Mobile electronic communication device with lights to indicate received messages

摘要

A mobile electronic communication device includes a processor unit, a transceiver, a keypad and a light unit. Each key of the keypad is associated with a contact of a contact list. The light unit can perform light functions to notify a user of the reception and/or status of messages received via the transceiver. The light functions include providing an indication of the age of a received message that was sent by a contact in the contacts list. The age of the message is indicated by a modulation of the illuminating light. In one embodiment, the age of a message is indicated as one of a set of predetermined age ranges, with each age range being represented by a unique color.

主权项

1. A mobile electronic communication device comprising:
a transceiver; a light unit having a plurality of light sources, wherein each of the light sources is associated with an identity of a particular contact from a contact list; a processor unit coupled to the transceiver and light unit; and non-transitory storage media containing instructions that, in response to execution on the processor unit, cause the light unit to output light from a selected one of the light sources to indicate, for a received message, the identity of the contact that sent the received message, wherein the instructions further cause the light unit to output light with modulation that depends on an age category of a message received by the mobile electronic communication device out of a plurality of predetermined age categories, wherein:
each age category of the plurality of age categories is represented by a predetermined color of light that can be output by the light unit; andeach age category of the plurality of age categories is represented by a predetermined number of light flashes within a cycle.