Abstract:
A mobile handset is provided. The mobile handset includes a keypad including a plurality of keys each having at least one of an alphanumeric aspect and a functional aspect, at least some of the plurality of keys including control indicia thereon and used for navigational control of a user interface of the mobile handset.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/779,633, filed on Mar. 6, 2006, entitled “Mobile Handset System and Method” and is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. This application is also related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Touch Sensitive Keypad and User Interface”, (Attorney Docket No. 2006.02.003.LD0, 41334001), inventors Gloyd et al.; co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Touch Sensitive Scrolling System and Method”, (Attorney Docket No. 2006.03.009.LD0, 4133-4400), inventors Gloyd et al.; co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “System and Method for Text Entry with Touch Sensitive Keypad”, (Attorney Docket No. 2006.03.010.LD0, 41334500), inventors Gloyd et al.; co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “System and Method for Number Dialing with Touch Sensitive Keypad”, (Attorney Docket No. 2006.03.012.LD0, 4133-4700), inventors Gloyd et al.; and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Camera with Touch Sensitive Keypad”, (Attorney Docket No. 2006.03.013.LD0, 4133-4800), inventors Gloyd et al.; all of which are filed on even date herewith and all of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX  
       [0003]     Not applicable.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present disclosure relates to user interfaces for handheld electronic devices. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, a method and system are described that provide touch sensitivity to the data input keys on such devices.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     Electronic devices such as mobile, portable, wireless telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld games, handheld computers, and similar devices typically include a keyboard, keypad, or similar means of data input. Such devices will be referred to herein as handheld devices or as mobile handsets. A key on the keypad of a handheld device can typically be in one of two states: a “down” or “active” or “pressed” state, which causes data to be entered into the device or an “up” or “neutral” or “not pressed” state in which data is not entered into the device.  
         [0006]     In some cases, a single key can produce different inputs depending on how many times the key is pressed. For example, in a text messaging application, the “5” key on a telephone keypad can be used to input the letters “J”, “K”, or “L” or the number “5”. If the “5” key is pressed once, a “J” might be entered, if the “5” key is pressed twice, a “K” might be entered, if the “5” key is pressed three times, an “L” might be entered, and if the “5” key is pressed four times, a “5” might be entered.  
         [0007]     A scrolling function similar to that available on a mouse-equipped computer is not available on handheld devices. On a computer, rapid movement through a document or a list that appears on the computer&#39;s display might be accomplished by turning a wheel on a mouse or by using the mouse to manipulate a scroll bar on the computer&#39;s display, for example. Since such mechanisms are not available on a handheld device, rapid movement through the device&#39;s display is accomplished by rapid, repeated pressing of a key, such as a directional control or arrow key, on the handheld device&#39;s keypad.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     In one embodiment, a mobile handset is provided. The mobile handset includes a keypad including a plurality of keys each having at least one of an alphanumeric aspect and a functional aspect, at least some of the plurality of keys including control indicia thereon and used for navigational control of a user interface of the mobile handset.  
         [0009]     In another embodiment, a method of navigation on a mobile handset is provided. The method includes selecting a key on a keypad of the mobile handset operable for both control input and alphanumeric input, and determining whether to use the control input or alphanumeric input associated with the selected key based on a state of a user interface of the mobile handset.  
         [0010]     In another embodiment, a mobile handset is provided. The mobile handset comprises a keypad having a plurality of number keys including a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0 keys, at least some of the plurality of number keys also including control functionality including up, down, left, right, select, send, and end functionality.  
         [0011]     These and other features and advantages will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     For a more complete understanding of the presentation and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in detailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a touch-sensitive keypad system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates a handheld device that includes a touch-sensitive keypad system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  
         [0015]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  illustrate a display that might appear on a mobile telephone according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  
         [0016]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  illustrate a display that might appear on a text messaging device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  illustrates a touch-sensitive 5-way keypad according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  
         [0018]      FIGS. 6   a ,  6   b , and  6   c  illustrate a display of a camera viewfinder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  illustrates a menu configuration according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  illustrates an alternative menu configuration according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  illustrates a block diagram of a mobile device operable for some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]     It should be understood at the outset that although an exemplary implementation of one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated below, the present system may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or in existence. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the exemplary implementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated below, including the exemplary design and implementation illustrated and described herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.  
