Alternative inputs of a mobile communications device

• US 8,970,499 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2014
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Wykes, David Henry, Kim, Sayim Catherine, Louchart, Audrey, Kruzeniski, Michael J., Holmes, Kathleen W., Friedman, Jonathan D., Marquardt, Joseph P.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAUTURE, JOSEPH J
• Application Number:
  US14/330,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20140320415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 232 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 455/566, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/418, 455/450, 455/561, 455/466, 455/557
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04807 Pen manipulated menu
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/80 2D [Two Dimensional] animation, e.g. using sprites
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• 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: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 : Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 : from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

In an implementation, a mobile communications device includes a display device having touchscreen functionality, a keyboard having a plurality of physical keys that include a dedicated key and letter keys arranged according to a QWERTY layout, and one or more modules. The one or more modules are configured to output a user interface on the display device responsive to selection of the dedicated key, the user interface having a plurality of portions that are selectable via the touchscreen functionality to cause input of a respective one of a plurality of emoticons.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a touchscreen display device;

a keyboard comprising physical keys that include a dedicated key and letter keys arranged according to a QWERTY layout; and

one or more modules configured to display a library for display as at least part of a user interface on the touchscreen display device responsive to selection of the dedicated key, wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of portions that are selectable via the touchscreen display device to cause selection of an item of the library wherein an item in the library includes a function.

2. The device as described in claim 1, wherein an item of the library includes a character not included among the physical keys.

3. The device as described in claim 2, wherein the character includes a punctuation mark.

4. The device as described in claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the physical keys are selectable to cause display of a number when selected concurrently with another one of the physical keys.

5. The device as described in claim 4, wherein each of the subset of the physical keys includes indicia on the physical key of a respective number and letter for input via the physical key.

6. A method comprising:

receiving selection of a dedicated key of a keyboard, the keyboard comprising physical keys that include the dedicated key and letter keys arranged according to a QWERTY layout; and

displaying, responsive to selection of the dedicated key, a library as at least part of a user interface on a touchscreen display device, the user interface comprising a plurality of portions that are selectable via the touchscreen display device to cause selection of an item of the library wherein an item in the library includes a function.

7. The method as described in claim 6, wherein an item of the library includes a character not included among the physical keys.

8. The method as described in claim 6, wherein the dedicated key is selectable solely for display of the library and each of the letter keys includes indicia of a respective letter for input response to selection of the letter key.

9. The method as described in claim 6, wherein the library comprises a plurality of punctuation marks.

10. The method as described in claim 6, wherein the library comprises a plurality of special characters formed through combination of a letter and a punctuation mark.

11. A computing device comprising:

a display device having touchscreen functionality;

a keyboard having a plurality of physical keys that include a dedicated key and letter keys arranged according to a QWERTY layout; and

one or more modules that are configured to output a user interface on the display device responsive to selection of the dedicated key and further configured to load a library on the display device responsive to selection of the dedicated key, the user interface having a plurality of portions that are selectable via the touchscreen functionality to cause selection of an item of the library wherein an item in the library includes a function.

12. The computing device as described in claim 11, wherein an item of the library includes a character not included among the physical keys.

13. The computing device as described in claim 11, wherein an item of the library includes a punctuation mark.

14. The computing device as described in claim 11, wherein an item of the library includes a plurality of characters representing a plurality of special characters formed through combination of a letter and a punctuation mark.

15. The computing device as described in claim 11, wherein at least a subset of the physical keys are selectable to cause output of a number when selected concurrently with another one of the physical keys.

16. The computing device as described in claim 15, wherein each of the subset of the physical keys includes indicia on the physical key of a respective number and letter for input via selection of the physical key.

17. The computing device as described in claim 11, wherein the dedicated key is selectable solely for display of the library.