METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING APPLICATIONS OF A MOBILE DEVICE BY USING A PIVOTING INPUT SWITCH

• US 20070026851A1
• Filed: 09/08/2006
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey Hawkins, Robert Haitani
• Inventors: Hawkins, Jeffrey, Haitani, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,620,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• 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 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs

Abstract

A mobile device includes at least one application and a user-controllable pivoting input switch. This application has a number of selectable items. This switch has a number of operational modes. Several of these operational modes direct the operation of the application to determine a current item according to an order.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

at least one application, the application comprising a plurality of selectable items, the plurality of selectable items comprising a current item; and

a user-controllable pivoting input switch having multiple operational modes, wherein one operational mode comprises pivoting of the input switch in a first direction about an axis from a starting point to a first input-generating position, the input switch automatically returning to the starting point upon release after pivoting, at least one of the multiple operational modes determining one of the plurality of selectable items to be the current item according to a predetermined order.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein another operational mode comprises pivoting of the input switch in a second direction about the axis from the starting point to a second input-generating position, the input switch automatically returning to the starting point upon release after pivoting.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein another operational mode comprises depressing of the input switch in towards the axis.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein another operational mode comprises depressing of the input switch in towards the axis and holding the depressing state for a duration of time.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the input switch comprises a dial structure.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the input switch comprises a rocking switch.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the input switch is located on a side of the mobile device.

9. A method of operating a mobile device, the mobile device comprising a user-controllable pivoting input switch, at least one application, the application comprising a plurality of selectable items, the plurality of selectable items comprising a current item, the method comprising:

pivoting the input switch in a first direction about an axis from a starting point to a first input-generating position to determine a first selectable item of the plurality of selectable items to be the current item according to a first order; and

pivoting the input switch in a second direction about the axis from the starting point to a second input-generating position to determine a second selectable item of the plurality of selectable items to be the current item according to a second order.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

depressing in the input switch in towards the axis to direct an operation of the application.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

depressing in the input switch in towards the axis and holding the depressing state for a duration of time to direct an operation of the application.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising releasing the pivoted input switch from the first direction to automatically return the input switch to a start position.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising releasing the pivoted input switch from the second direction to automatically return the input switch to a start position