         [0023]     Touch-Sensitive Keypad  
         [0024]     Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for touch-sensitive keys on handheld devices. Contacting, but not pressing, a touch-sensitive key can create an input into a handheld device. Pressing a touch-sensitive key can cause the same response that would occur with the press of a traditional key. That is, in addition to the traditional “neutral” and “pressed” states that were previously available for a key, an intermediate state, which can be referred to as the “touched” state, is available wherein the key is touched but not pressed. A device might exhibit one type of behavior when a key is in the “touched” state and another type of behavior when that key is in the “pressed” state.  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a system  5  for providing a “touched” state for the keys on a keypad. In this embodiment, a set of rigid key caps  10   a ,  10   b , . . .  10   n  is disposed above a capacitive touch-sensitive printed circuit board (PCB)  20 . The capacitive touch-sensitive PCB  20  is disposed above a semi-rigid actuator plate  30 . The semi-rigid actuator plate  30  is disposed above a snap dome PCB  40 . The semi-rigid actuator plate  30  and the snap dome PCB  40  are components that might typically be present in traditional keypads. That is, the semi-rigid actuator plate  30  and the snap dome PCB  40  are used to determine when a key  10  has been pressed. The pressing of a key  10  might cause a downward movement in the semi-rigid actuator plate  30  and this downward movement might cause an electrical contact to occur in the snap dome PCB  40 . The electrical contact can cause the creation of an input signal that corresponds to the key  10  that was pressed. One of skill in the art will be familiar with other components that can convert the pressing of a key into an input signal and that could be used instead of the semi-rigid actuator plate  30  and the snap dome PCB  40 .  
         [0026]     The capacitive touch-sensitive PCB  20  makes the keys  10  touch sensitive. That is, when a key  10  is touched, such as by a user&#39;s finger or some other device, the capacitive touch-sensitive PCB  20  can determine which key  10  has been touched and can generate an input signal corresponding to the touched key  10 . In an embodiment, the capacitive touch-sensitive PCB  20  may use technology similar to that found in typical capacitive touch screens to detect when a key  10  has been touched.  
         [0027]     As is well known in the art, a capacitive touch screen can sense a human or perhaps other touch and can cause an input signal to be generated when a touch is sensed. Electrical charges are typically stored in a material coating a capacitive touch screen panel and are drawn to the point of contact when the screen is touched. Hardware and software associated with the capacitive touch screen can detect the amount of charge present at a given location on the screen and can convert a change in charge level caused by a touch into an input signal that corresponds to the location that was touched.  
         [0028]     In other embodiments, other types of technology could be used to detect a touch on a key  10 . For example, instead of capacitive touch sensing, resistive touch sensing or ultrasonic surface wave touch sensing could be used. Alternatively, optical, heat, magnetic, or other types of sensors well known or after developed could be employed. Regardless of the touch sensing technology, the component  20  is capable of sensing when a key  10  has been touched and of converting the touching of a key  10  into a corresponding input signal that is delivered to a handheld device in which the keypad system  5  is present.  
         [0029]     A key  10  in a touch-sensitive keypad system  5  is capable of generating two different input signals, one when the key  10  is in the “touched” state and another when the key  10  is in the “pressed” state. When a key  10  is not touched, the key  10  can be said to be in the “neutral” state as is the case for an untouched key in the prior art. Thus, a key  10  can be said to have three potential states: “neutral”, “touched”, where the key  10  is contacted but not pressed, and “pressed”, where a downward force is exerted on the key  10 . In an embodiment, a software module in a handheld device in which a touch-sensitive keypad system  5  is present is capable of receiving the two different input signals and causing different outcomes based on which signal is received. The software module might also cause an outcome related to a key  10  being in a neutral state.  
         [0030]      FIG. 2  illustrates a generic handheld device  50 , or just device  50 , containing a touch-sensitive keypad  5 . The device  50  might be a mobile telephone, PDA, handheld game, handheld computer, remote control, or similar device. A software module  60  in the device  50  receives one type of input when a key  10  is touched and another type of input when that key  10  is pressed. The software module  60  can then cause one type of behavior in the device  50  when a touch is detected and another type of behavior when a press is detected. The software module  60  might comprise software-based instructions implemented fully or partially by a central processor, firmware-based instructions implemented fully or partially by a field-programmable gate array or similar logic circuitry, or some other system for executing an algorithm for processing a touch on a key  10 . The device  50  might also contain a display screen  70  and a touch-sensitive 5-way keypad  120 , also known as a 5-way directional control keypad, as described below.  
