered only with considerable difficulty, and can be guessed correctly only through clairvoyance. (In fact, memory experts that have astounded audiences by memorizing large portions of the local telephone directory have done so by converting the numbers to words or phrases using a set of rules.) In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a character string is entered into an electronic system such as a personal computer, a deskset smartphone, or a cellular smartphone. A determination is made as to whether or not the character string is a telephone number.

Abstract: The present invention, generally speaking, provides a text entry system that uses a relatively small number of keys and that is well-adapted to memorization and skill-building. In one aspect of the invention, the text entry system is based on a set of well-chosen, “morphologically significant” symbols, related in pairs, with one such symbol assigned per key. A letter is entered unambiguously by sequentially pressing multiple keys, preferably exactly two keys. In another aspect of the invention, the number of symbols in the set is fewer than the number of keys in a telephone keypad. “Extra” keys are assigned to other characters or actions, such as “space,” “period,” backspace,” and return. Different modes of operation are provided, allowing for the entry of numbers, the entry of punctuation, cursoring, etc.

Abstract: The present invention, generally speakng, provides for a computing device in which the functions of both a keyboard and a mouse are realized compactly using a touch-sensitive pad. The function of a mouse may be realized in similar manner as known "track pads." The function of a keyboard may be realized using "chord keying," i.e., forming different touch patterns on the touch-sensitive pad corresponding to different characters. In one embodiment, the chord patterns are gready simplified as compared to known chord-keying arrangements. In particular, most characters may be input by forming a chord with the thumb and forefinger or thumb and middle finger only. A cross-hair pattern identifies nine separate touch areas, such that 36 unique two-touch (thumb and forefinger or middle finger) touch patterns may be formed. Additional sets of 36 characters each may be designated by specifying touch patterns to shift between characters sets.

Abstract: A combination keyboard/mouse is realized using a touch-sensitive member. The touch-sensitive member (or an area of a larger touch-sensitive member) may be approximately the size of a business card (2".times.3.5"). Data obtained from a touch sensor array is software manipulated to achieve a simple, powerful method of user interaction in which the traditional keyboard and mouse disappear, being replaced by a display window (manipulable like other display windows) overlaid by the touch sensor array. The resulting input window allows for realization of a sketch-pad computer having essentially no external moving parts but providing keyboard/mouse interaction (as opposed to pen-only interaction, for example). The window need not obscure underlying text and graphics but need only delineate its extent. The keyboard/mouse may instead be housed in a housing in the same manner as a conventional mouse.

Abstract: A backing plastic for a carbon-style checkbook is provided with a stylus sensor to sense the position of a writing instrument as a check is written. The position of the writing instrument is input to a microcomputer that calculates beginning and ending vectors for each written character to decipher its identity. The amount of the check is then subtracted from the checkbook balance, which is updated and permanently stored. The amount of each of a checkbook of checks is also permanently stored and an attachment provided to allow a check register to be printed out on a standard computer printer. A beginning-and-ending-vector system of number recognition allows for recognition of a wide range of writing styles within certain basic limits. Nonrecognition is signified by an audible tone after which the numbers may be retraced with slightly more care, if necessary, to allow for recognition. Checks may be voided by scratching out the written amount.

Abstract: An information-bearing tape is caused to have a stepped profile. More particularly, the tape is caused to have a non-uniform cross section of lesser thickness adjacent one edge of the tape than at another portion of the tape. When the tape is wound, gaps remain between adjacent loops of tape along the one edge. These gaps may be used in conjunction with a suitable information sensor to access the tape in a quasi-random manner. Once the information sensor has been inserted in the gap next to the right tape loop, at most a single rotation of the tape drive is needed to access any information located in that tape loop. In effect, the tape loops define independently accessible cylinders.