BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to interface devices, and more particularly to a user interface device that includes dynamically configurable flexible touch areas located near the perimeter of a display to support interactive communication between a user and a user environment. 
     There is always a need for user interface devices that simplify human interaction with computers. Current user interface devices include the keyboard, mouse, and touch-screen systems. Each of these user interface devices offer varying functionality in a desktop environment. 
     The keyboard allows a user to enter text and symbol information into a computer, and provides predefined keys for executing specific functions (e.g., “save” and “exit” functions). The introduction of the windows-based operating system exposed the limitations of the keyboard, which often required a user to perform multiple keystrokes to execute simple computer functions. To take advantage of the user-friendly, windows-based environment, the mouse was created to provide “point-and-click” functionality. This user interface tool significantly increased the efficiency of a computer session regardless of whether a user performed simple word processing or engaged in complex computer-generated graphic designs. For example, selecting and opening a word processing file typically required three or more keystrokes with a keyboard. However, with a mouse, the user can simply point to the file on the desktop or in a pull down menu and click on the file to open it. 
     Although preferred in a desktop environment, keyboards and mice are not readily adaptable to smaller computing devices, such as palm-sized computers, wireless communication products, and public kiosks where space is at a premium. For these user environments, touch-screen systems seem to be the preferred choice of users since they do not require physical keys or buttons to enter data into each device. By eliminating physical keys, small computing device manufacturers can significantly reduce the size and weight of the device, characteristics that appeal to consumers. Moreover, through a touch-screen system, a user can interact with a public kiosk using only a display to request and retrieve information. Touch-screen systems typically include a touch-responsive medium that senses a human touch on a particularly area of the display and software to implement a function associated with the touched area. 
     One example of a touch-screen interface is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,471 to Deeran et al. (the “&#39;471 patent”). The &#39;471 patent discloses an industrial computer workstation with a display and a touch-screen. The touch-screen includes a display touch zone that overlaps the display and a border touch zone located outside the display. Portions of the display touch zone and the border touch zone are programmable as user input areas of the touch-screen and are identified to a user via removable templates. Although convenient, touch-screen systems such as the touch-screen interface of the &#39;471 patent have disadvantages. Removable templates on a touch-screen display can be lost, destroyed, or misplaced, and when using a finger to select an item on a touch-screen, the user&#39;s hand can often block a view of the screen. Furthermore, touch-screens quickly become dirty, especially when installed in a public kiosk or an industrial environment, and they do not support key travel—a sliding motion across the screen to execute a function (e.g., scrolling through data) or “two-step” functionality—the ability to implement multiple functions from a single predetermined area of the user interface device. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to provide an improved user interface device that is robust and ergonomically correct to create a user-friendly environment that does not require physical keys, templates, or touching the actual display. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Systems and methods consistent with the present invention provide a user interface device that includes dynamically configurable flexible touch areas located near the perimeter of a display to support interactive communication between a user and a user environment. 
     Specifically, a user interface consistent with this invention comprises a display; an input device located adjacent an edge of the display, and operatively connected to the display to respond to a physical contact; and a processor for executing user interface software configured to implement a function in response to the physical contact on the input device. 
     A method for implementing a user interface comprises the steps of generating an image on a display in response to at least one of a human touch and a first pressure on a predetermined area of an input device adjacent the display; and implementing a function associated with the image when a second pressure is applied to the predetermined area of the input device. 
     Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with the preceding general description and the following detailed description, explain the principles of the invention. 
