Electronic device with screen comprising a menu which can be customized by a user

• US 6,144,863 A
• Filed: 11/20/1997
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Charron, Didier
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Nguyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEHRPOUR, NAGHMEH
• Application Number:
  US08/975,384
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575, 455/566, 455/564, 455/565, 455/410, 455/411, 345/352, 345/353, 345/356, 345/333, 345/334, 345/336, 345/146, 345/348, 345/349, 345/350
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

A telephone is disclosed having a memory which stores a full menu and a customization unit which customizes the full menu to form a custom menu. The customization unit includes a masking device which masks selected items of the full menu to form the custom menu. A screen displays the custom menu. A keyboard has a key which manually controls the masking device. Further, a counter counts the number of times items of the full menu are accessed by a user to determine the selected items. In particular, the selected items are the least frequently accessed elements of the menu by the user. The counter controls the masking device to mask the selected items.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a memory which stores a full menu;

a customization unit which customizes said full menu to form a custom menu, said customization unit including a masking device which masks selected items of said full menu to form said custom menu;

a screen which displays said custom menu; and

a counter having a count which is initialized with a first predetermined count, said count being diminished in response to accessing a flag of one of said selected items, said one of said selected items being displayed on said screen when said count diminishes to a second predetermined count.

2. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein said custom menu includes less items than said full menu.

3. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a keyboard having a key which manually controls said masking device.

4. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein said counter counts a number of times items of said full menu are accessed by a user to determine said selected items, said selected items being least frequently accessed elements of said full menu by said user, said counter controlling said masking device to mask said selected items.

5. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein said counter counts a number of times items of said full menu are accessed by a user;

and wherein said counter includes a modeling device which models behavior of said user when accessing said items, and an adaptation device which adapts said custom menu in response to said behavior.

6. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electronic apparatus is a radio telephone.

12. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein said flag includes four states.

13. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second predetermined count is zero.

7. A telephone comprising:

a transceiver which receives and transmits messages to a base station;

a memory which stores a full menu;

a customization unit which customizes said full menu to form a custom menu, said customization unit including a masking device which masks selected items of said full menu to form said custom menu;

a screen which displays said custom menu; and

a counter having a count which is initialized with a first predetermined count, said count being diminished in response to accessing a flag of one of said selected items, said one of said selected items being displayed on said screen when said count diminishes to a second predetermined count.

8. The telephone of claim 7, wherein said custom menu includes less items than said full menu.

9. The telephone of claim 7, further comprising a keyboard having a key which manually controls said masking device.

10. The telephone of claim 7, wherein said counter counts a number of times items of said full menu are accessed by a user to determine said selected items, said selected items being least frequently accessed elements of said full menu by said user, said counter controlling said masking device to mask said selected items.

11. The telephone of claim 7, wherein said counter counts a number of times items of said full menu are accessed by a user;

and wherein said counter includes a modeling device which models behavior of said user when accessing said items, and an adaptation device which adapts said custom menu in response to said behavior.

14. The telephone of claim 7, wherein said flag includes four states.

15. The telephone of claim 7, wherein said second predetermined count is zero.