Alternative inputs of a mobile communications device

• US 10,133,453 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2017
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• 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:
  US15/450,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20170300191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 345168, 455566, 4554561, 4554563, 455418, 455450, 455561, 455466, 455557
• 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 display;

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

a processor configured to display, in response to selection of the particular key, a library as at least part of a user interface on the display;

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

2. The device as described in claim 1, wherein the particular key is not one of the letter keys.

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. The device as described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of portions are selectable using a cursor control device.

8. A method comprising:

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

displaying, in response to the signal, a library as at least part of a user interface on a display, the user interface comprising multiple portions that are selectable via the user interface to cause selection of an item of the library, wherein an item in the library includes an application.

9. The method as described in claim 8, wherein the particular key is not one of the letter keys.

10. The method as described in claim 8, wherein the application is a multimedia application.

11. The method as described in claim 8, further comprising executing the application in response to selection of the application in the library.

12. The method as described in claim 8, 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.

13. The method as described in claim 8, wherein the method is implemented on a mobile communications device.

14. The method as described in claim 8, wherein the multiple portions are selectable using a cursor control device.

15. A device comprising:

a processor;

a keyboard including multiple physical keys, the multiple physical keys including a first key and a set of letter keys arranged according to a QWERTY layout;

a display; and

one or more computer readable storage devices having stored thereon multiple instructions that, responsive to execution by the processor, cause the processor to;

receive a signal indicative of an activation of the first key; and

display, in response to the signal, a library as at least part of a user interface on the display, the user interface comprising multiple portions that are selectable via the user interface to cause selection of an item of the library, wherein an item in the library includes an application.

16. The device as described in claim 15, wherein the first key is not one of the set of letter keys.

17. The device as described in claim 15, wherein the application is a multimedia application.

18. The device as described in claim 15, the multiple instructions further causing the processor to execute the application in response to selection of the application in the library.

19. The device as described in claim 15, wherein each key of the set of letter keys includes indicia on the physical key of a respective letter for input via the physical key.

20. The device as described in claim 15, wherein the device is a mobile communications device.