     In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates an active edge user interface consistent with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 a  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a user input device at rest consistent with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 b  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the user input device in FIG. 2 a  with contact applied; 
     FIG. 2 c  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the user input device in FIG. 2 a  with additional contact applied; 
     FIG. 3 a  illustrates a cross-sectional view of another user input device at rest consistent with of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 b  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the user input device in FIG. 3 a  with contact applied; 
     FIG. 3 c  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the user input device in FIG. 3 a  with additional contact applied; 
     FIG. 4 a  illustrates the selection of an item illustrated on a display using a user input device consistent with the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 b  illustrates a response to the selection of an item illustrated on a display using a user input device consistent with the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 a  illustrates an implementation of an active edge user interface on a wireless communications device for responding to a call consistent with the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 b  illustrates an implementation of an active edge user interface on the wireless communications device of FIG. 5 a  for forwarding a call; 
     FIG. 5 c  illustrates an implementation of an active edge user interface on the wireless communications device of FIG. 5 a  for locating information in memory; 
     FIG. 5 d  illustrates an implementation of an active edge user interface on the wireless communications device of FIG. 5 a  for selecting the name of a person; and 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of a method for implementing an active edge user interface consistent with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Systems and methods consistent with the present invention use an active edge user interface positioned near the edge of a display that allows a user to interact with a host device. The active edge user interface includes a flexible input device that extends along at least one edge of a display and responds to touch and pressure to implement one or more functions viewable on the display. This design supports key travel, programmability, ease-of-use, and adaptability to a variety of applications and technologies. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates an active edge user interface  100  consistent with the present invention. Active edge user interface  100  includes a display  110 , active touch input device  120 , processor  130 , and memory  140 . These components represent the basic infrastructure of active edge user interface  100 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that active edge interface  100  may include additional components depending on the host device in which it is used. For example, active edge user interface  100  can be used in a wristwatch, which may require altering the shape and size of display  110  and input device  120 . In addition, active edge user interface  100  can be installed in a desktop computer which may include additional processors and memory. Active edge user interface  100  is designed as a universal interface that can operate in any graphical user interface environment. 
     Display  110  is any commercially available display that is capable of displaying textual and graphical images. Preferably, display  110  is a liquid crystal diode (LCD) display, however, the type of display used with active edge user interface  100  can depend on the user environment. For example, active edge user interface  100  may be used in a desktop computer system. In this instance, images can be generated on display  110  using a cathode ray tube. Alternatively, active edge user interface  100  may be used in a wireless communication device, such as a cellular phone, in which case display  110  is an LCD display. Although illustrated in FIG. 1 with a square screen, display  110  can be any geometrical shape. 
     Active edge input device  120  is a user interface device positioned adjacent display  110 . Active edge input device  120  may actually touch display  110  or lay a predetermined distance away from an edge of display  110 . The shape of active edge input device  120  may vary depending on the user environment. For example, active edge input device  120  may be shaped in a manner that visibly distinguishes between a highly used area of the device and a lesser used area of the device (e.g., the highly used area is wider than the lesser used area). 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, active edge input device  120  extends around the perimeter of display  110 . Nevertheless, active edge input device  120  may be configured to extend only along one, two, or three sides of display  110 . If display  110  has a round geometrical shape, active edge input device  120  may form a complete circle around the display or only extend around a portion of the display. The position of active edge input device  120  relative to display  110  is important to provide an ergonomically correct, user-friendly interface device. The structure of and method for using active edge input device  120  with display  110  is described in detail with respect to FIGS. 2-6, respectively. 
     Processor  130  is preferably a high-speed processor, such as an Intel Pentium® processor, capable of processing simple and complex graphic applications. Processor  130  communicates with display  110  and controls active edge user interface  100 . Although illustrated as an external unit, processor  130  can be integrated into display  110  or located in a peripheral device. 
     Memory  140  is a random access memory (RAM) that communicates with processor  130  to store and retrieve data and software. Preferably, memory  140  facilitates high-speed access to enhance the storage and retrieval process. As illustrated in FIG. 1, memory  140  includes data storage  150  and user interface software  160 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that memory  140  can store additional data and software not described herein. For example, in a wireless communications environment, memory  140  may include communications software to support the transfer of voice signals to and from a cell site. 
     Data storage  150  is an area of memory  140  that stores data. For example, when utilizing active edge input device  120  in a wireless communications device, data storage  150  may include a listing of telephone numbers or call information (e.g., number of calls received within a specified time period). Of course, the type of data resident in data storage  150  may change based on the user environment. 
     User interface software  160  is a software program resident in memory  140  that implements methods of active edge user interface  100  in accordance with the present invention. User interface software  160  is executed by processor  130  to respond to user inputs into active edge input device  120 . User interface software  160  interprets the user inputs and implements an appropriate response. For example, if a user wishes to call a friend, the user selects the friend&#39;s name from a telephone listing displayed on the screen by pressing on active edge input device  120  in a predetermined area (e.g., adjacent the friend&#39;s name). In response to the selection, user interface software  160  associates the name with a telephone number stored in data storage  150  and instructs processor  130  to dial the number. User interface software  160  can be configured to operate in a variety of user environments such as on a desktop computer or a public kiosk. 
