Lockable keyboard for a handheld communication device having a reduced alphabetic keyboard

• US 7,649,477 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Lee, Matthew, Fyke, Steven, Bocking, Andrew, Griffin, Jason T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dang; Hung Q
• Application Number:
  US11/423,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20070200734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 341/22, 341/176, 345/168, 345/169
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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 1/233 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 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• 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

A handheld electronic device useful for wireless communication has a keyboard including a plurality of externally accessible keys, of which at least a portion have multiple letters associated therewith. The keys can be disabled (i.e. the keyboard can be locked) to prevent accidental actuation thereof by using the navigation tool which has a depressible rolling member. Thus, for example, depression of the rolling member twice in succession or pressing and holding the rolling member down temporarily enables the keyboard lock. The lock can be disabled simply by depressing the rolling member and at least one other key.

Claims

1. A handheld communication device, comprising:

a keyboard having a plurality of buttons for inputting information into the device;

a graphical display;

a navigation tool by means of which a user interacts with the device, said navigation tool including a rolling element; and

a processor which controls operation of the device, said processor running a program which suspends operability of a subset of said buttons and which suspends operability of said navigation tool when a pre-selected action is taken by the user and which restores operability of said buttons and said navigation tool when a subsequent pre-selected action is taken by the user that includes actuations of said navigation tool and at least one of said buttons in a predetermined order, said keyboard has buttons corresponding to the letters A-Z of the English alphabet and said letters of the English alphabet correspond to buttons on said keyboard on a multiple-letter-per-button basis.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said navigation tool is a press-click trackball device and wherein said pre-selected action comprises press-clicking and holding said trackball device for a pre-determined period of time.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said pre-selected action is user-definable.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said pre-selected action is pre-programmed.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said letters of the English alphabet are arranged in one of a QWERTY or QWERTZ or AZERTY or Dvorak arrangement.

6. A method for protecting a handheld electronic device provided with a keyboard having a multiplicity of depressible keys from inadvertent depressions of said keys, wherein the device is useful for wireless communication, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a navigation tool having a rolling member that rolls about at least one axis, wherein the navigation tool is actuable by rolling and by depressing the rolling member;

setting the handheld electronic device in a mode where the functioning of the navigation tool and of the keys in at least part of the keyboard are prevented so that a keyboard lock mode is established; and

activating the setting of the keyboard lock mode as a response to a given first keyboard command issued by said navigation tool, and wherein said keyboard lock mode is removed as a response to a second given keyboard command that includes actuations of said navigation tool and at least one of said keys in a predetermined order, said handheld electronic device comprises a lighted display located above the keyboard suitable for accommodating textual input to the handheld electronic device when said handheld electronic device is in an operable configuration, said navigation tool being located essentially between the display and keyboard in the operable configuration and said multiplicity of keys comprising a portion of keys having alphabetic letters associated therewith, and wherein at least one key of the portion of keys having alphabetic letters has multiple letters associated therewith.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the keyboard lock mode is activated as a response to depressing and holding the rolling member down for a predetermined time, so that the depressing and holding constitutes said given first keyboard command.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein said second given keyboard command is different from said given first keyboard command.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein in the keyboard lock mode, the functions caused by all other keys are prevented, except for those keys that are needed for giving said second given keyboard command.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein said handheld electronic device transmits data to, and receives data from a communication network utilizing radio frequency signals.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the data transmitted between said handheld electronic device and the communication network supports voice and textual messaging.

12. The method according to claim 6, wherein said alphabetic letters are configured in one of a QWERTY or QWERTZ or AZERTY or Dvorak layout.

13. The method according to claim 6, wherein said navigation tool is a trackball.

14. A handheld electronic device useful for wireless communication, comprising:

a lighted display;

a keyboard for producing keyboard commands indicative of functions to be performed;

a navigation tool for producing navigation tool commands indicative of functions to be performed, said navigation tool having a rolling member that rolls about at least one axis, wherein the navigation tool is actuable by rolling and by depressing the rolling member and wherein the navigation tool is located below the lighted display and above the keyboard;

means for interpreting the navigation tool and keyboard commands given by the navigation tool and keyboard and producing functions indicated thereby;

control means for producing a temporary prevention of the producing of the functions caused by the navigation tool and at least part of the keys in the keyboard, so that there is formed a keyboard lock mode;

means for detecting when said navigation tool gives a keyboard lock command;

means for transmitting the indicative signal as to the navigation tool giving said keyboard lock command to the control means in order to form a keyboard lock mode when so indicated; and

means for re-enabling said functions caused by the navigation tool and at least part of the keys in the keyboard in response to a keyboard unlock command that includes actuations of said navigation tool and at least one of said keys in a predetermined order, wherein said lighted display being located above the keyboard suitable for accommodating textual input to the handheld electronic device when said handheld electronic device is in an operable configuration, said navigation tool being located essentially between the lighted display and keyboard in the operable configuration and said keyboard comprising a portion of keys having alphabetic letters associated therewith, and wherein at least one key of the portion of keys having alphabetic letters has multiple letters associated therewith.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein said detecting means comprises means, responsive to the depressing and holding of the rolling member down for a predetermined time, for producing said indicative signal activating the keyboard lock mode.

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein said keyboard unlock command is different from said keyboard lock command of said rolling member, for removing said keyboard lock mode.

17. The device according to claim 14, wherein said control means comprises means, responsive to said indicative signal, for forming said keyboard lock mode, such that the functions caused by all of the keys in the keyboard are prevented, except for those keys that are needed for giving said keyboard unlock command.

