Multiple mode cellular telephone control device

A method for operating a vehicular communication apparatus including a memory, a display, and a plurality of input keys, said apparatus having a normal mode, a speed-dial mode, and an alpha mode, said method comprising the steps of:

• entering one of said modes in response to turning on of said apparatus;
• and
• entering a different one of said modes in response to activating at least one of said input keys;
• wherein said normal mode comprises the steps of:
• displaying an indication that said normal mode is active;
• accepting digits corresponding to a phone number entered from said input keys or accepting input of a memory location storing a phone number and retrieving said phone number in response to activation of said input keys;
• displaying said phone number as it is entered or as retrieved from said memory location;
• storing a displayed phone number in response to a store command and a desired memory location within said memory entered from said input keys;
• and
• calling said displayed phone number in response to a send command entered from said input keys;
• wherein said speed-dial mode comprises the steps of:
• displaying an indication that said speed-dial mode is active;
• retrieving and calling a phone number stored in said memory in response to activation of an input key;
• and
• displaying said retrieved phone number;
• and wherein said alpha mode comprises the steps of:
• displaying an indication that said alpha mode is active;
• displaying and scrolling through stored alphabetic names each corresponding to a respective phone number in a respective memory location in response to a jump command for displaying an alphabetic name beginning with an alphabetic character selected by a corresponding input key and scroll commands entered from input keys not corresponding to an alphabetic character for displaying another alphabetic name beginning with said selected alphabetic character, wherein said scrolling wraps around within said stored alphabetic names beginning with said selected alphabetic character;
• storing an alphabetic name in said memory in response to a store command, alphabetic characters, and a desired memory location entered from said input keys;
• and
• calling the phone number corresponding to said displayed alphabetic name in response to a send command entered from said input keys.

Mobile communication apparatus for a vehicle having an instrument panel, comprising:

• a memory for storing a plurality of phone numbers each having a respective storage location;
• an alphanumeric display on said instrument panel;
• a plurality of input keys on said instrument panel numbered 0 through 9 wherein each of said keys numbered 2 through 9 corresponds to at least three respective alphabetic characters, each of said alphabetic characters being selectable by activating a respective key a predetermined number of times;
• a transceiver;
• and
• controller means coupled to said memory, said display, said input keys, and said transceiver for controlling said display, said memory, and said transceiver in response to said input keys to provide a normal mode, a speed-dial mode and an alpha mode, said alpha mode displaying names corresponding to respective phone numbers and including a scrolling function, a jump function, a storing function, and a call initiating function;
• wherein said scrolling function provides scrolling through and displaying said names beginning with a common alphabetic character selected by performing said jump function, said scrolling function being performed in response to a scrolling command entered from selected one of said input keys not corresponding to an alphabetic character, said scrolling function providing wrapping around within names beginning with a common alphabetic character;
• wherein said jump function provides jumping to and displaying names beginning with a selected alphabetic character in response to activating one of said input keys corresponding to said selected alphabetic character;
• wherein said storing function provides for adding a name to said memory which is entered from said input keys;
• and
• wherein said call initiating function initiates a call to the phone number corresponding to the displayed name.