Hand-ear user interface for hand-held device

• US 6,978,127 B1
• Filed: 12/16/1999
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Shteyn, Yevgeniy Eugene, Kusano, Mieko, Bulthuis, Willem, Holzhauser, Lisa, Lambourne, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): D AGOSTA, STEPHEN M
• Application Number:
  US09/464,855
• Time in Patent Office: 2,196 Days
• Field of Search: 379/433, 379/58, 379/58.13, 379/68, 379/67.1, 736/59, D14/487, D14/341, 704/258, 345/830, 345/785, 345/786, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/567, 455/569.1
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/56 including a user help function

Abstract

A hand-held information processing device, such as a mobile phone, has a thumb wheel that lets the user scan a circular array of options. Each respective one of the options is represented by a respective audio output that gets played out when the wheel is turned a notch up or down. This enables the user to select an option with one hand and without having to look at the device. It also allows for a form factor smaller than that of a conventional mobile phones since a keypad is not needed for entering digits to make a call from a personalized directory.

Claims

1. A jukebox device for the play-out of audio files comprising:

a navigating input for enabling the user to navigate in a set of audio files;

each audio file having an introductory portion;

a memory enabling the user to store audio information corresponding to each audio file;

a feedback output to provide at least a first type and second type of auditory feedback in response to the navigating input;

the first type of auditory feedback comprising a play out of the audio information corresponding to a current audio file of the set of audio files when the user is navigating at a first speed;

the second type of auditory feedback indicating a progression to a next current audio file of the set of audio files when the user is navigating at a second speed, which is relatively faster than the first speed; and

a validating input to enable the user to select the current audio file in response to the feedback output,

wherein the audio information comprises the introductory portion of the current audio file.

2. An information processing device comprising:

a mobile communication apparatus having a user-interface for enabling a user to interact with the device;

a navigating input for enabling the user to navigate in a set of options;

a memory enabling the user to store audio information corresponding to each option of the set of options;

a feedback output to provide a first type and a second type of auditory feedback information to the user in response to the navigating input;

the first type of auditory feedback comprising a play out of the audio information corresponding to a current option of the set of options, as indicated by the navigating input when the user is navigating at a first speed;

the second type of auditory feedback indicating only a progression to a next current option of the set of options, as indicated by the navigating input, when the user is navigating at a second, faster speed; and

a validating input to enable the user to select the current option based on the provided feedback information,

wherein the audio information comprises at least one recorded user-spoken word associated with a telephone extension.

3. An information processing device comprising:

a mobile communication apparatus having a user-interface;

a wireless email terminal for operating with an application server for text-to-speech conversion;

a navigating input for enabling the user to navigate in a set of options;

a memory enabling the user to store audio information corresponding to each option of the set of options;

a feedback output to provide a first type and a second type of auditory feedback information to the user in response to the navigating input;

the first type of auditory feedback comprising a play out of the audio information corresponding to a current option of the set of options, as indicated by the navigating input when the user is navigating at a first speed;

the second type of auditory feedback indicating a progression to a next current option of the set of options when the user is navigating at a second speed, which is relatively faster than the first speed; and

a validating input to enable the user to select the current option,

wherein the audio information comprises

at least one recorded user-spoken word associated with an email address.

4. A method of enabling a user to access telephone extensions with an information processing device, comprising:

enabling the user to navigate among a set of telephone extensions;

enabling the user to store audio information corresponding to each of the telephone extensions;

providing a first type of auditory feedback information about each telephone extension, the first type of auditory feedback comprising a play out of the audio information corresponding to the telephone extension when the user is navigating at a first speed;

providing a second type of auditory feedback information about each telephone extension user when the user is navigation at a second speed that is relatively faster than the first speed; and

enabling the user to validate a current one of the options,

wherein the audio information comprises at least one recorded user-spoken word associated with one of the telephone extensions.