Mobile device having plurality of input modes

• US 9,413,869 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2010
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Damale, Shridhar Y., Bali, Niraj
• Primary Examiner(s): HUANG, WEN WU
• Application Number:
  US12/703,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20110195758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,372 Days
• Field of Search: 455/563, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/569.1, 455/569.2, 4554141-4144, 455/460
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72481 for visually impaired users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00

Abstract

A mobile device or system comprises a housing, a voice sensor that is configured to detect sound, a speaker, and a processing circuit configured to operate in both a first mode and a second mode. The processing circuit receives instructions from a user by detecting the user touching the device or an accessory of the device when in the first mode and receives instructions from the voice of the user through the voice sensor when in the second mode. When a predetermined requirement is met, the processing circuit is configured to switch from a first mode to a second mode without receiving specific instructions from the user to switch the mode at the time of switching.

Claims

1. A mobile computing device, comprising:

a housing;

a user input device to detect a user touching the mobile device or an accessory of the device and to covert the touches into first digital instructions;

a voice sensor to detect sound;

a speech conversion module to convert the sound into second digital instructions; and

a processing module to;

provide the first digital instructions to any of a plurality of different programs or applications when in a first mode,

provide the second digital instructions to any of the plurality of different programs or applications when in a second mode,

provide a common instruction to at least one of the plurality of different programs or applications when a same user instruction is provided via the user input device or voice sensor, the common instruction provided to at least one of the plurality of different programs or applications in a same data format regardless of whether the same user instruction is provided via user input device or voice sensor; and

switch modes of operation without receiving specific instructions from the user to switch the mode at a time of switching when at least one predetermined requirement is met, wherein at least one predetermined requirement comprises user defined calendar event set and activated on the mobile computing device.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein for a same user instruction provided via the user input device or voice sensor, the first and second digital instructions are received by any of the plurality of different programs or applications in the same manner.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, the digital instruction received by any of the plurality of different programs or applications comprising playing a sound file stored in the device.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, the digital instruction received by any of the plurality of different programs or applications comprising manipulating a file or a document.