Method for receiving inputs from user of electronic device

Abstract

A method of receiving inputs by an electronic device comprising a user interface component is disclosed. The user interface component is set in an inactive operating mode, such as a keypad locking mode or a screen saver mode, for substantially non-active usage of the user interface component. An input is received in the inactive mode. The input received in the inactive operating mode may be stored and presented on a user interface component.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device comprising a user interface component and a processing unit configured to set the user interface component in an inactive operating mode to be applied during non-active or limited usage of the user interface component, wherein
 the electronic device is configured to detect a user input on a touch screen during the inactive mode,   the device is configured to store the user input during the inactive operating mode,   the device is configured to activate an application for processing the stored user input after exiting the inactive operating mode,   the device is configured to submit the user input for the application, and   the device is configured to prompt the user for a further action after exiting the inactive operating mode.   
     
     
       2. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to determine the type of the input in the input area. 
     
     
       3. A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the device is configured to select an appropriate application for processing the input on the basis of the detected type of the input, and
 the device is configured to activate the selected application and/or submit the data representing the input to the selected application.   
     
     
       4. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device in the inactive operating mode is configured to receive data for at least one of the following: a word processing application, a phonebook or another contact management application, a notepad application, a calendar application, a messaging application, a drawing application, or a spreadsheet application. 
     
     
       5. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a screen and a screen saver facility, wherein the device comprises a processing unit configured to set the screen in the inactive operating mode when the screen saver is activated. 
     
     
       6. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a keypad and a keypad locking facility, and the device comprises means to set the keypad in the inactive operating mode when the keypad lock is activated. 
     
     
       7. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to receive an input, trigger an arrangement of the input reception means, or detect an input as an appropriate input in the inactive operating mode if a predetermined activation input has been received from the user when the device is in the inactive operating mode. 
     
     
       8. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to continue in the inactive operating mode after storing the input. 
     
     
       9. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to detect input of a predetermined activation to allow receipt of the user input. 
     
     
       10. A method for receiving inputs by an electronic device comprising a user interface component, the method comprising:
 setting the user interface component in an inactive operating mode for non-active or limited usage of the user interface component,   detecting a user input on a touch screen in the inactive mode,   storing the user input during the inactive operating mode,   activating an application for processing the stored user input after exiting the inactive operating mode,   submitting the user input for the application, and   prompting the user for a further action after exiting the inactive operating mode.   
     
     
       11. method according to  claim 10 , wherein the input is presented in a user interface component of the electronic device. 
     
     
       12. method according to  claim 10 , wherein the touch screen is set in the inactive operating mode when a screen saver is activated, and receiving the input when the screen saver is active. 
     
     
       13. A method according to  claim 10 , wherein a keypad is set in the inactive operating mode when a keypad lock is activated, and receiving the input when the keypad lock is activated. 
     
     
       14. A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 detecting input of a predetermined activation to allow receipt of the user input.   
     
     
       15. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium downloadable into a memory of a data processing device comprising a user interface component and means for setting the user interface component in an inactive operating mode and executable in a processor of the data processing device, the computer program product comprising:
 a program code part for controlling the data processing device to store a user input during the inactive operating mode,   a program code part for controlling the data processing device to activate an application for processing the stored user input after exiting the inactive operating mode,   a program code part for controlling the data processing device to submit the user input for the application, and   a program code part for controlling the data processing device to prompt the user for a further action after exiting the inactive operating mode.   
     
     
       16. A computer program product according to  claim 15 , further comprising a program code part for activating an application to which data representing the input in the input area is fed. 
     
     
       17. A computer program product according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a program code part for controlling the data processing device to detect input of a predetermined activation to allow receipt of the user input.   
     
     
       18. An apparatus, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory unit communicatively connected to the processor and including:
 computer code for controlling a data processing device to store a user input during an inactive operating mode, 
 computer code for controlling the data processing device to activate an application for processing the stored user input after exiting the inactive operating mode, 
 computer code for controlling the data processing device to submit the user input for the application, and 
 computer code for controlling the data processing device to prompt the user for a further action after exiting the inactive operating mode. 
   
     
     
       19. An apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to present the input in a user interface component of the apparatus. 
     
