Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080211696 | KEY SYSTEM FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A key activation system for use in an electronic device is provided. The system comprises an activation mechanism associated with a key in the system, a first feedback system and a second feedback system. The activation mechanism is associated with the key activation system and provides a first feedback sense when the activation mechanism has triggered the first activation condition. The second feedback system provides a second feedback sense indicating when the key triggers the second activation condition. In the system, the second feedback system operates independently from the activation mechanism and the first activation condition is triggered before the second activation condition when the activation mechanism is initially engaged. An activation mechanism may be centrally located for a set of keys. | 09-04-2008 |
20080303796 | SHAPE-CHANGING DISPLAY FOR A HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A system and method is disclosed that provides for a shape changing upper surface of an adaptive display screen on a wireless handheld communication device. The system and method include visually displaying visibly different key arrangement to an operator of the device in dependence upon the mode of operation of the incorporating device. The shape changing upper surface is presented to the operator for selective digital press-engagement. The shape changing upper surface also changes shape in dependence upon the presented key arrangement. | 12-11-2008 |
20080305746 | USER HAND DETECTION FOR WIRELESS DEVICES - A method for determining whether a wireless device is being held comprising: activating a vibration motor in the wireless device to vibrate the wireless device for a predetermined period; receiving at least one acceleration measurement from an accelerometer in the wireless device during the predetermined period; and comparing the at least one acceleration measurement to at least one stored acceleration measurement, the at least one stored acceleration measurement corresponding to a held wireless device. | 12-11-2008 |
20080318617 | APPEARANCE ADAPTABLE KEYPAD FOR A HANDHELD COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A handheld communication device configurable between a telephone mode and an email mode is described. The handheld communication device has a body with a front face at which a user input is located. The user input includes an appearance-adaptable keypad configurable between a telephone keypad when the device is in the telephone mode, and a text entry keypad when the device is in the email mode. The telephone keypad includes a plurality of alphanumeric input keys. The telephone keypad is arranged in a standard telephone keypad layout when the device is in the telephone mode. The text entry keypad includes a plurality of alphabetic input keys. The text entry keypad is arranged in a standard text entry keyboard layout when the device is in the email mode. | 12-25-2008 |
20090066651 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR APPLICATION NAVIGATION ENHANCEMENT ON A HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A handheld electronic device with a body which houses a microprocessor-run software application is disclosed. The software application program requires operator navigation therein during use. Furthermore, the application program is programmed to receive a directional navigation instruction from the operator utilizing a navigation tool. The instruction indicates a direction and degree of navigation with the application program. The application program is further programmed to receive a complimentary instruction from the operator that adapts the instructed degree of navigation to be affected in the application program by the received directional navigation instruction. | 03-12-2009 |
20090109182 | TEXT SELECTION USING A TOUCH SENSITIVE SCREEN OF A HANDHELD MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A system and method is disclosed that provides for character or text selection and editing. The text and character selection is made by user contact with a touch sensitive screen. In order to allow for refinement of the selection, a second expanded view is implemented as compared to the original display configuration of the screen. Furthermore, the selection is described in relation to two endpoints of the block of text. Additionally, a point is specified as the point desired for insertion of the selected text. The expanded view is implemented along with the original view as required when making character selection. | 04-30-2009 |
20090160769 | Input Mechanism for Handheld Electronic Communication Device - A handheld electronic communication device features an optically based user input device and navigation tool. In one embodiment, the optically based user input device features a translucent domed lens and a light source to illuminate a user's finger as the user slides his finger over the domed lens. In another embodiment, the optically based user input device features a translucent ball that the user rotates. In both embodiments, optical means are used to measure movement of the user's finger and translate that movement into a navigational command to the handheld electronic communication device. The optically based user input device is further configured such that an entry command is entered by depressing the optically based user input device. | 06-25-2009 |
