Mobile station user interface, and an associated method, for facilitating usage by a visually-impaired user

In a method for communicating in a radio communication system utilizing a portable radio device, an improvement of a method for facilitating use of the radio device by a visually-impaired user, said method comprising

• positioning an array of upstanding pin members proximate to the radio device, the pin members arranged in rows and columns to form an array, each pin member separately positionable alternately in an upraised position and a recessed position, the array defining at least a first set of pin members capable of forming at least a first Braille pattern;
• wherein the at least the first set of pin members defined by the array of pin members positioned during said operation of positioning comprises the first set of pin members capable of forming a Braille pattern and at least a second set of pin members also capable of forming a Braille pattern;
• converting data received at the radio device into at least a first alphanumeric character, wherein the at least the first alphanumeric character into which the data is converted during said operation of converting comprises the first alphanumeric character and at least a second alphanumeric character;
• and
• causing the pin members of the first set of pin members to be selectably in the upraised and recessed positions, together to form a Braille pattern, the Braille pattern corresponding to the first alphanumeric character;
• wherein said operation of causing comprises, during a first time period, causing the first Braille pattern to be formed at the first set of pin members and the second Braille pattern to be formed at the second set of pin members.

In a radio device operable in a radio communication system, an improvement of user interface apparatus for facilitating use of the radio device by a visually-impaired user, said apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of upstanding pin members arranged in rows and columns to form an array, each upstanding pin member separately positionable alternately in an upraised position and a recessed position, the array formed of said plurality of the upstanding pin members including at least a first set of pin members capable of forming a first Braille pattern;
• a controller coupled to said plurality of upstanding pin members and to receive indications of data provided to the radio device generated during operation of the radio communication system, said controller for delectably causing positioning of the upstanding pin members of the set of pin members to form the first Braille pattern, the first Braille pattern of a character responsive to values of a portion of the data;
• said controller converts successive portions of the indications of the data into alphanumeric symbols and converts each of the alphanumeric symbols into a Braille pattern;
• wherein the successive portions of the indications of the data include a first portion, a second portion, and at least a third portion, wherein the at least the first set of pin members comprises the first set and at least a second set, and wherein said controller causes the Braille pattern formed responsive to the first portion to be displayed by the first set and the Braille pattern formed responsive to the second portion to be displayed by the second set during a first time period.