Methods and apparatus for convenient change of display characters on a handheld device

• US 20070206015A1
• Filed: 03/06/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Chen, Zesen, Perkins, Kent, Gonsalves, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,429,988 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/467
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

A method and apparatus for convenient changing of a character display on a handheld device is disclosed. An example handheld device includes a screen to display an alphanumeric character, the alphanumeric character being displayable in at least two different font sizes. A user input device enables selection between the at least two different font sizes. The device includes a processor responsive to the user input device to change the font size of the alphanumeric character. A second user input device is provided to change the brightness of the screen when a user touches the second control device.

Claims

1. A handheld device comprising:

a receiver to receive wireless signals;

a transmitter to send wireless signals;

a screen to display an alphanumeric character, the alphanumeric character being displayable in at least two different font sizes;

a memory to store at least one set of processor instructions involving the display of an alpha numeric character;

a processor coupled to the screen, memory, receiver and transmitter, the processor to execute the at least one set of processor instructions;

a user input device to enable selection between the at least two different font sizes; and

wherein the processor is responsive to the user input device to change the font size of the alphanumeric character.

2. The handheld device in claim 1 wherein the screen is a touch screen and the user input device is an area of the screen.

3. The handheld device in claim 2 wherein the screen displays two different display screens, each of the two different display screens including the user input device.

4. The handheld device in claim 1 further comprising a keypad, wherein the user input device is a key on the keypad.

5. The handheld device in claim 1 further comprising a screen light and a second user input device to increase or decrease the brightness of the screen light.

6. The handheld device in claim 1 wherein the alphanumeric character has an original font size and wherein the processor is responsive to a first user touch of the user input device to increase the font size to a first size, and the processor is responsive to a second user touch to increase the character font size to a second size.

7. The handheld device in claim 6 wherein when a user touches the user input device a third time, the character font size changes to the original font size.

8. The handheld device in claim 1 wherein the handheld device is a telephone.

9. The handheld device in claim 1 wherein the handheld device is a PDA.

10. The handheld device in claim 1 wherein the wireless signals are voice signals.

11. The handheld device in claim 1 wherein the wireless signals are Internet based data.

12. A method of changing font size of character displayed on a screen of a handheld device, the handheld device including a receiver to receive wireless signals;

a transmitter to send wireless signals;

a memory to store at least one set of processor instructions involving the display of an alpha numeric character; and

a processor coupled to the screen, memory, receiver and transmitter, the processor to execute the at least one set of processor instructions, comprising;

displaying a character in a first font size; and

responding to a single touch activation of a character font control device to display the character in a second font size.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising activating a brightness control device with a single touch to change the brightness of the screen.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the screen is a touch screen and the character font control device is an area of the screen.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the character font control device is a key on a keypad.

16. A handheld telecommunications device comprising:

a display to display at least one of a home screen and a telephone function screen; and

a user input device to adjust a display characteristic without leaving the at least one of the home screen and the telephone function screen.

17. A handheld telecommunications device comprising:

a display to display at least one of an alphanumeric character in at least one of a home screen and a telephone function screen; and

a user input device to change the font size of the alphanumeric character while the at least one of the home screen and the telephone function screen is displayed.

18. The handheld telecommunications device in claim 17 wherein the handheld telecommunications device is a mobile telephone.

19. The handheld telecommunications device in claim 17 wherein the handheld telecommunications device is a PDA.

20. An article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause a handheld machine to:

display a character in a first font size; and

respond to a single touch activation of a character font control device to display the character in a second font size.