Method of implementing a soft input panel interface

• US 20040066415A1
• Filed: 10/04/2002
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Tan, Wan Yen, Khoo, Geok Pei
• Application Number:
  US10/264,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20040066415A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/792
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/145 related to small screens
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

An improved user interface for a telephone dialer application in a portable device and a method for implementing a display area for the device are provided. Existing telephone dialer application in a portable device is less user friendly as it obscures an entire display area of a portable device. The present invention allows a user to simultaneously access both the dialer and other applications. Further, the dialer user interface has an input display section for displaying an input received through a user'"'"'s initiation or transmitted from a separate application.

Claims

1. A method of implementing a display area of a portable device having a soft input panel interface for a dialer, comprising:

displaying the soft input panel on a first part of the display area, the panel having a plurality of soft button sections and an input display section for displaying an input; and

displaying a separate application on a second part of the display area for allowing simultaneous display of and access to the dialer and the separate application.

2. The method according to claim 1 further includes transmitting the input from the separate application to the dialer and displaying the input in the input display section.

3. The method according to claim 1 further includes switching from a first function to a second function in a soft button section when a call status changes.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the call change includes one of connecting or disconnecting a call, and receiving an incoming second call during a first call.

5. The method according to claim 1 further includes translating a character input into a numeric form according to a dialer mode.

6. The method according to claim 1 further includes retaining a character input in its character form according to the dialer mode.

7. The method according to claim 1 further includes selecting the input by a user from the separate application.

8. The method according to claim 1 further includes auto-locating the input in the separate application by a search algorithm.

9. A portable device having a display area and a soft input panel interface for a dialer, the display area comprising:

a first part for displaying the soft input panel, including a plurality of soft button sections and an input display section for displaying an input; and

a second part for displaying a separate application and for allowing simultaneous display of and access to the dialer and the separate application.

10. The device according to claim 9 wherein the input is transmitted from the separate application to the dialer and displayed in the input display section.

11. The device according to claim 9 wherein a soft button section switches from a first function to a second function when a call status changes.

12. The device according to claim 11 wherein the call status change includes one of connecting or disconnecting a call, and receiving an incoming second call during a first call.

13. The device according to claim 9 wherein the input is a character input which is translated into a numeric form according to a dialer mode.

14. The device according to claim 9 wherein the input is a character input which retains its character form according to the dialer mode.

15. The device according to claim 9 wherein the input is selected from the separate application by a user.

16. The device according to claim 9 wherein the input is auto-located in the separate application by a search algorithm.