ICON-BASED GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR TEXT MESSAGING

摘要

The wireless communication device GUI uses a hierarchical set of commands (108) that integrate the displays generated on the graphical display (104) with the standard 12-button telephone keypad (103). In particular, the graphical display produces an image of all or a selected part of the standard 12-button telephone keypad (for convenience, both options being noted as the "telephone keypad" herein) with iconic and textual representations of commands/functions being displayed juxtaposed to the image of the numeric key. The user can then activate a selected key on the telephone keypad to activate one of the displayed commands/functions. A home state (146) is used to provide a baseline point of reference from which the user can select one of a plurality of basic functions that include reading messages, generating messages as well as accessing various administrative functions and predetermined stock message icons and/or cards.