Patent · US Expired

Mobile terminal and method of operation using content sensitive menu keys in keypad locked mode

US6892081B1 · kind B1 · utility

32Cited by
11References
52Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 31, 2001
Grant dateMay 10, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 9, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M1/271
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention is a method and mobile terminal which permits at least one mobile terminal function to be activated and selected using at least one soft key during an inactive and locked mode of a mobile terminal keypad. A mobile terminal in accordance with the invention includes a controller (18); a keypad (2) comprising a plurality of keys (7, 8a, 8b, 10), including at least one soft key coupled to the controller, the keypad being under control of the controller and having an active mode during which key inputs from the keys activate mobile terminal functions and the inactive mode during which a first type of key input from the at least one soft key to the controller does not activate the mobile terminal functions; and wherein during the inactive mode, the controller is responsive to a second type of key input from at least one soft key which activates at least one mobile terminal function without return to the active mode.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.