Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for accepting input in non-active mode

US7509140B2 · kind B2 · utility

12Cited by
14References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 11, 2005
Grant dateMar 24, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 5, 2026

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.