Wireless mobile phone having encoded data entry facilities

• US 7,831,208 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2001
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Varia Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Varia Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Nelson, Jonathan O., Graham, Tyrol R., Engstrom, G. Eric, Bright, Walter G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper; Vincent P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Casca; Fred A
• Application Number:
  US09/975,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20020160818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,317 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/72, 455/566, 455/128, 455/414.1, 455/557.1, 455/550.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.4, 455/66.1, 341/66, 341/22, 341/106, 710/73, 710/65
• US Class Current: 455/72
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/00 Secret communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls

Abstract

A wireless mobile phone is provided with one or more buttons and complementary logic to facilitate entry of encoded representations of a variable length encoding scheme of alphanumeric data. As a result, a user may use the provided facilities to engage in non-verbal communication for sensitive subject matters in the middle of a call. In one embodiment, the encoded representations are Morse codes. In another embodiment, the encoded representations are custom designed. In one embodiment, the complementary logic further facilitates echoing on a display, alphanumeric data corresponding to any entered encoded representations. Additionally, each of the code entry buttons includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), and the LEDs are lit to visually echo the encoded representations of the variable length encoding scheme of letters, numbers or punctuations entered through a standard input keypad.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a body casing having a plurality of surfaces;

an input keypad disposed on a first surface of said body casing to facilitate entry of alphanumeric data;

a first button and a second button disposed on a second surface of said body casing; and

complementary logic to

facilitate entry of alphanumeric data and user programmable phrases in encoded representations of a variable length encoding scheme using one or more of said first button and second button, the variable length encoding scheme having a plurality of codes of various code lengths, each code of said plurality representing corresponding alphanumeric data, and each corresponding alphanumeric data being internally represented in a fixed length binary form,

wherein the shortest code of the variable length encoding scheme represents a first user selectable phrase comprising a plurality of alphanumeric characters, the first user selectable phrase being selected by a user from among a plurality of phrases for representation by the shortest code, said shortest code representing said first user selectable phrase in its entirety, and

wherein the second shortest code of the variable length encoding scheme represents a second user selectable phrase comprising a plurality of alphanumeric characters, the second user selectable phrase being selected by a user from among a plurality of phrases for representation by the second shortest code, said second shortest code representing said second user selectable phrase in its entirety;

facilitate the user in assigning the first user selectable phrase selected by the user to the shortest code of the variable encoding scheme and in assigning the second user selectable phrase selected by the user to the second shortest code of the variable encoding scheme;

in response to user entry of the shortest code using only the first button, inputting the internal representation of the first user selectable phrase in its entirety into a current application, the internal representation being in the fixed length binary form; and

in response to user entry of the shortest code using only the second button, inputting the internal representation of the second user selectable phrase in its entirety into a current application, the internal representation being in the fixed length binary form.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a display, and said complementary logic further echoes on said display the first user selectable phrase in its entirety in response to input, through said at least first button, of said shortest code.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least first button is optically associated with a light source, and said complementary logic further causes said light source associated with said at least first button to be energized to light said first button to visually echo encoded representations of letters, numbers or punctuations entered through said input keypad.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a transceiver to send and receive signals, and an adapter interface to removably attach a device capable of vibrating to said apparatus, and to vibrationally output alphanumeric data or user selectable phrases received through said transceiver, for touch comprehension, using said removably attached device capable of vibrating.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said alphanumeric data or user selectable phrases are vibrationally outputted through vibrational manifestation of encoded representations of the variable length encoding scheme.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said complementary logic further supports user specification of user selectable phrases having one or more words.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an alphanumeric character is selectable by a user for representation by a third code of the variable length encoding scheme, the alphanumeric character being selected from a group of punctuations consisting of a space, a slash, a comma, a period, a question mark, a colon, a semi-colon, a left parenthesis, a right parenthesis, and an exclamation.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said third code representing the selected punctuation is one of

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an alphanumeric character is selectable by a user for representation by a third code of the variable length encoding scheme, the alphanumeric character being a letter and the third code consisting of

