Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for defining expanded touch zones for active control keys on a touch sensitive user interface panel. The user interface panel has one or more active control key display areas that each display a respective active control key, each active control key indicating an active control function that is available for selection by a user. The user selects a desired active control function by touching a probe to the user interface panel in a location corresponding to a touch zone defined for the active control key that indicates the desired active control function. Expanded touch zones for each active control key are defined, the expanded touch zone for each active control key having an area that is larger than the corresponding display area for the control key. When the user touches the probe to the interface panel, a determination is made as to whether the probe has touched an expanded touch zone for any active control key and if it has, the active control function indicated by the active control key corresponding to the expanded touch zone touched by the probe is selected, and if it has not, an indication is provided that no active control function has been selected. The size of the expanded touch zone defined for each active control key varies depending upon the existence and location of other active control keys on the display panel.

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First Claim