Mobile Communications Device User Interface

• US 20100105424A1
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Tilburg, Martijn E. Van, Heron, Alexandra K., Smuga, Michael A., Sabotta, Kenneth Q., Kruzeniski, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US12/413,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20100105424A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04807 Pen manipulated menu
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings

Abstract

Mobile communications device user interface techniques are described. In an implementation, a mobile communications device receives an input via a QWERTY keyboard of the mobile communications device and translates one or more letters in the input into one or more corresponding numbers in accordance with a telephone keypad layout. A telephone call is placed using the one or more corresponding numbers.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a mobile communications device, the method comprising:

receiving an input via a QWERTY keyboard of the mobile communications device;

translating one or more letters in the input into one or more corresponding numbers in accordance with a telephone keypad layout; and

placing a telephone call using the one or more corresponding numbers.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the translating is performed as follows:

letters A, B, and C are translated to a number 2 in the telephone keypad layout;

letters D, E, and F are translated to a number 3 in the telephone keypad layout;

letters G, H, and I are translated to a number 4 in the telephone keypad layout;

letters J, K, and L are translated to a number 5 in the telephone keypad layout;

letters M, N, and O are translated to a number 6 in the telephone keypad layout;

letters P, Q, R, and S are translated to a number 7 in the telephone keypad layout;

letters T, U, and V are translated to a number 8 in the telephone keypad layout; and

letters W, X, Y, and Z are translated to a number 9 in the telephone keypad layout.

3. A method as described in claim 1, wherein at least one said input is formed by selecting first and second keys of the QWERTY keyboard simultaneously to specify a particular one of at least two alternative inputs for the second key.

4. A method as described in claim 3, wherein the particular one of the at least two alternative inputs is a letter and another one of the at least two alternative inputs is a number.

5. A method as described in claim 3, wherein the first or second key is a shift key.

6. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the QWERTY keyboard is implemented in hardware.

7. A method as described in claim 1, wherein:

a subset of keys of the QWERTY keyboard includes a representation of a letter and a number; and

the numbers follow a telephone keypad layout.

8. One or more tangible computer-readable media comprising instructions that are executable by a mobile communications device to:

display a user interface on a display device of the mobile communications device, the user interface including a search portion configured to accept an input; and

responsive to the input;

display one or more contacts in the user interface that correspond to the input; and

display a telephone number in the user interface that corresponds to the input.

9. One or more tangible computer-readable media as described in claim 8, wherein the mobile communications device includes a QWERTY keyboard and the instructions are further configured to translate the input received via the QWERTY keyboard into numbers to form the telephone number according to a telephone keypad layout.

10. One or more tangible computer-readable media as described in claim 9, wherein in the telephone keypad layout:

letters A, B, and C correspond to a number 2;

letters D, E, and F correspond to a number 3;

letters G, H, and I correspond to a number 4;

letters J, K, and L correspond to a number 5;

letters M, N, and O correspond to a number 6;

letters P, Q, R, and S correspond to a number 7;

letters T, U, and V correspond to a number 8; and

letters W, X, Y, and Z correspond to a number 9.

11. One or more tangible computer-readable media as described in claim 8, wherein:

the mobile communications device includes a QWERTY keyboard and the instructions are further configured to translate the input received via the QWERTY keyboard into one or more numbers according to a telephone keypad layout; and

the one or more contacts correspond to the input by including the one or more numbers.

12. One or more tangible computer-readable media as described in claim 8, wherein the one or more contacts correspond to the input by including one or more letters of the input in a name of the contact.

13. One or more tangible computer-readable media as described in claim 8, wherein the one or more contacts correspond to the input by including one or more letters of the input in a name of the contact.

14. One or more tangible computer-readable media as described in claim 8, wherein the instructions cause the display of the one or more contacts and the display of the telephone number to be updated in real time as successive said inputs are received.

15. A mobile communications device comprising:

a display device;

a QWERTY keyboard; and

one or more modules that are configured to place a telephone call and translate one or more letters in an input received via the QWERTY keyboard into corresponding numbers to be used to place the telephone call in which;

letters A, B, and C are translated to a number 2;

letters D, E, and F are translated to a number 3;

letters G, H, and I are translated to a number 4;

letters J, K, and L are translated to a number 5;

letters M, N, and O are translated to a number 6;

letters P, Q, R, and S are translated to a number 7;

letters T, U, and V are translated to a number 8; and

letters W, X, Y, and Z are translated to a number 9.

16. A mobile communications device as described in claim 15, wherein the one or more modules are further configured to:

display a user interface on the display device having a search portion configured to accept an input;

display one or more contacts in the user interface that correspond to the input; and

display the telephone number in the user interface that corresponds to the input.

17. A mobile communications device as described in claim 16, wherein the one or more contacts correspond to the input by including one or more letters of the input in a name of the contact.

18. A mobile communications device as described in claim 16, the one or more contacts correspond to the input by including one or more letters of the input in a name of the contact.

19. A mobile communications device as described in claim 16, wherein the one or more modules cause the display of the one or more contacts and the display of the telephone number to be updated in real time as successive said inputs are received.

20. A mobile communications device as described in claim 15, wherein:

at least one said input is formed by selecting first and second keys of the QWERTY keyboard simultaneously to specify a particular one of at least two alternative inputs for the second key; and

the particular one of the at least two alternative inputs is a letter and another one of the at least two alternative inputs is a number.