Mobile Communications Device having Moveable Housings

Abstract

Mobile communications devices are described. In an implementation, a mobile communications device includes a first housing that is approximately square and that includes a display device. The mobile communications device also includes a second housing that is approximately square, includes a keyboard and is rotatable with respect to the first housing at respective corners of the first and second housing. The second housing is rotatable with respect to the first housing between a first configuration in which the first housing substantially covers the second housing such that the keyboard is covered and a second configuration in which the keyboard is exposed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 displaying data on a display device having touchscreen functionality that is included as part of a housing of a mobile communication device, the data displayed in a first orientation in relation to the housing;   responsive to a first movement of the housing of the mobile communications device, changing the display of the data from the first orientation to a second orientation in relation to the housing to follow the first movement of the housing; and   responsive to a second movement of the housing of the mobile communications device, changing the display of the data from the second orientation to a third orientation in relation to the housing to follow the second movement of the housing, the first, second, and third orientations being different, one from another.   
     
     
         2 . A method as described in  claim 1 , further comprising responsive to a third movement of the housing of the mobile communications device, changing the display of the data from the third orientation to a fourth orientation in relation to the housing to follow the third movement of the housing, the first, second, third, and fourth orientations being different, one from another. 
     
     
         3 . A method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second movements include rotation. 
     
     
         4 . A method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the first orientation differs from the third orientation by approximately ninety degrees. 
     
     
         5 . A method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the data is text or an image. 
     
     
         6 . A method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third orientations do not move in relation to an environment of the mobile communications device. 
     
     
         7 . A method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third orientations do not move in relation to another part of the mobile communications device that is not involved in the first and second movements. 
     
     
         8 . A method as described in  claim 7 , wherein the other part of the mobile communications device is a second housing that does not include the display device. 
     
     
         9 . A method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the mobile communications device is a mobile phone. 
     
     
         10 . A mobile communications device comprising:
 a housing;   a display device having touchscreen functionality included as part of the housing; and   one or more modules implemented at least partially in hardware and disposed in the housing, the one or more modules configured to perform operations to change an orientation of a display of data on the display device to follow movement of the housing such that the data is displayable in at least three different orientations.   
     
     
         11 . A mobile communications device as described in  claim 10 , wherein the movements include rotation. 
     
     
         12 . A mobile communications device as described in  claim 10 , wherein the at least three different orientations include a first orientation differs from a second orientation by less than ninety degrees. 
     
     
         13 . A mobile communications device as described in  claim 12 , wherein the at least three different orientations include a third orientation that different from the first orientation by approximately ninety degrees. 
     
     
         14 . A mobile communications device as described in  claim 10 , wherein the data is text. 
     
     
         15 . A mobile communications device as described in  claim 10 , wherein the data is an image. 
     
     
         16 . A mobile communications device comprising:
 a housing;   a display device having touchscreen functionality included as part of the housing; and   one or more modules implemented at least partially in hardware and disposed in the housing, the one or more modules configured to perform operations comprising:
 displaying data on a display device having touchscreen functionality that is included as part of a housing of a mobile communication device, the data displayed in a first orientation in relation to the housing; 
 responsive to a first movement of the housing of the mobile communications device, changing the display of the data from the first orientation to a second orientation in relation to the housing to follow the first movement of the housing; and 
 responsive to a second movement of the housing of the mobile communications device, changing the display of the data from the second orientation to a third orientation in relation to the housing to follow the second movement of the housing; and 
 responsive to a third movement of the housing of the mobile communications device, changing the display of the data from the third orientation to a fourth orientation in relation to the housing to follow the third movement of the housing, the first, second, third, and fourth orientations being different, one from another. 
   
     
     
         17 . A mobile communications device as described in  claim 16 , wherein the first, second, and third movements include rotation. 
     
     
         18 . A mobile communications device as described in  claim 17 , wherein the first orientation differs from the third orientation by approximately ninety degrees. 
     
     
         19 . A mobile communications device as described in  claim 17 , wherein the first orientation differs from the second orientation by less than ninety degrees. 
     
     
         20 . A mobile communications device as described in  claim 16 , wherein the data is text or an image.