         [0031]     The generic handheld device  50  depicted in  FIG. 2  represents a preferred embodiment but it should be understood that in other embodiments touch-sensitive keys could be used in other types of devices. For example, touch-sensitive keys as described herein could be used in conjunction with desktop computer keyboards, desktop telephones, control panels, and other devices or systems containing push buttons. Thus, the terms “device” and “handheld device” as used herein refer to any device or system equipped with touch-sensitive keys. Also, the term “touch-sensitive key” should be understood to refer to any push button that is made sensitive to the touch and is not limited to referring to keys  10  in the configuration depicted in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0032]     Numerous applications can make use of the “touched” and “pressed” states available through touch-sensitive keys  10 . For example, different displays might appear on the screen  70  of a device  50  depending on whether a key  10  is touched or pressed. Alternatively, touching a key  10  might cause a preliminary action to occur in a device  50  and pressing the touched key  10  might cause a follow-through to the preliminary action. Several applications that utilize touch-sensitive keys  10  are described below. Other applications or variations of these applications will be apparent to one of skill in the art in view of the present disclosure and are within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.  
         [0033]     Number Dialing with Touch Sensitive Keypad  
         [0034]     In one embodiment, the device  50  might be a mobile telephone with a touch-sensitive keypad  5 . When a user of the mobile telephone  50  touches a key  10 , the numeral that appears on the key  10  might appear in large type on the display screen  70  of the mobile telephone  50 . The user can look at the screen  70  and easily determine which key  10  is being touched. If the numeral that appears on the screen  70  corresponds to the number that the user wishes to enter, the user can then press the key  10  and the key press will be processed in the manner of a standard key press on a standard telephone. If the numeral that appears on the screen  70  does not correspond to the number that the user wishes to enter, the user can easily see that the wrong key  10  is being touched and can touch a different key  10  and again easily see if the correct key  10  is being touched.  
         [0035]      FIG. 3   a  illustrates an embodiment of the display screen  70  on the device  50 , where the device  50  is a mobile telephone equipped with a touch-sensitive keypad  5 . In this case, a user is touching, but has not pressed, the “4” key on the keypad  5 . As a result, a large numeral “4” appears in the central portion  80  of the screen  70 . This clearly indicates to the user that a “4” will be entered if the “4” key being touched is subsequently pressed. If the user then presses the “4” key being touched, the screen  70  might take on the appearance shown in  FIG. 3   b . A smaller sized “4” appears in the upper portion  90  of the screen  70  to indicate that a “4” has been entered. The larger “4” might remain in the central portion  80  of the screen  70  if the user retains contact with the “4” key.  
         [0036]     As the user continues to touch and press other keys  10 , a large-sized numeral indicating the key  10  currently being touched might appear in the central portion  80  of the screen  70  and the group of all numbers that have been entered might appear in the upper portion  90  of the screen  70  in the order in which they were entered. In other embodiments, other types of displays might be used to indicate which key  10  is being touched and which numbers have been entered. For example, the first portion  80  and the second portion  90  of the screen  70  could be different sizes or in different locations. Also, characters other than numbers could be present on the keys  10  and could appear in the first portion  80  and second portion  90  of the screen  70 .  
         [0037]     In this way, the user can move a finger across the keypad  5 , look at the screen  70 , see in a large sized font the number corresponding to the key  10  being touched, and then, if desired, press the key  10 . The user does not need to look at the smaller sized numerals on the keypad  5  to see which number will be entered when a key  10  is pressed. The number of errors that occur during data entry can be reduced since a user can easily avoid pressing an incorrect key  10  by seeing the number that will be entered when a touched key  10  is pressed. The need to cancel one data entry sequence when an error occurs and begin a new sequence can be avoided. This can be especially helpful when the user is driving or performing other tasks where full attention cannot be given to the key pressing process.  
