Multifunction display-based user interface for devices

摘要

The present invention provides a multifunctional input device. The input device includes a functional mode which defines the mode of operation of the input device. Each functional mode includes one or more domain levels with each domain level containing one or more domain-level values. Each domain level-value within each functional mode is assigned to one of a plurality of programmable input keys. The domain-level value assigned to each programmable input key controls the function of that programmable input key within a given functionality and domain level. The present invention also includes a display to indicate the domain-level value associated with each of the programmable input keys within a given functionality.

主权项

1. A multifunctional device comprising, within an integrated structure:
a wireless signal interface; and a user input interface facilitating activating a functional mode from multiple functional modes supported by the multifunctional device, wherein activating the functional mode provides visual displays of, and access keys for, sets of input values associated with the activated functional mode, the sets of input values being segmented into multiple domain levels, the user input interface comprising three simultaneously presented, separate and distinct, key sets comprising:
a set of function select keys, comprising at least two keys, for activating the functional mode from the multiple functional modes supported by the multifunctional device, the set of function select keys having associated displays for identifying the multiple functional modes,a set of domain control keys for selecting one of multiple domain levels associated with a currently selected one of the multiple functional modes, wherein each of the multiple domain levels is associated with a set of input key values, the set of domain control keys having associated displays for identifying the multiple domain levels, anda set of input keys, wherein ones of the set of input keys are associated with corresponding ones of the set of input key values for a currently selected one of the multiple domain levels, a corresponding one of the input key values being registered by the multifunctional device in response to user actuation of one of the set of input keys.