Portable radio terminal

• US 6,539,243 B1
• Filed: 10/04/1999
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Yamashita, Masayoshi, Kimura, Etsuko
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZEWDU, MELESS NMN
• Application Number:
  US09/411,975
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 345/170, 345/172, 345/168, 345/784, 345/801, 345/840, 345/853, 345/854, 345/864, 455/550, 455/556, 455/569, 455/575, 455/90
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device

Abstract

A portable radio terminal includes a radio communication section, radio terminal body, display screen, input buttons, and control section. The performs radio communication of a signal through a radio channel. The radio terminal body incorporates the radio communication section. The display screen is formed on the front surface of the radio terminal body to display functions. The input buttons include a plurality of operation buttons arranged near the display screen. The operation buttons have functions displayed at corresponding positions within the display screen. The control section executes a function in accordance with operation of the operation button.

Claims

1. A portable radio terminal comprising:

radio communication means for performing radio communication of a signal through a radio channel;

a radio terminal body incorporating said radio communication means;

a display screen which is formed on a front surface of said radio terminal body to display functions;

input buttons including a plurality of operation buttons arranged near said display screen, said operation buttons having functions displayed at corresponding positions within said display screen; and

control means for executing a function in accordance with operation of said operation button,

wherein functions that can be selected are hierarchically arranged in accordance with hierarchical levels of said display screen, and

a size of the functions displayed on said display screen changes in accordance with the hierarchical levels of said display screen.

2. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein first, second, and third buttons constituting said operation buttons are successively arranged in a line along said display screen,

said first and third buttons arranged on two sides are assigned as scroll buttons for said display screen in information input operation, and

said second button placed at a middle position is assigned as a selection processing button for contents displayed on said display screen in information input operation.

3. A terminal according to claim 2, wherein an icon for designating selection in correspondence with said second button is displayed on said display screen, and two scroll icons are displayed on said display screen in correspondence with said first and third buttons.

6. A terminal according to claim 2, wherein said first and third buttons arranged on the two sides are assigned as numerical value/amount increasing and decreasing buttons, and

said second button placed at the middle position is assigned as a numerical value/amount determination selecting button.

7. A terminal according to claim 2, wherein when said display screen is an initial window, menu selection is performed by short-period pressing of said second button which is performed for less than a predetermined period of time, and

a function search is performed by long-period pressing of said second button which is performed for not less than a predetermined time.

10. A terminal according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of functions are respectively assigned to said first to third buttons in accordance with each window content of said display screen, and

displays indicating functions that can be selected on current window contents are sequentially called up by pressing said third button.

11. A terminal according to claim 10, wherein execution of a function corresponding to a called display is designated by operating said second button.

12. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein said operation buttons are arranged in a line below said display screen.

13. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein operation buttons of said operation buttons which are located on the two sides are located on left and right sides of said display screen.

14. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of predetermined functions that can be selected in accordance with window contents are simultaneously displayed on said display screen in correspondence with said operation buttons.

4. A portable radio terminal comprising:

radio communication means for performing radio communication of a signal through a radio channel;

a radio terminal body incorporating said radio communication means;

a display screen which is formed on a front surface of said radio terminal body to display functions;

input buttons including a plurality of operation buttons arranged near said display screen, said operation buttons having functions displayed at corresponding positions within said display screen; and

control means for executing a function in accordance with operation of said operation button,

wherein functions that can be selected are hierarchically arranged in accordance with hierarchical levels of said display screen,

a size of the functions displayed on said display screen changes in accordance with the hierarchical levels of said display screen,

wherein ON and OFF states of a function are respectively assigned to first and second buttons of said operation buttons,

ON display and OFF display are respectively performed on said display screen at positions corresponding to said first and second buttons; and

ON/OFF selection of the function is performed by operating said first and second buttons corresponding to the ON display and OFF display, respectively.

5. A portable radio terminal comprising:

radio communication means for performing radio communication of a signal through a radio channel;

a radio terminal body incorporating said radio communication means;

a display screen which is formed on a front surface of said radio terminal body to display functions;

input buttons including a plurality of operation buttons arranged near said display screen, said operation buttons having functions displayed at corresponding positions within said display screen; and

control means for executing a function in accordance with operation of said operation button,

wherein functions that can be selected are hierarchically arranged in accordance with hierarchical levels of said display screen,

a size of the functions displayed on said display screen changes in accordance with the hierarchical levels of said display screen,

wherein an ON/OF state of a function is assigned to a first button of said operation buttons,

ON/OFF display is performed on said display screen at a position corresponding to said first button, and

ON and OFF states of the function are alternately selected by repeatedly operating said operation button corresponding to the ON/OFF display.

8. A portable radio terminal comprising:

radio communication means for performing radio communication of a signal through a radio channel;

a radio terminal body incorporating said radio communication means;

a display screen which is formed on a front surface of said radio terminal body to display functions;

input buttons including a plurality of operation buttons arranged near said display screen, said operation buttons having functions displayed at corresponding positions within said display screen; and

control means for executing a function in accordance with operation of said operation button,

wherein first, second, and third buttons constituting said operation buttons are successively arranged in a line along said display screen,

said first and third buttons arranged on two sides are assigned as scroll buttons for said display screen in information input operation, and

said second button placed at a middle position is assigned as a selection processing button for contents displayed on said display screen in information input operation,

wherein when said display screen is an initial window, said first and third buttons are respectively assigned as a button for performing a “

group search” and

a button for performing information processing for a “

dial destination search”

.

9. A terminal according to claim 8, wherein a “

group search”

is performed by short-period pressing of said first button which is performed for not less than a predetermined period of time,

mail information processing is performed by long-period pressing of said first button which is performed for not less than the predetermined period of time,

a dial destination search is performed by short-period pressing of said third button which is performed for less than the predetermined period of time, and

an index search is performed by a long-period pressing of said third button which is performed for not less than the predetermined period of time.

15. A portable radio terminal comprising:

radio communication means for performing radio communication of a signal through a radio channel;

a radio terminal body incorporating said radio communication means;

a display screen which is formed on a front surface of said radio terminal body to display functions;

input buttons including a plurality of operation buttons arranged near said display screen, said operation buttons having functions displayed at corresponding positions within said display screen; and

control means for executing a function in accordance with operation of said operation button,

wherein first, second, and third buttons constituting said operation buttons are successively arranged in a line along said display screen,

said first and third buttons arranged on two sides are assigned as scroll buttons for said display screen in information input operation, and

said second button placed at a middle position is assigned as a selection processing button for contents displayed on said display screen in information input operation,

wherein functions that can be selected are hierarchically arranged in accordance with hierarchical levels of said display screen, and

a size of the scroll icon displayed on said display screen changes in accordance with the hierarchical levels of said display screen.