METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAPPING CORRESPONDING FUNCTIONS IN A USER

Abstract

A first user interface is presented (101) within a portable electronic device. The selection of a first function by the user via the first user interface is then detected (102). In response to detecting (102) the user's selection of the first function, the first user interface is then replaced (103) with at least a partially disabled second user interface that is different from the first user interface. A user selection of at least one user-selectable function in the second user interface is then detected (104). After the function is detected, the first user interface provides (105) the user with information regarding at least one corresponding user-selectable function that comprises a substantially similar function as the selected user-selectable function from the second user interface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above needs are at least partially met through provision of the Method And Apparatus For Mapping Corresponding Functions in a user interface described in the following detailed description, particularly when studied in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 comprises a flow diagram as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 comprises a schematic example of a display as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 comprises a schematic example of a display as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 comprises a schematic example of a display as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 5 comprises a schematic example of a display as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 6 comprises a schematic example of a display as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 7 comprises a schematic example of a display as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 8 comprises a schematic example of a display as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 9 comprises a schematic example of a display as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 10 comprises a flow diagram as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. A method comprising: in a portable electronic device: presenting a first user interface;detecting user selection of a first function via the first user interface;in response to detecting user selection of the first function, replacing the first user interface with at least a partially disabled second user interface that is different than the first user interface;detecting a user selection of at least one user-selectable function via the at least a partially disabled second user interface to provide a selected user-selectable function;providing the user with information regarding at least one corresponding user-selectable function in the first user interface that comprises a substantially similar function as the selected user-selectable function.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the portable electronic device comprises at least one of: a portable wireless communication device;a personal digital assistant;a palmtop computer;a consumer entertainment device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting a first user interface comprises providing at least one of: a display;a touch-sensitive display;at least one soft key;at least one virtual key;a voice recognition interface;a cursor movement interface;a handwriting recognition interface;an orientation-sensitive interface;at least one key;a finger tracking interface.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting user selection of a first function via the first user interface further comprises detecting user selection of a menu mapping function.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting a user selection of at least one user-selectable function via the disabled second user interface to provide a selected user-selectable function comprises detecting a user selection of a series of user-selectable functions to provide a selected user-selectable function comprising a plurality of user-selectable functions.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein detecting a user selection of a series of user-selectable functions to provide a selected user-selectable function comprising a plurality of user-selectable functions further comprises detecting a user selection of a nested series of related user-selectable functions to provide a selected user-selectable function comprising a plurality of nested related user-selectable functions.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the user with information regarding at least one corresponding user-selectable function in the first user interface that comprises the substantially similar function as the selected user-selectable function comprises automatically actuating a macro to facilitate providing the user with the information.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the user with information regarding at least one corresponding user-selectable function in the first user interface that comprises the substantially similar function as the selected user-selectable function comprises highlighting a user-selectable portion of the first user interface as corresponds to the at least one corresponding user-selectable function.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein highlighting a user-selectable portion of the first user interface as corresponds to the at least one corresponding user-selectable function comprises at least one of: animating the user-selectable portion;altering a visual aspect of the user-selectable portion;altering an audible aspect of the user-selectable portion;providing audible context information;animating a user-selection tool.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein highlighting a user-selectable portion of the first user interface as corresponds to the at least one corresponding user-selectable function comprises providing information regarding modality differences as differentiate the first user interface and the second user interface.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein replacing the first user interface with at least a partially disabled second user interface that is different than the first user interface comprises at least one of: using a pre-provisioned version of the disabled second user interface;using a pre-provisioned abridged and disabled version of the second user interface;obtaining at least a portion of the second user interface from a remote source.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the user with information regarding at least one corresponding user-selectable function in the first user interface that comprises the substantially similar function as the selected user-selectable function comprises at least one of: using a correlation reference that directly correlates user-selectable functions for the first user interface with user-selectable functions for the second user interface;using a correlation reference that indirectly correlates user-selectable functions for the first user interface with user-selectable functions for the second user interface.

13. A portable electronic device having at least a first and a second mode of operation, wherein the first mode of operation comprises an ordinary mode of operation and the second mode of operation comprises a user interface tutorial mode of operation, the portable electronic device comprising: a first user interface comprising a plurality of user-selectable functions;a user interface tutorial mode of operation selector;

14. The portable electronic device of claim 13 wherein the portable electronic device comprises at least one of: a portable wireless communication device;a personal digital assistant;a palmtop computer;a consumer entertainment device.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 13 wherein the first user interface comprises providing at least one of: a display;a touch-sensitive display;at least one soft key;at least one virtual key;a voice recognition interface;a cursor movement interface;a handwriting recognition interface;an orientation-sensitive interface;at least one key;a finger tracking interface.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 13 wherein the information comprises, at least in part, a highlighted user-selectable portion of the first user interface as corresponds to the at least one corresponding user-selectable function.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 16 wherein the highlighted user-selectable portion of the first user interface as corresponds to the at least one corresponding user-selectable function comprises at least one of: an animated user-selectable portion;an altered visual aspect of the user-selectable portion;an altered audible aspect of the user-selectable portion;audible context information;an animated user-selection tool.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 16 wherein the highlighted user-selectable portion of the first user interface as corresponds to the at least one corresponding user-selectable function comprises information regarding modality differences as differentiate the first user interface and the second user interface.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 13 further comprising means for: replacing the first user interface with at least a partially disabled second user interface that is different than the first user interface;upon detecting a user selection of at least one user-selectable function via the disabled second user interface to provide a selected user-selectable function, providing the user with information regarding a corresponding user-selectable function in the first user interface that comprises a same function as the selected user-selectable function.