         [0038]     Text Entry with Touch Sensitive Keypad  
         [0039]     In another embodiment, the device  50  is a text messaging device equipped with the touch-sensitive keypad  5 . In this case, when a user touches a particular one of the keys  10 , all of the characters that can be entered by pressing that key  10  might appear on the screen  70  of the device  50 . For example, if the user touches the “5” key, the characters “J”, “K”, “L”, and “5” might appear on the screen  70 . The user can easily see which characters can be entered if the touched key  10  is pressed and can also easily see how many key presses are required to enter a desired character.  
         [0040]     Under prior art text messaging protocols, a “time-out” period might be used to distinguish how two consecutive presses on a single key are interpreted. Two consecutive presses of a key within the time-out period might be interpreted as the selection of the second character in a list of characters. A first press of a key, followed by the expiration of the time-out period, followed by a second press of the same key might be interpreted as two consecutive selections of the first character in a list of characters. For example, if the “5” key is pressed twice within the time-out period, a “K” might be entered. If the “5” key is pressed once and is not pressed again before the time-out period expires, a “J” might be entered. Pressing “5” again after the time-out period has expired might enter another “J”.  
         [0041]     Entering text in this manner can be difficult to learn and error prone. If a user becomes distracted or otherwise inadvertently fails to enter a key press within the time-out period, an erroneous character might be entered. A user might also inadvertently enter an erroneous character by losing count of how many times a key has been pressed. A user might also inadvertently press a key too many times. In any of these cases, the user would typically need to delete the erroneous character and restart the data entry process.  
         [0042]     The use of the touch-sensitive keypad  5  can reduce the number of errors that might occur in data entry for text messaging since users can easily determine how many times a particular one of the keys  10  has been pressed. In an embodiment, the completion of data entry for a particular one of the keys  10  is indicated by the removal of contact from the key  10  rather than by the expiration of a time-out period. For example, if a user touches the “5” key, the characters “J”, “K”, “L”, and “5” might appear on the screen  70  of the text messaging device  50 . If the user presses the “5” key once and maintains contact with the “5” key, the “J” might be highlighted or otherwise emphasized to indicate that “J” will be entered if no further key presses are made. A second press of the “5” key without removal of contact might highlight the “K”. If the user then breaks contact with the “5” key, the “K” would be entered.  
         [0043]      FIG. 4   a  illustrates an embodiment of the display screen  70  on the device  50  equipped with the touch-sensitive keypad  5 . In this case, a user is touching, but has not pressed, the “4” key on the keypad  5 . As a result, the list of characters associated with the “4” key (namely “G”, “H”, “I”, and “4”) appears in a text box or similar first portion  100  of the screen  70 . This clearly indicates to the user the characters that can be entered if the key  10  being touched is pressed and how many presses are needed to enter those characters. (One press for the first character, two presses for the second, etc.).  
         [0044]     If the user presses the “4” key once and retains contact with the “4” key, the “G” might be highlighted or otherwise emphasized to indicate that a “G” will be entered if contact is removed from the “4” key. If the user again presses and retains contact with the “4” key, the “H” might be highlighted. Further presses might cause the highlighting to loop through the “G”, “H”, “I”, and “4” characters.  
         [0045]     If the user removes contact with the key  10  being touched, the screen  70  might then take on the appearance shown in  FIG. 4   b . In this case, the user has pressed the “4” key once and then removed contact from the “4” key. A “G” appears in a text window or similar second portion  110  of the screen  70  to indicate that a “G” has been entered. The list of characters in the first portion  100  of the screen  70  has disappeared, indicating that no keys  10  are being touched.  
         [0046]     As the user continues to touch and press other keys  10 , other lists of characters indicating the key  10  currently being touched might appear in the first portion  100  of the screen  70  and the group of all characters that have been entered might appear in the second portion  110  of the screen  70  in the order in which they were entered. The second portion  110  of the screen  70  might change size, allow scrolling, or in some other way accommodate the entry of large strings of text. The first portion  100  of the screen  70  might automatically move to accommodate a change in the size of the second portion  110  of the screen  70  and prevent the first portion  100  from covering the second portion  110 . In other embodiments, other types of displays might be used to indicate which characters have been entered and which characters can be entered if the key  10  being touched is pressed. In this way, the user need not be concerned about pressing a key  10  before the time-out period expires or about keeping track of how many times a key  10  has been pressed. As long as contact is maintained with a key  10 , the user can easily see which character will be entered when contact is removed from the key  10 .  
