Methods and apparatus for controlling applications of a mobile device by using a pivoting input switch

• US 7,620,431 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2006
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hawkins, Jeffrey Charles, Haitani, Robert Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang; Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, HEMANT SHANTILAL
• Application Number:
  US11/530,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20070026851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 455 901- 903, 455/128, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/575.1, 455/575.9, 454/18, 345156-157, 345160-163, 345/173, 345179-180, 345/184, 715701-702, 715707-708, 715/710, 715716-722, 715761-765
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• 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 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• 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 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs

Abstract

A mobile device includes at least one application and a user-controllable pivoting input switch. This application has a number of selectable items. This switch has a number of operational modes. Several of these operational modes direct the operation of the application to determine a current item according to an order.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

at least one application, the application comprising a plurality of selectable items, the plurality of selectable items including a current item, the application configured in a first configuration or a second configuration;

at least one scrolling key;

a user-controllable pivoting input switch having multiple operational modes, wherein one operational mode comprises pivoting of the input switch in a first direction about an axis from a starting point to a first input-generating position, the input switch automatically returning to the starting point upon release after pivoting; and

an input driver manager configured for detecting signals from the scrolling key and the input switch, and relaying the signals to the application;

the application configured for executing a first operation that determines one of the plurality of selectable items to be the current item according to a predetermined order responsive to receiving a signal from the scrolling key corresponding to the scrolling key being pressed independent of whether the application configured in the first configuration or the second configuration;

the application configured for executing the first operation responsive to receiving a signal from the input switch corresponding to the operational mode and the application configured in the first configuration; and

the application configured for executing a second operation that is different from the first operation responsive to receiving the signal from the input switch and the application configured in the second configuration.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein another operational mode comprises pivoting of the input switch in a second direction about the axis from the starting point to a second input-generating position, the input switch automatically returning to the starting point upon release after pivoting.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein another operational mode comprises depressing of the input switch in towards the axis.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein another operational mode comprises depressing of the input switch in towards the axis and holding the depressing state for a duration of time.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the input switch comprises a dial structure or a rocking switch.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the application configured in the first configuration comprises the application configured without account for the input switch, and wherein the application configured in the second configuration comprises the application configured with account for the input switch.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the input switch is located on a side of the mobile device.

13. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the application is further configured for executing an operation on the current item responsive to determining the one of the plurality of selectable items to be the current item.

14. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the first operation determines a selectable item adjacent to the current item to be the current item.

9. A method of operating a mobile device, the mobile device comprising a user-controllable pivoting input switch, at least one scrolling key, at least one application, the application comprising a plurality of selectable items, the plurality of selectable items including a current item, the application configured in a first configuration or a second configuration, the method comprising:

receiving signals from the scrolling key and the input switch by the application;

executing a first operation by the application that determines one of the plurality of selectable items to be the current item according to a predetermined order responsive to receiving a signal from the scrolling key corresponding to the scrolling key being pressed independent of whether the application configured in the first configuration or the second configuration;

executing the first operation by the application responsive to receiving a signal from the input switch corresponding to the input switch being pivoted in a first direction about an axis from a starting point to a first input-generating position and the application configured in the first configuration; and

executing a second operation that is different from the first operation by the application responsive to receiving the signal from the input switch and the application configured in the second configuration.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

executing a third operation to the current item by the application responsive to receiving a signal from the input switch corresponding to the input switch being depressed in towards the axis and the application configured in the second configuration.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

executing a third operation to the current item by the application responsive to receiving a signal from the input switch corresponding to the input switch being depressed in towards the axis and held the depressing state for a duration of time and the application configured in the second configuration.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the application configured in the first configuration comprises the application configured without account for the input switch, and wherein the application configured in the second configuration comprises the application configured with account for the input switch.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein executing the first operation further comprises:

executing a third operation on the current item.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the input switch comprises a dial structure or a rocking switch.

17. A computer program product stored on a computer readable medium for operating a device, the computer program product controlling a processor coupled to the medium to execute the operations of:

receiving signals from a scrolling key of the device and a user-controllable pivoting input switch of the device by an application executed by the processor, the application configured in a first configuration or a second configuration;

executing a first operation by the application that determines one of a plurality of selectable items to be a current item according to a predetermined order responsive to receiving a signal from the scrolling key corresponding to the scrolling key being pressed independent of whether the application configured in the first configuration or the second configuration;

executing the first operation by the application responsive to receiving a signal from the input switch corresponding to the input switch being pivoted in a first direction about an axis from a starting point to a first input-generating position and the application configured in the first configuration; and

executing a second operation that is different from the first operation by the application responsive to receiving the signal from the input switch and the application configured in the second configuration.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer program product further controls the processor to execute the operations of:

executing a third operation to the current item by the application responsive to receiving a signal from the input switch corresponding to the input switch being depressed in towards the axis and the application configured in the second configuration.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer program product further controls the processor to execute the operations of:

executing a third operation to the current item by the application responsive to receiving a signal from the input switch corresponding to the input switch being depressed in towards the axis and held the depressing state for a duration of time and the application configured in the second configuration.