Le procédé de commande permet l'exécution de diverses fonctions dans une montre agenda électronique, qui comprend dans un boîtier fermé par un verre, un circuit garde-temps et/ou un mouvement horloger alimenté par une source d'énergie, et un cadran sur lequel l'heure est affichée de manière digitale et/ou analogique. Un nombre déterminé de capteurs (C1 à C7) est prévu avec des plages sensibles au toucher disposées sur une face intérieure ou extérieure du verre. Ces capteurs sont prévus pour opérer les différentes commande du procédé lorsqu'ils sont individuellement activés par un doigt d'un utilisateur. Pour consulter des données ou des paramètres, le procédé comprend une première série d'étapes consistant à visionner différents menus (102 à 106) de la fonction agenda sur au moins un affichage à cristaux liquides en activant au moins un capteur (C4, C5) d'un groupe de capteurs (C4 à C7), et à sélectionner le menu ou la fiche à consulter (107 à 111) en activant un capteur (C1) de validation. Pour entrer des données, le procédé comprend une seconde série d'étapes consistant à activer pendant une durée déterminée ou avec une pression déterminée le capteur de validation (C1), entrer des données d'agenda en activant certains capteurs (C2 à C7) commandant chacun l'exécution d'une fonction déterminée spécifique, et valider les données introduites par l'action sur le capteur de validation.

Le dispositif de commande manuelle pour l'exécution de fonctions d'une montre électronique (1), notamment d'une montre agenda, comprend un certain nombre de capteurs (C1 à C7) dont une plage sensible au toucher est placée par exemple sur une face intérieure du verre (4). Lorsqu'un doigt (20) d'un utilisateur est posé sur le verre de montre dans une zone déterminée de la plage sensible d'un capteur à activer, il impose à un circuit électronique (14) du dispositif l'exécution d'une instruction ou d'une fonction. Dans un premier mode sélectionné par le circuit électronique, au moins deux capteurs sont groupés pour que le circuit électronique exécute une même opération lorsqu'un doigt est posé sur le verre dans une zone déterminée de la plage sensible de l'un ou de l'autre capteur. Par contre dans un second mode sélectionné par le circuit électronique, chaque capteur (C1 à C7) activé par le doigt (20) fournit des signaux de mesure au circuit électronique (14) pour l'exécution d'une opération spécifique différente pour chaque capteur.

Les plages sensibles des capteurs sont réparties sur la face intérieure du verre dans le but de permettre d'entrer des données dans la montre, de consulter des données préenregistrées ou de sélectionner différents menus de fonctions.

A portable device (10) for selective message recordation and playback and scheduling includes a portable handheld unit (11) and an optional homebase station (12). Portable unit (11) includes a housing (15), unit controller (20), tactile input mechanism (40) and video processor (80). Portable unit (11) allows audible message inputs and the selective playback of a message in visual format based on time or other preselected textual, audible or visual stimulus. Preferably, written messages can be input in a tactile manner using either a tactile input mechanism (40) or a touch panel (50) engageable by a selectively detachable stylus (51). Optional homebase station (12) may include a variety of features for supporting and supplementing those of handheld unit (11, such as a floppy drive (112), message memory, input keys (114), a battery charging circuit (115) and an external communication circuit (117).

Bei einer analogen Zeitschaltuhr mit einer funkgesteuerten Zeitimpulse erzeugenden Einrichtung und einer elektrooptischen Zeigerstandskontrolleinrichtung erfolgt die Anzeige des bzw. der Schaltzeitpunkte mit dem Sekundenzeiger unter verzögertem Abschalten der Anzeige nach der Schaltzeitpunkteinstellung. Eine solche Uhr hat den Vorteil eines besonders geringen Aufwandes bei leichter Bedienbarkeit.

Data input through a key switch (3) is displayed on a liquid crystal display (2) and is stored in an EEPROM (7). The data stored in the EEPROM (7) is immediately read out to check whether the read data coincide with the input data. If the data stored in the EEPROM (7) and read out therefrom does not coincide with the input data, the input data is stored again. If the input data cannot be stored in the EEPROM (7) after storage operation is performed a predetermined number of times, a CPU (4) determines, on the basis of a signal from a battery voltage detecting circuit (10), whether a voltage applied from a power supply circuit (8) to the EEPROM (7) exceeds a predetermined voltage. On the basis of this determination result, the CPU (4) causes the liquid crystal display (2) to display a cause for the disabled storage operation with respect to the EEPROM (7).