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said complementary logic further maps said first shortest code to said first word or phrase.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises at least an additional third button for use in conjunction with the first and the second button to enter a third code of the variable encoding scheme, wherein the third code is assigned to a third user selectable word or phrase having a plurality of alphanumeric characters, the third code being input using at least said additional third button.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second surfaces are different surfaces of the body casing.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said first surface is a front surface of the body casing, and said second surface is a second surface of the body casing.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second surfaces are the same surface of the body casing.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a transceiver to send and receive signals;

an adapter interface to removably attach a device capable of vibrating to said apparatus; and

complementary logic in support of said transceiver and said adapter interface to

determine that a data stream received via said transceiver from another device comprises one or more alphanumeric data,

vibrationally output the alphanumeric data received via said transceiver through vibrational manifestation of encoded representations of the received alphanumeric data for touch comprehension, using the removably attached device capable of vibrating, wherein the vibrationally manifested encoded representations are codes of a variable length encoding scheme, the variable length encoding scheme having a plurality of codes of various code lengths, each code of said plurality representing corresponding alphanumeric data, and each corresponding alphanumeric data being internally represented in a fixed length binary form, wherein

the shortest code of the variable length encoding scheme represents a first user selectable phrase, the first user selectable phrase being selected by a user for representation in its entirety by said shortest code, and said first user selectable phrase comprising a plurality of alphanumeric characters, and

the second shortest code of the variable length encoding scheme represents a second user selectable phrase selected by a user for representation in its entirety by said second shortest code, and said second user selectable phrase comprising a plurality of alphanumeric characters, and

facilitate the user in assigning the first user selectable phrase selected by the user to the shortest length code of the variable encoding scheme and in assigning the second user selectable phrase selected by the user to the second shortest length code of the variable encoding scheme, wherein said first user selectable phrase and said second user selectable phrase are selectable by the user from among a plurality of phrases,

in response to user entry of the shortest code using only the first button, inputting the internal representation of the first user selectable phrase in its entirety into a current application, the internal representation being in the fixed length binary form, and

in response to user entry of the shortest code using only the second button, inputting the internal representation of the second user selectable phrase in its entirety into a current application, the internal representation being in the fixed length binary form.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said apparatus further comprises a display, and said complementary logic further supports echoing on said display said alphanumeric data or user selectable phrases received through said transceiver.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said encoded representations comprise a code representing a punctuation selected from a group of punctuations consisting of a space, a slash, a comma, a period, a question mark, a single quote, a double quote, a hyphen, a colon, a semi-colon, a left parenthesis, a right parenthesis, and an exclamation.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said code representing the selected punctuation is a selected one of

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said encoded representations comprise a code representing a letter selected from a group of letters consisting of

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said alphanumeric data are received in fixed length binary representations of a fixed length character encoding scheme, and said complementary logic maps each of the received fixed length binary representations to a corresponding encoded representation of the variable length encoding scheme.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a body casing having a plurality of surfaces;

an input keypad disposed on a first of said surfaces having a plurality of alphanumeric keys;

a light source;

a first and a second button disposed on a second of said surfaces, optically associated with the light source; and

complementary logic in support of

entry, through the input keypad, of alphanumeric data and user selectable phrases selected by a user for encoding, said user selectable phrases being selectable by the user from among a plurality of phrases,

entry, using said first and second button, of alphanumeric data and user selectable phrases through entry of encoded representations of the alphanumeric data and the user programmable phrases, wherein the encoded representations are codes of a variable length encoding scheme, the variable length encoding scheme having a plurality of codes of various code lengths, each code of said plurality representing corresponding alphanumeric data, and each corresponding alphanumeric data being internally represented in a fixed length binary form,

wherein the shortest code of the variable length encoding scheme represents a first user programmable phrase selected by the user, said first user programmable phrase being represented in its entirety by the shortest code, wherein said first user programmable phrase comprises a plurality of alphanumeric characters, and

wherein the second shortest code of the variable length encoding scheme represents a second user programmable phrase selected by the user, said second user programmable phrase being represented in its entirety by the second shortest code, wherein said second user programmable phrase comprises a plurality of alphanumeric characters;

assignment of the first user selectable phrase selected by the user to the shortest length code of the variable encoding scheme, the first user selectable phrase being selected by the user for association with said shortest length code of the variable length encoding scheme,

assignment of the second user selectable phrase selected by the user to the second shortest length code of the variable encoding scheme, the second user selectable phrase being selected by the user for association with said second shortest length code of the variable length encoding scheme,

