Apparatus and method for preventing inadvertant operation of a manual input device
First Claim
1. A wireless communication device, comprising:
- a manual input device to sense user operation thereof, the manual input device having a disabled stale and an enabled state;
a memory to store predetermined parameters defining a first condition upon which the manual input device is automatically placed into the disabled state and a second condition upon which the manual input device is placed into the enabled state; and
a processor coupled to the memory to receive and analyze the predetermined parameters, the processor automatically placing only the manual input device in the disabled state upon determining that the first condition has been satisfied and to place the manual input device in the enabled state upon determining the second conditions has been satisfied.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless communication device (100) includes a manual input device (120, 122), a key lock memory (108), and a key lock processor (104). The processor (104) accesses user-programmable parameters stored in the memory (108) that define conditions for automatically disabling and also enabling commands to be issued from the manual input device (120, 122). When the processor (104) determines that the disabling condition has been met, the manual input device (120, 122) is automatically disabled, and will remain disabled until the enabling condition is met. The wireless communication device (100) may further include a timer (130) to measure elapsed time, and a display (124) to show a label indicating the status of the manual input device (120, 122). The manual input device (120, 122) of the wireless communication device (100) may be either, or both, a conventional keypad (120) or a dual-function rotatable switch (122).
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A wireless communication device, comprising:
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a manual input device to sense user operation thereof, the manual input device having a disabled stale and an enabled state;
a memory to store predetermined parameters defining a first condition upon which the manual input device is automatically placed into the disabled state and a second condition upon which the manual input device is placed into the enabled state; and
a processor coupled to the memory to receive and analyze the predetermined parameters, the processor automatically placing only the manual input device in the disabled state upon determining that the first condition has been satisfied and to place the manual input device in the enabled state upon determining the second conditions has been satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of preventing inadvertent operation of a manual input device of a wireless communication device, the method comprising:
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automatically disabling only the manual input device from initiating operation of the wireless communication device when a user-programmable first condition is satisfied; and
enabling the manual input device to initiate operation of the wireless communication device when a second condition is satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
determining whether the wireless communication device is in an idle state;
measuring an elapsed time from when the cell phone enters the idle state; and
disabling the manual input when the elapsed time exceeds a predetermined time.
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13. The method of claim 12 wherein the predetermined time is user-programmable.
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14. The method of claim 11 wherein automatically disabling the manual input comprises immediately disabling the manual input device when the wireless communication device is first powered on.
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15. The method of claim 11 for use with a wireless communication device having a display, the method further comprising displaying a label indicative of the manual input device being automatically disabled.
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16. The method of claim 11 for use with a wireless communication device having a keypad as the manual input device, wherein enabling the keypad comprises determining whether a predetermined sequence of keystrokes on the keypad has been provided.
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17. The method of claim 16 wherein the predetermined sequence of keystrokes is user-programmable.
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18. The method of claim 11 wherein the first condition is satisfied by removing the wireless communications device from a hands-free accessory cradle, and the second condition is satisfied by placing the wireless communications device into the hands-free accessory cradle.
Specification