Data input through a key switch (3) is displayed on a liquid crystal display (2) and is stored in an EEPROM (7). The data stored in the EEPROM (7) is immediately read out to check whether the read data coincide with the input data. If the data stored in the EEPROM (7) and read out therefrom does not coincide with the input data, the input data is stored again. If the input data cannot be stored in the EEPROM (7) after storage operation is performed a predetermined number of times, a CPU (4) determines, on the basis of a signal from a battery voltage detecting circuit (10), whether a voltage applied from a power supply circuit (8) to the EEPROM (7) exceeds a predetermined voltage. On the basis of this determination result, the CPU (4) causes the liquid crystal display (2) to display a cause for the disabled storage operation with respect to the EEPROM (7).

An analog electronic watch includes a dial (7) provided with a window (7a), an electro-optical display device (10) arranged below the window, and a shutter plate (8), movably arranged between the dial and the electro-optical display device, for opening and closing the window. The shutter plate is moved at a preset time to expose the electro-optical display device through the window of the dial, so that an alarm information displayed on the electro-optical display device becomes visible from outside.

A data processing apparatus includes a key input device (20), a display device (26), a schedule data memory for storing schedule data attached with a date and a time within the date inputted from the key input device by the day, a time calculator (28) for calculating a present date and time based on a date and time initially set, an alarm setting device for setting a requisition of alarm in a schedule data of a desired date and time included in the schedule data stored in the schedule data memory (31), a comparator for comparing the present date and time outputted from the time calculator (28) with the date and time attached to the schedule data set with the requisition of the alarm by the alarm setting device and a display controller for simultaneously displaying the schedule data set with the requisition of the alarm and other schedule data being adjacent to said schedule data when the result of the comparison by the comparator is conformable.

An electronic calendaring method for use in a data processing system comprising a plurality of workstations, each of which is assigned to a different individual who maintains an electronic calendar on the system. The method establishes a plurality of data structures for storing data that is entered into the system interactively by the calendar owner during the process of calendaring an event which involves a number of other calendar owners e.g. a meeting. A Trigger data structured is included to store data at the time an event is being calendared that provides a reminder to the meeting originator or calendar owner. The type of reminder may be selected by the meeting originator provided the system hardware supports the underlying technology. The reminder may be just a visual message on the display, an audio tone, an audio message or any combination.

The official identifier of the event that is to be triggered is included in the Trigger data structure. The method allows the Trigger to "float" with the identified event so that the Trigger established by the meeting originator may be automatically employed by the other calendar owners who received a notice on the system inviting them to the meeting. If the meeting is changed or cancelled, the other invitees' triggers are changed automatically as is the originators' merely by changing the meeting notice.

A data processing apparatus provided with an input part (40) for inputting a schedule, a memory for storing data on a schedule and a calendar, a write/read part for writing/reading schedule data and reading a calendar to the memory, a display part (46) for displaying schedule data and/or a calendar, a schedule control part for editing schedule data and others; the schedule control part comprising A) a function to have the display part (46) display both schedule data and calendar and also to identify and display the date of the calendar corresponding to the date of schedule to edit, B) a function to erase collectively the schedule data within a designated area, C) a function to correct data which corresponds to the format of the destination to which the data is copied when copying, D) a function to shift the schedule data to a designated time or date.

An electronic reminder comprises a case which is posible to be held by one hand, a read only memory circuit in the case for storing program of instrument, a random access memory circuit in the case for storing and reviewing telephone numbers, appointments and agenda. The information stored in the random access memory is reviewed by display means. The instrument also includes time keeping means for counting a present time and an alarm system. The alarm system comprises a set key, alarm time setting means for setting time which is a present time plus a particular time as an alarm time when the set key depressed, and store means for storing the information reviewed at the time of key depressing. When the present time coincides with the alarm time, the information stored in the store means is displayed by the display means with alarm sound.

An electronic reminder comprises a case which is posible to be held by one hand, a read only memory circuit in the case for storing program of instrument, a random access memory circuit in the case for storing and reviewing telephone numbers, appointments and agenda. The information stored in the random access memory is reviewed by display means. The instrument also includes time keeping means for counting a present time and an alarm system. The alarm system comprises a set key, alarm time setting means for setting time which is a present time plus a particular time as an alarm time when the set key depressed, and store means for storing the information reviewed at the time of key depressing. When the present time coincides with the alarm time, the information stored in the store means is displayed by the display means with alarm sound.

In an electronic time-keeping apparatus wherein a plurality of schedule data is stored, chronologically readable, and displayed, schedule data input from a key input section (21) is compared, under control of a read only memory, with a number of schedule data already stored in a random access memory (11), and edited in a time sequence of recency with a present date as a reference basis to permit the edited schedule data to be stored in this random access memory. A time count operation is performed each time a predetermined timing signal is loutput from a frequency dividing circuit (19). A detection is made as to whether or not there is a coincidence between present date data obtained by the time count operation and the edited schedule data stored in the random access memory (13) to see if an appointed date is reached.