System and method for making an electronic handheld device more accessible to a disabled person

• US 8,428,657 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2008
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Scott, Sherryl Lee Lorraine
• Primary Examiner(s): HANNON, CHRISTIAN A
• Application Number:
  US12/204,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20090007026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,692 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/550.1, 379/433.04
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/02 Methods for producing synthetic speech; Speech synthesisers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72475 specially adapted for disabled users

Abstract

An electronic handheld device is described having an options module for providing a user with at least one option in the handheld device, each option associated with an enabling mode of operation of the handheld device. The device also includes an enabling module for implementing, in response to a particular option being selected by a user, an associated enabling mode of operation. Each enabling mode of operation makes the handheld device more accessible to a person having a corresponding disability.

Claims

1. A method for making an electronic handheld device more accessible to a disabled person, the method comprising:

providing a visual enhancement option in an accessibility options menu comprising a plurality of accessibility options in a user interface of the handheld device;

receiving an input identifying a selected accessibility option from the accessibility options menu;

implementing an enabling mode of operation in response to receiving the input, wherein the input identifies the visual enhancement option;

receiving a user selection of a line of text displayed at the handheld device; and

enlarging the user-selected line of text in the enabling mode of operation, wherein non-selected lines of text are not enlarged.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user selection was made using a trackwheel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user-selected line of text is also shown with an increase in contrast.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing is performed by an options module and the implementing is performed by an enabling module, and wherein the options module and the enabling module are preloaded into the handheld device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising updating the options module and the enabling module.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising linking the handheld device to a database comprising data for an upgrade, prior to the updating.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a degree of disability option in the user interface of the handheld device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a preferences option in the user interface of the handheld device, for specifying at least one of a font, a color, or a line spacing preference.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the handheld device comprises a storage medium for storing controller instructions corresponding to the enabling mode of operation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing is performed when the handheld device is powered up.

11. An electronic handheld device comprising:

an options module for providing a visual enhancement option in an accessibility options menu comprising a plurality of accessibility options in a user interface of the handheld device, said visual enhancement option associated with an enabling mode of operation of the handheld device; and

an enabling module for implementing, in response to the visual enhancement option when selected, an associated enabling mode of operation

wherein the handheld device is configured to receive a user selection of a line of text displayed at the handheld device, and to enlarge the user-selected line of text in the enabling mode of operation, wherein non-selected lines of text are not enlarged.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the user selection was made using a trackwheel.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the user-selected line of text is also shown with an increase in contrast.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the options module and the enabling module are preloaded into the handheld device.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the options module and the enabling module are updatable.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the options module and the enabling module are updatable after the device is linked to a database comprising data for an upgrade.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein the options module comprises a submenu degree module for providing a degree of disability option in the user interface of the handheld device.

18. The device of claim 11, wherein the options module is further configured for providing a preferences option in the user interface of the handheld device for specifying at least one of a font, a color, or a line spacing preference.

19. The device of claim 11, further comprising a storage medium for storing controller instructions corresponding to the enabling mode of operation.

20. The device of claim 11, wherein the options module provides the visual enhancement option when the device is powered up.