Communication terminal and display method

• US 20020039915A1
• Filed: 09/27/2001
• Published: 04/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Haraguchi, Namika, Nakae, Kazuaki, Emoto, Tadahiro, Hama, Mitsuji
• Granted Patent: US 7,280,850 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2746 Sorting, e.g. according to history or frequency of use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

A communication terminal stores items which compose a hierarchical menu. The communication terminal displays items of one hierarchy on a display, and then displays lower level items, which correspond to an item which has been selected from among the displayed items by a user operation, without a display instruction operation by the user.

Claims

1. A communication terminal which (i) groups a plurality of setting items for related internal functions of the communication terminal into a top level item, and (ii) displays that the group of setting items belongs to the top level item, comprising:

a selection key for selecting a setting item from the plurality of setting items;

display means for displaying the selected setting item;

a confirmation key for confirming the selected setting item and proceeding to a setting screen therefor;

changing means for changing, in the setting screen of the confirmed setting item, a setting value of the setting item;

measuring means for measuring a length of time for which the selected setting item is displayed; and

setting value display means for displaying, when the length of time exceeds a predetermined length of time, the setting value of the selected setting item.

2. The communication terminal of claim 1

wherein the setting value display means forms a popup window on part of a setting item screen in which the plurality of setting items are being displayed, and displays the setting value of the selected setting item in the popup window.

3. The control terminal of claim 1 or 2

wherein the setting value display means, when an operation of the selection key is performed while the setting value of the selected setting item is being displayed, stops displaying the setting value, and returns to displaying the setting item screen.

4. A display method for a communication terminal which (i) groups a plurality of setting items for related internal functions of the communication terminal into a top level item, and (ii) displays that the group of setting items belongs to the top level item, the display method comprising:

a first step for selecting a setting item from the plurality of setting items;

a second step for displaying the selected setting item;

a third step for confirming the selected setting item and proceeding to a setting screen therefor;

a fourth step for changing, in the setting screen of the confirmed setting item, a setting value of the setting item;

a fifth step for measuring a length of time for which the selected setting item is displayed; and

a sixth step for displaying, when the length of time exceeds a predetermined length of time, the setting value of the selected setting item.

5. The display method of claim 4

wherein the sixth step forms a popup window on part of a setting item screen in which the plurality of setting items are being displayed, and displays the setting value of the selected setting item in the popup window.

6. The display method of claim 4 or 5

wherein the sixth step, when the first step is performed while the setting value of the selected setting item is being displayed, stops displaying the setting value, and returns to displaying the setting item screen.

7. A communication terminal which (i) groups a plurality of setting items for related internal functions of the communication terminal into one of a plurality of top level items, (ii) displays that the group of setting items belongs to the top level item, and (iii) displays the top level item together with the group of setting items that belong thereto, comprising:

a selection key for selecting one of the plurality of top level items; and

display control means for controlling displaying of the plurality of top level items and the plurality of setting items,

wherein the display control means has one selected top level item and the group of setting items which belong thereto displayed, and has only top level items displayed for top level items which have not been selected.

8. A display method for a communication terminal which (i) groups a plurality of setting items for related internal functions of the communication terminal into one of a plurality of top level items, (ii) displays that the group of setting items belongs to the top level item, and (iii) displays the top level item together with the group of setting items that belong thereto, the display method comprising:

a selection step for selecting one of the plurality of top level items; and

a display control step for controlling displaying of the plurality of top level items and the plurality of setting items,

wherein the display control step has one selected top level item and the group of setting items which belong thereto displayed, and has only top level items displayed for top level items which have not been selected.

9. A communication terminal which displays, when a memory dial function is used, a plurality of registered names of parties to which a telephone call is possibly made, and initiates, according to a predetermined operation, the telephone call to a telephone number which corresponds to a selected registered name, comprising:

call destination selection means for selecting one name from the displayed plurality of registered names;

measuring means for measuring a length of time for which the selected registered name is displayed;

first display means for displaying, when the length of time measured by the measuring means exceeds a predetermined length of time, a plurality of telephone numbers and e-mail addresses which correspond to the selected registered name;

second display means for displaying, when the predetermined operation is performed while the plurality of telephone numbers and e-mail addresses is being displayed on the first display means, only the telephone numbers;

telephone number selection means for selecting one telephone number from the plurality of telephone numbers being displayed on the second display means; and

call initiation means for initiating a telephone call to the selected telephone number.

10. The communication terminal of claim 9

wherein the first display means forms a popup window on part of a screen in which the plurality of registered names are being simultaneously displayed, and displays the plurality of telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of the selected setting item in the popup window.

12. The communication terminal of claim 9

wherein the third step includes a seventh step for forming a popup window on part of a screen in which the plurality of registered names are being simultaneously displayed, and displaying the plurality of telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of the selected setting item in the popup window.

11. A display method for a communication terminal which displays, when a memory dial function is used, a plurality of registered names of parties to which a telephone call is possibly made, and initiates, according to a predetermined operation, the telephone call to a telephone number which corresponds to a selected registered name, the display method comprising:

a first step for selecting one name from the displayed plurality of registered names;

a second step for measuring a length of time for which the selected registered name is displayed;

a third step for displaying, when the length of time measured by the second step exceeds a predetermined length of time, a plurality of telephone numbers and e-mail addresses which correspond to the selected registered name;

a fourth step for displaying, when the predetermined operation is performed while the plurality of telephone numbers and e-mail addresses is being displayed by the third step, only the telephone numbers;

a fifth step for selecting one telephone number from the plurality of telephone numbers being displayed by the fourth step; and

a sixth step for initiating a telephone call to the selected telephone number.