     FIGS. 2 a - 2   c  illustrate cross-sectional views of active edge input device  120  in accordance with a preferred embodiment consistent with the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, active edge input device  120  is a strip of material that extends along a border of display  110  and is responsive to touch or pressure. Active edge input device  120  is designed to provide “two-step” functionality. A first function is implemented at the first step when a first pressure or touch is applied to the input device (e.g., pressure applied by a human finger). A second function is implemented at the second step when a second pressure is applied to the same area on the input device (e.g., additional pressure applied by a human finger in the same location). 
     FIG. 2 a  illustrates a cross-sectional view of active edge input device  120  at rest. Active edge input device  120  includes a flexible strip  200  positioned adjacent a host device body surface  260 . Body surface  260  is a surface of a host device in which active edge user interface  100  is employed. For example, if the active edge user interface  100  is employed in a wireless communication device, then body surface  260  is a surface of the wireless communication device body. 
     Flexible strip  200  is an elastomer strip of material that includes an upper surface  205 , a lower surface  207  and one or more cavities  210 . Although an elastomer material is preferable, flexible strip  200  can be composed of any resilient material. Preferably, flexible strip  200  is a continuous strip of material that extends around at least one side of display  110 . However, flexible strip  200  may be sectioned (i.e., non-continuous) as appropriate in the user environment to satisfy design requirements. 
     Upper surface  205  is a surface of flexible strip  200  that is exposed to a user as illustrated in FIG.  1 . Preferably, upper surface  205  is smooth, however, it may include protrusions or have a distinct texture to allow users to locate certain areas on active edge input device  120  by touch alone. The smoothness of upper surface  205  allows a user to drag their finger or other instrument along flexible strip  200  in a sweeping motion. This motion, for example, may be used to implement a scrolling function which allows a user to quickly view information on display  110 . 
     Lower surface  207  includes one or more protrusions  208  that extend outward and include extensions  209 . The face of protrusions  208  include upper electrical contacts  220  that are fixed thereon. Preferably, these electrical contacts made from a conductive carbon material and form a continuous ring around extensions  209  as illustrated in FIG. 2 a . Upper electrical contacts  220  can be sectioned into distinct units, however, that are spaced around extensions  209 . The face of extensions  209  include lower electrical contacts  230  that are fixed thereon. These electrical contacts are “puck-shaped” and are preferably formed from a carbon material. 
     Body surface  260  includes body protrusion electrical contacts  240  and body extension electrical contacts  250  which are fixed thereon. Preferably, these electrical contacts are also composed of carbon and are aligned with upper electrical contact  220  and lower electrical contacts  230 , respectively. A gap exists between the electrical contacts on body surface  260  and the electrical contacts on flexible strip  200  while active edge input device  120  is at rest. 
     Cavities  210  are formed in an area of flexible strip  200  adjacent each protrusion  208 . Preferably, each of cavities  210  is formed in an image of protrusions  208  and extensions  209 , but may have any shape. Cavities  210  are designed to collapse when a pressure is applied and return to its original shape when the pressure is released. Thus, cavities  210  provide a “soft button” effect when engaged by a user. The deformation of cavities  210  under pressure is illustrated in FIGS. 2 b  and  2   c.    
     FIG. 2 b  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a first pressure applied to active edge input device  120  consistent with a first embodiment of the present invention. This figure shows the first step of the “two-step” functionality described herein. In this instance, a first pressure (e.g., a “touch”) is applied to an area  270  of flexible strip  200  which deforms upper surface  205  and cavity  210 . The pressure forces protrusion  208  downward until lower electrical contact  230  makes contact with body extension electrical contact  250 . The connection of these two electrical contacts generates a signal that is sent to processor  130  for processing. A discussion of how processor  130  responds to this connection is described with respect to FIGS. 4-6. Pressure on one area of flexible strip  200  only affects the components directly below. That is, if pressure is applied to one of three adjacent areas on flexible strip  200 , only the selected area will respond to the pressure as shown in FIG. 2 b.    