     
       20. An apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the apparatus is a mobile communications device. 
     
     
       21. An apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the apparatus is a module for a mobile station. 
     
     
       22. An apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the memory unit further includes:
 computer code for controlling the data processing device to detect input of a predetermined activation to allow receipt of the user input.   
     
     
       23. An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory including computer program code that when executed by the at least one processor causes the apparatus at least to:   change a user interface on a display of the apparatus from an active operating mode that is configured for active use of the user interface to an inactive operating mode where the inactive operating mode is configured for non-active usage or limited usage of one or more user interface components;   during the inactive operating mode, enable detection of a user input for an application for processing the user input and wherein the detection can be done for any one of multiple applications;   in the inactive operating mode and without entering the active operating mode and based on the user input, select the application for processing the user input and automatically activate the application and wherein the selection and activation can be done for any one of multiple applications;   in the inactive operating mode and without entering the active operating mode and based on the user input, submit data representing the user input to the selected application; and   wherein the user input, in the inactive operating mode and without entering the active operating mode, comprises voice recognition.   
     
     
       24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one memory including computer program code that when executed by the at least one processor further causes the apparatus at least to: use a predetermined activation input from a user in order to enable entering the user input. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one memory including computer program code that when executed by the at least one processor further causes the apparatus at least to: enable entering of the user input if there is an entry at the same time of a predetermined activation input and the user input. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one memory including computer program code that when executed by the at least one processor further causes the apparatus at least to: prompt a user for one or more further actions regarding the user input. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one memory including computer program code that when executed by the at least one processor further causes the apparatus at least to: prompt a user for one or more further actions regarding the user input immediately after detection of the user input. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one memory including computer program code that when executed by the at least one processor further causes the apparatus at least to: prompt a user for one or more further actions regarding the user input after exiting the inactive operating mode. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one memory including computer program code that when executed by the at least one processor further causes the apparatus at least to: based on a detected type or format of the user input, select the application for processing the user input. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one memory including computer program code that when executed by the at least one processor further causes the apparatus at least to: based on a detected type or format of the user input, define a storage format for the user input. 
     
     
       31. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one memory including computer program code that when executed by the at least one processor further causes the apparatus at least to: submit the user input to at least one network element. 
     
     
       32. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one memory including computer program code that when executed by the at least one processor further causes the apparatus at least to: submit the user input to at least one network element for performing a further action for the user input. 
     
     
       33. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one memory including computer program code that when executed by the at least one processor further causes the apparatus at least to: submit the user input to at least one network element for performing further action for the user input and wherein the further action comprises storing the user input in the network and/or using the user input for a service by the network. 
     
     
       34. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one memory including computer program code that when executed by the at least one processor further causes the apparatus at least to: carry out instructions from the user in the user input for controlling one or more of the functions of the apparatus. 
     
     
       35. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one memory including computer program code that when executed by the at least one processor further causes the apparatus at least to: based on a detected text format in the user input, carry out instructions from the user for controlling one or more of the functions of the apparatus. 
     
     
       36. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one memory including computer program code that when executed by the at least one processor further causes the apparatus at least to: cause the selected application to process the data representing the user input in an application specific way. 
     
     
       37. A method, comprising:
 changing a user interface on a display of an apparatus from an active operating mode that is configured for active use of the user interface to an inactive operating mode where the inactive operating mode is configured for non-active usage or limited usage of one or more user interface components;   during the inactive operating mode, enabling detection of a user input for an application for processing the user input and wherein the detection can be done for any one of multiple applications;   in the inactive operating mode and without entering the active operating mode and based on the user input, selecting the application for processing the user input and automatically activating the application and wherein the selecting and activating can be done for any one of multiple applications;   in the inactive operating mode and without entering the active operating mode and based on the user input, submitting data representing the user input to the selected application; and   wherein the user input, in the inactive operating mode and without entering the active operating mode, comprises voice recognition.   
     
     
       38. The method of claim 37, further comprising using a predetermined activation input from a user in order to enable entering the user input. 
     
     
       39. The method of claim 37, further comprising enabling entering of the user input if there is an entry at the same time of a predetermined activation input and the user input. 
     
