User interface and associated method for indicating status using keypad backlights
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for indicating status on a programmed communication device comprising the steps of:
- associating each of one or more backlights with a respective key of a plurality of keys;
generating status information to be communicated to a user of said communication device; and
illuminating one or more backlights according to a pattern corresponding to said status information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for indicating status on a programmed communication device wherein each of one or more backlights is associated with a respective key of a plurality of keys. Status information to be communicated to a user of the communication device is then generated, and one or more backlights are illuminated according to a pattern corresponding to the status information. Thus, a visual graphical display is not necessary, cost is reduced, volume is conserved, and reliability is increased.
27 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method for indicating status on a programmed communication device comprising the steps of:
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associating each of one or more backlights with a respective key of a plurality of keys;
generating status information to be communicated to a user of said communication device; and
illuminating one or more backlights according to a pattern corresponding to said status information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining, and generating to a microprocessor of said communication device, status information indicative of, whether the signal strength of an incoming call is less than or greater than a predetermined level of signal strength;
- and wherein said pattern corresponding to status information indicative of a signal strength less than said predetermined level of signal strength comprises at least a first backlight, and said pattern corresponding to status information indicative of a signal strength greater than said predetermined level of signal strength comprises at least a second backlight.
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3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining, and generating to a microprocessor of said communication device, status information indicative of, whether the signal strength of an incoming call is less than or greater than a predetermined level of signal strength;
- and wherein said pattern corresponding to status information indicative of a signal strength less than said predetermined level of signal strength comprises at least a first backlight, and said pattern corresponding to status information indicative of a signal strength greater than said predetermined level of signal strength comprises at least said first backlight and a second backlight.
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4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining, and generating status information indicative of, whether said communication device is in a roaming mode;
- and wherein said pattern corresponding to status information indicative of said communication device is in a roaming mode comprises at least a first backlight.
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5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining, and generating status information indicative of, whether said communication device is in a roaming mode;
- and wherein said pattern corresponding to status information indicative of said communication device is in a roaming mode comprises a cyclic sequence of illuminating two or more backlights.
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6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining, and generating to a microprocessor of said communication device, status information indicative of, whether a battery charge of a battery electrically connected to said communication device for supplying electrical power to said communication device, is less than or greater than a predetermined level of battery charge;
- and wherein said pattern corresponding to status information indicative of a battery charge less than said predetermined level of battery charge comprises at least a first backlight, and said pattern corresponding to status information indicative of a battery charge greater than said predetermined level of battery charge comprises at least a second backlight.
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7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining, and generating to a microprocessor of said communication device, status information indicative of, whether a battery charge of a battery electrically connected to said communication device for supplying electrical power to said communication device, is less than or greater than a predetermined level of battery charge;
- and wherein said pattern corresponding to status information indicative of a battery charge less than said predetermined level of battery charge comprises at least a first backlight, and said pattern corresponding to status information indicative of a battery charge greater than said predetermined level of battery charge comprises at least said first backlight and a second backlight.
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8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
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determining, in response to receipt of an incoming call with a caller identification phone number, whether said caller identification phone number corresponds to a selected phone number associated with a speed dial key; and
generating to a microprocessor of said communication device, in response to a determination that said caller identification phone number corresponds to said selected phone number, status information indicating that said caller identification phone number corresponds to said selected phone number; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises a backlight associated with a speed dial key.
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9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
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determining, in response to receipt of an incoming call with a caller identification phone number, whether said caller identification phone number corresponds to a phone number stored in a data storage unit of said communication device, but does not correspond to a speed dial phone number stored in said data storage unit; and
generating to a microprocessor of said communication device, in response to a determination that said caller identification phone number corresponds to a phone number stored in said data storage unit, but does not correspond to a speed dial phone number stored in said data storage unit, status information indicating that said caller identification phone number corresponds to a phone number stored in said data storage unit, but does not correspond to a speed dial phone number stored in said data storage unit; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises at least one backlight.
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10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
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determining, in response to receipt of an incoming call with a caller identification phone number, whether said caller identification phone number corresponds to a phone number stored in a data storage unit of said communication device, but does not correspond to a speed dial phone number stored in said data storage unit; and
generating to a microprocessor of said communication device, in response to a determination that said caller identification phone number corresponds to a phone number stored in said data storage unit, but does not correspond to a speed dial phone number stored in said data storage unit, status information indicating that said caller identification phone number corresponds to a phone number stored in said data storage unit, but does not correspond to a speed dial phone number stored in said data storage unit; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises the sequential illumination of a backlight corresponding to each digit of said caller identification phone number.
