Input Device for a Portable Terminal

Abstract

A portable terminal includes an input device with five binary switching elements on a housing for the portable terminal and a display screen. The input device accesses telecommunications capabilities of the portable terminal. The display screen displays a graphical representation that can show an indication of the functions corresponding to the input device, a response to input received via the input device, and operation modes of the portable terminal. The operation modes of the portable terminal can be changed in response to receipt of input via the input device.

1 . A portable terminal having a plurality of operating modes, said portable terminal comprising:
 a housing;   an input device, wherein said input device:
 is disposed on a first surface of said housing; 
 includes five binary switching elements, any one of which is capable, in at least a first mode of operation, of causing at least one of the following responses: 
 a transition to another operating mode; 
 taking an action incident to said transition; and 
 taking an action independent of a transition; and 
   a display screen, wherein:   said display screen displays a graphical representation of said input device; and   said graphical representation provides, for any one of said operating modes, an indication of said response, if any, of said portable terminal to actuating a respective one of said five binary switching elements;   wherein said input device accesses telecommunications capabilities of said portable terminal; and   wherein no other input device disposed on said first surface of said housing accesses said telecommunications capabilities.   
     
     
         2 . The portable terminal of  claim 1  wherein the five binary switching elements comprise five binary contacts, and wherein the input device comprises:
 two, concentric, tactile elements, comprising:   an outer, ring-shape element having four of the five binary contacts; and   an inner, circular-shape element having one of the five binary contacts.   
     
     
         3 . The portable terminal of  claim 2  wherein there are no operating modes of said portable terminal in which any of said four binary switching elements of said ring-shape element or said one binary switching element of said circular-shape element are capable of sending a signal representative of an integer number selected from the group of integer numbers consisting of one through nine. 
     
     
         4 . The portable terminal of  claim 1  wherein the graphical representation comprises an outer, ring-shape region and an inner, circular shape region. 
     
     
         5 . The portable terminal of  claim 1  wherein the graphical representation provides an indication of the response, if any, caused by actuating the five binary switching elements. 
     
     
         6 . The portable terminal of  claim 1  wherein no other input device disposed on the first surface is capable of sending a signal representative of an integer number selected from the group of integer numbers consisting of one through nine. 
     
     
         7 . The portable terminal of  claim 1  wherein the graphical representation changes with changes in mode of the portable terminal. 
     
     
         8 . A method of operating a portable terminal having a plurality of operating modes, the method comprising:
 providing an input device on a first surface of a housing, the input device including five binary switching elements, and the input device being the only device disposed on the first surface of the housing for accessing telecommunications capabilities of the portable terminal;   receiving input via any one of the five binary switching elements;   responsive to receiving the input via any one of the five binary switching elements when the portable terminal is in at least a first mode of operation, executing at least one of the following responses:
 transitioning to another operating mode; 
 taking an action incident to said transition; and 
 taking an action independent of a transition. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 displaying a graphical representation of said input device;   providing via the graphical representation, for any one of said operating modes, an indication of receipt of the input.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 displaying a graphical representation of said input device;   providing via the graphical representation, an indication of a function of each of the five switching elements.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 displaying a graphical representation of said input device comprising an outer, ring-shape region and an inner, circular shape region.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 displaying a graphical representation of said input device;   providing via the graphical representation, an indication of the response, if any, caused by actuating the five binary switching elements.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 displaying a graphical representation of said input device;   changing the graphical representation with changes in mode of the portable terminal.   
     
     
         14 . A method of operating a portable terminal having a plurality of operating modes, the portable terminal comprising a housing configurable into an open configuration and a closed configuration, the housing including a first surface that is exposed when the housing is in the closed configuration, the method comprising:
 providing an input device on the first surface of the housing, the input device including five binary switching elements, and the input device being the only device disposed on the housing for accessing telecommunications capabilities of the portable terminal when the housing is configured in the closed configuration;   receiving input via any one of the five binary switching elements;   displaying on a graphical representation an indication of the operating mode of the portable terminal;   providing via the graphical representation, an indication of receipt of the input.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 responsive to receiving the input via any one of the five binary switching elements when the portable terminal is in at least a first mode of operation, executing at least one of the following responses:
 transitioning to another operating mode; 
 taking an action incident to said transition; and 
 taking an action independent of a transition. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 displaying a graphical representation of said input device;   providing via the graphical representation, an indication of the response, if any, caused by actuating the five binary switching elements.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 displaying a graphical representation of said input device;   providing via the graphical representation, an indication of a function of each of the five switching elements.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 displaying a graphical representation of said input device comprising an outer, ring-shape region and an inner, circular shape region.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 displaying a graphical representation of said input device;   changing the graphical representation with changes in mode of the portable terminal.