U.S. patent application number 11/057238 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-23 for operation method of portable phone to change mode using dial key and apparatus for the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to NEC CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Nakajima, Toshikazu.
Application Number | 20050136971 11/057238 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 12508141 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050136971 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nakajima, Toshikazu |
June 23, 2005 |
Operation method of portable phone to change mode using dial key
and apparatus for the same
Abstract
A portable phone includes dial keys including at least one
specific key and unspecific keys, and a processing unit. The
processing unit determines whether one of the dial keys which is
operated in a first mode is one of the unspecific dial keys, and
changes an operation mode from the first mode to a second mode when
the operated dial key is one of the unspecific dial keys. The
portable phone further includes a display unit. In a telephone
number searching operation mode as the second mode, the processing
unit reads out a list of data associated with destination phone
numbers from a storage unit and controls the display unit to
display as a non-dialing operation. Also, the processing unit
controls the display unit to selectively scroll the list of data in
one of upward and downward directions in response to an operation
of one of the unspecific dial keys.
Inventors: |
Nakajima, Toshikazu; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
745 SOUTH 23RD STREET
2ND FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
US
|
Assignee: |
NEC CORPORATION
TOKYO
JP
|
Family ID: |
12508141 |
Appl. No.: |
11/057238 |
Filed: |
February 15, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11057238 |
Feb 15, 2005 |
|
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09504875 |
Feb 16, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/550.1 ;
455/566 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/2747 20200101;
H04M 1/72466 20210101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/550.1 ;
455/566 |
International
Class: |
H04M 001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 16, 1999 |
JP |
037819/1999 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of operating a portable telephone having plural
numbered dialing keys for dialing a telephone number, the method
comprising the steps of: establishing the telephone in a call
origination mode; operating one of the plural numbered dialing keys
and determining an identity of the operated one of the plural
numbered dialing keys; and changing from the call origination mode
to an operating mode in which a call cannot be originated based on
the determined identity of the operated one of the plural numbered
dialing keys.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating mode in which a
call cannot be originated is a stored telephone number search
mode.
3. A portable telephone comprising: plural numbered dialing keys
for dialing a telephone number; and a processor that establishes a
call origination mode, determines an identity of an operated one of
said plural numbered dialing keys, and changes the telephone from
the call origination mode to an operating mode in which a call
cannot be originated based on the determined identity of the
operated one of the plural numbered dialing keys.
4. The telephone of claim 3, wherein the operating mode in which a
call cannot be originated is a stored telephone number search
mode.
5. The portable telephone of claim 3, wherein the second set
includes keys for "0" and "1" and the first set includes two of the
plural numbered dialing keys that are next to each other.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an operation method and an
operation apparatus of a portable phone, and more particularly to
an operation method to change an operation mode by use of a dial
key and an operation apparatus of a portable phone for the
same.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A small size portable phone has housing formed in a small
size. In such a small size portable phone, a key is small and a
pitch between the keys is narrow. Moreover, when multiple functions
will be further achieved, it is more difficult to arrange a large
number of keys which will increase in accordance to the number of
functions.
[0005] As for the function with a high use frequency such as a
telephone number searching operation, the operation needs to be
simplified to make it easy for a user to use the function. However,
the multiple functions require the user a complicated operation,
even if the functions have high use frequencies. Therefore, another
input unit such as a function key is often necessary in addition to
dial keys.
[0006] When the user uses the telephone number searching function
with the high use frequency, it is desired not to increase the
number of keys. Also, it is desired that the key operation is
simple.
[0007] In conjunction with the above description, a telephone is
disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei
8-181760). In this reference, a received signal by an antenna (1)
is supplied to a modulating/demodulating section (3) via a radio
section (2) and demodulated there. Then, a compressed speech data
is separated from the demodulated signal by a TDMA processing
section (4) and decoded by a speech codec section (6) so that a
received speech signal is supplied to a speaker (7). A transmission
speech signal is coded by the speech codec section (6) and then
subjected to a multiplexing process in the TDMA processing section
(4). Further, after a modulating process by the
modulating/demodulating section (3), the multiplexed signal is
transmitted from the antenna (1) via the radio section (2). A
memory (13) stores a telephone directory data. A telephone
directory data searching key of a key input section (11) such as an
up key and a down key which are different from dialing numeral
keys. At this time, an operation mode is changed from a wait mode
to a telephone directory mode so that a first portion of the
telephone directory data is displayed on a display section (16).
Each time the searching key is operated, a next portion of the
telephone directory data is displayed on the display section
(16).
[0008] Also, a portable phone is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open
Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei 9-261744). In this reference, a
portable phone has a redialing function and a telephone directory
function. A volume adjusting key (54) is provided on a side surface
of a main body (40). The key (54) is used to adjust the volume when
a currently received speech is outputted. The key (54) is used as a
replay volume in case of speech replay. The volume adjusting key
(54) functions as an adjusting key of a call arrival volume (call
originating volume) within a predetermined time after a function
key (43) is operated. When the key (54) is operated in the other
states, an operation mode is changed to a search mode so that it is
possible to search a redial data and a telephone directory data by
use of the key (54).