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11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
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determining, in response to receipt of an incoming call with a caller identification phone number, whether said caller identification phone number corresponds to a phone number stored in a data storage unit of said communication device, but does not correspond to a speed dial phone number stored in said data storage unit;
wherein said phone number stored in a data storage unit is one of one or more speed dial phone numbers, one or more previously dialed phone numbers, one or more previously called phone numbers, and one or more caller identification phone numbers of previous incoming calls; and
generating to a microprocessor of said communication device, in response to a determination that said caller identification phone number corresponds to a phone number stored in said data storage unit, but does not correspond to a speed dial phone number stored in said data storage unit, status information indicating that said caller identification phone number corresponds to a phone number stored in said data storage unit, but does not correspond to a speed dial phone number stored in said data storage unit; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises at least one backlight.
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12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
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determining, in response to receipt of an incoming call with a caller identification phone number, whether said caller identification phone number does not correspond to any phone number stored in a data storage unit of said communication device; and
generating to a microprocessor of said communication device, in response to a determination that said caller identification phone number does not correspond to any phone number stored in said data storage unit, status information indicating that said caller identification phone number does not correspond to any phone number stored in said data storage unit; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises at least one backlight.
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13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
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determining, in response to receipt of an incoming call with a caller identification phone number, whether said caller identification phone number does not correspond to any phone number stored in a data storage unit of said communication device; and
generating to a microprocessor of said communication device, in response to a determination that said caller identification phone number does not correspond to any phone number stored in said data storage unit, status information indicating that said caller identification phone number does not correspond to any phone number stored in said data storage unit; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises the sequential illumination of a backlight corresponding to each digit of said caller identification phone number.
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14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
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determining, in response to receipt of an incoming call, whether said incoming call does not include a caller identification phone number; and
generating to a microprocessor of said communication device, in response to a determination that said incoming call does not include a caller identification phone number, status information indicating that said incoming call does not include a caller identification phone number; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises at least one backlight.
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15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
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determining, in response to receipt of an incoming call, whether said incoming call does not include a caller identification phone number; and
generating to a microprocessor of said communication device, in response to a determination that said incoming call does not include a caller identification phone number, status information indicating that said incoming call does not include a caller identification phone number; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises a shape resembling a question mark.
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16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
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determining whether said communication device has voicemail; and
generating to a microprocessor of said communication device, in response to a determination from said signal that said communication device has voicemail, status information indicating that said communication device has voicemail; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises at least one backlight.
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17. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
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determining whether said communication device has voicemail; and
generating to a microprocessor of said communication device, in response to a determination from said signal that said communication device has voicemail, status information indicating that said communication device has voicemail; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises a shape resembling a V.
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18. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
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determining whether said communication device has missed calls or missed messages; and
generating to a microprocessor of said communication device, in response to a determination that said communication device has missed calls or missed messages, status information indicating that said communication device has missed calls or missed messages; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises at least one backlight.
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19. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying said status information on a visual graphical display.
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2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining, and generating to a microprocessor of said communication device, status information indicative of, whether the signal strength of an incoming call is less than or greater than a predetermined level of signal strength;
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20. A communication device user interface comprising:
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a plurality of keys operably integrated into said communication device;
a plurality of backlights, each of which backlights is associated with respective one key of said plurality of keys;
a microprocessor operatively connected for illuminating one or more backlights;
a data storage unit operatively connected to said microprocessor for storing program code executable by said microprocessor; and
program code executable by said microprocessor for illuminating one or more backlights according to a pattern corresponding to status information to be communicated to a user of said communication device. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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21. The communication device of claim 20, further comprising:
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an antenna electrically connected to said microprocessor for receiving an incoming call transmitted to said communication device; and
a signal strength sensor connected to said antenna and to said microprocessor for determining, and for generating to said microprocessor status information indicative of, whether the signal strength of said incoming call is less than or greater than a predetermined level of signal strength; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to status information indicative of a signal strength less than said predetermined level of signal strength comprises at least a first backlight, and said pattern corresponding to status information indicative of a signal strength greater than said predetermined level of signal strength comprises at least a second backlight.