     
       40. The method of claim 37, further comprising prompting a user for one or more further actions regarding the user input. 
     
     
       41. The method of claim 37, further comprising prompting a user for one or more further actions regarding the user input immediately after detection of the user input. 
     
     
       42. The method of claim 37, further comprising prompting a user for one or more further actions regarding the user input after exiting the inactive operating mode. 
     
     
       43. The method of claim 37, further comprising based on a detected type or format of the user input, selecting the application for processing the user input. 
     
     
       44. The method of claim 37, further comprising, based on a detected type or format of the user input, defining a storage format for the user input. 
     
     
       45. The method of claim 37, further comprising submitting the user input to at least one network element. 
     
     
       46. The method of claim 37, further comprising submitting the user input to at least one network element for performing a further action for the user input. 
     
     
       47. The method of claim 37, further comprising submitting the user input to at least one network element for performing a further action for the user input and wherein the further action comprises storing the user input in the network and/or using the user input for a service by the network. 
     
     
       48. The method of claim 37, further comprising carrying out instructions from the user in the user input for controlling one or more of the functions of the apparatus. 
     
     
       49. The method of claim 37, further comprising, based on a detected text format in the user input, carrying out instructions from the user for controlling one or more of the functions of the apparatus. 
     
     
       50. The method of claim 37, further comprising causing the selected application to process the data representing the user input in an application specific way. 
     
     
       51. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions configured for causing an apparatus to perform at least:
 change a user interface on a display of an apparatus from an active operating mode that is configured for active use of the user interface to an inactive operating mode where the inactive operating mode is configured for non-active usage or limited usage of one or more user interface components;   during the inactive operating mode, enable detection of a user input for an application for processing the user input and wherein the detection can be done for any one of multiple applications;   in the inactive operating mode and without entering the active operating mode and based on the user input, select the application for processing the user input and automatically activate the application and wherein the selecting and activating can be done for any one of multiple applications;   in the inactive operating mode and without entering the active operating mode and based on the user input, submit data representing the user input to the selected application; and   wherein the user input, in the inactive operating mode and without entering the active operating mode, comprises voice recognition.   
     
     
       52. The non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions as in claim 51, further configured to cause the apparatus to use a predetermined activation input from a user in order to enable entering the user input. 
     
     
       53. The non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions as in claim 51, further configured to cause the apparatus to enable entering of the user input if there is an entry at the same time of a predetermined activation input and the user input. 
     
     
       54. The non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions as in claim 51, further configured to cause the apparatus to prompt a user for one or more further actions regarding the user input. 
     
     
       55. The non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions as in claim 51, further configured to cause the apparatus to prompt a user for one or more further actions regarding the user input immediately after detection of the user input. 
     
     
       56. The non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions as in claim 51, further configured to cause the apparatus to prompt a user for one or more further actions regarding the user input after exiting the inactive operating mode. 
     
     
       57. The non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions as in claim 51, further configured to cause the apparatus to: based on a detected type or format of the user input, select the application for processing the user input. 
     
     
       58. The non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions as in claim 51, further configured to cause the apparatus to, based on a detected type or format of the user input, define a storage format for the user input. 
     
     
       59. The non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions as in claim 51, further configured to cause the apparatus to submit the user input to at least one network element. 
     
     
       60. The non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions as in claim 51, further configured to cause the apparatus to submit the user input to at least one network element for performing a further action for the user input. 
     
     
       61. The non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions as in claim 51, further configured to cause the apparatus to submit the user input to at least one network element for performing a further action for the user input and wherein the further action comprises storing the user input in the network and/or using the user input for a service by the network. 
     
     
       62. The non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions as in claim 51, further configured to cause the apparatus to carry out instructions from the user in the user input for controlling one or more of the functions of the apparatus. 
     
     
       63. The non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions as in claim 51, further configured to cause the apparatus to, based on a detected text format in the user input, carry out instructions from the user for controlling one or more of the functions of the apparatus. 
     
     
       64. The non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions as in claim 51, further configured to cause the apparatus to use the selected application to process the data representing the user input in an application specific way.