Method for positioning a vibrating alert adjacent to a selected alert in selective call device

• US 5,883,612 A
• Filed: 10/24/1996
• Issued: 03/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kreitzer, Stuart S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saras, Steven J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vail, Seth D.
• Application Number:
  US08/740,048
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 345/115, 345/117, 345/145, 345/146, 345/348-351, 340/825.44, 340/825.46, 340/825.36, 455/38.2, 455/38.4, 455/31.1, 455/31.2
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/229 with other provisions not elsewhere provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

A selective call device (100) has a plurality of first alerts and a second alert and includes a decoder/controller (106) generating a plurality of icons associated with the plurality of first alerts and the second alert (116) and a switch for selecting an alert. The decoder/controller (106), in response to the switch (118), positions a second alert icon adjacent to a selected icon when the selected icon is not the second alert icon. A display (108) displays the second alert icon adjacent to the selected icon and the decoder/controller (106) regenerates the plurality of icons wherein the second alert icon is repositioned adjacent to a reselected alert icon.

Claims

1. In a selective call device having a plurality of first alerts and a second alert, a method comprising the steps of:

generating a plurality of first alert icons associated with the plurality of first alerts and a second icon associated with the second alert wherein the plurality of first alerts are a plurality of audible alerts and the second alert is a vibrating alert;

selecting a first alert icon from a plurality of icons;

moving the second icon adjacent to a selected first alert icon;

displaying the plurality of icons wherein the second icon is positioned adjacent to the selected first alert icon; and

in response to the step of selecting another first alert icon, displaying the second icon repositioned adjacent to the other first alert icon being selected wherein the step of selecting enables a selection of the vibrating alert with a single scrolling stroke.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of generating generates a menu displaying the plurality of icons.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of generating generates the plurality of icons in a predetermined sequence.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of displaying displays a selected alert icon repositioned adjacent to the second icon.

5. A selective call device having a plurality of first alerts and a second alert, comprising:

a decoder/controller generating a plurality of first icons associated with the plurality of first alerts and a second icon associated with the second alert wherein the plurality of first alerts are a plurality of audible alerts and the second alert is a vibrating alert;

a switch for selecting an alert;

the decoder/controller, in response to the switch, for positioning the second icon adjacent to a selected first icon;

a display for displaying the second icon adjacent to the selected first icon; and

the decoder/controller regenerating a plurality of icons wherein the second icon is repositioned adjacent to a reselected first icon to enable the switch to select the vibrating alert with a single scrolling stroke.

6. The selective call device according to claim 5 wherein the display displays the plurality of icons as a menu.

7. The selective call device according to claim 5 wherein the decoder/controller emphasizes a selected icon.

8. The selective call device according to claim 5 wherein the decoder/controller positions the selected first icon adjacent to the second icon.

9. The selective call device according to claim 5 wherein the switch comprises a first switch for scrolling from one icon to another and a second switch for selecting a first icon indicated by the first switch.

10. A selective call device having a plurality of audible alerts and a vibrating alert, comprising:

a decoder/controller that generates a menu of icons including a plurality of first icons associated with the plurality of audible alerts and a vibrating alert icon associated with the vibrating alert;

a switch for selecting and reselecting an alert from the menu of icons;

the decoder/controller, in response to the switch, positions the vibrating alert icon adjacent to a selected first icon;

a display for displaying the menu of icons emphasizing the selected first icon wherein the vibrating alert icon is positioned adjacent to the selected first icon; and

the decoder/controller generates the menu of icons in response to a reselected first icon causing the display to display the menu of icons emphasizing the reselected first icon wherein the vibrating alert icon is repositioned adjacent to the reselected first icon to enable the switch to select the vibrating alert with a single scrolling stroke.