Methods and apparatus for controlling a mobile device by using a pivoting input switch

• US 7,917,097 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Hawkins, Jeffrey Charles, Haitani, Robert Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; CongVan
• Application Number:
  US11/767,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20080045280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 445 901- 3, 445/414.1, 4455751- 4, 445/575.6, 4455758- 9, 4455561- 2, 445/128, 455/418, 455/550.1
• US Class Current: 455/90.1
• 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 1/233 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 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57

Abstract

A mobile device that performs at least one computing application and at least one phone application. This mobile device includes a user-controllable pivoting input switch. This switch has a number of operational modes. Several of these operational modes direct the operation of the computing application. In additional, several operational modes direct the operation of the phone application.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

an application configured for displaying a sequence of actionable items and performing an action on a selected actionable items;

a screen displaying at least a consecutive portion of the sequence of actionable items, the consecutive portion comprising the selected actionable item; and

a user-controllable pivoting input switch having a plurality of operational modes,

wherein a first operational mode comprises pivoting of the input switch in a first direction about an axis from a starting point to a first input-generating position, the input switch generating a first input signal in response to a detection of the input switch being pivoted to or past the first input-generating position and repeatedly generating the first input signal in response to a detection of the input switch being maintained at or past the first input-generating position, wherein the application selects an actionable item adjacent to the selected actionable item in the sequence in a direction associated with the first direction as the selected actionable item in response to the first input signal, and

a second operational mode comprises depressing of the input switch in towards the axis from the starting point to a second input-generating position, the input switch generating a second input signal in response to a detection of the input switch being depressed to or past the second input-generating position, wherein the application performs the action on the selected actionable item in response to the second input signal.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein a third operational mode comprises pivoting of the input switch in a second direction about the axis from the starting point to a third input-generating position, the input switch generating a third input signal in response to a detection of the input switch being pivoted to or past the third input-generating position and repeatedly generating the third input signal in response to a detection of the input switch being maintained at or past the third input-generating position, wherein the application selects an actionable item adjacent to the selected actionable item in the sequence in a direction associated with the second direction as the selected actionable item in response to the third input signal.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile phone, the application comprises a phone application, an actionable item comprises a telephone number, and the action performed on a selected actionable item comprises the phone application dialing the telephone number of the selected actionable item.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein a fourth operational mode comprises depressing of the input switch in towards the axis and holding the depressing state for a duration of time.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the input switch comprises a dial structure.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the input switch comprises a rocking switch.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the input switch is located on a side of the mobile device.

9. The device of claim 4, wherein the pivoting of the switch directs the phone application to adjust the volume of a phone conversation.

10. The device of claim 4, wherein the pivoting of the switch directs the phone application to adjust the volume of a phone conversation during an active call session.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the input switch repeatedly generates the first input signal at a particular frequency in response to a detection of the input switch being maintained at or past the first input-generating position.

12. A method of operating a mobile device, the mobile device comprising a user-controllable pivoting input switch and a screen, the method comprising:

displaying on the screen at least a consecutive portion of a sequence of actionable items, the consecutive portion comprising a selected actionable item;

responsive to a detection of the input switch being pivoted in a first direction about an axis from a starting point to a first input-generating position, selecting an actionable item adjacent to the selected actionable item in the sequence in a direction associated with the first direction as the selected actionable item; and

responsive to a detection of the input switch being depressed in towards the axis from the starting point to a second input-generating position, performing the action on the selected actionable item.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile phone, an actionable item comprises a telephone number, and the action performed on a selected actionable item comprises dialing the telephone number of the selected actionable item.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

responsive to a detection of the input switch being pivoted in a second direction about the axis from the starting point to a third input-generating position, selecting an actionable item adjacent to the selected actionable item in the sequence in a direction associated with the second direction as the selected actionable item.