     FIG. 2 c  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a second pressure applied to a user input device consistent with a first embodiment of the present invention. This figure shows the second step of the “two-step” functionality described herein. In this instance, the first pressure shown on area  270  is increased to a second pressure (e.g., a “press”) until upper electrical contact  220  makes contact with body protrusion electrical contact  240 . In this position, both lower electrical contact  230  and upper electrical contact  220  are electrically coupled with the respective body electrical contacts under area  270 . This connection generates a second signal to processor  130  which is processed accordingly. 
     FIGS. 3 a - 3   c  illustrate a cross-sectional view of a user input device consistent with a second embodiment of the present invention. In this second embodiment, active edge input device  120  includes an alternative design for entering data into a host device. Although the embodiment in FIGS. 2 a - 2   c  is preferred, the active edge input device illustrated in FIGS. 3 a - 3   c  also provides “two-step” functionality as described herein. 
     FIG. 3 a  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of active edge input device  120  at rest. As in the first embodiment, active edge input device  120  includes a flexible strip  300  positioned adjacent a host body surface  350 . Body surface  350  is a surface of a host device in which active edge user interface  100  is installed. For example, if active edge user interface  100  is installed in a wireless communication device, then body surface  350  is a surface of the wireless communication device. 
     Flexible strip  300  is an elastomer strip of material that includes an upper surface  305 , a lower surface  307 , and one or more cavities  320 . Although elastomer is preferable, flexible strip  300  can be composed of any resilient material. Preferably, flexible strip  300  is a continuous strip of material that extends around at least one side of display  110 . However, flexible strip  300  may be sectioned (i.e., non-continuous) as appropriate in the user environment to satisfy design requirements. 
     Upper surface  305  is a surface of flexible strip  300  that is exposed to a user as illustrated in FIG.  1 . Preferably, upper surface  305  is smooth, however, it may include protrusions to allow users to locate certain areas on active edge input device  120  by touch alone. The smoothness of upper surface  305  allows users to drag their finger or other instrument along flexible strip  300  in a sweeping motion. This motion, for example, may be used to implement a scrolling function which allows a user to scroll through information on display  110 . 
     Lower surface  307  includes a resistive plate  310  that is responsive to a human touch. Preferably, resistive plate  310  extends along lower surface  307  as a continuous strip of conductive material. However, resistive plate  310  may have separate and distinct sections that are positioned along lower surface  307 . Resistive plate  310  may comprise resistive material currently used in conventional touch-screen devices. 
     Attached to resistive plate  310  are one or more protrusions  308  that extend outward and include extensions  309 . The face of extensions  309  include input device electrical contacts  330  fixed thereon, as illustrated in FIG. 3 a . These electrical contacts are “puck-shaped” and are formed from an electrically conductive material (e.g., carbon). 
     Body surface  350  includes body electrical contacts  340  which are fixed thereon. These electrical contacts are also composed of an electrically conductive material (e.g., carbon) and are aligned with input device electrical contacts  330 . A gap exists between the electrical contacts on body surface  350  and the electrical contacts on extensions  309  while active edge input device  120  is at rest. 
     Cavities  320  are formed in an area of flexible strip  300  adjacent each protrusion  308 . Preferably, each of cavities  320  are formed in an image of protrusions  308  and extensions  309 , as illustrated in FIG. 3 a , but may have any shape. Cavities  320  are designed to collapse when a pressure is applied and return to its original shape when the pressure is released. Thus, cavities  320  provide a “soft button” effect when a pressure is applied thereto by a user. The deformation of cavities  320  under pressure is illustrated in FIGS. 3 b  and  3   c.    
     FIG. 3 b  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a touch applied to active edge input device  120  consistent with a second embodiment of the present invention. This figure shows the first step of the “two-step” functionality described herein. In this instance, a voltage is applied to resistive plate  310  during operation of the host device. When a human touches upper surface  305  of flexible strip  300  (e.g., on area  360 ), a change in voltage is detected and a first signal is generated. Processor  130  receives the first signal and responds by implementing user interface software  160 . A discussion of how processor  130  implements user interface software  160  is described with respect to FIGS. 4-6. Although FIG. 3 b  illustrates deformation of flexible strip  300  in the area where a touch is applied, active edge input device  120  can be configured to simply sense a human touch without requiring the application of pressure to flexible strip  300 . In this instance, resistive plate  310  simply detects the presence of a human touch on area  360  and does not require any deformation of flexible strip  300 . 
