Mobile communication terminal and method

• US 7,422,145 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2006
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Tuorila, Heini, Nurmela, Marja-Leena, Reed, Dominick
• Primary Examiner(s): St. Cyr; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/430,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20070257097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/495, 235/375, 235/462.45, 235/472, 600/513, 455/405, 455/575.1, 345/173, 345/156, 345/179, 482/910, 482/8, 482/1
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1636 Sensing arrangement for detection of a tap gesture on the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A method for providing a user interface of a mobile communication terminal having a tap sensitive sensor and a display. The method may include: detecting a first tap in a first direction of the mobile terminal using the tap sensitive sensor; determining a first user input, utilizing the first tap in the first direction; and as a response to the first user input, executing a first set of software code corresponding to the first user input and serving to control at least one display related aspect of the mobile communication terminal. Corresponding mobile communication terminals and computer program product are also presented.

Claims

1. A method for providing a user interface of a mobile communication terminal comprising a tap sensitive sensor and a display, said method comprising:

detecting a first tap in a first direction of said mobile terminal using said tap sensitive sensor;

determining a first user input, utilizing said first tap in said first direction, wherein said first direction is, within a margin of error, perpendicular to said display;

as a response to said first user input, executing a first set of software code corresponding to said first user input and serving to control at least one display related aspect of said mobile communication terminal; and

wherein said first set of software code comprises code for illuminating said display.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first set of software code comprises code for rendering a first exercise related measurement on said display.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first set of software code comprises code for generating synthetic voice sounds at least in part corresponding to at least part of data of said display.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least part of data of said display corresponds to text of a message received by said mobile communication terminal.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said message is a message selected from the group consisting of a short message, a multimedia message, an e-mail message and an instant message.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first user input is used by an exercise application.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a second tap in said first direction of said mobile terminal using said tap sensitive sensor;

determining a second user input, utilizing said second tap in said first direction; and

as a response to said second user input, executing a second set of software code corresponding to said second user input.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said second set of software code comprises code for rendering a second exercise related measurement on said display.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

when a threshold time has passed without user input, executing software code for putting said mobile communication terminal in an idle state.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said software code for putting said mobile communication terminal in an idle state comprises code for switching off illumination of said display.

11. A method for providing a user interface of an exercise application of a mobile communication terminal comprising a tap sensitive sensor and a display, said method comprising:

detecting a first tap in a first direction of said mobile terminal using said tap sensitive sensor;

determining a first user input, utilizing said first tap in said first direction, said first direction being, within a margin of error, perpendicular to said display;

as a response to said first user input, executing a first set of software code corresponding to said first user input, said first set of software code comprising code for illuminating said display, for rendering a first exercise related measurement on said display and for generating synthetic voice sounds at least in part corresponding to at least part of said exercise related measurement;

detecting a second tap in said first direction of said mobile terminal using said tap sensitive sensor;

determining a second user input, utilizing said second tap in said first direction;

as a response to said second user input, executing a second set of software code corresponding to said second user input, said second set of software code comprising code for rendering a second exercise related measurement on said display; and

when a threshold time has passed without user input, executing software code for putting said mobile communication terminal in an idle state, said software code for putting said mobile communication terminal in an idle state comprising code for switching off illumination of said display.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said first and second taps are sensed by a motion sensor.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein said first and second taps are sensed by an accelerometer.

14. Apparatus comprising a controller and a tap sensitive sensor, wherein:

said controller is configured to detect a first tap in a first direction of said mobile terminal using said tap sensitive sensor;

said controller is configured to determine a first user input, utilizing said first tap in said first direction, wherein said first direction is, within a margin of error, perpendicular to a display; and

said controller is configured to, as a response to said first user input, execute a first set of software code corresponding to said first user input and serving to control at least one display related aspect of said mobile communication terminal, and wherein said first set of software code at least comprises code for illuminating said display.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said tap sensitive sensor comprises a motion sensor.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said tap sensitive sensor comprises an accelerometer.

17. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the apparatus is mobile communication device.

18. A mobile communication terminal comprising:

a controller;

a tap sensitive sensor;

means for detecting a first tap in a first direction of said mobile terminal using said tap sensitive sensor;

means for determining a first user input, utilizing said first tap in said first direction, wherein said first direction is, within a margin of error, perpendicular to a display; and

means for, as a response to said first user input, executing a first set of software code corresponding to said first user input and serving to control at least one display related aspect of said mobile communication terminal, and wherein said first set of software code at least comprises code for illuminating said display.

19. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 18, further comprising:

means for detecting a second tap in said first direction of said mobile terminal using said tap sensitive sensor;

means for determining a second user input, utilizing said second tap in said first direction; and

means for, as a response to said second user input, executing a second set of software code corresponding to said second user input.

20. A mobile communication terminal comprising:

a controller;

a tap sensitive sensor;

means for detecting a first tap in a first direction of said mobile terminal using said tap sensitive sensor;

means for determining a first user input, utilizing said first tap in said first direction, said first direction being, within a margin of error, perpendicular to a display;

means for, as a response to said first user input, executing a first set of software code corresponding to said first user input, said first set of software code comprising code for illuminating said display, for rendering a first exercise related measurement on said display and for generating synthetic voice sounds at least in part corresponding to at least part of said exercise related measurement;

means for detecting a second tap in said first direction of said mobile terminal using tap sensitive sensor;

means for determining a second user input, utilizing said second tap in said first direction;

means for, as a response to said second user input, executing a second set of software code corresponding to said second user input, said second set of software code comprising code for rendering a second exercise related measurement on said display; and

means for, when a threshold time has passed without user input, executing software code for putting said mobile communication terminal in an idle state comprising code for switching off illumination said display.

21. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 20, wherein said tap sensitive sensor comprises a motion sensor.

22. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 20, wherein said tap sensitive sensor comprises an accelerometer.

23. A computer program product comprising:

a processor usable medium having processor readable program code embodied therein for operating a display of a mobile communication terminal, the processor readable program code further comprising;

processor readable program code for causing a processor to detect a first tap in a first direction relative to said mobile terminal;

processor readable program code for causing a processor to determine a first user input, utilizing said first tap in said first direction, wherein said first direction is, within a margin of error from, perpendicular to said display; and

processor readable program code for causing a processor to, in response to said first user input, illuminate said display.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising:

processor readable program code for causing a processor to detect a second tap in said first direction of said mobile terminal using said tap sensitive sensor;

processor readable program code for causing a processor to determine a second user input, utilizing said second tap in said first direction; and

processor readable program code for causing a processor to, as a response to said second user input, execute a second set of software code corresponding to said second user input.