20090163193 | Method and Apparatus for Launching Activities - A handheld electronic device having a microprocessor housed within a body including a display area and a contact-sensitive area is disclosed. The contact-sensitive area detects contact engagement therewith and produces instruction data based thereupon. A microprocessor-run software program receives instruction data from the contact-sensitive area. The contact-sensitive area has a home zone area and a plurality of activity launch zone areas. The software program is programmed to process the instruction data and determine sweeping contact motion detected on the contact-sensitive area originating at the home zone area and terminating at one of the plurality of activity launch zone areas. The program responsively launches an operator-instructed activity corresponding to the activity launch zone area at which the sweeping contact motion terminated. | 06-25-2009 |
20090167695 | EMBEDDED NAVIGATION ASSEMBLY AND METHOD ON HANDHELD DEVICE - A handheld electronic communication device includes a plurality of text entry keys arranged in a keyfield. A navigation home region includes a navigation home key, and a navigation travel region bounds the navigation home region. The navigation travel region overlies text entry keys within the keyfield. A user navigates by actuating the navigation home key and then moving his finger across keys lying within the navigation travel region and otherwise generally used to effect text entry into the device. The navigation home key is preferably configured for dual levels of actuation, as may be the text entry keys. | 07-02-2009 |
20090174655 | WHEELED USER INPUT DEVICE IN COOPERATION WITH A HANDHELD ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A handheld wireless communication device includes a device body having a display screen. The display screen is located above a user input device located on a front face of the body. The user input device includes a set of four rotatable wheels, each mounted on an axle having a longitudinal axis oriented substantially perpendicular relative the front face of the body. At least one sensor is operatively associated with the set of four wheels and is configured to sense motion induced in any of the four wheels. Additionally the at least one sensor is further configured to output electronic data representative of sensed wheel motion. The device further includes a microprocessor that is programmed to process input data into cursor guidance instructions that are outputted to the display screen and which affect x-direction and y-direction cursor movement on the display screen in correspondence with the sensed wheel motion. | 07-09-2009 |
20090187676 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENABLING AND DISABLING A LOCK MODE ON A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A portable electronic device including a processor provided in a housing, the processor for switching the portable electronic device from a normal operating mode to a device lock mode and a first input device and a second input device provided in the housing. Actuation of the first input device within a maximum delay of actuation of the second input device enables the device lock mode. | 07-23-2009 |
20090201258 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL TOUCH-SENSITIVE DISPLAY DEVICE - A portable electronics device comprises a data processor and a display. The display comprises a display device, and a transparent three-dimensional touch-sensitive screen disposed over the display device. The touch-sensitive screen comprises a raised region and a recessed region surrounding the raised region. The data processor renders on the display device a data input/output screen comprising a plurality of data input regions, the raised region overlaying the data input regions; and detects, as input from one of the data input regions, touch activity at a portion of the raised region coincident with the one data input region. | 08-13-2009 |
20090231282 | CHARACTER SELECTION ON A DEVICE USING OFFSET CONTACT-ZONE - A mobile device having a housing including a display screen mounted therein as well as a touch-sensitive keyboard and microprocessor is disclosed. The microprocessor is communicatively connected between the display screen and the touch-sensitive keyboard. A program that runs on the microprocessor is also presented. The microprocessor-run program identifies an offset contact-zone on the touch-sensitive keyboard that corresponds to a proximate visible input key. Additionally, the microprocessor-run program normalizes the identified offset contact-zone into registration with the corresponding proximate visible input key so that sensed contacts at the offset contact-zone actuate an input to the device associated with the corresponding visible input key. | 09-17-2009 |
20090303022 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING TACTILE FEEDBACK TO A USER OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A system for providing tactile feedback for an input device in an electronic device is provided. The system comprises: an input device having a first input region for receiving a user action from the user; a surface associated with the input device and covering at least a part of the first input region; an input signal generator associated with the input device; and a physical feature associated with the input region. The physical feature is located on the surface, provides a second input region for receiving the user action and provides a tactile feedback sense to the user when the user contacts the second region. The input signal generator generates a first input signal when the user touches the first input region while not touching second input region and generates a second input signal when the user touches simultaneously the first and the second input regions. | 12-10-2009 |
