Plural status indication control method suitable for use in a communication device

• US 6,438,390 B1
• Filed: 05/06/1999
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Awan, Karamat
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moore, James K
• Application Number:
  US09/305,996
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/567, 455/575, 455/550, 340/815.45, 340/815.49, 340/815.65, 340/815.69, 345/82, 345/44
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

A status indicator (301) in a communication device (102), such as a cellular telephone, is controlled to visually indicate a plurality of status information during a single indication period (602). During the indication period (602), the status indicator (301) is powered-on for a first predetermined time period (t1) to indicate, for example, no service, in-service or roaming status of the cellular telephone, and powered-on for a second predetermined time period (t3) to indicate, for example, message waiting status of the cellular telephone.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a status indicator in a communication device, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a plurality of status information associated with the communication device;

powering-on, during an indication period of multiple pulses, the status indicator for a first predetermined time period characterized by a pulse width to indicate first status information of the plurality of status information;

powering-off, during the indication period for a second predetermined time period;

powering-on, during the indication period of multiple pulses, the status indicator for a third predetermined time period characterized by a pulse width to indicate second status information of the plurality of status information; and

powering-off, during the indication period for a fourth predetermined time period;

wherein the step of powering-on for the first predetermined time period comprises the step of setting the first predetermined time period to 125 ms, the step of powering-off for the second predetermined time period comprises the step of setting the second predetermined time period to 500 ms, the step of powering-on for the third predetermined time period comprises the step of setting the third predetermined time period to 75 ms, and the step of powering-off for the fourth predetermined time period comprises the step of setting the fourth predetermined time period to 1500 ms.

2. A method of controlling a status indicator in a communication device, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a plurality of status information associated with the communication device;

powering-on, during an indication period of multiple pulses, the status indicator for a first predetermined time period characterized by a pulse width to indicate first status information of the plurality of status information;

powering-off, during the indication period for a second predetermined time period;

powering-on, during the indication period of multiple pulses, the status indicator for a third predetermined time period characterized by a pulse width to indicate second status information of the plurality of status information; and

powering-off, during the indication period for a fourth predetermined time period;

wherein the step of powering-off for the fourth predetermined time period comprises the step of setting the fourth predetermined time period according to a low battery status of the plurality of status information.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the step of powering-off for the fourth predetermined time period comprises the steps of:

setting the fourth predetermined time period to a first duration when a low battery status of the plurality of status information has not been determined; and

setting the fourth predetermined time period to a second duration when a low battery status of the plurality of status information has been determined, the second duration equal to a sum of the first duration and a duration of the indication period.

4. A method of controlling a status indicator in a communication device during consecutive indication periods, the method comprising the steps of:

during a first one of the consecutive indication periods,

powering-on the status indicator for a first predetermined time period to indicate one of an operating state of the communication device and a messaging state of the communication device,

powering off, following the first predetermined time period, the status indicator for a second predetermined time period,

powering-on the status indicator for a third predetermined time period to indicate the other one of an operating state of the communication device and a messaging state of the communication device,

powering off, following the third predetermined time period, the status indicator for a fourth predetermined time period; and

during a second one of the consecutive indication periods,

powering-on, following the fourth predetermined time period, the status indicator for a fifth predetermined time period to indicate the one of an operating state of the communication device and a messaging state of the communication device, the fifth predetermined time period equal to the first predetermined time period.