Systems and methods for changing characters associated with keys

Abstract

A mobile communication device may include logic configured to provide a first keypad layout via a programmable keypad using a first illumination source, receive a keypad selection and provide a second keypad layout via the programmable keypad using a second illumination source in response to the selection.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising:
 providing a plurality of keys, where each of the plurality of keys includes surfaces for displaying information and where at least some of the surfaces are located within an interior of each of the plurality of keys, and arranged in a generally pyramidal shaped configuration with respect to one another;   receiving a keypad configuration selection; and   controlling one of a plurality of back-lighting light sources and a plurality of side-lighting light sources to selectively display information via one of the plurality of display surfaces, on each of the plurality of keys, based on the received keypad configuration selection.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , where the plurality of back-lighting light sources includes back-lighting LEDs and the plurality of side-lighting light sources includes side-lighting LEDs. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , where the selectively displayed information, on each of the plurality of keys, is displayed by illuminating one of a plurality of panels that include the selected information with either one of the back-lighting LEDs or one of the side-lighting LEDs. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , where receiving the keypad configuration selection includes receiving a selection corresponding to at least one of:
 a letters keypad, a numbers keypad, a music keypad, an email keypad, or a symbols keypad.   
     
     
         25 . A mobile communication device, comprising:
 a plurality of keys that form a keypad, where each of the plurality of keys includes surfaces to display information, where at least some of the surfaces are located within an interior of each of the plurality of keys, and arranged in a generally pyramidal shaped configuration with respect to one another; and   a plurality of back-lighting light sources and a plurality of side-lighting light sources to selectively display information via one of the plurality of display surfaces, on each of the plurality of keys, based on a selection received by at least one of the plurality of keys.   
     
     
         26 . The mobile communication device of  claim 25 , where the plurality of back-lighting light sources includes back-lighting LEDs and the plurality of side-lighting light sources includes side-lighting LEDs. 
     
     
         27 . The mobile communication device of  claim 26 , where the selectively displayed information, on each of the plurality of keys, is displayed by illuminating one of a plurality of panels that includes the selectively displayed information with either one of the back-lighting LEDs or one of the side-lighting LEDs. 
     
     
         28 . The mobile communication device  claim 25 , where the keypad includes at least one of:
 a letters keypad, a numbers keypad, a music keypad, an email keypad, or a symbols keypad.