PROGRAMMABLE KEYPAD

Abstract

A device may include logic configured to process a request for a keypad layout, and to provide a keypad layout via keypad display in response to the processed request.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, explain the invention. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary implementation of a mobile terminal consistent with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary functional diagram of a mobile terminal consistent with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary functional diagram of the programmable keypad logic of FIG. 2 consistent with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary data structure consistent with the principles of the invention;

FIGS. 5A-C illustrate exemplary keypad implementations consistent with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 6A illustrates a top view of an exemplary implementation of a programmable keypad consistent with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 6B illustrates a bottom view of an exemplary implementation of a programmable keypad consistent with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of an exemplary implementation of a programmable keypad consistent with the principles of the invention;

FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate exemplary implementations of an overlay that can be used with implementations of a programmable keypad consistent with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of exemplary processing consistent with the principles of the invention; and

FIGS. 10A-10C illustrate examples of exemplary configurations of a mobile terminal that employs a programmable keypad consistent with the principles of the invention.

Claims

1. A device, comprising: logic configured to: process a request for a keypad layout, andprovide the keypad layout via a keypad display in response to the processed request.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the logic is further configured to: apply power to the keypad display to provide the keypad layout, andremove power from the keypad display without erasing the keypad layout.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the logic is further configured to: reapply power to the keypad display to modify the keypad layout.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the logic is further configured to: receive a user request via the keypad display, andmodify the keypad layout in response to the user request.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a display, andwherein the logic is further configured to: receive an input associated with a first one of a plurality of applications or functions provided by the device, andprovide a keypad layout associated with the first application or function via the keypad display.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the logic is further configured to: detect a presence of a user or an input device,acknowledge the presence via the keypad display, andmodify the keypad layout in response to the acknowledged presence.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the logic is further configured to: detect a pressure related to a user request, anduse the detected pressure to initiate processing of the user request.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the logic is further configured to: provide front lighting or back lighting to the keypad display based on the keypad layout.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the logic is further configured to: allow a user to request the keypad layout using at least one of a control key, a function button, a voice input, a menu selection, or a touch input.

10. A method, comprising: providing a first keypad layout via a programmable keypad;receiving an input via the programmable keypad, a display device, an input device, or a spoken command; andproviding a second keypad layout via the programmable keypad in response to the input.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the providing a first keypad layout further comprises: providing the first keypad layout via an electrophoretic based programmable keypad or a liquid crystal display based programmable keypad.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the receiving an input further comprises: using pressure or presence to detect the input.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the receiving the input further comprises: receiving the input via a user's digit, a stylus, or a spoken command.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising: acknowledging the input via tactile feedback.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising: illuminating a portion of the programmable keypad in response to the input.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising; providing information via a display device in response to the input, where the provided information is related to the first keypad layout or the second keypad layout.

17. A mobile communications terminal, comprising: a display;a programmable keypad configured to receive input from a user; andprocessing logic configured to: receive a request for a configuration of the programmable keypad,provide the requested configuration to the user via the programmable keypad,receive an input via the programmable keypad based on the configuration, andprovide information to the user via the programmable keypad or the display based on the input.

18. The mobile communications terminal of claim 17, wherein the processing logic is further configured to: receive the request via a control key, an input device associated with a function performed by the mobile communications terminal, a microphone, a touch-sensitive portion of the display, or the programmable keypad, andprovide the information to the user via the programmable keypad using an electrophoretic based display or a liquid crystal display.

19. The mobile communications terminal of claim 17, wherein the processing logic is further configured to: provide the requested configuration using one of a number of languages.

20. The mobile communications terminal of claim 17, wherein the processing logic is further configured to: receive an input associated with a first one of a plurality of applications or functions provided by the mobile communications terminal, andprovide a user interface associated with the first application or function via at least one of the programmable keypad or the display.

21. A computer readable medium that stores instructions executable by a processing device operating in a mobile communications terminal, the computer readable medium comprising; instructions to receive an input via a programmable keypad;instructions to process the input; andinstructions to reconfigure the programmable keypad in response to the processing.

22. A mobile communications terminal, comprising: means for providing information via a programmable keypad;means for receiving an input via the programmable keypad;means for processing the input; andmeans for providing new information via the programmable keypad in response to the processing.