Communication terminal apparatus and control method thereof

• US 6,131,048 A
• Filed: 11/18/1998
• Issued: 10/10/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ironworks Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Terauchi, Toshiro, Sudo, Fukuharu, Kunihiro, Takushi, Kobayashi, Tetsuo, Ajiro, Atsushi, Odaka, Kentaro, Ushino, Tatsuji
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, NGUYEN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/195,084
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/575, 455/564, 455/550, 455/90, 455/424, 455/186.1, 455/95, 455/128, 455/154.1, 455/158.1, 455/351, 455/158.4, 345/168, 345/169, 345/901, 345/156, 345/157, 345/146, 379/428, 379/433-434
• 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 operation inputting unit is provided on the main body and changes functions based on the mode selected by the selection operation unit. 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 a mode selected based on the input from the selection operation unit, and switches a function of the operation inputting unit based on the input from the selection operation unit. The controller controls display operation of the display unit based on the input from the selection operation unit and/or the operation inputting unit.

Claims

1. A communication terminal apparatus, comprising:

a body;

rotatable operation means mounted on said body and operable in an upward and a downward direction relative to an upper edge of said body;

operation detection means for detecting an operation of said rotatable operation means;

storage means for storing a plurality of selective items;

display means for sequentially displaying a plurality discrete pages, each page including at least two of said selective items, and including a cursor movable so that said cursor corresponds to one of said selective items; and

control means for controlling said display means so that when said rotatable operation means is operated upwardly while said cursor corresponds to a topmost selective item on a page displayed by said display means, an upper page contiguous to said page is displayed and said cursor is positioned initially to correspond to a topmost selective item on said upper page, and when said rotatable operation means is operated downwardly while said cursor corresponds to a bottommost selective item on said page displayed by said display means, a lower page contiguous to said page is displayed and said cursor is positioned initially to correspond to bottommost selective item on said lower page.

2. The communication terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotatable operation means is mounted to partially stick out from one surface of said body.

3. The communication terminal apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said rotatable operation means is formed as a disc-like member.

4. The communication terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotatable operation means is mounted on one side surface of said body.

5. The communication terminal apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said rotatable operation means partially sticks out from said one side surface of said body.

6. The communication terminal apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said rotatable operation means is formed as a disc-like member.