Mobile phone having hinting capabilities for operation function selection

• US 20090006959A1
• Filed: 07/16/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Hamynen, Kimmo, Kalenius, Mika
• Application Number:
  US12/218,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20090006959A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/710
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• 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 1/233 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 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• 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 2250/56 including a user help function

Abstract

An apparatus and related method in which one or more modules are arranged and configured for determining in a device an operational context of a given functionality, providing in response to the determined operational context one or more operative sub-functionalities for selection associated with the determined operational context, and hinting at one or more one next probable operative sub-functionalities of the one or more operative sub-functionalities associated with the determined operational context.

In one embodiment, at least one next probable operative sub-functionality is communicated via a suitable alerting mechanism, wherein the suitable alerting mechanism is a first text menu list of suggested operative sub-functionalities available for selection, the first text menu list being shown on a display in response to a chosen desired operational context. In another embodiment, the suitable alerting mechanism comprises one or more selection hinting indicators configured and arranged for activation each of which is associated with a next probable operative sub-functionality.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more modules arranged and configured for determining in a device an operational context of a given functionality;

one or more modules arranged and configured for providing in response to the determined operational context, one or more operative sub-functionalities for selection associated with the determined operational context; and

one or more modules arranged and configured for hinting at one or more one next probable operative sub-functionalities of the one or more operative sub-functionalities associated with the determined operational context.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one next probable operative sub-functionality is hinted at via a suitable alerting mechanism in response to a chosen desired operational context.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the suitable alerting mechanism comprises one or more selection hinting indicators arranged and configured for activation each of which respective selection hinting indicator is associated with a next probable operative sub-functionality.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein a text menu list containing at least one next probable operative sub-functionality is displayed in response to the operation of a corresponding one of said one or more selection hinting indicators.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 further comprising one or more modules arranged and configured for activating said suitable alerting mechanism.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 further comprising one or more modules arranged and configured for deactivating said suitable alerting mechanism.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said suitable alerting mechanism further comprises one or more user action prompting instructions.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said user action prompting instruction is a text message representation.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said user action prompting instruction is a graphic message representation.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said activated selection hinting indicator is illuminated.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said activated selection hinting indicator is arranged to flash on and off.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the suitable alerting mechanism comprises one or more selection hinting indicators graphically represented on a display of the apparatus each of which graphically represented selection hinting indicators is configured and associated with a next probable operative sub-functionality corresponding to the given operational context and sequence progression step in the selected desired operational sub-functionality.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said one or more selection hinting indicators respond to contact by a screen touch operation.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further configured as one of a mobile phone, mobile telephone, cellular telephone.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said suitable alerting mechanism comprises one or more distinctive tones each of which tones corresponds to a given selection hinting indicator associated with a next probable operative sub-functionality available for user selection.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said suitable alerting mechanism comprises an icon of a selection hinting indicator corresponding to a short-cut key for carrying out the operational sequence progression steps corresponding to the selected desired operational sub-functionality.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising at least one menu driven operational sub-functionality.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said one or more modules arranged and configured for hinting at one or more one next probable operative sub-functionalities is arranged for voice announcement of the one or more hinted next operative sub-functionality selections available from a list of operative sub-functionalities in the menu driven operational functionality.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said one or more modules for hinting at one or more one next probable operative sub-functionalities is arranged for voice recognition for responding to a spoken selection.

20. The apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said activated selection hinting indicator is color illuminated.

21. A method, comprising:

determining in a device an operational context of a given functionality;

providing in response to the determined operational context, one or more operative sub-functionalities for selection associated with the determined operational context; and

hinting at one or more next probable operative sub-functionalities of the one or more operative sub-functionalities associated with the determined operational context.

22. The method as defined in claim 21 further comprising identifying all operative sub-functionalities available for selection.

23. The method as defined in claim 21 further comprising:

associating a suitable alerting mechanism of the device with each of the operative sub-functionalities as a hinting indicator; and

activating the hinting indicator for hinting of its availability for selection as a next probable operational sub-functionality.

24. The method as defined in claim 23 wherein activating the hinting indicator further comprises illuminating the hinting indicator.

25. The method as defined in claim 24 wherein illuminating the hinting indicator further comprises flashing the hinting indicator on and off.

26. The method as defined in claim 21 wherein hinting at the one or more next probable operative sub-functionalities further comprises showing an icon representing the associated hinting indicator on a display of the device for hinting of its availability for selection as a next probable operational sub-functionality.

27. The method as defined in claim 26 wherein the associated hinting indicator is a short-cut key.

28. The method as defined in claim 23 further comprising providing one or more distinctive audio tones each of which tones corresponds to an identified associated hinting indicator.

29. The method as defined in claim 23 further comprising operating one or more of the associated hinting indicators to select the operational sub-functionality corresponding to the activated associated hinting indicator.

30. The method as defined in claim 27 further comprising operating one or more of the associated hinting indicators through voice recognition operation by speaking the name of the hinting indicator.

31. The apparatus as defined in claim 26, further comprising a hinting indicator responding to contact by a screen touch operation.

32. The method as defined in claim 24 wherein activating the hinting indicator further comprises illuminating the hinting indicator in a color.

33. A computer readable medium encoded with a computer program for carrying out a method comprising:

determining in a device an operational context of a given functionality;

providing in response to the determined operational context, one or more operative sub-functionalities for selection associated with the determined operational context; and

hinting at one or more next probable operative sub-functionalities of the one or more available operative sub-functionalities associated with the determined operational context.

34. An apparatus, comprising:

means for determining in a device an operational context of a given functionality;

means for providing in response to the determined operational context, one or more operative sub-functionalities for selection associated with the determined operational context; and

means for hinting at one or more one next probable operative sub-functionalities of the one or more operative sub-functionalities associated with the determined operational context.