in response to user ent of the first user selectable phrase through said input keypad, energizing of said light source to light only said first button to visually echo said first shortest code, and

in response to user entry of the second user selectable phrase through said input keypad, energizing of said light source to light only said second button to visually echo said second shortest code.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said complementary logic further supports user specification of user selectable phrases having one or more words.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said encoded representations comprise a code representing a punctuation selected from a group of punctuations consisting of a slash, a comma, a period, a question mark, a space, a single quote, a double quote, a hyphen, a plus sign, an equal sign, a colon, a semi-colon, a left parenthesis, a right parenthesis, and an exclamation.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said code representing the selected punctuation is a selected one of

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said encoded representations comprise a code representing a letter selected from a group of letters consisting of

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said alphanumeric data are entered in fixed length binary representations of a fixed length character encoding scheme, and said complementary logic maps each of the entered fixed length binary representations to a corresponding encoded representation of the variable length encoding scheme.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said first and second surfaces are different surfaces of said body casing, and said light source comprises one or more light emitting diodes (LED) proximally disposed with the first button.

28. In a wireless mobile phone, a method comprising:

receiving encoded representations of a variable length encoding scheme of alphanumeric data and user programmable phrases having one or more words, said encoded representations entered using one or more of a first button and a second button disposed on a top or side surface of the mobile phone, said variable length encoding scheme comprising a plurality of codes of various code lengths, each code of said plurality representing corresponding alphanumeric data, and each corresponding alphanumeric data being internally represented in a fixed length binary form,

wherein the shortest code of the variable length encoding scheme represents a first user programmable phrase selected by a user for association with said shortest code, said first user programmable phrase comprising a plurality of alphanumeric characters, and

wherein the second shortest code of the variable length encoding scheme represents a second user programmable phrase selected by a user for association with said second shortest code, said second user programmable phrase comprising a plurality of alphanumeric characters, and

wherein the shortest code represents the first user programmable phrase in its entirety, and the second shortest code represents said second user programmable phrase in its entirety, and

said mobile phone also having an input keypad disposed on a front surface to facilitate entry of alphanumeric data;

electrically generating, in response to entry of said shortest code by a single activation of said first button, a signal corresponding to the fixed length digital binary form of said first user programmable phrase,

electrically generating, in response to entry of said second shortest code by a single activation of said second button, a signal corresponding to the fixed length binary form of said second user programmable phrase, and

inputting the fixed length binary form of said first and second user programmable phrase into a data stream of a current application.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said method further comprises visually echoing on a display of said mobile phone said alphanumeric data or user programmable phrases entered through entry of their variable length encoded representations of said variable length encoding scheme using one or more of said first button and second button.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein each of said at least a first button is optically associated with a light source, and said method further comprises energizing said light source associated with said first button and second button to light one or more of said first button and second button to visually echo the variable length encoded representations of said variable length encoding scheme of letters, numbers, punctuations, and user programmable phrases entered through said input keypad.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein said mobile phone further comprises an adapter interface to removably attach a capable of vibrating device to said mobile phone, and said method further comprises vibrationally outputting the variable length encoded representations of the alphanumeric data and user programmable phrases received through a transceiver of said mobile phone for touch comprehension, using said removably attached capable of vibrating device.

32. A method of communication comprising:

placing a call to a callee using a wireless mobile phone;

communicating verbally with the callee using the wireless mobile phone; and

at selected moments of desired increased privacy during the call, communicating non-verbally to the callee a user selected word or phrase by

entering an encoded representation of the user selected word or phrase through one or more of a first button and a second button disposed on a top or side surface of the wireless mobile phone, said user selected word or phrase comprising one or more words to be transmitted to the callee and the encoded representation being a code in accordance with a variable length encoding scheme having a plurality of codes of various code lengths, and sending the user selected word or phrase to the callee using messaging application,

wherein the shortest code of the variable length encoding scheme represents a first user selected word or phrase, said first user selected word or phrase comprising a plurality of alphanumeric characters selected by the user, said first user selected word or phrase being selected by the user to be encoded in its entirety by the shortest code, and

wherein the second shortest code of the variable length encoding scheme represents a second user selected word or phrase, said second user selected word or phrase comprising a plurality of alphanumeric characters selected by the user, said second user selected word or phrase being selected to be encoded in its entirety by the second shortest code

wherein a single activation of the first button causes the first user selected word or phrase to be inputted into the messaging application, and a single activation of the second button causes the first user selected word or phrase to be inputted into the messaging application.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the method further comprises mapping the variable length encoded representations of the user selected words or phrases to corresponding conventional fixed length digital character set representations, in accordance with the variable length encoding scheme.