         [0047]     In other embodiments, entry of a character might occur in different manners. For example, a character corresponding to a first key  10   a  might be entered when a second key  10   b  is touched, rather than when contact is released from the first key  10   a . Alternatively, a traditional time-out period might be used in conjunction with touch-sensitive keys  10  such that entry of a character might occur after contact has been maintained on a key  10  for a certain length of time or entry of a character might occur a certain length of time after contact is released from a touch-sensitive key  10 . One of skill in the art will recognize other ways in which a character might be entered into a device  50  after being selected for entry via touching a touch sensitive key  10  and/or a combination of touching and/or pressing a touch sensitive key  10 .  
         [0048]     In an embodiment, the device  50  might be used for both traditional telephony and text messaging. When the device  50  is in the traditional telephony mode, touching a particular one of the keys  10  might cause the numeral that appears on the touched key  10  to appear on the display  70  of the device  50 . When the device  50  is in the text messaging mode, touching a key  10  might cause all of the characters that can be entered by pressing the touched key  10  to appear on the screen  70  of the device  50 . Thus, the software module  60  or other component might include the logic to make such context-related input decisions or interpretations.  
         [0049]     Touch-Sensitive Scrolling  
         [0050]     Moving rapidly through a document or list can be difficult with previous handheld devices since such devices typically do not include a mouse, scroll bar, or other scrolling mechanism. Rapid movement is typically accomplished through rapid, repeated pressing of a key associated with an arrow, which can be tedious, error prone, and time-consuming. If the user presses the keys too quickly, keystrokes can be missed due to the tolerances of the software that accepts the keystrokes or delays in movement can occur due to buffers filling up and temporarily being unable to accept further keystrokes.  
         [0051]     Previously, such rapid movement through the display on a handheld device might be carried out through the use of a “5-way keypad”. A typical 5-way keypad contains a left key, a right key, an up key, a down key, and an OK key in the center of the other four keys. Rapid movement to the left might be accomplished by repeated pressing of the left key, rapid movement to the right might be accomplished by repeated pressing of the right key, etc.  
         [0052]     In an embodiment, a scrolling capability is provided on a handheld device by making the keys on a 5-way keypad touch sensitive. Touch sensitivity can be provided to the keys on a 5-way keypad through the use of an underlying capacitive touch-sensitive PCB similar to that described above or through other technologies mentioned above. Scrolling is achieved through the, rapid, successive touching, but not pressing, of at least two adjacent touch-sensitive keys on a 5-way keypad such as running or rubbing one&#39;s fingers across the keys several times in quick succession. In one embodiment, running one&#39;s finger across or touching across any two adjacent keys can produce scrolling. In another embodiment, three aligned keys need to be touched across to achieve scrolling.  
         [0053]      FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of a touch-sensitive 5-way keypad  120 , where an up key  130 , a down key  140 , a left key  150 , and a right key  160  encircle an OK key  170 . Such a touch-sensitive 5-way keypad  120  might be installed on the device  50  that also contains a touch-sensitive keypad  5 , on a device with a traditional keypad, or on other devices. In an embodiment, touching the up  130 , OK  170 , and down  140  keys in rapid succession, such as running one&#39;s finger over those keys  130 ,  170 , and  140  in a quick down stroke, is interpreted as a down scroll. Similarly, touching the down  140 , OK  170 , and up  130  keys in succession, such as an up stroke across those keys  140 ,  170 , and  130 , is interpreted as an up scroll. Touching the left  150 , OK  170 , and right  160  keys in rapid succession is interpreted as a right scroll. Touching the right  160 , OK  170 , and left  150  keys in rapid succession is interpreted as a left scroll.  
         [0054]     In another embodiment, touching the left  150  and OK  170  keys or the OK  170  and right  160  keys in rapid succession is interpreted as a right scroll, touching the right  160  and OK  170  keys or the OK  170  and left  150  keys in rapid succession is interpreted as a left scroll, etc. In other embodiments, a diagonal scrolling can be achieved by touching diagonally aligned keys. Also, in other embodiments, other keys could be touched in a similar manner to produce a scrolling effect. For example, the “2”, “4”, “5”, “6”, and “8” keys on a telephone keypad, which are arranged in the same pattern as a 5-way keypad, can be used to achieve the scrolling effect when those keys are touch sensitive and are used for directional navigation.  
