Method and apparatus for matching a control with an icon

• US 20070204237A1
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Guo, Shuang, Yang, Hanqi
• Granted Patent: US 7,546,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/822
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device

Abstract

A user interface uses color to match icons displayed to the user on a display with one or more corresponding input controls. Text or graphic icons representing functions of a portable electronic device are color coded, and the corresponding input controls are illuminated in the same colors. By using color to match the icons with the associated control(s), the present invention intuitively indicates to the user which controls are associated with a particular icon.

Claims

1. A method implemented in a portable electronic device for prompting a user for input, the method comprising:

displaying an icon on a display in a given color; and

illuminating an input control associated with the icon in the same given color to match the illuminated control with the icon.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying a light effect to the illuminated control to indicate when mandatory user input is required.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein applying a light effect to the illuminated control comprises flashing the illuminated control intermittently.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein applying a light effect to the illuminated control comprises varying a characteristic of the illumination.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein varying a characteristic of the illumination comprises changing at least one of the color and intensity of the illumination.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising turning off illumination of unavailable or unrelated controls.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising flashing the icon on the display to indicate when mandatory user input is required.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising changing an appearance of the icon on the display to indicate when mandatory user input is required.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising setting the given color responsive to a configuration selection by a user.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein illuminating an input control comprises illuminating a primary control and an alternate control associated with the icon in the given color.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the input control comprises one of a key, button, joystick, dial, thumbwheel, and touch pad.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying two or more icons in different colors and illuminating two or more input controls in respective colors to match the input controls with corresponding icons.

13. An electronic device comprising:

a display;

at least one illuminated input control for receiving user input; and

a processor configured to control the display of icons on said display, said processor configured to display color coded icons on the display to associate the color coded icons with corresponding illuminated input controls.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 wherein said processor is further configured to apply a light effect to one or more illuminated controls to indicate when mandatory user input is required.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 wherein the processor is configured to flash an illuminated control intermittently to indicate that mandatory user input is required.

16. The electronic device of claim 14 wherein the processor is configured to vary a characteristic of the illumination for one or more illuminated input controls to indicate that mandatory user input is required.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 wherein the processor changes at least one of the color and intensity of the illumination for one or more illuminated input controls to indicate that mandatory user input is required.

18. The electronic device of claim 14 wherein the processor is further configured to turn off illumination of unavailable or unrelated controls.

19. The electronic device of claim 13 wherein the processor is configured to flash an icon on the display to indicate when mandatory user input is required.

20. The electronic device of claim 13 wherein the processor is configured to change an appearance of an icon on the display to indicate when mandatory user input is required.

21. The electronic device of claim 13 wherein the processor is configured to display the icon in a user-selected color.

22. The electronic device of claim 13 wherein both a primary control and an alternate control associated with the icon are illuminated with the same color.

23. The electronic device of claim 13 wherein the input control comprises one of a key, button, joystick, dial, thumbwheel, and touch pad.

24. The electronic device of claim 13 wherein the processor is configured to display two or more icons in different colors and illuminate two or more input controls in respective colors to match the input controls with corresponding icons.