Screen display method for portable information terminal

• US 6,512,449 B1
• Filed: 12/21/1998
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Aizawa, Masatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bangachon, William
• Application Number:
  US09/216,964
• Time in Patent Office: 1,499 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/825.47, 340/7.2, 340/7.51, 340/47, 340/7.52, 340/7.55, 340/56, 345/184, 345/471, 345/352, 345/684, 345/125, 345/864, 345/2.3, 700/1, 700/7, 700/102, 700/500
• US Class Current: 340/7.55
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A portable radio information terminal capable of operating at a plurality of phases to execute different functions. The terminal has a transition-request-input detecting section that detects an input signal generated by an input device in the course of an operation carried out within any current phase of the same plurality of phases to request an inter-phase transition, an inter-phase transition section that suspends the operation carried out at the current phase and executes a transition from the current phase to another phase determined by a result of detection output by the transition-request-input detecting section, and a phase-processing executing section for calling and displaying a screen of the phase transitioned to.

Claims

1. A screen displaying method for a portable radio information terminal, comprising the steps of:

storing an incoming message in a message file;

fetching said stored message from said message file;

displaying, by an image display unit, at least a portion of said fetched message on a screen having a single display portion at a message displaying phase;

inputting, by a first input device, a command for controlling an operation;

suspending an operation carried out within said message displaying phase when said input command is generated by said first input device during said operation;

executing a transition from said message displaying phase to a message manipulating phase;

calling and displaying an image corresponding to said message manipulating phase, wherein a portion of said fetched message at said message displaying phase and a plurality of functions of said message manipulating phase are simultaneously displayed by said image display unit; and

said plurality of functions includes at least lock folder, delete, and delete all functions;

selecting, by said first input device, one of said plurality of functions of said message manipulating phase; and

returning, by a second input device, from said message manipulating phase to said message displaying phase.

2. The screen displaying method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

reading out, during said message displaying phase, said message from said message file;

displaying, during said message displaying phase, said message on said screen on said image displaying unit; and

manipulating said message file during said message manipulating phase.

3. A portable radio information terminal, comprising:

a storage device for storing an incoming message in a message file, a fetching device for fetching said stored message from said message file, and an image displaying unit for displaying at least a portion of said fetched message on a screen having a single display portion at a message displaying phase;

a first input device for at least inputting a command for controlling an operation;

a central processing unit; and

a ROM unit for storing a plurality of execution procedures as programs executable by said central processing unit, said ROM unit including;

transition-request-input detecting means for detecting an input signal generated by said first input device during an operation carried out at said message displaying phase for requesting an inter-phase transition;

inter-phase transition means for suspending said operation carried out at said message displaying phase and for executing an inter-phase transition from said message displaying phase to a message manipulation phase determined by a detection output result from said transition-request-input detecting means; and

phase-processing executing means for at least calling and displaying an image corresponding to said message manipulation phase resulting from said inter-phase transition executed by said inter-phase transition means on said image displaying unit, wherein a portion of said fetched message at said message displaying phase and a plurality of functions of said message manipulating functions are simultaneously displayed by said image displaying unit;

said plurality of functions includes at least lock, folder, delete, and delete all functions; and

one of said plurality of functions of said message manipulating phase is selected by said first input device; and

a second input device for returning from said message manipulating phase to said message displaying phase.

4. A recording medium for storing programs fetchable and executable by a computer employed in a portable radio information terminal provided with an image displaying unit having a screen with a single display portion and a first input device for controlling an operation, said programs comprising:

transition-request-input detecting means for detecting an input signal generated by said first input device during an operation carried out at a message displaying phase for requesting an inter-phase transition;

inter-phase transition means for suspending said operation carried out at said message displaying phase and for executing an inter-phase transition from said message displaying phase to a message manipulation phase determined by a detection output result from said transition-request-input detecting means; and

phase-processing executing means for at least calling and displaying an image corresponding to said message manipulation phase resulting from said inter-phase transition executed by said inter-phase transition means on said image displaying unit, wherein a portion of a message from said message displaying phase and a plurality of functions of said message manipulating phase are simultaneously displayed on said image displaying unit, wherein

said plurality of functions includes at least lock, folder, delete, and delete all functions; and

one of said plurality of functions of said message manipulating phase is selected by said first input device; and

a second input device for returning from said message manipulating phase to said message displaying phase.

5. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

an embedded central processing unit;

an embedded storage unit for storing programs as procedures, said procedures being fetched and executed by said central processing unit; and

embedded data transfer means connectable to external equipment and used for connecting at least said central processing unit to said storage unit, wherein

said information processing apparatus transmits a signal based on a processing result output by said central processing unit to said external equipment by one of radio communication and wire communication;

said information processing apparatus is employed in a portable radio information terminal including an image displaying unit having a screen with a single display portion and a first input device;

said programs stored in said storage unit at least include;

transition-request-input detecting means for detecting an input signal generated by said first input device during an operation carried out at a message displaying phase for requesting an inter-phase transition;

inter-phase transition means for suspending said operation carried out at said message displaying phase and for executing an inter-phase transition from said message displaying phase to a message manipulation phase determined by detection output result from said transition-request-input detecting means; and

phase-processing executing means for at least calling and displaying an image corresponding to a plurality of functions of said message manipulating phase resulting from said inter-phase transition executed by said inter-phase transition means on said image displaying unit, wherein a portion of a message from said message displaying phase and said one of said message manipulating functions are simultaneously displayed on said image displaying unit.