Multifunctional keyboard for a mobile communication device and method of operating the same

• US 8,391,468 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2009
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Zhao, Wen, Fu, Runbo, Jin, Xin, Yeung, Pokin, Rudnitski, Karen A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Tuan
• Application Number:
  US12/607,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20100048261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 379/52, 379/356.01, 379/368, 379/374.02, 379/433.07, 400/485, 400/486, 400/489, 345/168, 345/169
• US Class Current: 379/368
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• 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 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237

Abstract

An apparatus and method for telephony tone signal and character code generation for QWERTY keyboards includes a QWERTY style keyboard, a processor and a keyboard mode control software module. The QWERTY style keyboard has a plurality of letter keys, wherein each letter key is configured to generate a unique input signal. The processor is coupled to the keyboard and is configured to convert each unique input signal generated by the letter keys into a character code and/or a telephony tone signal. The keyboard mode control software module operates on the processor, and controls whether the processor converts the unique input signals from the letter keys into character codes or telephony tone signals.

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising:

twenty-six keys that are each labeled with a different letter of the alphabet and are each assigned a number;

the device being configured in a joint mode, for each key pressed by a user, to simultaneously generate both a telephony tone signal corresponding to the number assigned to the pressed key and a character code corresponding to the letter assigned to the pressed key,

wherein the numbers 2-9 are assigned respectively to keys A-C, D-F, G-I, J-L, M-O, P-S, T-V, and W-Z.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the keys are arranged in a QWERTY configuration.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is further configured to output, for each key pressed by a user, a character code signal corresponding to the pressed key.

4. A communication device comprising:

twenty-six keys that are each labeled with a different letter of the alphabet and are each assigned a number;

the device being configured in a joint mode to simultaneously generate both a telephony tone signal corresponding to the number assigned to each key pressed by a user and a character code signal corresponding to the letter assigned to each key pressed by a user,

wherein the numbers 2-9 are assigned respectively to keys A-C, D-F, G-I, J-L, M-O, P-S, T-V, and W-Z.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the keys are arranged in a QWERTY configuration.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the numbers are communicated through telephony tone signals.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the numbers are communicated through a display of the device.

8. The device of claim 4, wherein the device has a first mode of operation in which the device communicates the numbers assigned to the pressed keys and a second mode of operation in which the device communicates the letters labeled on the pressed keys.

9. The device of claim 8, further comprising a mode key in which the user can switch from the first mode to the second mode.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the device is configured to indicate the mode of operation.

11. A method of operating a multifunctional keyboard for a communication device, comprising the steps of:

providing twenty-six keys that are each labeled with a different letter of the alphabet and are each assigned a number; and

in a joint mode simultaneously generating both a telephony tone signal corresponding to the number assigned to each key pressed by a user and a character code signal corresponding to the letter assigned to each key pressed by the user,

wherein the numbers 2-9 are assigned respectively to keys A-C, D-F, G-I, J-L, M-O, P-S, T-V, and W-Z.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the numbers are communicated through telephony tone signals.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the numbers are communicated through a display of the device.