Display-based interface for a communication device

Abstract

A wireless handset or other communication device includes a user interface implemented with a display and a number of select buttons. The display provides an array of identifiers arranged in rows and columns, with the identifiers corresponding generally to lines or functions of a communication system. The display also provides a status indication for each of the identifiers. A status indicator for a line identifier may indicate whether the corresponding line is in use by the handset user, in use by another system user, or idle, while a status indicator for a function identifier may indicate whether the function is activated or deactivated by the handset user. The assignment of identifiers to lines or functions may be in accordance with a mapping from a wired system, and the status information may be supplied to the handset from a switch of the wired system. The handset includes at least one row select button for selecting a particular one of the rows of identifiers provided in the display, and at least one column select button for selecting a particular one of the columns of identifiers. The selection of a particular row and column indicates selection of a line or function associated with the corresponding identifier. The display may be configured such that all of the identifiers and the state of their corresponding status indicators are visible to the user whenever the handset is on.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.