Alternative Inputs of a Mobile Communications Device

• US 20100105438A1
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Louchart, Audrey, Kim, Sayim Catherine, Friedman, Jonathan D., Wykes, David Henry, Kruzeniski, Michael J., Holmes, Kathleen W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,086,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04807 Pen manipulated menu
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/80 2D [Two Dimensional] animation, e.g. using sprites
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• 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: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 : Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 : from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

In an implementation, a mobile communications device includes a display device having touchscreen functionality, a keyboard having a plurality of physical keys that include a dedicated key and letter keys arranged according to a QWERTY layout, and one or more modules. The one or more modules are configured to output a user interface on the display device responsive to selection of the dedicated key, the user interface having a plurality of portions that are selectable via the touchscreen functionality to cause input of a respective one of a plurality of emoticons.

Claims

1. A mobile communications device comprising:

a display device having touchscreen functionality;

a keyboard having a plurality of physical keys that include a dedicated key and letter keys arranged according to a QWERTY layout; and

one or more modules that are configured to output a user interface on the display device responsive to selection of the dedicated key, the user interface having a plurality of portions that are selectable via the touchscreen functionality to cause input of a respective one of a plurality of emoticons.

2. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, wherein the dedicated key is selectable solely for output of the user interface.

3. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of emoticons represents a respective one of a plurality of facial expressions.

4. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the physical keys are selectable to cause output of a letter or a number when selected concurrently with another one of the physical keys.

5. A mobile communications device as described in claim 4, wherein the other one of the physical keys is an ALT key.

6. A mobile communications device as described in claim 4, wherein the subset of the physical keys of the keyboard is arranged according to a telephone keypad layout.

7. A mobile communications device as described in claim 6, wherein each of the subset of the physical keys includes indicia of a respective number and letter for input via the physical key on the physical key.

8. A mobile communications device as described in claim 6, wherein the input of the emoticon is included in a message to be communicated via a network.

9. A mobile communications device as described in claim 8, wherein the message is a simple message service (SMS) text message or an email.

10. A mobile communications device as described in claim 8, wherein the message is a status message for a social network.

11. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, wherein the dedicated key includes physical indicia of an emoticon formed using a plurality of punctuation marks.

12. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, wherein the letter keys are not selectable singly or in combination with one or more other said physical keys to provide more than two inputs.

13. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, wherein at least one said emoticon is displayed in the user interface without using a punctuation mark.

14. A method comprising:

receiving an input caused by selecting a particular one of a plurality of physical keys of a mobile communications device; and

responsive to the receiving, outputting a user interface on a display device of the mobile communications device having touchscreen functionality, the user interface having;

a plurality of punctuation keys to be displayed in the user interface, each being selectable via the touchscreen functionality to cause input of a respective one of a plurality of punctuation marks; and

at least one key to be displayed in the user interface and is selectable via the touchscreen functionality to cause a plurality of emoticon keys to be output in the user interface, each of the emoticon keys being selectable to cause input of a respective one of a plurality of emoticons.

15. A method as described in claim 14, wherein the plurality of emoticon keys are configured as a sub-menu of the plurality of punctuation keys that is accessible via the at least one key displayed in the user interface with the plurality of punctuation keys.

16. A method as described in claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of emoticons represents a respective one of a plurality of facial expressions.

17. A method as described in claim 14, wherein the punctuation marks are symbols other than letters or numbers used in written language.

18. A method comprising:

determining that a physical letter key of a keyboard of a mobile communications device has been selected;

if the physical letter key has not been selected for a specified amount of time, input a letter corresponding to the physical letter key; and

if the physical letter key has been selected for a specified amount of time, displaying an alternative input that includes the letter on the mobile communications device, the display of the alternative input being selectable to cause input of the alternative input.

19. A method as described in claim 18, wherein the alternative input is selectable via touchscreen functionality of the mobile communications device.

20. A method as described in claim 18, wherein the keyboard follows a QWERTY layout.