Communication terminal apparatus and method for selecting options using a dial shuttle

• US 6,178,338 B1
• Filed: 04/28/1997
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc., Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc., Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kenagy, Jason, Yamagishi, Harumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOBUTKA, PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US08/845,851
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575, 455/550, 455/556, 455/564, 455/566, 455/38.4, 345/146, 345/352, 379/93.17, 379/93.23
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/401 for selecting or indicating operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• 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 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

Cellular telephone which utilizes a dial shuttle for selecting functions listed in various option lists to be performed. The dial shuttle is depressed by a user to call up a particular option list menu (option group) on the telephone'"'"'s display. Upon depression of the dial shuttle, one of the option groups stored in memory that is associated with the current operating mode of the device is retrieved, wherein each of the stored option groups is associated with a respective operating mode and includes a respective plurality of functions for selection by a user during the respective operating mode. The current operating mode pertains not only to whether a telephone call is taking place but also to the number of digits that have been entered into the cellular telephone. The retrieved option group is displayed and the dial shuttle is utilized by the user to selected one of the displayed functions for execution.

Claims

1. A communication terminal apparatus which is in a call mode during the occurrence of a telephone call and in a standby mode during non-occurrence of a telephone call, comprising:

an input device operable to receive an input by a user;

storage means for storing option list data corresponding to a plurality of option groups, each of said option groups being associated with a respective operating mode of the communication terminal apparatus, and each of said option groups including at least one function for selection by a user during the respective operating mode;

display means for displaying, when said input device receives an input by the user, at least a portion of said one option group stored in said storage means associated with a current operating mode of the communication terminal apparatus;

input keys for entering data by the user; and

operation mode determining means for determining the current operating mode of the communication terminal apparatus as a function of both the entered data and whether the apparatus is in call mode or standby mode.

2. A communication terminal apparatus, comprising:

a user movable input device operable to receive an input by a user;

storage means for storing option list data corresponding to a plurality of option groups, each of said option groups being associated with a respective operating mode of the communication terminal apparatus, and each of said option groups including functions for selection by a user during the respective operating mode;

display means for displaying, when said input device receives an input by the user, at least a portion of said one option group stored in said storage means associated with a current operating mode of the communication terminal apparatus, said display means further displaying an indicator identifying to the user at least one function of the displayed option group to be performed upon receipt of an execution instruction from the user, wherein a different function of the displayed option group is identified by said display means each time the input device is moved;

means separate from the input device for entering data by the user;

operation mode determining means for determining the current operating mode of the communication terminal apparatus as a function of the entered data; and

means for controlling the display means to scroll through each function in response to movement of the input device, wherein the indicator displayed by said display means initially identifies a most frequently selected function of the displayed option group when said input device receives an input.

3. The communication terminal apparatus of claim 2, wherein a function adjacent to the most frequently selected function of the displayed option group represents a second-most frequently selected function;

and wherein said means for controlling the display means operates to control, when the input device is initially moved after the option group is initially displayed, the display means to display an indicator identifying the second-most frequently selected function.

4. The communication terminal apparatus of claim 2, wherein two functions adjacent to the most frequently selected function of the displayed option group represent second and third-most frequently selected functions;

and wherein said means for controlling the display means operates to control, after the option group is initially displayed, the display means to display an indicator identifying the second-most frequently selected function when the input device is moved to one of first and second predetermined positions, and identifying the third-most frequently selected function when the input device is moved to another of said first and second predetermined positions.

5. Method of selecting options in a communication terminal apparatus which is in a call mode during occurrence of a telephone call and in a standby mode during non-occurrence of a telephone call, comprising the steps of:

operating an input device during a current operating mode of the communication terminal apparatus;

retrieving option list data corresponding to one of a plurality of stored option groups associated with the current operating mode of the communication terminal apparatus, each of the stored option groups being associated with a respective operating mode of the communication terminal apparatus, and each of the option groups including at least one function for selection by a user during the respective operating mode;

displaying, when the input device receives an input by the user, at least a portion of the retrieved option group including the at least one function for selection by the user during the current operating mode;

entering data using input keys before entering an input to the input device which allows scrolling through said option groups; and

determining the current operating mode of the communication terminal apparatus as a function of both the entered data and whether the apparatus is in call mode or standby mode.

6. Method of selecting options in a communication terminal apparatus, comprising the steps of:

operating an input device during a current operating mode of the communication terminal apparatus;

retrieving option list data corresponding to one of a plurality of stored option groups associated with the current operating mode of the communication terminal apparatus, each of the stored option groups being associated with a respective operating mode of the communication terminal apparatus, and each of the option groups including functions for selection by a user during the respective operating mode;

displaying, when the input device receives an input by the user, at least a portion of the retrieved option group including at least one function for selection by the user during the current operating mode;

entering data using input keys before entering an input to the input device which allows scrolling through said option groups;

determining the current operating mode of the communication terminal apparatus as a function of the entered data,

displaying to the user an indicator identifying a function of the displayed option group to be performed upon receipt of an execution instruction from the user, wherein an indicator is initially displayed identifying a most frequently selected function of an initially displayed option group; and

scrolling through each function of the displayed option group in response to movement of the input device, the displayed indicator identifying a different function of the displayed option group as the option group is scrolled.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a function adjacent to the most frequently selected function of the displayed option group represents a second-most frequently selected function;

and wherein the step of displaying an indicator is carried out by displaying an indicator identifying the second-most frequently selected function when the input device is moved a first time.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein two functions adjacent to the most frequently selected function of the displayed option group represent second and third-most frequently selected functions;

and wherein the step of displaying an indicator is carried out by displaying an indicator identifying the second-most frequently selected function when the input device is moved to one of first and second predetermined positions, and identifying the third-most frequently selected function when the input device is moved to another of said first and second predetermined positions.

9. A communication terminal apparatus being in a call mode during occurrence of a telephone call and being in a standby mode during non-occurrence of a telephone call, comprising:

an input device operable to receive an input by a user;

storage means for storing option list data corresponding to a plurality of option groups, each of said option groups being associated with a respective operating mode of the communication terminal apparatus, and each of said option groups including at least one function for selection by a user during the respective operating mode;

display means for displaying, when said input device receives an input by the user, at least a portion of one of said option groups stored in said storage means associated with a current operating mode of the communication terminal apparatus;

means separate from the input device for entering data by the user;

operation mode determining means for determining the current operating mode of the communication terminal apparatus as a function of both the amount of the entered data and whether the apparatus is in call mode or standby mode.

10. Method of selecting options in a communication terminal apparatus operable to place a telephone call, such that the communication terminal apparatus is in a call mode during occurrence of a telephone call and is in a standby mode during non-occurrence of a telephone call;

said method comprising the steps of;

operating an input device during a current operating mode of the communication terminal apparatus;

retrieving option list data corresponding to one of a plurality of stored option groups associated with the current operating mode of the communication terminal apparatus, each of the stored option groups being associated with a respective operating mode of the communication terminal apparatus, and each of the option groups including at least one function for selection by a user during the respective operating mode;

displaying, when the input device receives an input by the user, at least a portion of the retrieved option group including the functions for selection by the user during the current operating mode;

entering data using input keys before entering an input to the input device which allows scrolling through said option groups; and

determining the current operating mode of the communication terminal apparatus as a function of both the amount of the entered data and whether the apparatus is in call mode or standby mode.