         [0055]     When rapid contact is made across adjacent keys in a 5-way keypad  120  or on similar keys, a corresponding motion occurs in a scrollable portion of the display of a handheld device. For example, an up or down movement across the keys might cause an up or down scrolling through a document or a menu. Rapid movement across the keys might alternatively cause motion in a scroll bar that appears in the display of the device. Alternatively, rapid motion across the keys might cause the movement of a cursor or other pointer in the display. One of skill in the art will recognize other types of movement in a display that could be caused by rapid motion across a set of touch-sensitive keys.  
         [0056]     In an embodiment, the software module  60  in the device  50  in which the touch-sensitive 5-way keypad  120  is present is capable of interpreting successive touches on three aligned keys as a scroll in the appropriate direction on a user interface. In other embodiments, a software component other than the software module  60  might control scrolling. The software module  60  or other software component can interpret the speed of the motion across the aligned keys as the speed at which scrolling occurs. That is, a rapid motion across the keys on a touch-sensitive 5-way keypad  120  causes a rapid scroll while a slower motion across the keys causes a slower scroll. There might be a lower limit to the speed of the motion across the keys such that moving across the keys slower than this limit is interpreted as discrete touches of the individual keys rather than as scrolling.  
         [0057]     Scrolling in this manner can be faster and less error prone than the repeated pressing of arrow keys. The software that interprets successive touches on three aligned keys as a scroll can be designed to handle rapid movement without missing any touches or allowing buffers to overload. In this way, the handheld device  50  is enabled with a scrolling capability similar to that available with a mouse on a computer.  
         [0058]     Camera with a Touch Sensitive Keypad  
         [0059]     Some mobile telephones and other handheld devices have a built-in camera. On most such devices, the OK key in a 5-way keypad acts as a shutter button so that pressing the OK key causes a photograph to be taken. On other devices pressing other buttons might cause a photograph to be taken. Any button on a handheld device that causes a photograph to be taken will be referred to herein as a shutter button.  
         [0060]     In an embodiment, the handheld device  50  is equipped with a camera  75  (see  FIG. 2 ) and the shutter button on the device  50  is made touch sensitive by an underlying capacitive touch-sensitive PCB or by other technologies. This touch sensitivity can allow an input signal to be sent to the device  50  when a user touches the shutter button but does not press the shutter button. The device  50  can interpret this input signal in several different manners. In one embodiment, touching the shutter button causes the collection of focus and/or flash data. Pressing the shutter button takes a photograph that makes use of this focus and flash data. In other embodiments, other data could be collected when the shutter button is touched.  
         [0061]     Other photography-related adjustments could be made by means of touch-sensitive keys. For example, when the handheld device  50  is in a photography mode, icons might appear on the screen  70  of the device  50  that allow for the adjustment of zoom, brightness, and other parameters. In an embodiment, a left/right scrolling motion, as described above, might be used to select one of these icons and selection of an icon might cause a scroll bar to appear on the screen  70 . An up/down scrolling motion might then be used to adjust the scroll bar and thereby adjust the parameter related to the selected icon. Other ways in which touch-sensitive keys can be used for photography-related adjustments will be apparent to one of skill in the art.  
         [0062]      FIG. 6  illustrates the display  70  of the handheld device  50  equipped with the built-in camera  75 . In this case, the display  70  acts as a viewfinder for the camera  75 . In  FIG. 6   a , the shutter button on the device  50  is in the neutral (untouched) state. An object  200  at which the camera  75  is pointed appears in the display  70  but no photography-related symbols are seen. In  FIG. 6   b , the shutter button is in the touched state. A frame  210  appears around the object  200  to indicate the field of a photograph or to assist with centering. A group of icons  220  also appears in the display  70 . In other embodiments, other symbols might appear when the shutter button is touched. Also, in other embodiments, the icons  220  might appear in a smaller size when the shutter button is in the neutral state and might appear in a larger size when the shutter button is in the touched state.  