18. The device according to claim 14, wherein said handheld electronic device transmits data to, and receives data from a communication network utilizing radio frequency signals.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the data transmitted between said handheld electronic device and the communication network supports voice and textual messaging.

20. The device according to claim 14, wherein said alphabetic letters are configured in one of a QWERTY or QWERTZ or AZERTY or Dvorak layout.

21. The device according to claim 14, wherein said navigation tool is a trackball.

22. A handheld electronic device useful for wireless communication, comprising:

a navigation tool for producing navigation tool commands indicative of functions to be performed, said navigation tool having a rolling member that rolls about at least one axis, wherein the navigation tool is actuable by rolling and by depressing the rolling member;

a keyboard having a multiplicity of depressible keys for producing keyboard commands indicative of functions to be performed;

means for interpreting the navigation tool and keyboard commands given by said depressible keys of the keyboard and producing functions indicated thereby;

control means for producing a temporary prevention of the producing of the functions caused by the navigation tool and at least part of the keys of the keyboard, so that there is formed a keyboard lock mode,

means for detecting the manner in which the rolling member is depressed and producing a signal representing a keyboard lock command and indicative the keyboard lock mode;

means for transmitting said indicative signal to the control means in order to form the keyboard lock;

means for re-enabling said functions caused by the navigation tool and at least part of the keys of the keyboard in response to a keyboard unlock command that includes actuations of said navigation tool and at least one of said keys in a predetermined order, said handheld electronic device comprises a lighted display located above the keyboard suitable for accommodating textual input to the handheld electronic device when said handheld electronic device is in an operable configuration, said navigation tool being located essentially between the display and keyboard in the operable configuration and said multiplicity of keys comprising a portion of keys having alphabetic letters associated therewith, and wherein at least one key of the portion of keys having alphabetic letters has multiple letters associated therewith.

23. The device according to claim 22, wherein said detecting means comprises means, responsive to the depressing and holding of the rolling member down for a predetermined time, for producing said indicative signal activating the keyboard lock mode.

24. The device according to claim 22, wherein said keyboard unlock command is different from said keyboard lock command of said rolling member, for removing said keyboard lock mode.

25. The device according to claim 22, wherein said control means comprises means, responsive to said indicative signal, for forming said keyboard lock mode, such that the functions caused by all of the keys in the keyboard are prevented, except for those keys that are needed for giving said keyboard unlock command.

26. The device according to claim 22, wherein said handheld electronic device transmits data to, and receives data from a communication network utilizing radio frequency signals.

27. The device according to claim 26, wherein the data transmitted between said handheld electronic device and the communication network supports voice and textual messaging.

28. The device according to claim 22, wherein said alphabetic letters are configured in one of a QWERTY or QWERTZ or AZERTY or Dvorak layout.

29. The device according to claim 22, wherein said navigation tool is a trackball.

30. A handheld communication device useful for wireless communication, comprising:

a navigation tool having a rolling member that rolls about at least one axis, wherein the navigation tool is actuable by rolling and by depressing the rolling member;

a keyboard having a plurality of externally accessible and individually actuable keys;

means for sensing the actuation of the navigation tool when depressed in a unique predetermined number of times; and

means responsive to said sensing means for disabling the navigation tool and at least some of the externally accessible and individually actuable keys of said keyboard, and wherein said responsive means re-enables said navigation tool and said actuable keys in response to actuations of said navigation tool and at least one of said plurality of keys in a predetermined order, said handheld electronic device comprises a lighted display located above the keyboard suitable for accommodating textual input to the handheld electronic device when said handheld electronic device is in an operable configuration, said navigation tool being located essentially between the display and keyboard in the operable configuration and said plurality of keys comprising a portion of keys having alphabetic letters associated therewith, and wherein at least one key of the portion of keys having alphabetic letters has multiple letters associated therewith.

31. The device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the navigation tool is selected from the group consisting of a trackball, a wheel, and a roller barrel.

32. The device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the navigation tool is a trackball, wherein the trackball has a ball in a housing that rolls about a plurality of axes, wherein the trackball is actuable by rolling and by depressing the ball.

33. The device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the sensing means disables a portion of said plurality of keys.

34. The device as claimed in claim 30, wherein said portion of keys having alphabetic letters is all the keys other than a first key, which is one of said plurality of keys.

35. The device as claimed in claim 30, wherein at least one of said plurality of keys is a first key.

36. The device as claimed in claim 35, wherein said first key is associated with at least one alternative function.

37. The device as claimed in claim 36, wherein the sensing means disables said first key in relation to said at least one alternative function.

38. The device as claimed in claim 30, wherein said predetermined order of navigation tool and key actuation involves depressing said navigation tool and a first key simultaneously.

39. The device as claimed in claim 30, wherein said predetermined order of key actuation involves depressing said navigation tool and a first key successively.

40. The device as claimed in claim 30, further comprising:

means for automatically interrupting key disablement responsive to sensing an incoming call.

41. The device as claimed in claim 30, further comprising:

means for automatically terminating key disablement when circuitry in the apparatus senses an incoming call.

42. The device as claimed in claim 30, wherein said handheld electronic device transmits data to, and receives data from a communication network utilizing radio frequency signals.

43. The device as claimed in claim 42, wherein the data transmitted between said handheld electronic device and the communication network supports voice and textual messaging.

44. The device as claimed in claim 30, wherein said alphabetic letters are configured in one of a QWERTY or QWERTZ or AZERTY or Dvorak layout.

45. The device as claimed in claim 30, wherein said navigation tool is a trackball.