Reduced complexity user interface

• US 20030130014A1
• Filed: 08/20/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Complete Communication Solutions Limited
• Original Assignee: Complete Communication Solutions Limited
• Inventors: Rucinski, David B.
• Application Number:
  US10/224,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20030130014A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/00 Interfaces specially adapted for wireless communication networks

Abstract

A user interface for use in a reduced complexity computing device adapted for use in an instant messaging service application.

Claims

1. A user interface, comprising:

a plurality of display regions for identifying respective functions of corresponding input devices, said functions associated with an application having a plurality of contexts and changing as appropriate with changes in application context.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein:

said application comprises an instant messenger (IM) application including a chat screen context during which said identified functions comprise IM session selection functions.

3. The user interface of claim 2, wherein:

said instant messenger (IM) application includes a buddy selection screen context during which said identified functions comprise buddy list selection functions.

4. The user interface of claim 1, wherein:

said application includes a menu context during which said identified functions comprise menu selection functions.

5. The user interface of claim 2, wherein:

display regions associated with non-selected IM sessions further provide status information for said non-selected IM sessions.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

said status information comprises at least one of a new message indicator and a logoff indicator.

7. The user interface of claim 5, wherein:

the display region associated with a non-selected IM session having updated status information is visually adapted using at least on of a flashing, underlining and color adaptation.

8. The user interface of claim 2, wherein:

the display region associated with a selected IM session is visually adapted using at least on of a flashing, underlining and color adaptation.

9. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising:

an alarm, for selectively indicating contextually relevant events.

10. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising:

a main text display region for displaying chat messages, said main text display region and said plurality of display regions comprising distinct active pixel regions of a display device.

11. The user interface of claim 10, further comprising:

a send text display region, for displaying user entered text, said send text display comprising a distinct active pixel region of said display device.

12. The user interface of claim 11, further comprising:

a status text display region, for displaying status text, said status text display comprising a distinct active pixel region of said display device.

13. An instant messaging device, comprising:

a display, a keypad and a controller for controlling said display and keypad;

said display device having a first region for displaying instant messaging text, a second region for displaying user messages and a plurality of remaining regions for identifying contextual functions of respective proximate keys;

wherein

in a first context, said respective proximate keys represent at least one buddy list identifying a respective group of users of said instant messenger service; and

in a second context, said respective proximate keys represent menu selections associated with application functions.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein:

in said first context, members of a presently selected buddy list are displayed in said first region.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein:

in said first context, members of a presently selected buddy list are displayed in said first region.

16. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

an alarm, for selectively indicating contextually relevant events.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein:

the display region proximate a key is visually adapted in response to the activation of the key.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the visual adaptation of the display region comprises one of a flashing, an underlining and a color adaptation.

19. The device of claim 13 wherein each of said display regions associated with a contextually active event provides status information associated with that event.

20. Apparatus, comprising:

a display device including a plurality of active display region separated by at least one inactive display region, said active display regions including respective groups of controllable picture elements;

a keypad including a predefined number of keys disposed proximate corresponding active display regions, each of said plurality of keys implementing a function indicated by its corresponding active display region, said functions changing in response to changes in context of a user interface.

21. A user interface adapted for use in an instant messenger application, comprising:

a display device having a first region for displaying IM text, a second region for displaying user messages and a plurality of remaining regions for identifying contextual functions of respective proximate keys.

22. An instant messaging communications device, comprising:

a keypad including a plurality of keys disposed proximate a first region of a display device; and

a controller, for controlling said display device and keypad to implement a user interface supporting at least one instant messenger service session;

wherein

in a first context, each of said at least one instant messenger service sessions being associated with a respective one of said plurality of keys disposed proximate said first display region; and

in a second context, each of at least one buddy list being associated with a respective one of said plurality of keys disposed proximate said first display region.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein:

in a third context, each of at least on menu selections associated with application functions being associated with a respective one of said plurality of keys disposed proximate said first display region.