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

• US 8,559,622 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2011
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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:
  US13/193,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20110304552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 379/433.07, 379/52, 379/356.01, 379/368, 379/374.02, 345/168, 345/169, 400/485, 400/486, 400/489
• US Class Current: 379/433.07
• 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 method for use in a communication device for telephony tone signal and character code generation, the method comprising:

receiving a signal generated by a key labeled with a letter and a number;

in a joint mode of operation of the communication device substantially simultaneously;

converting the signal into a character code, the character code corresponding to the letter label of the key; and

converting the signal into a telephony tone signal, the telephony tone signal corresponding to the number.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the letter represented by the character code on a display of the communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising buffering the telephony tone signal until a telephone call is initiated.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising processing the telephony tone signal to execute the telephone call.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising buffering the character code until a telephone call is initiated.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising processing the character code to log a call.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving further signals generated by a plurality of keys, at least one of the keys labeled with letters; and

outputting character codes corresponding to the plurality of keys using a telephone number field to allow entry of a telephone number via the letter keys of the plurality of keys.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the telephone number comprises a mnemonic having letters and numbers.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the telephone number includes a toll-free area code.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal further comprises a plurality of signals generated by a plurality of letter keys and each signal of the plurality of signals is converted into a corresponding character code and a corresponding telephony tone signal.

11. A communication device comprising:

a keyboard having a key, the key labeled with a letter and a number;

a display; and

a processor coupled with the keyboard and the display, the processor being configured to;

receive a signal generated by the key,

in a joint mode of operation of the communication device substantially simultaneously;

convert the signal into a character code, the character code corresponding to the letter label of the key, and

convert the signal into a telephony tone signal corresponding to the number of the key.

13. The communication device of claim 11, further comprising a memory coupled to the processor, the processor being further configured to buffer the telephony tone signal until a telephone call is initiated.

14. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to process the telephony tone signal to execute the telephone call.

15. The communication device of claim 11, further comprising a memory coupled to the processor, the processor being further configured to buffer the character code until a telephone call is initiated.

16. The communication device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to process the character code to log the telephone call.

17. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to receive further signals generated by a plurality of keys of the keyboard and to output character codes corresponding to the plurality of keys in a telephone number field displayed on the display and to allow entry of a telephone number using letter keys of the plurality of keys.

18. The communication device of claim 17, wherein the telephone number comprises a mnemonic having letters and numbers.

19. The communication device of claim 17, wherein the telephone number includes a toll-free area code.

20. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the keyboard has at least 26 letter keys, each letter key labeled with a letter.

21. The communication device of claim 20, wherein the signal further includes a plurality of signals generated by a plurality of letter keys;

the processor being further configured to convert each signal into a corresponding character code and a corresponding telephony tone signal.

12. The communication device of 11, wherein the processor is further configured to display the letter represented by the character code on the display.