Appearance adaptable keypad for a handheld communication device
First Claim
1. A handheld communication device configurable between a telephone mode and an email mode, said device comprising:
- a body having a front face at which a user input is located, said user input comprising an appearance-adaptable keypad configurable between a telephone keypad when the device is in the telephone mode and a text entry keypad when the device is in the email mode;
said telephone keypad comprising a plurality of alphanumeric input keys having letters and numbers associated therewith, said letters and numbers being arranged in a standard telephone keypad layout when the device is in the telephone mode, wherein the plurality of alphanumeric keys associated with the telephone keypad are arranged in three columns including a central column;
said text entry keypad comprising a plurality of alphabetic input keys having letters associated therewith, said letters being arranged in a standard text entry keyboard layout when the device is in the email mode, wherein the plurality of alphabetic input keys associated with the text entry keypad comprise at least five columns having two of the at least five columns are concealed by transitionable key covers and said central column being present in both the telephone keypad and the text entry key pad; and
wherein closing of the transitionable key covers switches display of the keys on uncovered sides of keypad columns to display of the keys of the standard telephone keypad layout used for the telephone mode and opening of the transitionable key covers switches display of the keys on uncovered sides of keypad columns to display of keys of the standard text entry keyboard layout used for the email mode.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A handheld communication device configurable between a telephone mode and an email mode is described. The handheld communication device has a body with a front face at which a user input is located. The user input includes an appearance-adaptable keypad configurable between a telephone keypad when the device is in the telephone mode, and a text entry keypad when the device is in the email mode. The telephone keypad includes a plurality of alphanumeric input keys. The telephone keypad is arranged in a standard telephone keypad layout when the device is in the telephone mode. The text entry keypad includes a plurality of alphabetic input keys. The text entry keypad is arranged in a standard text entry keyboard layout when the device is in the email mode.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A handheld communication device configurable between a telephone mode and an email mode, said device comprising:
- a body having a front face at which a user input is located, said user input comprising an appearance-adaptable keypad configurable between a telephone keypad when the device is in the telephone mode and a text entry keypad when the device is in the email mode;
said telephone keypad comprising a plurality of alphanumeric input keys having letters and numbers associated therewith, said letters and numbers being arranged in a standard telephone keypad layout when the device is in the telephone mode, wherein the plurality of alphanumeric keys associated with the telephone keypad are arranged in three columns including a central column;
said text entry keypad comprising a plurality of alphabetic input keys having letters associated therewith, said letters being arranged in a standard text entry keyboard layout when the device is in the email mode, wherein the plurality of alphabetic input keys associated with the text entry keypad comprise at least five columns having two of the at least five columns are concealed by transitionable key covers and said central column being present in both the telephone keypad and the text entry key pad; and
wherein closing of the transitionable key covers switches display of the keys on uncovered sides of keypad columns to display of the keys of the standard telephone keypad layout used for the telephone mode and opening of the transitionable key covers switches display of the keys on uncovered sides of keypad columns to display of keys of the standard text entry keyboard layout used for the email mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- a body having a front face at which a user input is located, said user input comprising an appearance-adaptable keypad configurable between a telephone keypad when the device is in the telephone mode and a text entry keypad when the device is in the email mode;
-
18. A method for configuring a handheld communication device between a telephone mode and an email mode, said method comprising:
- providing a handheld communication device comprising a body having a front face at which a user input is located, the user input comprising an appearance-adaptable keypad configurable between a telephone keypad when the device is in the telephone mode and a text entry keypad when the device is in the email mode, the telephone keypad comprising a plurality of alphanumeric input keys having letters and numbers associated therewith, the letters and numbers being arranged in a standard telephone keypad layout when the device is in the telephone mode, wherein the plurality of alphanumeric keys associated with the telephone keypad are arranged in three columns including a central column, the text entry keypad comprising a plurality of alphabetic input keys having letters associated therewith, the letters being arranged in a standard text entry keyboard layout when the device is in the email mode, wherein the plurality of alphabetic input keys associated with the text entry keypad comprise at least five columns having two of the at least five columns are concealed by transitionable key covers and said central column being present in both the telephone keypad and the text entry keypad;
transitioning the appearance-adaptable keypad from the telephone keypad to the text entry keypad in correspondence with transition of the device from the telephone mode to the email mode;
transitioning the appearance-adaptable keypad from the text entry keypad to the telephone keypad in correspondence with transition of the device from the email mode to the telephone mode; and
wherein closing of the transitionable key covers switches display of the keys on uncovered sides of keypad columns to display of the keys of the standard telephone keypad layout used for the telephone mode and opening of the transitionable key covers switches display of the keys on uncovered sides of keypad columns to display of keys of the standard text entry keyboard layout used for the email mode.
- providing a handheld communication device comprising a body having a front face at which a user input is located, the user input comprising an appearance-adaptable keypad configurable between a telephone keypad when the device is in the telephone mode and a text entry keypad when the device is in the email mode, the telephone keypad comprising a plurality of alphanumeric input keys having letters and numbers associated therewith, the letters and numbers being arranged in a standard telephone keypad layout when the device is in the telephone mode, wherein the plurality of alphanumeric keys associated with the telephone keypad are arranged in three columns including a central column, the text entry keypad comprising a plurality of alphabetic input keys having letters associated therewith, the letters being arranged in a standard text entry keyboard layout when the device is in the email mode, wherein the plurality of alphabetic input keys associated with the text entry keypad comprise at least five columns having two of the at least five columns are concealed by transitionable key covers and said central column being present in both the telephone keypad and the text entry keypad;
-
19. A handheld communication device comprising:
- a body;
an appearance-adapted keypad configurable between a first configuration and a second configuration;
wherein in the first configuration keys have letters and numbers associated therewith in a telephone keypad arrangement and are arranged in three columns;
wherein in the second configuration keys have letters arranged in a standard text entry arrangement and are arranged in at least five columns;
a central column being present in both the telephone keypad and the text entry keypad; and
wherein closing of transitionable key covers switches display of the keys on uncovered sides of keypad columns to display of the keys of the telephone keypad arrangement in the first configuration used for a telephone mode and opening of transitionable key covers switches display of the keys on uncovered sides of keypad columns to display of the keys of the standard text entry arrangement in the second configuration used for an email mode. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
- a body;
Specification