20100000352 | DEVICE OPENER AND VIBRATION MECHANISM - A device, method and computer program product for effecting vibrations in a device. In accordance with one example embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for effecting vibrations in a mobile electronic device having a first body and a second body movably mounted together, a drive motor for moving one body relative to the other body between a closed position and an open position in a first mode of operation, a controller for controlling the drive motor, and a biasing mechanism for applying a biasing force biasing the first and second bodies in the closed position when the first and second bodies are in the closed position and for applying a biasing force biasing the first and second bodies in the open position when the first and second bodies are in the open position, the method including: in a second mode of operation, driving the motor to repeatedly move one of the first body and the second body relative to the other of first body and the second body and against the biasing mechanism to cause the mobile electronic device to vibrate. | 01-07-2010 |
20100003944 | SYSTEM, CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR ACTIVATING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - The disclosure provides a system, circuit and method for activating an electronic device from a low power state. The circuit comprises: a microprocessor; a first accelerometer; a second accelerometer which is activated upon receiving a movement signal from the first accelerometer, indicating a movement of the electronic device; a threshold circuit connected to an output of the second accelerometer to allow only signals generated by the second accelerometer that exceed a threshold to pass; an input device; and a monitoring circuit connected to the input device and an output of the threshold circuit. The monitoring circuit comprises a latch circuit utilizing signals from the threshold circuit and a reset signal from the microprocessor to generate a trigger signal to activate the input device. The monitoring circuit selectively generates an activation signal to activate the electronic device to a higher power state utilizing a notable signal received from the input device. | 01-07-2010 |
20100009650 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVATING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - The disclosure provides a circuit and method for activating an electronic device from a low power state. The activation circuit comprises: a first accelerometer in the device; a second accelerometer which is activated upon receiving a movement signal from the first accelerometer; an input device; and a circuit to provide power to the input device when a series of connected movements signals from at least one of the first and the second accelerometers match a predetermined movement gesture. | 01-14-2010 |
20100029242 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVATING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - The disclosure provides a circuit and method for activating an electronic device from a low power state. The activation circuit comprises: a first accelerometer located in the device to detect a movement of the device along a specific axis; a second accelerometer which is activated upon receiving a movement signal from the first accelerometer indicating a movement of the electronic device along the specific axis; an input device; and a monitoring circuit connected to the input device and an output of the second accelerometer, the monitoring circuit providing power to the input device when the second accelerometer indicates movement of the device that surpasses a threshold and then generating an activation signal to operate the electronic device in a higher power state utilizing a notable signal received from the input device. | 02-04-2010 |
20100141484 | OPTIMIZED KEYBOARD FOR HANDHELD THUMB-TYPING AND TOUCH-TYPING - A keyboard optimized for handheld thumb-typing and conventional desktop touch-typing includes a reduced key keyboard having a plurality of keys each having at least an alphabetic character, a numeral, or a command indicia. The keyboard has a width greater than about 100 millimeters and less than about 160 millimeters, and each key has a width that is approximately 10 millimeters to 16 millimeters. The alphabetic keys are arranged such that when a user cradles the device in his/her hands he/she can actuate a first subset of the keys on the left of a vertical center line with his/her left thumb and can actuate a second subset of the keys on the right side of the vertical centerline with his/her right thumb. The keys are also positioned such that when the user places the device on a desktop surface, the user can type on the keyboard by conventional finger touch-typing. | 06-10-2010 |
20100216512 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE TRANSITIONABLE BETWEEN DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS - A handheld electronic device transitionable between different configurations includes a keyboard panel having a slot, a display panel, a coupler that rotary couples the keyboard panel and the display panel and slidingly engages the slot of the keyboard panel. The display panel is positioned such that is substantially parallel with the keyboard panel in a compact configuration. When the device is transitioned from the compact to translated configuration, the coupler engages the slot. When the device is transitioned from the translated to expanded configuration, the display panel is rotated about the coupler such that the centerpoint of the display panel is closer to the centerpoint of the keyboard panel in the expanded configuration as compared to the translated configuration. The coupler can comprise a rotation control mechanism coupled to a biasing member or can have teeth that engages a track or can be a cam that engages a t-shaped slot. | 08-26-2010 |