     FIG. 3 c  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a pressure applied to active edge input device  120  consistent with a second embodiment of the present invention. This figure shows the second step of the “two-step” functionality described herein. In this instance, the first pressure shown in FIG. 3 b  is increased to a second pressure (e.g., a “press”) on area  370  of flexible strip  300  until input device electrical contact  330  makes contact with body electrical contact  340 . The second pressure deforms flexible strip  300  including resistive plate  310  and cavity  320 . The connection of the electrical contacts generates a second signal to processor  130  which is processed accordingly by implementing user interface software  160 . 
     FIGS. 4 a - 4   b  illustrate the operation of selecting an item illustrated on a display using an active edge input device consistent with the present invention. Specifically, the operation of display  400 , active edge input devices  420  and  430 , and user interface software  160  (of FIG. 1) is discussed with reference to FIGS. 4 a - 4   b . Active edge input devices consistent with the present invention are dynamically configurable such that different functions can be associated with each selectable area of the input device depending on the user environment. 
     FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b  illustrate a mode of operation for an active edge user interface consistent with the present invention. The user environment illustrated in these figures includes a notebook computer with an active edge user interface. The notebook computer includes a display  400  and active edge input devices  420  and  430  located on the right and left sides of display  400 , respectively. Active edge input devices  420  and  430  may include the design of FIGS. 2 a - 2   c  or  3   a - 3   c . In either case, the user can enter information into the notebook computer using active edge input devices  420  and  430 . 
     Initially, information stored in data storage  150  or a peripheral device is generated on display  400 . As shown in FIG. 4 a , this information relates to fashion and includes a main category “clothing” displayed on the left side of display  400  and a plurality of sub-categories including “shoes, socks, shirts, pants, jackets, scarfs, and hats” displayed on the right side of display  400 . In operation, a user can touch or press an area of active edge input device  420  to highlight a sub-category adjacent thereto. In addition, users can drag their finger down or up active edge user input device  420  to scroll through the sub-categories. As illustrated in FIG. 4 a , the sub-category “shirts” is highlighted as a result of a touch or press on an adjacent area of active edge input device  420 . A sub-category, or any data displayed and selected using embodiments consistent with the present invention, can by highlighted in many different ways. For example, the selected data can change colors, expand, contract, flash, or be affected in any manner that indicates it has been selected by a user via active edge input device  420 . 
     The touch or press on active edge input device  420  corresponding to the selection of the “shirts” sub-category sends a first signal to processor  130  which processes the signal using user interface software  160 . User interface software  160  interprets the signal as a selection of the “shirts” category based on the screen location of the currently display data and the selected area on active edge input device  420 . Since the touch or press only implements the first step of the “two-step” functionality described herein, the “shirts” category is simply highlighted for the user. 
     Once the sub-category is highlighted, the user has the option of accepting the selected category or moving to another displayed category. The latter option highlights a newly selected sub-category in a manner similar to the highlighted “shirts” sub-category. If the user chooses to accept the “shirts” sub-category, they simply increase the pressure on active edge input device  420  until the electrical contacts of active edge input device  420  contact the electrical contacts connected to a surface of the host device. This operation implements the second step of “two-step” functionality described herein. At this point, a second signal is sent to processor  130  indicating that the selection is accepted and the “shirts” sub-category moves to the left side of the screen under the “clothing” category, as illustrated in FIG. 4 b . User interface software  160  then implements the function associated with the user selection that, in this example, is updating the category listing with “shirts.” 
     The function implemented by user interface software  160  will change depending on the user environment. For example, the display may show an “Announce” function that, when selected, announces predetermined information to specified subscribers over a wireless or wireline communication channel. The “Announce” function may allow the user to select the priority of the announcement by displaying priority selections adjacent an active edge input device (e.g., gold priority for urgent, silver priority for semi-urgent, and bronze for not urgent). Using the active edge input device, the user can scroll through the displayed priority categories and select the desired priority using the “two-step” functionality described herein. Another example of this feature is discussed with reference to FIGS. 5 a - 5   d.    