[0009] Also, a portable phone is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open
Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei 9-186760). In this reference,
scroll keys are provided. When a telephone directory data is
searched, one of katakana characters is specific and names are
displayed from a specific name having the specific character as the
head character. The specific character is changed by use of the
scroll keys.
[0010] Also, a portable phone is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open
Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei 10-190812). In this reference, a
data containing a communication destination name and a telephone
number is stored. All the stored data are classified into groups by
dividing the stored data for every predetermined number in a
storage order, or based on which line of hirakana sounds does the
sound of the head character of the name belong to. An operation key
is provided to be possible to operate to one of 8 directions of up
and down directions, left and right directions and diagonal
directions. The data in one group are searched in order through the
operation of the key to the up or down direction and the group is
changed through the operation of the key to the other
direction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
an operation method and operation apparatus of a portable phone in
which the number of keys is not increased for a function.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
operation method and operation apparatus of a portable phone in
which the number of keys is not increased for a function and a key
operation is simple.
[0013] In order to achieve an aspect of the present invention, an
operation method of a portable phone includes: operating any one of
dial keys in a call originating mode; determining whether the
operated dial key is one of unspecific dial keys of the dial keys
other than at least one specific dial key; and changing an
operation mode from the call originating mode to one of non-dialing
operation modes when the operated dial key is one of the unspecific
dial keys.
[0014] Here, the non-dialing operation mode may be a telephone
number searching operation mode.
[0015] Also, the operation method may further include: executing a
non-dialing operation other than a dialing operation in the
non-dialing operation mode when the operated dial key is one of the
unspecific dial keys. In this case, the non-dialing operation may
be a telephone number searching operation.
[0016] The specific dial key may be one selected from "0", "1" and
"#", or only one which is predetermined. In this case, the
non-dialing operation may be a telephone number search
operation.
[0017] Also, the number of the unspecific dial keys may be at least
two, and the executing a non-dialing operation includes: displaying
a list of data associated with destination phone numbers. In this
case, the operation method may further include: selectively
scrolling the list of data in one of upward and downward directions
in response to an operation of one of the unspecific dial keys.
[0018] In order to achieve another aspect of the present invention,
a portable phone includes dial keys including at least one specific
key and unspecific keys, and a processing unit. The processing unit
determines whether one of the dial keys which is operated in a
first mode is one of the unspecific dial keys, and changes an
operation mode from the first mode to a second mode when the
operated dial key is one of the unspecific dial keys.
[0019] Here, the first mode may be call originating mode and the
second mode may be a telephone number searching operation mode.
[0020] Also, the processing unit may further execute a non-dialing
operation other than a dialing operation when the operated dial key
is one of the unspecific dial keys. In this case, the first mode
may be call originating mode and the second mode may be a telephone
number searching operation mode.
[0021] At least one specific dial key may be one selected from "0",
"1" and "#", or may be only one which is predetermined. The
non-dialing operation may be a telephone number search
operation.
[0022] Also, the number of the unspecific dial keys may be at least
two. When the portable phone further includes a display unit, the
processing unit controls the display unit to display a list of data
associated with destination phone numbers as a non-dialing
operation, and controls the display unit to selectively scroll the
list of data in one of upward and downward directions in response
to an operation of one of the unspecific dial keys. In this case, a
symbol indicating the scrolling direction is allocated to each of
the unspecific dial keys.
[0023] Also, the number of the unspecific dial keys may be at least
four. The processing unit changes the operation mode from the
second mode to another mode in response to an operation of one of
the unspecific dial keys. In this case, each of the unspecific dial
keys has a shape indicating the scrolling direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing a portable phone
according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the portable phone according
to the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of the portable
phone according to the first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0027] FIG. 4A is a plan view of an operating state of the portable
phone according to the first embodiment of the present invention,
and FIG. 4B is a plan view of a display screen showing another
operating state the portable phone according to the first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIGS. 5A to 5C are plan views showing other operating states
of the portable phone according to the first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0029] FIG. 6 is a plan view shows an operation unit of the
portable phone according to a second embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0030] FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram showing the portable phone
according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] Hereinafter, a portable phone of the present invention will
be described below in detail with reference to the attached
drawings.
[0032] FIG. 1 shows a circuit block diagram showing a portable
phone according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, the portable phone 1 in the first embodiment
is composed of dial keys 2, a processing unit 3, a storage unit 4
and a display unit 5. The dial keys 2 are used to manually input
digits and to change an operation mode. A signal corresponding to
the dial key 2 is supplied to the processing unit 3. The processing
unit 3 operates in accordance with a program which is stored in a
memory (not shown), and is connected with the storage unit 4 and
the display unit 5. A user stores sets of a destination name and a
telephone number for the name in the storage unit 4. The processing
unit 3 controls the display unit 5 to display a list of destination
names in accordance with the input signal given from the dial key
2.