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22. The communication device of claim 20, further comprising:
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an antenna electrically connected to said microprocessor for receiving an incoming call transmitted to said communication device; and
a signal strength sensor connected to said antenna and to said microprocessor for determining, and for generating to said microprocessor status information indicative of, whether the signal strength of said incoming call is less than or greater than a predetermined level of signal strength; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to status information indicative of a signal strength less than said predetermined level of signal strength comprises at least a first backlight, and said pattern corresponding to status information indicative of a signal strength greater than said predetermined level of signal strength comprises at least said first backlight and a second backlight.
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23. The communication device of claim 20, further comprising:
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an antenna electrically connected to said microprocessor for receiving an incoming call transmitted to said communication device; and
a signal strength sensor connected to said antenna and to said microprocessor for determining, and for generating to said microprocessor status information indicative of, whether said communication device should enter a roaming mode; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to status information indicative that said communication device should enter a roaming mode comprises at least a first backlight.
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24. The communication device of claim 20, further comprising:
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an antenna electrically connected to said microprocessor for receiving an incoming call transmitted to said communication device; and
a signal strength sensor connected to said antenna and to said microprocessor for determining, and for generating to said microprocessor status information indicative of, whether said communication device should enter a roaming mode; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to status information indicative that said communication device should enter a roaming mode comprises a cyclic sequential illumination of two or more backlights.
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25. The communication device of claim 20 further comprising:
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a battery electrically connected to said communication device for supplying electrical power to said communication device; and
a battery charge sensor connected to said battery and to said microprocessor for determining, and for generating to said microprocessor status information indicative of, whether the battery charge of said battery is less than or greater than a predetermined level of battery charge; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to status information indicative of a battery charge less than said predetermined level of battery charge comprises at least a first backlight, and said pattern corresponding to status information indicative of a battery charge greater than said predetermined level of battery charge comprises at least a second backlight.
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26. The communication device of claim 20 further comprising:
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a battery electrically connected to said communication device for supplying electrical power to said communication device; and
a battery charge sensor connected to said battery and to said microprocessor for determining, and for generating to said microprocessor status information indicative of, whether the battery charge of said battery is less than or greater than a predetermined level of battery charge; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to status information indicative of a battery charge less than said predetermined level of battery charge comprises at least a first backlight, and said pattern corresponding to status information indicative of a battery charge greater than said predetermined level of battery charge comprises at least said first backlight and a second backlight.
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27. The communication device of claim 20 wherein at least one of said plurality of keys is a speed dial key associated with a first backlight and a selected phone number stored in said data storage unit, and wherein said communication device further comprises:
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program code, responsive to receipt of an incoming call with a caller identification phone number, for determining whether said caller identification phone number corresponds to said selected phone number; and
program code, responsive to a determination that said caller identification phone number corresponds to said selected phone number, for generating to said microprocessor status information indicating that said caller identification phone number corresponds to said selected phone number; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises said first backlight.
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28. The communication device of claim 20 wherein said data storage unit is configured for storing phone numbers including one or more speed dial phone numbers;
- and wherein said communication device further comprises;
program code, responsive to receipt of an incoming call with a caller identification phone number, for determining whether said caller identification phone number corresponds to a phone number stored in said data storage unit, but does not correspond to a speed dial phone number stored in said data storage unit; and
program code, responsive to a determination that said caller identification phone number corresponds to a phone number stored in said data storage unit, but does not correspond to a speed dial phone number stored in said data storage unit, for generating to said microprocessor status information indicating that said caller identification phone number corresponds to a phone number stored in said data storage unit, but does not correspond to a speed dial phone number stored in said data storage unit; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises at least one backlight.
- and wherein said communication device further comprises;
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29. The communication device of claim 20 wherein said data storage unit is configured for storing phone numbers including one or more speed dial phone numbers;
- and wherein said communication device further comprises;
program code, responsive to receipt of an incoming call with a caller identification phone number, for determining whether said caller identification phone number corresponds to a phone number stored in said data storage unit, but does not correspond to a speed dial phone number stored in said data storage unit; and
program code, responsive to a determination that said caller identification phone number corresponds to a phone number stored in said data storage unit, but does not correspond to a speed dial phone number stored in said data storage unit, for generating to said microprocessor status information indicating that said caller identification phone number corresponds to a phone number stored in said data storage unit, but does not correspond to a speed dial phone number stored in said data storage unit; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises the sequential illumination of a backlight corresponding to each digit of said caller identification phone number.