20100225585 | METHOD FOR NAVIGATING AND SELECTING ITEMS WITH A RETURN-TO-CENTER NAVIGATION COMPONENT - A user interface for a portable electronic device and associated method, wherein the device includes a display for displaying a plurality of selectable items circumscribing a center portion and a multi-directional user input device, such as a joystick, having a return-to-center mechanism for biasing the device toward a center position. The method comprises displaying the plurality of selectable items, shifting display focus to any one of the selectable items responsive to lateral movement of the user input device away from the center position toward the selectable item, and moving the selectable item to the center portion while maintaining focus responsive to the user input device returning to its center position. | 09-09-2010 |
20100259369 | NAVIGATION TOOL WITH AUDIBLE FEEDBACK ON A HANDHELD COMMUNICATION DEVICE HAVING A FULL ALPHABETIC KEYBOARD - System and method that provides tactical feedback through a speaker of a handheld electronic device having a full alphabetic keyboard upon activation of a navigation tool. The audible feedback produced by the speaker is capable of being modified based on upon the location, speed, and other characteristics of the movement of a cursor on the display of a handheld electronic device. The sound produced by the speaker can originate from an audio file stored or otherwise available on the handheld electronic device. | 10-14-2010 |
20100291977 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVATING A COMMUNICATION DEVICE BASED ON USAGE INFORMATION - The disclosure provides a system and method for controlling operation of a device. The device comprises: a display; a memory device; an activation sensor; and a microprocessor. The microprocessor is programmed to: identify an activation cycle as a function of a plurality of activation times of the device stored in the memory device, an activation cycle including a higher power consumption mode; determine an activation boundary for the activation cycle utilizing said plurality of activation times; and place the device in a lower power consumption mode than the higher power consumption mode when the activation cycle is complete. | 11-18-2010 |
20100317324 | AUTOMATIC SECURITY ACTION INVOCATION FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - A mobile communications device, method and computer program product for providing security are described. In one embodiment, the device comprises: a processor; a communications subsystem; a storage element having application modules and data; and a security module operable to detect a locked state of the device and initiate a lockout data protection timer for a predetermined duration upon detection of the locked state. The security module is operable to, after the lockout data protection timer has been initiated, detect if a password is entered through a user input device within the predetermined duration and to terminate the lockout data protection timer if entry of the password is detected to perform a security action comprising erasing or encrypting at least some of the data if entry of the password is not detected. | 12-16-2010 |
20110021254 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVELY ACTIVATING A COMMUNICATION DEVICE - The disclosure provides a system and method for detecting activation of a communication device via passive means, For the system and method, the device comprises a casing for housing a display and a keyboard; a microprocessor controlling aspects of the keyboard and display; a passive usage sensor; and a power application operating on the microprocessor. The power application monitors the usage sensor for a signal indicating movement of the device from a resting location when the device is in a low power mode and upon detection of the signal for provides power to at least one additional element in the device. | 01-27-2011 |
20110040803 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MODIFYING A SCHEDULING DATABASE - A mobile electronic communications device and a method for modifying a scheduling database are provided. The scheduling database can be modified via the mobile electronic communications device in communication with a proximate electronic device comprising a display device, when the mobile electronic communications device is engaging in an oral communications session with a second communications device. Time slot data associated with an available time slot is retrieved from the scheduling database, via the mobile electronic communications device. The time slot data associated with the available time slot is transmitted, via the mobile electronic communications device, to the proximate electronic device to cause the proximate electronic device to display the time slot data associated with the available time slot at the display device. Input data is received at the mobile electronic communications device. If the input data is representative of a command to update the scheduling database, updating, via the mobile electronic communications device, an entry of the scheduling database based on the time slot data associated with the available time slot displayed at the display device. | 02-17-2011 |
20110041068 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MODIFYING A SCHEDULING DATABASE - A mobile electronic communications device and a method for modifying a scheduling database are provided. The scheduling database is modified via the mobile electronic communications device in communication with a proximate electronic device comprising a display device, the mobile electronic communications device is engaging an oral communications session with a second communications device. Time slot data associated with an available time slot is retrieved from the scheduling database, via the mobile electronic communications device. The time slot data is transmitted to the proximate electronic device causing it to display the time slot data at the display device. Input data representative of a command to update the scheduling database is received at the mobile electronic communications device. An entry of the scheduling database is updated, via the mobile electronic device, based on the time slot data associated with the available time slot displayed at the display device. | 02-17-2011 |