[0033] In the first embodiment, the dial key 2 of "2" and the dial
key 2 of "5" are used for a telephone number searching operation.
An upward arrow "" is attached to the dial key 2 of "2" and a
downward arrow ".THETA." is attached to the dial key 2 of "5", as
shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the user can easily recognize that the dial
key 2 of "2" and the dial key 2 of "5" are used for the telephone
number searching operation. It is desirable that the dial key 2 of
"2" and the dial key 2 of "5" are formed in special shapes such as
a triangle, so that the dial key 2 of "2" and the dial key 2 of "5"
can be visually and easily distinguished from the other dial keys 2
by the user.
[0034] Next, referring to FIG. 3, an operation method of the
portable phone according to the first embodiment of the present
invention will be described. Here, it is supposed that the portable
phone is in a dialing operation mode.
[0035] First, it is determined whether the head of a character
string or digit string 5-1 inputted through the key operation of
the dial keys 2 is "0", "1" or "#" (Step S1). In many portable
phones, a special digit is first entered for a long-distance call.
Generally, the special digit is "0", "1" or "#". If the head of the
character string or digit string 5-1 inputted through the key
operation is "0", "1" or "#" (Yes at the step S1), the character
string or digit string 5-1 is fully displayed on the display unit 5
(Step S5). FIG. 4A shows "02012345678" as an example of such digit
string 5-1. FIG. 4B shows "#1234" as another example.
[0036] When the head of the digit string 5-1 is not "0", "1" or "#"
(No at the Step S1), it is determined whether the head of the digit
string 5-1 is "2" or "5" (Step S2). If the head of the digit string
5-1 is not "2" or "5", the control returns to the Step S1.
[0037] When the head of the digit string 5-1 is "2" or "5" (Yes at
the step S2), the processing unit 3 automatically changes the
operation mode from the dialing operation mode to a telephone
number searching operation mode. In this way, the processing unit 3
carries out a telephone number searching operation. That is, the
processing unit 3 reads out the sets of a name and a telephone
number from the storage unit 4. Then, the processing unit 3
controls the display unit 5 to display a list of sets of the name
and the telephone number in the order of "a-i-u-e-o" or alphabet,
as shown in FIG. 5A (Step S3). Here, it is supposed that the head
and end of the list are linked.
[0038] Next, it is determined whether the following operated dial
key 2 is the key "2 .Arrow-up bold." or key "5 .dwnarw." (Step S5).
When the key "2 .Arrow-up bold." or key "5 .dwnarw." is not
operated (Yes at the step S5), the control is ended.
[0039] When the key "2 .Arrow-up bold." or key "5 .dwnarw." is
operated (No at the step S5), the control advances to a step S6. In
this case, when the key "2 .Arrow-up bold." is operated, the
processing unit 3 controls the display unit 5 to scroll the list by
one line in the upward direction and to display the scrolled list,
as shown in FIG. 5B. Also, when the key "5 .dwnarw." is operated,
the processing unit 3 controls the display unit 5 to scroll the
list by one line in the downward direction and to display the
scrolled list, as shown in FIG. 5C (Step S6). Thus, the list is
scrolled to search a destination telephone number. Thereafter, the
control returns to the step S5.
[0040] In the above mentioned illustration, the key of "2" and the
key of "5" are selected as unspecific dial keys. Also, the keys of
"0", "1" and "#" are selected as specific dial keys. However, if
the key of "2" or the key of "5" is not first used to input the
telephone number in the dialing operation, the operation mode is
not changed and any function may be allocated.
[0041] FIG. 6 shows the portable phone according to the second
embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, the dial
keys of "2", "4", "5", "6", and "8" are unspecific keys. When the
dial key of "5/AG" is first operated as the head of the digit
string, the operation mode may be changed from the dialing
operation mode to the telephone number searching operation mode.
When the dial keys of "2", "4", "6", or "8" is first operated, the
operation mode may be changed to another operation mode.
[0042] In the telephone number searching operation mode, the
telephone number records are displayed. When the dial key of "2
.Arrow-up bold.", "4.rarw.", "6.fwdarw.", or "8 .dwnarw." is
operated, the searching operation of a target telephone number is
carried out.
[0043] FIG. 7 shows the portable phone according to the third
embodiment of the present invention. The portable phone 1' contains
a recording medium 6 which stores a program for the telephone
number searching operation. The semiconductor memory is an optimal
for the portable phone as the recording medium 6. The processing
unit 3' reads the program from the recording medium 6, and operates
the program. The processing unit 3' executes the same processing as
that of the processing unit 3 of FIG. 1.
[0044] According to the operation method and portable phone of the
present invention, the retrieval of a telephone number is made
quickly possible through only the operation of a dial key.
Therefore, any key of exclusive use for the searching operation can
be made unnecessary to be provided in addition to the dial keys and
the number of parts can be reduced.
[0045] Also, according to the present invention, the operation mode
can be changed using the dial key. Therefore, a function can be
added without addition of a function key.
* * * * *