Portable terminal device

• US 7,171,243 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2002
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Connected Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Ishii, Yoshitomo, Watanabe, Yoshikazu, Hayashida, Ken, Arikawa, Yukinobu, Shinagawa, Kenichi, Hattori, Takanobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban; Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson; Blane J.
• Application Number:
  US10/077,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20030032455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,805 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/563, 455/569.1, 455/158.4, 455/158.5, 379/88.11, 379/88.14, 379/88.18, 379/88.01, 379/88.02, 379/88.03, 379/88.04, 715/841, 715/854
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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

A portable terminal is disclosed and which is adapted to display thereon a plurality of functions as a menu for allowing a desired one of the plurality of functions to be selected and executed, comprising: a detailed menu encompassing various functions of the overall portable terminal; a simplified menu including highly frequently used functions which are extracted from those of the detailed menu and having a hierarchy structure different from that of the detailed menu; and display switching means for switching between said first menu and said second menu to be displayed exclusively from each other. The portable terminal thus constructed is excellent in its operability in particular for users who are aged or unfamiliar with the portable terminal by the provision of the simplified and detailed for execution of readily menu manipulation.

Claims

1. A portable terminal device adapted to display thereon a plurality of functions as a menu for allowing a desired one of the plurality of functions to be selected and executed, comprising:

said menu including first and second menus, each having a hierarchy structure, respectively;

said second menu having a menu for supporting a plurality of functions of said portable terminal device;

said first menu being composed of functions extracted from those of said second menu and having the hierarchy structure different from that of said second menu; and

display switching section that switches between said first menu and said second menu to be displayed,

wherein a medium level of said hierarchy of said first menu has a function of switching to said second menu and a highest level of said hierarchy of said second menu has a function of switching to said first menu.

2. The portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the functions of said first menu is composed are set to frequently used functions among those of said second menu.

3. The portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second menus includes a display switching function, as a menu item, for switching from one to another, said display switching section being activated upon execution of said display switching function.

4. The portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the display switching function of said first menu is positioned on a deeper hierarch than that of the display switching function of said second menu.

5. The portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second menus are stored in memory regions different from each other.

6. The portable terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising vocally displaying section that vocally displays predetermined operation contents displayed as said first menu.

7. The portable terminal device according to claim 6, wherein said vocally displaying section is capable of, upon selection of any one of functions of said first menu, vocalizing the selected function.

8. The portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said first menu is displayed by using larger letters in comparison with those used on said second menu.

9. A portable terminal device adapted to display thereon a plurality of functions as a menu for allowing a desired one of the plurality of functions to be selected and executed, comprising:

said menu including first and second menus, each having a hierarchy structure, respectively;

said second menu having a menu for supporting a plurality of functions of said portable terminal device;

said first menu being composed of functions extracted from those of said second menu and having the hierarchy structure different from that of said second menu; and

display switching section that switches between said first menu and said second menu to be displayed, wherein said display switching section is capable of displaying said first menu preferentially upon power on of said portable terminal device,

wherein a medium level of said hierarchy of said first menu has a function of switching to said second menu and a highest level of said hierarchy of said second menu has a function of returning said first menu.