Portable telecommunication device

• US 7,313,389 B1
• Filed: 09/25/2000
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Sharp, Jonathan, Leith, Daren
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jamal, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US10/110,057
• Time in Patent Office: 2,647 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

A portable device which includes a body, a cover and a key. The cover has a closed position for at least partially covering the body, and the key is accessible when the cover is in this position. The functionality of the key changes depending upon the state of the device. One such function is the muting of an audible indicator provided by a speaker or the like of the device. This may occur, for example, if the key is actuated when the device is a phone and has received an incoming call or if it has an alarm.

Claims

1. A portable device comprising:

a body;

a cover having a closed position for at least partially covering the body and an open position;

a processor;

an audible indicator; and

a key accessible when the cover is in the closed position, said key-being multifunctional,

wherein the processor is configured to enter into a plurality of operational states including an incoming call state corresponding to the receipt of an incoming call and an idle state,

wherein the function of the multifunctional key is dependent upon the operational state of the processor at the time that the multifunctional key is actuated,

wherein actuation of the multifunctional key in a first manner when the processor is in the incoming call state causes the processor to mute the audible indicator without answering the call, and

wherein actuation of the multifunctional key when the processor is in the idle state causes the processor to access a last number redial menu.

2. A portable device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a receiver.

3. A portable device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the audible indicator is arranged to indicate an incoming call to the user when the device is in the incoming callstate.

4. A portable device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a display and wherein, for at least one state of the device, operation of the key controls the provision of information on the display.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the display comprises a portion which is visible when the cover is in the closed position, and operation of the key controls the provision of information on the portion of the display visible when the cover is in the closed position.

6. A device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a display and wherein, for at least one state of the device, operation of the key controls the provision of information on the display,

wherein, when the device is in a state corresponding to the receipt of a message, operation of the key controls the provision of information corresponding to the message.

7. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein, when the device is in a state corresponding to the receipt of a missed call, operation of the key controls the provision of information corresponding to the missed call.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a transmitter.

9. A device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

a transmitter,

wherein, when the device is in the-idle state, operation of the key causes the processor to display a last number redial option on the display.

10. A device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

a transmitter,

wherein said device is arranged for coupling to a headset, and

wherein when the device is in a headset coupled state, operation of the key controls the provision of information corresponding to the last number dialed.

11. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein operation of the key is a single actuation.

12. A portable device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a receiver.

13. A portable device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a display and wherein, for at least one state of the device, operation of the key controls the provision of information on the display.

14. A portable device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a display and wherein, for at least one state of the device, operation of the key controls the provision of information on the display.

15. A portable device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a display and wherein, for at least one state of the device, operation of the key controls the provision of information on the display.

16. A device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a display and wherein, for at least one state of the device, operation of the key controls the provision of information on the display,

wherein, when the device is in a state corresponding to the receipt of a message, operation of the key controls the provision of information corresponding to the message.

17. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the display comprises a portion which is visible when the cover is in the closed position, and operation of the key controls the provision of information on the portion of the display visible when the cover is in the closed position.

18. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the display comprises a portion which is visible when the cover is in the closed position, and operation of the key controls the provision of information on the portion of the display visible when the cover is in the closed position.

19. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein, when the device is in a state corresponding to the receipt of a missed call, operation of the key controls the provision of information corresponding to the missed call.

20. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein, when the device is in a state corresponding to the receipt of a missed call, operation of the key controls the provision of information corresponding to the missed call.

21. A device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a transmitter.

22. A device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a transmitter.

23. A device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a transmitter.

24. A device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a transmitter.

25. A device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a transmitter.

26. A device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a transmitter.

27. A device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

a transmitter,

wherein when the device is in an idle state, operation of the key controls the provision of information corresponding to the last number dialed.

28. A device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

a transmitter,

wherein, when the device is in the idle state, operation of the key causes the processor to display a last number redial option on the display.

29. A device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

a transmitter,

wherein, when the device is in the idle state, operation of the key causes the processor to display a last number redial option on the display.

30. A device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

a transmitter,

wherein said device is arranged for coupling to a headset, and

wherein when the device is in a headset coupled state, operation of the key controls the provision of information corresponding to the last number dialed.

31. A device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

a transmitter,

wherein said device is arranged for coupling to a headset, and

wherein when the device is in a headset coupled state, operation of the key controls the provision of information corresponding to the last number dialed.

32. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said device is arranged for coupling to a headset, and

wherein when the device is in a headset coupled state, operation of the key controls the provision of information corresponding to the last number dialed.

33. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein operation of the key is a single actuation.

34. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein operation of the key is a single actuation.

35. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein operation of the key is a single actuation.

36. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein operation of the key is a single actuation.

37. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein operation of the key is a single actuation.

38. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein operation of the key is a single actuation.

39. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein operation of the key is a single actuation.

40. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein operation of the key is a single actuation.

41. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein operation of the key is a single actuation.

42. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multifunctional key is mounted on the cover of the device.

43. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein for all states of the device, the multifunctional key has a single function, the single function changing with the state of the device.

44. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein actuation of the multifunctional key provides the most likely response to a given situation.

45. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein actuation of the multifunctional key does not effect deletion.

46. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multifunctional key has multiple functionality when the cover is in the closed position, and wherein the processor disables the function of the multifunctional key when the cover is in the opened position.

47. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein for at least the incoming call state, the multifunctional key has a single function.

48. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of keys accessible when the cover is in the closed position, wherein the multifunctional key is in a position remote from other of said keys.