System and method for cleaning the display screen of a touch screen device

A method of enabling a user to clean a display screen in a touch screen based telephone having a handset, comprising the steps of:

• (1) entering a "clean screen" mode in response to a request from the user to clean the display screen;
• (2) ignoring all signals generated in response to the user touching the display screen while in said "clean screen" mode, such that while in said "clean screen" mode the user is able to clean the display screen without inadvertently activating any features of the device;
• (3) determining whether the user has finished cleaning the display screen;
• (4) leaving said "clean screen" mode and entering an "active screen" mode if it is determined that the user has finished cleaning the display screen;
• and
• (5) processing all signals generated in response to the user touching the display screen while in said "active screen" mode.

A touch screen based telephone, comprising:

• a touch screen based display screen;
• a processor;
• and
• control logic for controlling said processor to enable a user to clean said display screen, comprising:
• means for enabling said processor to enter a "clean screen" mode in response to a request from the user to clean said display screen;
• means for enabling said processor to ignore all signals generated in response to the user touching said display screen while in said "clean screen" mode, such that while in said "clean screen" mode the user is able to clean said display screen without inadvertently activating any features of said telephone;
• screen touching determining means for enabling said processor to determine whether the user failed to touch said display screen for a predetermined amount of time;
• means for enabling said processor to enter an "active screen" mode if it is determined that the user failed to touch said display screen for said predetermined amount of time;
• and
• means for enabling said processor to process all signals generated in response to the user touching said display screen while in said "active screen" mode.