- and wherein said communication device further comprises;
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30. The communication device of claim 20 wherein said data storage unit is configured for storing phone numbers comprising at least one of one or more speed dial phone numbers, one or more previously dialed phone numbers, one or more previously called phone numbers, and one or more caller identification phone numbers of previous incoming calls;
- and wherein said communication device further comprises;
program code, responsive to receipt of an incoming call with a caller identification phone number, for determining whether said caller identification phone number corresponds to a phone number stored in said data storage unit, but does not correspond to a speed dial phone number; and
program code, responsive to a determination that said caller identification phone number corresponds to a phone number stored in said data storage unit, but does not correspond to a speed dial phone number, for generating to said microprocessor status information indicating that said caller identification phone number corresponds to a phone number stored in said data storage unit, but does not correspond to a speed dial phone number; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises at least one backlight.
- and wherein said communication device further comprises;
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31. The communication device of claim 20 wherein said data storage unit is configured for storing phone numbers;
- and wherein said communication device further comprises;
program code, responsive to receipt of an incoming call with a caller identification phone number, for determining whether said caller identification phone number does not correspond to any phone number stored in said data storage unit; and
program code, responsive to a determination that said caller identification phone number does not correspond to any phone number stored in said data storage unit, for generating to said microprocessor status information indicating that said caller identification phone number does not correspond to any phone number stored in said data storage unit; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises at least one backlight.
- and wherein said communication device further comprises;
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32. The communication device of claim 20 wherein said data storage unit is configured for storing phone numbers;
- and wherein said communication device further comprises;
program code, responsive to receipt of an incoming call with a caller identification phone number, for determining whether said caller identification phone number does not correspond to any phone number stored in said data storage unit; and
program code, responsive to a determination that said caller identification phone number does not correspond to any phone number stored in said data storage unit, for generating to said microprocessor status information indicating that said caller identification phone number does not correspond to any phone number stored in said data storage unit; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises the sequential illumination of a backlight corresponding to each digit of said caller identification phone number.
- and wherein said communication device further comprises;
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33. The communication device of claim 20, further comprising:
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program code, responsive to receipt of an incoming call, for determining whether said incoming call does not include a caller identification phone number; and
program code, responsive to a determination that said incoming call does not include a caller identification phone number, for generating to said microprocessor status information indicating that said incoming call does not include a caller identification phone number; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises at least one backlight.
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34. The communication device of claim 20, further comprising:
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program code, responsive to receipt of an incoming call, for determining whether said incoming call does not include a caller identification phone number; and
program code, responsive to a determination that said incoming call does not include a caller identification phone number, for generating to said microprocessor status information indicating that said incoming call does not include a caller identification phone number; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises a shape resembling a question mark.
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35. The communication device of claim 20, further comprising:
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an antenna electrically connected to said microprocessor for receiving signals transmitted to said communication device;
program code, responsive to receipt of said signal, for determining from said signal whether said communication device has voicemail; and
program code, responsive to a determination from said signal that said communication device has voicemail, for generating to said microprocessor status information indicating that said communication device has voicemail; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises at least one backlight.
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36. The communication device of claim 20, further comprising:
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an antenna electrically connected to said microprocessor for receiving signals transmitted to said communication device;
program code, responsive to receipt of said signal, for determining from said signal whether said communication device has voicemail; and
program code, responsive to a determination from said signal that said communication device has voicemail, for generating to said microprocessor status information indicating that said communication device has voicemail; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises a shape resembling a V.
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37. The communication device of claim 20, further comprising:
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program code for determining whether said communication device has missed calls or missed messages; and
program code for generating to said microprocessor of said communication device, in response to a determination that said communication device has missed calls or missed messages, status information indicating that said communication device has missed calls or missed messages; and
wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises at least one backlight.
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38. The communication device of claim 20, further comprising a visual graphical display for displaying said status information.
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21. The communication device of claim 20, further comprising:
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Specification
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Current AssigneeNokia Corporation
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Original AssigneeNokia Corporation
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InventorsDeeds, Douglas
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Granted Patent
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Time in Patent OfficeDays
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Field of Search
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US Class Current455/575.1
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CPC Class CodesH04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements ...H04M 1/576 associated with a pictorial...H04M 1/72403 with means for local suppor...H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for ...H04M 19/048 Arrangements providing opti...H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of externa...H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local e...H04W 52/0261 managing power supply deman...Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication n...