20110181517 | Providing a Prompt for Entry of Information at a Later Time - A method and apparatus are provided to prompt a user of a portable electronic device in such a way to allow the user to enter information later. In response to receiving a user input that indicates a request to enter information at a later time, and upon occurrence of a trigger at the later time, the portable electronic device presents a prompt configured to facilitate entry of the information. In one embodiment the user input is specific to a type of trigger or to a type of prompt needed at the later time. Furthermore, the portable electronic device may prepare a contextual cue in response to receiving the user input, and present a portion of the contextual cue at the later time to facilitate remembrance of the information that the user wished to enter. | 07-28-2011 |
20120109923 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING SEARCH RESULTS ON ELECTRONIC DEVICES - A system and method are provided for displaying search results on an electronic device. The method includes: displaying at least a portion of a first set of search results; capturing one or more images using a camera device of the electronic device, the camera device being directed in a same direction as a display of the electronic device, the image comprising one or more subjects; determining corresponding points of regard in the one or more images for at least one of the one or more subjects, the points of regard being indicative of areas on the display at which a gaze of the corresponding subject is directed; determining one or more search results associated with the points of regard; and displaying further search results based on information associated with the one or more search results associated with the points of regard. | 05-03-2012 |
20120122527 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVELY ACTIVATING A COMMUNICATION DEVICE - The disclosure provides a system and method for managing power and activation of a communication device. The system comprises: a microprocessor controlling the electronic device; an accelerometer; and a power application operating on the microprocessor. The application provides instructions to the microprocessor to place the electronic device in a low power state from a higher power state upon determining from movement data generated by the accelerometer that the electronic device has been returned to around a resting location where the electronic device was previously in a stationary state from a first location that is in a spaced relationship to the resting location. | 05-17-2012 |
20120210389 | AUTOMATIC SECURITY ACTION INVOCATION FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - In one embodiment, there is provided a mobile communications device comprising: a processor; a communications subsystem operable to exchange signals with a wireless network; a storage element having application modules and data stored thereon, the data comprising at least user application data associated with the application modules and service data including data for establishing communications with the wireless network; and a security module operable to detect policy messages received by the device, and to perform a security action if a first policy message to enforce a first data protection policy is received and a subsequent policy message to enforce a second data protection policy is not received within a predetermined duration from the time at which the first policy message is received; wherein the security action comprises erasing or encrypting at least some of the data on the storage element. | 08-16-2012 |
20130246976 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING ACTIVITIES - A handheld electronic device having a microprocessor housed within a body including a display area and a contact-sensitive area is disclosed. The contact-sensitive area detects contact engagement therewith and produces instruction data based thereupon. A microprocessor-run software program receives instruction data from the contact-sensitive area. The contact-sensitive area has a home zone area and a plurality of activity launch zone areas. The software program is programmed to process the instruction data and determine sweeping contact motion detected on the contact-sensitive area originating at the home zone area and terminating at one of the plurality of activity launch zone areas. The program responsively launches an operator-instructed activity corresponding to the activity launch zone area at which the sweeping contact motion terminated. | 09-19-2013 |
20150056919 | MANAGING SHORT RANGE WIRELESS DATA TRANSMISSIONS - An apparatus and method for relaying short range communication data between electronic devices. In one example, a first and second short range wireless communication link is established with a first and second wireless communication device, respectively. The first wireless communication device maintains a wireless connection to a wireless telecommunications network. A first and second set of data is received from the first and second wireless communication devices over the first and second links, respectively. At least one of the first set of data and the second set of data is relayed to at least one of the second wireless communication device and the first wireless communication device, respectively, over the second and first links, respectively. The relaying forms a multi-party connection with the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device to the wireless telecommunications network. | 02-26-2015 |