Alternative inputs of a mobile communications device

• US 9,606,704 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2015
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Wykes, David Henry, Kim, Catherine Sayim, Louchart, Audrey, Kruzeniski, Michael J., Holmes, Kathleen W., Friedman, Jonathan D., Marquardt, Joseph P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lauture, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US14/629,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20150169079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 455/566, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/418, 455/450, 455/561, 455/466, 455/557
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04807 Pen manipulated menu
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/80 2D [Two Dimensional] animation, e.g. using sprites
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• 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 1/72469 : for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 : Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 : from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

In an implementation, a mobile communications device includes a display device having touchscreen functionality, a keyboard having a plurality of physical keys that include a dedicated key and letter keys arranged according to a QWERTY layout, and one or more modules. The one or more modules are configured to output a user interface on the display device responsive to selection of the dedicated key, the user interface having a plurality of portions that are selectable via the touchscreen functionality to cause input of a respective one of a plurality of emoticons.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a touchscreen display;

a keyboard comprising physical keys that include a dedicated key and letter keys arranged according to a QWERTY layout; and

a processor configured to display a library for display as at least part of a user interface on the touchscreen display responsive to selection of the dedicated key,

wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of portions that are selectable via the touchscreen display to cause selection of an application in the library.

2. The device as described in claim 1 wherein the touchscreen display is a capacitive touchscreen display.

3. The device as described in claim 1 wherein the application is a multimedia application.

4. The device as described in claim 1, the processor further configured to execute the application in response to selection of the application in the library.

5. The device as described in claim 1 wherein each of one or more of the letter keys includes indicia on the physical key of a respective letter for input via the physical key.

6. The device as described in claim 1 wherein the device is a mobile communications device.

7. A device comprising:

a touchscreen display;

a keyboard comprising physical keys that include a dedicated key and letter keys arranged according to a QWERTY layout; and

a processor configured to;

in response to selection of the dedicated key, display a library on the touchscreen display;

receive a selection of an item in the library; and

execute a function in response to the receiving the selection.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the item comprises the function.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the function causes execution of an application.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein the item comprises an icon.

11. The device of claim 7 wherein the touchscreen display is a capacitive touchscreen display.

12. The device of claim 7 wherein the application relates to game play, music, or video.

13. The device of claim 7 wherein each of one or more of the letter keys includes indicia on the physical key of a respective letter for input via the physical key.

14. A method comprising:

receiving a signal indicative of an activation of a dedicated key, the dedicated key located on a keyboard comprising physical keys that include the dedicated key and letter keys arranged according to a QWERTY layout;

in response to the signal, displaying a library on a touchscreen display;

receiving a selection of an item in the library; and

executing a function in response to the receiving the selection.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the item comprises the function.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the function causes execution of an application.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the item comprises an icon.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the touchscreen display is a capacitive touchscreen display.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the touchscreen display is an optical touchscreen display.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein each of one or more of the letter keys includes indicia on the physical key of a respective letter for input via the physical key.