Hand-ear user interface for hand-held device
US6978127B1 · kind B1 · utility
371Cited by
22References
4Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 16, 1999 |
| Grant date | Dec 20, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 16, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M2250/56
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A hand-held information processing device, such as a mobile phone, has a thumb wheel that lets the user scan a circular array of options. Each respective one of the options is represented by a respective audio output that gets played out when the wheel is turned a notch up or down. This enables the user to select an option with one hand and without having to look at the device. It also allows for a form factor smaller than that of a conventional mobile phones since a keypad is not needed for entering digits to make a call from a personalized directory.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.