Multifunctional keyboard for a mobile communication device and method of operating the same

• US 7,634,080 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2001
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Yeung, Pokin, Rudnitski, Karen A, Fu, Runbo, Zhao, Wen, Jin, Xin
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TUAN
• Application Number:
  US10/004,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20020054676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,966 Days
• Field of Search: 379/52, 379/356.01, 379/368, 379/374.02, 379/433.07, 345/168, 345/169, 345/141, 345/145, 400/485, 400/486, 400/489
• US Class Current: 379/433.07
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• 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 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237

Abstract

An apparatus and method for telephony tone signal and character code generation for QWERTY keyboards includes a QWERTY style keyboard, a processor and a keyboard mode control software module. The QWERTY style keyboard has a plurality of letter keys, wherein each letter key is configured to generate a unique input signal. The processor is coupled to the keyboard and is configured to convert each unique input signal generated by the letter keys into a character code and/or a telephony tone signal. The keyboard mode control software module operates on the processor, and controls whether the processor converts the unique input signals from the letter keys into character codes or telephony tone signals.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

a keyboard having at least twenty six keys that are each labeled with a different letter of the alphabet and with a number and configured to generate an output signal, the number being 2-9 respectively for keys labeled with A-C, D-F, G-J, J-L, M-O, P-S, T-V and W-Z;

a processor for converting the output signal into a character code;

means for converting the output signal into a telephony tone signal;

software applications stored by the communication device and executed by the processor; and

a keyboard mode control software module that automatically controls whether the keyboard output signals from the keys are converted into character codes or telephony tone signals based on which of the plurality of software applications is active.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the keys are arranged in a QWERTY configuration.

3. The device of claim 1 further including a display configured to display the character codes.

4. The device of claim 1 further including a mode key with which a user can switch conversion of the output signals from telephony signals to character codes.