Communications terminal apparatus and display method thereof

• US 5,889,509 A
• Filed: 06/11/1996
• Issued: 03/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sudo, Fukuharu
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US08/661,643
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 340/945, 345/168, 345/333, 345/334, 345/978, 345/961, 455/127, 455/343, 455/572, 455/566, 455/403, 364/709.16
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/961 Operator interface with visual structure or function dictated by intended use
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/978 Audio interaction as part of an operator interface

Abstract

A communications terminal apparatus and display method thereof to make the user aware of the operational state of a portable telephone thus preventing the malfunctions of and damages caused by the user. In the present invention, when a manipulation key is continuously depressed for a predetermined duration or more, the apparatus is set into an operating state corresponding to the manipulation key, after images sequentially changing in accordance with the lapse of depressing time of the manipulation key are displayed on a display with corresponding sound effects. When the manipulation key is not continuously depressed for the predetermined duration or more, the apparatus is returned to the operating state prior to the depression of the manipulation key, after the images and corresponding sound effects having changed in accordance with the depressing time of the manipulation key are displayed on the display on the reverse order. Thereby, a communications terminal apparatus and display method thereof which make the user aware of a manipulated state of the manipulation key thus preventing malfunctions can be realized.

Claims

1. A communications terminal apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of manipulation keys including a power on/off key; and

audio-visual signal generating means for generating a sequence of audio-visual signals that change in accordance with a lapse of time of said power on/off key being continuously activated;

said audio-visual signal generating means including;

storage means for storing said sequence of audio-visual signals;

audio-visual means for displaying to a user of said communications terminal said sequence of audio-visual signals read from said storage means; and

control means for controlling said audio-visual display means to display to said user said sequence of audio-visual signals changing in accordance with said lapse of time and for turning on said communications terminal after a predetermined period of time of continuous activation of said power on/off key, and said control means turns off said communications terminal after displaying to said user a reverse order sequence of said sequence of audio-visual signals when said power on/off key is activated but not continuously activated for said predetermined period of time.

2. The communications terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of manipulation keys is comprised of push-button type keys.

3. The communications terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of manipulation keys is comprised of rotary-type keys.

4. A communications terminal apparatus comprising:

a plurality of manipulation keys including a power on/off key;

storage means for storing a sequence of images which sequentially change in accordance with a lapse of time of said power on/off key being continuously activated and for storing sound effects corresponding to said sequence of images;

display means for displaying said sequence of images read from said storage means;

sound effect means for generating sound effects corresponding to said sequence of images read from said storage means; and

control means for turning on said communications terminal after sequentially displaying said sequence of images on said display means and sequentially generating said corresponding sound effects using said sound effect means and after said power on/off key is continuously activated for a predetermined period of time, and for turning off said communications terminal after displaying a reverse sequence of said sequence of images and generating said corresponding sound effects to said reverse order sequence of said sequence of images using said sound effect means when said power on/off key is not continuously activated for said predetermined period of time.

5. The communications terminal apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said sequence of images are moving images.

6. The communications terminal apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said plurality of manipulation keys is comprised of push-button type keys.

7. The communications terminal apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said plurality of manipulation keys is comprised of rotary-type keys.

8. A display method for use in a communications terminal apparatus, comprising the steps of:

generating a sequence of audio-visual signals that change in accordance with a lapse of time of a continuous manipulation of a power on/off key and displaying said audio-visual signals on a display;

turning on said communications terminal after a predetermined period of time of continuous manipulation of said power on/off key and after sequentially displaying said sequence of audio-visual signals; and

turning off said communications terminal after displaying a reverse order of said sequence of audio-visual signals when said power on/off key is activated but not continuously manipulated for said predetermined period of time.

9. A display method for use in a communications terminal apparatus, comprising the steps of:

generating a sequence of images in accordance with a lapse of time from a continuous activation of a manipulation key and displaying said sequence of images on a display;

setting said communications terminal to an operation state corresponding to said manipulation key after sequentially displaying said sequence of images and sequentially generating sound effects corresponding to said sequence of images when said manipulation key is continuously activated for a predetermined period of time; and

returning said communications terminal apparatus to a previous operation state to the operation of said manipulation key after displaying a reverse order sequence of said sequence of images on said display and generating said corresponding sound effects to said reverse order sequence of said sequence of images when said manipulation key is activated but not continuously activated for said predetermined duration.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the operating function of said manipulation key is to power on and off the communication terminal apparatus.