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US 7,120,471 B2Granted
User interface and associated method for indicating status using keypad backlights
AssigneeNokia Corporation
InventorDouglas Deeds
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for indicating status on a programmed communication device wherein each of one or more backlights is associated with a respective key of a plurality of keys. Status information to be communicated to a user of the communication device is then generated, and one or more backlights are illuminated according to a pattern corresponding to the status information. Thus, a visual graphical display is not necessary, cost is reduced, volume is conserved, and reliability is increased.
Claims2
A method for indicating status on a programmed communication device comprising the steps of:
- associating each of one or more backlights with a respective key of a plurality of keys;
- generating status information to be communicated to a user of said communication device;
- illuminating one or more backlights according to a pattern corresponding to said status information;
- determining, in response to receipt of an incoming call, whether said incoming call does not include a caller identification phone number;
- and generating to a microprocessor of said communication device, in response to a determination that said incoming call does not include a caller identification phone number, status information indicating that said incoming call does not include a caller identification phone number;
- and
- wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises a shape resembling a question mark.
4 more elements
A communication device user interface comprising:
- a plurality of keys operably integrated into said communication device;
- a plurality of backlights each of which backlights is associated with respective one key of said plurality of keys;
- a microprocessor operatively connected for illuminating one or more backlights:
- a data storage unit operatively connected to said microprocessor for storing program code executable by said microprocessor;
- and
- program code executable by said microprocessor for illuminating one or more backlights according to a pattern corresponding to status information to be communicated to a user of said communication device;
- program code, responsive to receipt of an incoming call, for determining whether said incoming call does not include a caller identification phone number;
- and
- program code, responsive to a determination that said incoming call does not include a caller identification phone number, for generating to said microprocessor status information indicating that said incoming call does not include a caller identification phone number and wherein said pattern corresponding to said status information comprises a shape resembling a question mark.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.