Communication terminal apparatus and control method thereof

• US 5,987,336 A
• Filed: 10/21/1997
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ironworks Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ushino, Tatsuji, Terauchi, Toshiro, Sudo, Fukuharu, Kunihiro, Takushi, Kobayashi, Tetsuo, Ajiro, Atsushi, Odaka, Kentaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Nguyen
• Application Number:
  US08/950,512
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 455/424, 455/550, 455/566, 455/575, 455/90, 455/186.1, 455/95, 455/128, 455/154.1, 455/158.1, 455/351, 455/158.4, 379/428, 379/433, 379/434, 345/168-169
• US Class Current: 455/566
• 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 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• 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: H04M 1/72472 wherein the items are sorted according to specific criteria, e.g. frequency of use

Abstract

A communication terminal apparatus such as a portable telephone apparatus has a main body, a selection operation unit, an operation inputting unit, a display unit, and a controller. The main body has a speaker and a microphone. The selection operation unit is provided on the main body and selects one mode from a plurality of modes of the communication terminal apparatus. The control inputting unit is provided on the main body and changes functions based on the mode selected by the selection operation means. The display unit is provided on the main body and displays information required for selection operation or inputting operation by the selection operation unit and/or the operation inputting unit. The controller sets mode selected based on the input from the selection operation unit, and switches function of the operation input unit based on the input from the selection operation unit. The controller controls display operation of the display unit based on the input form the selection operation unit and/or the operation inputting unit.

Claims

1. A communication terminal apparatus comprising:

selection operation means for selecting an operation state from a plurality of operation states of said communication terminal apparatus;

operation inputting means for changing functions of said communication terminal apparatus upon actuation by a user thereof based on said operation state selected by said selection operation means;

display means for displaying a plurality of items related to said operation state selected by said selection operation means; and

control means for setting a default display state at a time that said selection operation means is not operated by said user, and for setting first through n-th operation states corresponding to operations in a first stage through an n-th stage, respectively, of said selection operation means, each operation state based on a selection operation by said selection operation means, wherein said control means orders an operation state according to a frequency of use of said operation state such that operation states used frequently occur at an earlier stage of said selection operation means than operation states used less frequently.

2. A communication terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selection operation means is rotatably mounted on a side surface of a main body of said communication terminal apparatus.

3. A communication terminal apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said main body is formed in a rectangular shape and said selection operation means is rotatable in a longitudinal direction of said main body.

4. A communication terminal apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said selection operation means includes a disc-like member which partially protrudes from said main body.

5. A communication terminal apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said main body includes a speaker unit and a microphone unit.