Device, system, and method for informing users of functions and characters associated with telephone keys

• US 7,869,832 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2005
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Griffin, Jason T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro; Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chambers; Tangela T.
• Application Number:
  US11/164,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20070082708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,862 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• 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 2250/56 including a user help function

Abstract

System and method for informing a user of functions or characters associated with keys on a mobile communications device includes a keyboard operable to input Dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) codes and a display screen operable to display information. The display screen is also operable to display a virtual representation of at least a portion of the keyboard. The virtual representation includes help information on one or more virtually represented keys of the keyboard. This help information informs a user of an associated telephone function or character of one or more keys that are virtually represented on the display.

Claims

1. A mobile device for displaying functions or characters, comprising:

a display screen;

a keyboard having keys, each key having associated indicia corresponding to at least one of alphabetic characters, numbers, and functions, wherein the keys associated with numbers or functions are operable for input of Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) codes, and wherein the alphabetic characters are arranged in a non-ITU Standard E.161 phone keypad layout; and

a processor in signal communication with said keyboard and said display screen, said processor being configured to;

receive an input for virtual keyboard representation;

associate in response to said input a virtual keyboard corresponding to a portion of keys of said non-ITU Standard E.161 phone keypad layout; and

cause said display screen to display a virtual ITU standard E.161 keypad layout representing said portion of keys in substantially the same size and shape as that of the non-ITU Standard E.161 portion of keys.

2. The mobile device as recited in claim 1, wherein said virtual representation of at least a portion of the keys of the keyboard also simultaneously includes help information which comprises a first set of functions for display when the mobile device enters a telephone mode.

3. The mobile device as recited in claim 2, wherein said help information further comprises a second set of functions for display after the call is initiated.

4. The mobile device as recited in claim 2, wherein a portion of said keys of the keyboard are associated with alphanumeric characters.

5. The mobile device as recited in claim 4, wherein the numbers 2-9 are respectively assigned to keys A-C, D-F, G-I, J-L, M-O, P-S, T-V and W-Z.

6. The mobile device of claim 4, wherein the keyboard has a QWERTY, AZERTY, DVORAK, or QWERTZ layout, or a reduced version of any one of said layouts.

7. The mobile device as recited in claim 2, wherein said numeric components of the ITU standard E.161 correspond with numbers of the keyboard corresponding with the virtual representation of at least a portion of keys.

8. The mobile device as recited in claim 2, wherein the help information indicates one or more remote answering service menu options that correspond to the one or more keys that are virtually represented on the display screen.

9. The mobile device as recited in claim 2, wherein the help information indicates voice mail command functions that correspond to the one or more keys that are virtually represented on the display screen.

10. The mobile device as recited in claim 2, wherein the help information is displayed in response to the mobile device entering a phone mode.

11. The mobile device as recited in claim 2, further comprising a memory operable to store user-specified help information.

12. The mobile device as recited in claim 11, wherein the processor and memory are operable to store a user-specified phone number in association with the user-specified help information.

13. The mobile device as recited in claim 12, wherein the processor is operable to display the user-specified help information associated with the user-specified phone number after the user-specified phone number is dialed.

14. The mobile device as recited in claim 11, wherein the processor and memory are further operable to display the stored user-specified help information on receiving a user-signal.

15. The mobile device as recited in claim 2, wherein the help information is presented in response to initiation of a phone call.

16. The mobile device as recited in claim 2, further comprising transmitting a DTMF code corresponding to a selected key of the keyboard via a transmitter.

17. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein a help screen is closed in response to a call being disconnected.

18. A system for displaying functions or characters associated with keys on a mobile communication device, comprising:

a keyboard having keys, each of said keys having associated therewith indicia corresponding to at least one of alphabetic characters, numbers, and functions, and wherein the alphabetic characters are arranged in a non-ITU Standard E.161 phone keypad layout;

a display screen operable to present information;

said display screen being operable to display a virtual representation of at least a portion of the keys of the keyboard, the virtual representation including help information on one or more virtually represented keys of the keyboard, wherein the virtual representation of at least a portion of the keys of the keyboard being displayed are substantially the same size and shape as the keys of the keyboard and wherein said virtual representation of at least a portion of the keys of the keyboard being displayed includes the alphabetic characters arranged in an ITU standard E.161 phone keypad layout;

said help information defining one or more functions indicating an associated telephone function or character of one or more keys that are virtually represented on the display screen and said help information also indicating that twelve keys of the keyboard are associated with alphabetic characters and numeric characters consistent with an ITU Standard E.161 phone keypad layout; and

a processor in signal communication with said keyboard and said display screen, said processor being configured to;

receive an input for virtual keyboard representation;

associate in response to said input a virtual keyboard corresponding to a portion of keys of said non-ITU Standard E.161 phone keypad layout; and

cause said display screen to display a virtual ITU standard E.161 keypad layout representing said portion of keys in substantially the same size and shape as that of the non-ITU Standard E.161 portion of keys.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the keys of the keyboard are operable for input of dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) codes.

20. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein said numeric components of the ITU standard E.161 correspond with numbers of the keyboard corresponding with the virtual representation of the portion of keys.

21. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein said help information comprises a first set of functions for display when the mobile device enters a telephone mode.

22. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein said help information further comprises a second set of functions for display after the call is initiated.

23. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein a portion of said keys of the keyboard are associated with alphanumeric characters.

24. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein the numbers 2-9 are respectively assigned to keys A-C, D-F, G-I, J-L, M-O, P-S, T-V and W-Z.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the keyboard has a QWERTY, AZERTY, DVORAK, or QWERTZ layout, or a reduced version of any of these layouts.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the virtually represented keys on the display screen have the approximate size of keys on the keyboard.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein the help information indicates one or more remote answering service menu options that correspond to the one or more keys that are virtually represented on the display screen.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the help information indicates voice mail command functions that correspond to the one or more keys that are virtually represented on the display screen.

29. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the help information is displayed in response to the mobile device entering a phone mode.

30. The system as recited in claim 18, further comprising a memory operable to store user-specified help information.

31. The system as recited in claim 30, wherein the processor and memory are operable to store a user specified phone number in association with the user-specified help information.

32. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein the processor is operable to display the user-specified help information associated with the user-specified phone number after the user-specified phone number is dialed.

33. The system as recited in claim 30, wherein the processor and memory are further operable to display the stored user-specified help information on receiving a user-signal.

34. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the help information is presented in response to initiation of a phone call.

35. The system as recited in claim 18, further comprising transmitting a DTMF code corresponding to a selected key of the keyboard via a transmitter.

36. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the help information for menu options is connected to a service.

37. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the help information for menu options is connected to a mailbox.