Programmable keypad

• US 8,068,605 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Holmberg, Per
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang; Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHARIFZADA, IBRAHAM K
• Application Number:
  US11/627,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20070213090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• Field of Search: 37938701-397, 345/173, 715/810, 715/835
• US Class Current: 379/387.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or 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 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• 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 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

A device may include logic configured to process a request for a keypad layout, and to provide a keypad layout via keypad display in response to the processed request.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a memory to store;

information associated with a plurality of keypad layouts, the information comprising;

display information or a configuration to be provided on the plurality of keypad layouts,

feedback information associated with a type of feedback to be provided to a user in response to detection of an input on the plurality of keypad layouts,

lighting information identifying whether front lighting or back lighting is to be provided for the plurality of keypad layouts, and

input information identifying one or more types of input to be used with the plurality of keypad layouts and information about thresholds used with the identified one more types of input,

where at least some of the plurality of keypad layouts provide at least two of;

different types of feedback to the user in response to detection of an input, different types of lighting, or different types of input to be used; and

logic configured to;

process a request for a first keypad layout, of the plurality of keypad layouts,

access the memory to identify information associated with the first keypad layout, and

provide the first keypad layout via a keypad display in response to the processed request, the first keypad layout providing the display information or configuration, the type of feedback, and the front lighting or back lighting identified by the information stored in the memory and being responsive to the one or more types of input and thresholds identified by the information stored in the memory.

2. The device of claim 1, where the logic is further configured to:

apply power to the keypad display to provide the first keypad layout, and

remove power from the keypad display without erasing the first keypad layout.

3. The device of claim 2, where the logic is further configured to:

reapply power to the keypad display to modify the first keypad layout.

4. The device of claim 1, where the logic is further configured to:

receive a user request via the keypad display, and modify the first keypad layout in response to the user request.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a display, and

where the logic is further configured to;

receive an input associated with a first one of a plurality of applications or functions provided by the device, and

provide a keypad layout that is associated with the first application or function via the keypad display.

6. The device of claim 1, where the logic is further configured to:

detect a presence of a user or an input device,

acknowledge the presence via the keypad display, and

modify the first keypad layout in response to the acknowledged presence.

7. The device of claim 1, where the logic is further configured to:

detect a pressure, at the keypad display, related to a user request, and

use the detected pressure to initiate processing of the user request.

8. The device of claim 1, where the logic is further configured to:

provide front lighting or back lighting to the keypad display based on the first keypad layout and the lighting information stored in the memory, and

provide back lighting to the keypad display for a second keypad layout based on the lighting information stored in the memory.

9. The device of claim 1, where the logic is further configured to:

allow a user to request the keypad layout using at least one of a control key, a function button, a voice input, a menu selection, or a touch input.

10. A methods comprising:

providing a first keypad layout via a programmable keypad;

receiving an input via the programmable keypad, a display device, an input device, or a spoken command;

identifying, in response to the input, information associated with a second keypad layout, the information comprising;

display information to be provided via the second keypad layout,

feedback information identifying a type of feedback to be provided in response to input on the second keypad layout,

lighting information identifying whether the second keypad layout is associated with a type of front lighting or back lighting associated with the second keypad layout, and

input information identifying one or more types of input and one or more input thresholds to be used with the second keypad layout,

where at least two;

of the type of feedback information, the type of the lighting information, and the one or more types of the input information for the second keypad layout are different than the type of feedback information, the type of lighting information, and the types of input associated with the first keypad layout; and

providing the second keypad layout via the programmable keypad in response to the input.

11. The method of claim 10, where the providing a first keypad layout further comprises:

providing the first keypad layout via an clcctrophorctic based programmable keypad or a liquid crystal display based programmable keypad.

12. The method of claim 10, where the receiving an input further comprises:

using pressure or presence to detect the input.

13. The method of claim 10, where the receiving the input comprises:

receiving the input via a user'"'"'s digit or a stylus.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

acknowledging the input via tactile feedback.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

illuminating a portion of the programmable keypad in response to the input.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising;

providing information via a display device in response to the input, where the provided information is related to the first keypad layout or the second keypad layout.

17. A mobile communications terminal, comprising:

a memory to store;

information associated with a plurality of keypad configurations, the information identifying;

a type of display,

a type of lighting,

a type of feedback, and

a type of input associated with each of the plurality of keypad configurations and information about thresholds associated with the type of input,

where at least some of the plurality of keypad configurations identify;

whether front lighting or back lighting is to be provided for the plurality of keypad configurations, and

different types of feedback and different types of input than types of feedback and types of input that are associated with other ones of the plurality of keypad configurations;

a display;

a programmable keypad configured to receive input from a user; and

processing logic configured to;

receive a request for a configuration of the programmable keypad,

access the memory to identify the type of display, front or back lighting, type of feedback, type of input associated with the requested configuration, and thresholds associated with the type of input,

provide the requested configuration to the user via the programmable keypad,

receive an input via the programmable keypad bused on the configuration,

provide information to the user via the programmable keypad or the display based on the input, and

provide feedback to the user in response to the input, the feedback corresponding to the type of feedback stored in the memory for the requested configuration.

18. The mobile communications terminal of claim 17, where the processing logic is further configured to:

receive the request via a control key, an input device associated with a function performed by the mobile communications terminal, a microphone, a touch-sensitive portion of the display, or the programmable keypad, and

where when providing the information to the user via the programmable keypad, the processing logic is configured to use an electrophoretic based display or a liquid crystal display.

19. The mobile communications terminal of claim 17, where the processing logic is further configured to:

provide the requested configuration using one of a number of languages.

20. The mobile communications terminal of claim 17, where the processing logic is further configured to:

receive an input associated with a first one of a plurality of applications or functions provided by the mobile communications terminal, and

provide a user interface associated with the first application or function via at least one of the programmable keypad or the display.

21. A non-transitory computer readable memory device that stores instructions executable by a processing device operating in a mobile communications terminal, the computer readable memory device comprising;

instructions to provide a first keypad layout via a programmable keypad of the mobile communications terminal;

instructions to receive an input via a programmable keypad of the mobile communications terminal, a display device of the mobile communications terminal, an input device of the mobile communications terminal, or a spoken command;

instructions to identify, in response to the input, information associated with a second keypad layout, the information comprising;

display information to be provided via the second keypad layout,

feedback information identifying a type of feedback to be provided in response to input on the second keypad layout,

lighting information identifying whether the second keypad layout is associated with a type of front lighting or back lighting associated with the second keypad layout, and

input information identifying one or more types of input and one or more input thresholds to be used with the second keypad layout,

where at least two of;

the type of feedback information, the type of the lighting information, and the one or more types of the input information for the second keypad layout are different than the type of feedback information, the type of lighting information, and the type of input information associated with the first keypad layout; and

instructions to provide the second keypad layout in response to the input.

22. A mobile communications terminal, comprising:

means for providing a first keypad layout via a programmable keypad;

means for receiving an input via the programmable keypad, a display device, an input device, or a spoken command;

means for identifying, in response to the input, information associated with a second keypad layout, the information comprising;

display information to be provided via the second keypad layout,

feedback information identifying a type of feedback to be provided in response to input on the second keypad layout,

lighting information identifying whether the second keypad layout is associated with a type of front lighting or back lighting associated with the second keypad layout, and

input information identifying one or more types of input and one or more input thresholds to be used with the second keypad layout,

where at least two of;

the type of feedback information, the type of the lighting information, and the one or more types of the input information for the second keypad layout are different than the type of feedback information, the type of lighting information, and the types of input information associated with the first keypad layout; and

means for providing the second keypad layout via the programmable keypad in response to the input.