34. An apparatus comprising:

a transceiver to send and receive signals;

a body casing having a front surface and a side surface;

an input keypad disposed on said front surface of said body casing to facilitate entry of alphanumeric data and user programmable phrases having one or more words;

a first button disposed on said side surface of said body casing;

a second button disposed on said side surface of said body casing adjacent to said first button;

means coupled to the first and second buttons and to the transceiver to facilitate entry of alphanumeric data and user programmable phrases via corresponding code representations of a variable length coding scheme, using said first and second buttons, the variable length encoding scheme comprising a plurality of codes of various code lengths, each code of said plurality representing corresponding alphanumeric data, and each corresponding alphanumeric data being internally represented in a fixed length binary form, and transmission of said alphanumeric data and user programmable phrases using said transceiver,

wherein the shortest code of the variable length encoding scheme represents a first user programmable phrase selected by a user, said first user programmable phrase being selectable by the user from among a plurality of user programmable phrases and being represented in its entirety by the shortest code, and comprising a plurality of alphanumeric characters, and

wherein the second shortest code of the variable length encoding scheme represents a second user programmable phrase selected by a user, said second user programmable phrase being selectable by the user from among a plurality of user programmable phrases and being represented in its entirety by the second shortest code, and comprising a plurality of alphanumeric characters; and

means coupled to the input keypad to facilitate assignment of one or more of the user programmable phrases to the shortest length codes

means coupled to the first and second button to facilitate inputting, in response to entry of the shortest code using the first button, the internal representation of the first user selectable phrase in its entirety into a current application, and, in response to entry of the shortest code using only the second button for inputting the internal representation of the second user selectable phrase in its entirety into a current application.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said apparatus further comprises a display, and said means further echoes on said display alphanumeric data or user programmable phrases represented by code representations entered using said first and second buttons.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said apparatus further comprises an adapter interface to removably attach a device capable of vibrating to said apparatus, and to vibrationally output alphanumeric data and user programmable phrases received through said transceiver for touch comprehension, using said removably attached capable of vibrating device.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said alphanumeric data and user programmable phrases are vibrationally outputted through vibrational manifestation of the code representations of the alphanumeric data and user programmable phrases.

38. In a wireless mobile phone, a method comprising:

receiving code representations of alphanumeric data and user programmable phrases, said user programmable phrases having one or more words and being selectable by the user from among a plurality of user programmable phrases, the code representations being entered using a first and a second button disposed on a top or side surface of the mobile phone, said mobile phone also having an input keypad disposed on a front surface to facilitate entry of said alphanumeric data or user programmable phrases, the variable length coding scheme having a plurality of codes of various code lengths,

wherein the shortest code of the variable length encoding scheme represents a first user programmable phrase selected by a user, the first user programmable phrase being represented in its entirety by the shortest code, wherein said first user programmable phrase comprises a plurality of alphanumeric characters, and

wherein the second shortest code of the variable length encoding scheme represents a second user programmable phrase selected by a user, the second user programmable phrase being represented in its entirety by the second shortest code, wherein said second user programmable phrase comprises a plurality of alphanumeric characters; and

in response, electrically generating signals corresponding to digital representations of said alphanumeric data or user programmable phrases entered through entry of their code representations using said first and second buttons, inputting the signals into a messaging application, and transmitting said alphanumeric data or user programmable phrases by electro-magnetically transmitting said generated signals using the messaging application.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said method further comprises visually echoing on a display of said mobile phone said alphanumeric data or user programmable phrases entered through entry of their code representations using said first and second buttons.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein said mobile phone further comprises an adapter interface to removably attach a capable of vibrating device to said mobile phone, and said method further comprises vibrationally outputting alphanumeric data or user programmable phrases received through a transceiver of said mobile phone for touch comprehension, using said removably attached capable of vibrating device.