Enhanced feature access via keypad and display in a user terminal of a communication system
First Claim
1. A method of providing enhanced feature access in a display-based mobile wireless user terminal of a communication system, the method comprising the steps of:
- configuring the mobile wireless user terminal so as to permit the user terminal to enter an enhanced feature access mode based at least in part on a communication of designated information between the user terminal and a corresponding switch of the system; and
providing navigation and activation mechanisms within the user terminal as part of the enhanced feature access mode, the navigation and activation mechanisms utilizing a keypad of the user terminal in conjunction with a display of the user terminal to provide access to features of the communication system not otherwise accessible utilizing the keypad, the keypad comprising a plurality of numeric keys and a plurality of non-numeric keys and being utilizable in entering a telephone number to be dialed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless terminal or other type of user terminal in a communication system is configured so as to be permitted to enter an enhanced feature access mode based at least in part on a communication of designated information between the user terminal and a corresponding switch of the system. The designated information may comprise, e.g., a feature access code associated with the enhanced feature access mode and entered by a user at the user terminal, or a pre-specified signal transmitted from the user terminal to the switch of the system. When in the enhanced feature access mode, the user terminal is provided with navigation and activation mechanisms which utilize a keypad of the user terminal in conjunction with a display of the user terminal to provide access to features of the communication system from the user terminal. For example, the navigation and activation mechanisms may each utilize disjoint subsets of a given set of keys on a terminal keypad, e.g., an otherwise conventional 12-key keypad.
23 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of providing enhanced feature access in a display-based mobile wireless user terminal of a communication system, the method comprising the steps of:
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configuring the mobile wireless user terminal so as to permit the user terminal to enter an enhanced feature access mode based at least in part on a communication of designated information between the user terminal and a corresponding switch of the system; and
providing navigation and activation mechanisms within the user terminal as part of the enhanced feature access mode, the navigation and activation mechanisms utilizing a keypad of the user terminal in conjunction with a display of the user terminal to provide access to features of the communication system not otherwise accessible utilizing the keypad, the keypad comprising a plurality of numeric keys and a plurality of non-numeric keys and being utilizable in entering a telephone number to be dialed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus comprising:
a display-based mobile wireless user terminal of a communication system, the mobile wireless user terminal being operative to enter an enhanced feature access mode based at least in part on a communication of designated information between the user terminal and a corresponding switch of the system, the enhanced feature access mode having navigation and activation mechanisms associated therewith, the navigation and activation mechanisms utilizing a keypad of the user terminal in conjunction with a display of the user terminal to provide access to features of the communication system not otherwise accessible utilizing the keypad, the keypad comprising a plurality of numeric keys and a plurality of non-numeric keys and being utilizable in entering a telephone number to be dialed. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus comprising:
a communication system switch operative to support enhanced feature access in a display-based mobile wireless user terminal of a communication system, the switch permitting the mobile wireless user terminal to enter an enhanced feature access mode based at least in part on a communication of designated information between the user terminal and a corresponding switch of the system, the enhanced feature access mode having navigation and activation mechanisms associated therewith, the navigation and activation mechanisms utilizing a keypad of the user terminal in conjunction with a display of the user terminal to provide access to features of the communication system not otherwise accessible utilizing the keypad, the keypad comprising a plurality of numeric keys and a plurality of non-numeric keys and being utilizable in entering a telephone number to be dialed.
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28. An article of manufacture comprising:
a machine-readable storage medium storing one or more programs for providing enhanced feature access in a display-based mobile wireless user terminal of a communication system, the one or more programs when executed permitting the mobile wireless user terminal to enter an enhanced feature access mode based at least in part on a communication of designated information between the user terminal and a corresponding switch of the system, the enhanced feature access mode having navigation and activation mechanisms associated therewith, the navigation and activation mechanism utilizing a keypad of the user terminal in conjunction with a display of the user terminal to provide access to features of the communication system not otherwise accessible utilizing keypad, the keypad comprising a plurality of numeric keys and a plurality of non-numeric keys and being entering a telephone number to be dialed.
Specification