Apparatus with menu-selected functions

• US 6,477,633 B1
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Grimmett, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cardone, Jason D.
• Application Number:
  US08/482,568
• Time in Patent Office: 2,708 Days
• Field of Search: 395/416, 395/406, 395/830, 395/887, 395/893, 364/255.7, 364/955.5, 340/825.22, 340/825.31, 340/825.44, 340/825.52, 345/172, 345/902, 379/58, 455/89
• US Class Current: 711/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27467 Methods of retrieving data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• 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

Electronic apparatus, such as a mobile telephone, under control of a microprocessor (7) and having a set of menu-selectable functions. Each function has an address associated therewith. The user can enter a particular address using a keyboard (3) to select one of the functions. A look-up table (10) is included for converting the user-input address to a function address. For example, the look-up table may correlate input address 03 with function address 08 so that when the user enters 03 the function at location 08 is actually selected. The look-up table can easily be reconfigured to provide different sets of menu-selectable functions for different product variants without having to modify the operating software (or associated hardware) in each case.

Claims

1. Electronic apparatus comprising:

means for selecting a first address from a predetermined set of first addresses;

means for providing a plurality of user selectable functions, each of the functions having a respective second address associated therewith;

means for correlating each of the first addresses with one of the second addresses wherein, upon selection of one of the first addresses, the user selectable function associated with the second address correlated with the selected first address is selected, wherein all of the first addresses are correlated with the second addresses; and

means for altering correlation between the first and second addresses to allow the functions to be accessed by the first addresses in a selectable order.

2. Electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the correlating means comprises first memory means adapted to store in correlated relationship the predetermined set of first addresses and at least some of the second addresses.

3. Electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further including a second memory means for storing correlation data of the predetermined set of first addresses with the second addresses and, means for automatically transferring the correlation data from the second memory means to the first memory means.

4. Electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first memory means is volatile and the transferring means automatically transfers the correlation data from the second memory means to the first memory means when electrical power is established.

5. Electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first memory means comprises a random access memory.

6. Electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further including a main body and a remote device adapted to be removably coupled to the main body, the first memory means being provided in the main body and the second memory means being provided in the remote device, the apparatus further including means for detecting when the remote device is coupled to the main body, and means responsive to the detecting means for automatically transferring the stored correlation data from the second memory means to the first memory means when the remote device is coupled to the main body.

7. Electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second memory means forms part of a memory having portions for storing information other than the correlation data.

8. Electronic apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the first addresses are correlated, by the means for correlating, to only a limited number of the second addresses, the limited number being less than a total number of the second addresses.

9. Electronic apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the means for altering comprises means for enabling a user to alter the correlation of at least one of the first addresses with the second addresses.

10. Electronic apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the means for correlating has more than one of the first addresses correlated with a single one of the second addresses.

11. Electronic apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the means for correlating has each of the first addresses correlated with a respective separate one of the second addresses.

12. Electronic apparatus comprising:

means for selecting a first address from a predetermined set of first addresses;

means for providing a plurality of user selectable functions, each of the functions having a respective second address associated therewith; and

means for correlating each of the first addresses with one of the second addresses, wherein all of the first addresses are correlated with the second addresses; and

means for altering correlation of the first addresses with the second addresses;

wherein upon selecting one of the first addresses, a single correlated one of the second addresses is selected to perform the function associated therewith.

13. Electronic apparatus as in claim 12 wherein the means for altering comprises means for enabling a user to alter the correlation of at least one of the first addresses with the second addresses.

14. Electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the correlating means comprises first memory means adapted to store in correlated relationship the predetermined set of first addresses and at least some of the second addresses.

15. Electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the means for selecting a first address comprising a keyboard.

16. Electronic apparatus as in claim 12 wherein the means for correlating has each of the first addresses correlated with a respective separate one of the second addresses.

17. Electronic apparatus comprising:

means for selecting a first address from a predetermined set of first addresses;

means for providing a plurality of user selectable functions, each of the functions having a respective second address associated therewith; and

means for correlating each of the first addresses with one of the second addresses, wherein all of the first addresses are correlated with the second addresses; and

a second memory means for storing data of the predetermined set of first addresses with the second addresses and, means for automatically transferring the correlation data from the second memory means to the first memory means;

wherein, upon selecting one of the first addresses, a single correlated one of the second addresses is selected to perform the function associated therewith; and

wherein the correlating means comprises first memory means adapted to store in correlated relationship the predetermined set of first addresses and at least some of the second addresses.

18. Electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 17, further including a main body and a remote device adapted to be removably coupled to the main body, the first memory means being provided in the main body and the second memory means being provided in the remote device, the apparatus further including means for detecting when the remote device is coupled to the main body, and means responsive to the detecting means for automatically transferring the stored correlation data from the second memory means to the first memory means when the remote device is coupled to the main body.

19. Electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first memory means is volatile and the transferring means automatically transfers the correlation data from the second memory means to the first memory means when electrical power is established.

20. Electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first memory means comprises a random access memory.

21. Electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the second memory means forms part of a memory having portions for storing information other than the correlation data.

22. Electronic apparatus comprising:

means for selecting a first address from a predetermined set of first addresses;

means for providing a plurality of user selectable functions, each of the functions having a respective second address associated therewith; and

means for correlating each of the first addresses with one of the second addresses, wherein all of the first addresses are correlated with the second addresses; and

wherein, upon selecting one of the first addresses, a single correlated one of the second addresses is selected to perform the function associated therewith; and

wherein the first addresses are correlated, by the means for correlating, to only a limited number of the second addresses, the limited number being less than a total number of the second addresses.

23. Electronic apparatus comprising:

means for selecting a first address from a predetermined set of first addresses;

means for providing a plurality of user selectable functions, each of the functions having a respective second address associated therewith; and

means for correlating each of the first addresses with one of the second addresses, wherein all of the first addresses are correlated with the second addresses; and

wherein the means for correlating has more than one of the first addresses correlated with a single one of the second addresses; and

wherein, upon selecting one of the first addresses, a single correlated one of the second addresses is selected to perform the function associated therewith.

24. A radio telephone comprising:

means for selecting a first address from a predetermined set of first addresses;

means for providing a plurality of user selectable functions, the means for providing including an EEPROM, each of the functions having a respective second address associated therewith in the EEPROM;

means for correlating each of the first addresses with one of the second addresses comprising a RAM with a look-up table of the first addresses and the second addresses wherein, upon selection of one of the first addresses, the user selectable function associated with the second address correlated with the selected first address is selected and wherein all of the first addresses are correlated with the second addresses; and

means for altering correlation between the first and second addresses in the RAM to allow the functions in the EEPROM to be accessed by the first addresses in a selectable order.