DEVICE, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR SWITCHING A DEVICE BETWEEN APPLICATION MODES

• US 20080270900A1
• Filed: 06/11/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: WEZOWSKI, Martin M.R.
• Application Number:
  US11/760,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20080270900A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/702
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A method, computer program product, and a digital device comprising a control unit arranged to control at least a first and a second application, a physical user interface comprising a first set of functional input elements, and when the device is running the first application, the physical user interface comprises a first set of functions associated with the functional input elements, an illuminating arrangement comprising at least one light source, and a dedicated part of the physical user interface that is activated and illuminated when the second application is opened in the device, displaying a second set of functions associated with a second set of functional input elements.

Claims

1. A digital device comprising:

a control unit arranged to control at least a first and a second application,

a physical user interface comprising a first set of functional input elements, wherein said first set of functional input elements is associated with a first set of functions when the digital device is running the first application,

an illuminating arrangement comprising at least one light source, and

a dedicated part of the physical user interface that is activated and illuminated when the second application is opened in the device, displaying a second set of functions associated with a second set of functional input elements.

2. A digital device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dedicated part comprises a navigation area with a touch sensitive strip.

3. A digital device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the touch sensitive strip is placed under a glass cover next to a display.

4. A digital device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second set of functional input elements are shown as icons at positions of the touch sensitive strip.

5. A digital device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the touch sensitive strip has the function of a scroll bar.

6. A digital device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first set of functional input elements is the same as the second set of functional input elements.

7. A digital device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first set of functional input elements is a keypad.

8. A digital device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dedicated part comprises buttons.

9. A digital device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the dedicated part is placed in or at the keypad.

10. A digital device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the dedicated part further comprises specific buttons of the keypad.

11. A digital device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the specific buttons are illuminated by means of diodes and/or light guides.

12. A digital device as claimed in claim 8, wherein icons are shown on or at the buttons.

13. A digital device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is a mobile telecommunication device, and the second application is a camera application.

14. A method for switching a digital device with at least a first and a second application installed thereon from a first application mode into a second application mode comprising the steps of:

indicating a switch of application;

signalling a control unit in the digital device that the second application is selected,

activating the second application arranged in the digital device by means of the control unit;

activating an illumination arrangement controlled by the control unit arranged in the digital device, thereby displaying a set of function elements associated with the second application arranged on a physical user interface of the digital device.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the step of indicating a switch is performed by pressing an activation element arranged on the physical user interface of the digital device.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein the step of activating an illuminating arrangement further comprises to illuminate a dedicated part of the physical user interface arranged as a touch screen arrangement.

17. A method according to claim 14, wherein the step of activating an illuminating arrangement further comprises to illuminate a dedicated part of the physical user interface arranged as specific buttons of a keypad of said device.

18. A computer program product stored on a machine readable medium which, when executed by a digital device, carries out the method of claim 14.