     FIG. 5 a  illustrates an implementation of an active edge user interface on a wireless communications device  500  for responding to a call consistent with the present invention. Wireless communication device  500  is a host device that includes a display  510 , an active edge input device  520 , and a keypad  525 . The upper highlighted portion of display  5   10  indicates the currently displayed function (e.g., “call from” or “contact”). The middle portion of display  510  shows data entered by a user or received from a remote device. The lower portion of display  510  shows function parameters, such as “Fwd,” “Ans,” and “Send.” Active edge input device  520  is a continuous strip of flexible material that borders three sides of display  510 . Active edge input device  520  includes protrusions in the shape of ribs  540  on the left and right sides of display  510 , and buttons  550  on the bottom side of the display. One or more buttons  550  correspond to one or more of the displayed function parameters. 
     Display  510  in FIG. 5 a  indicates to the user that wireless communications device  500  is receiving or has received a call from “Alan Frank” whose telephone number is “459-6232.” The user has the option of answering or forwarding the call by pressing the appropriate button  550 . If the “Ans” function parameter is selected, wireless communications device  500  connects the call. If the “Fwd” function parameter is selected, the user has the option of forwarding the call to “VMail” (i.e., voicemail) or to “Home” (i.e., to telephone number “763-5463”) as illustrated in FIG. 5 b . The user can move between each displayed option, for example, by dragging a finger along the left or right side surface of active edge input device  520 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that active edge user interface may be configured such that the user can only use one side of active edge input device to select between the options on display  510 . 
     When the user is touching or slightly pressing on an area of active edge input device  520  adjacent a desired option, the option is highlighted, as shown in FIG. 5 b . The touching or slight pressure represents the first step of the “two-step” functionality implemented by embodiments consistent with the present invention. To accept the highlighted option, the user presses harder on active edge input device  520 , which forwards Alan Frank&#39;s call to the user&#39;s home. This secondary pressure represents the second step of the “two-step” functionality. The user may choose to quit the current display at any time by touching on active edge input device  520  below the displayed “Quit” function parameter. 
     The user may choose to make a call from wireless communications device  500 . In this instance, the user presses on active edge input device  520  below the “Call” function as illustrated in FIG. 5 c . Upon selecting this function, a list of names stored in memory appears on display  510 . If the list is voluminous, the user can scroll through the list by dragging (e.g., touching or slightly pressing) a finger or other instrument in an upward or downward motion across the surface of active edge input device  520 . In the scrolling mode, display  510  may automatically switch to an iconic view to show where the user is on the list, as shown in FIG. 5 c.    
     Upon reaching a desired name on the list, the name is highlighted by the touch or slight pressure on active edge input device  520  adjacent the name, as illustrated in FIG. 5 d . The user can then initiate the call by pressing harder on active edge input device  520 . Alternatively, the user could only send a message to a specified person by selecting the appropriate function key on the bottom of display  510 . 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a method for implementing an active edge user interface consistent with the present invention. Initially, an active edge user interface generates an image on a display in response to a touch or pressure on a predetermined area of an input device adjacent the display (step  600 ). Subsequently, active edge user interface implements a function associated with the image when a greater pressure is applied to the predetermined area of the input device (step  620 ). The function, for example, could be calling a highlighted name (i.e., represented by the image) on a wireless communications device. 
     Systems and methods consistent with the present invention thus provide an active edge user interface that offers great functionality and ease-of-use. Moreover, an active edge user interface consistent with the present invention eliminates the need to touch the actual display while preserving the benefits of a graphical user interface. 
     While there has been illustrated and described preferred embodiments and methods of the present invention, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes and modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof, without departing from the true scope of the invention. 
     In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular element, technique or implementation to the teachings of the present invention without departing from the central scope of the invention. Therefore, this invention should not be limited to the particular embodiments and methods disclosed herein, but should include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
An active edge user interface includes dynamically configurable flexible touch areas positioned near the perimeter of a display to support interactive communication between a user and a user environment for flexible active touch areas surrounding a display. The interface allows for multiple levels of sensitivity, texture, key travel, and varying widths of active touch areas based on the user environment.