         [0063]     The icons  220  can be used to make photography-related adjustments. For example, a first icon  220   a  might be used to adjust zoom and a second icon  220   b  might be used to adjust brightness. Other icons could be used to make other adjustments such as manual focusing and contrast, as examples. A user might select one of the icons  220  by touching appropriate keys in a 5-way keypad or other keys on the device  50 .  FIG. 6   c  depicts the display  70  when the first icon  220   a  has been selected. The first icon  220   a  has been transformed into a scroll bar  230 , which can be used to adjust the parameter associated with the first icon  220   a . Selection of a different icon  220  would cause that icon  220  to transform into a scroll bar. By touching or pressing the appropriate keys on a keypad, the user can adjust the scroll bar  230  and thereby adjust a photography-related parameter. When all desired adjustments have been made, the user can press the shutter button and take a photograph that makes use of the adjustments.  
         [0064]     Adjustments might be made in a similar manner on other types of devices. For example, icons might appear on the screen of a portable music player that allow the user to adjust volume, select songs, and perform other music-related activities. The icons might transform into scroll bars as described above to allow the adjustments to be made.  
         [0065]     Mobile Device Having a Keypad with Directional Controls  
         [0066]     The keypads on some prior handheld devices contain a large number of keys and each key might provide a single function. This profusion of keys can cause confusion for some users and might result in some functions never being used due to the user&#39;s lack of awareness of their existence. In an embodiment, the number of keys on the device  50  can be reduced by making the keys touch sensitive and/or by combining multiple functions into a single key. In one embodiment, functions that were previously performed by several different keys can be combined into a single touch-sensitive key  10 . Touching such a multi-function key  10  can cause the screen  70  of the handheld device  50  to display the functions that are available through that key  10 . The user might then press the key  10  one or more times to select a desired function.  
         [0067]     As an example, a previous handheld device might have one key that performs a “dial” function, another key that performs a “retrieve message” function, and another key that enters the number “4”. In an embodiment, all of these functions might be accessible through a single key  10 , the “4” key for example. By combining functions that were previously performed by three different keys into a single key  10 , two keys can be eliminated from the keypad of a handheld device  50 . When a user touches the “4” key, the numeral “4”, a “dial” option, and a “retrieve message” option might appear on the screen  70  of the device  50 . The user might then press the “4” key one time to enter the number “4”, two times to access the “dial” function, and three times to access the “retrieve message” function. In other embodiments, the user might select a desired function in different manners. Alternatively, the software module  60  might determine the function to be selected based on an interpretation of the state or context of the device  50 . For example, if a call is coming in to the device  50 , pressing a key that has an “answer” function might accept the call. Other functions that might be available through that key might be ignored or suppressed while a call is coming in.  
         [0068]     In another embodiment, direction control keys such as those in a 5-way keypad are combined with the standard keys on a telephone keypad. The keys include various combinations of numeric indicia, alphanumeric indicia, directional control and function key icons and/or symbols. This is illustrated in  FIG. 2 , where an “up” key is combined with the “2” key, a “down” key is combined with the “8” key, a “left” key is combined with the “4” key, a “right” key is combined with the “6” key, and an “OK” key is combined with the “5” key, and these keys include letters as well. In other embodiments, the direction keys could be shifted down one key such that the “up” key is combined with the “5” key, the “down” key is combined with the “0” key, etc. Combining direction keys with standard keys in this manner can allow a 5-way keypad to be eliminated from a handheld device.  
         [0069]     In addition, common telephone-related function keys might be combined with the standard keys on a telephone keypad. For example, functions such as “send”, “end”, “clear”, “redial”, “select”, and others typically found on a mobile telephone might be accessible via the number keys on a handheld device.  
         [0070]     In an embodiment, the software module  60  or a similar component on the handheld device  50  is capable of determining which of the functions accessible through a single key  10  will be implemented when that key  10  is pressed. The determination is based on the context in which the key  10  is pressed. That is, the action that is carried out when a key  10  is pressed might depend on the state of the user interface in the display  70  at the time the key  10  is pressed.  
         [0071]     As an example, a “send” function might be used to answer an incoming call or to place an outgoing call. This function might be accessible through the “4” key, which might also be used to enter a “4” or to cause a movement to the left. An “end” function might be used to terminate a call and this function might be accessible through the “6” key, which might also be used to enter a “6” or to cause a movement to the right.  
         [0072]     When a call comes in to the device  50 , a user might press the “4” key to accept the call. The software module  60  can interpret the pressing of the “4” key as a signal to accept the call based on the context of the current incoming call. If a call were not currently coming in to the device  50 , the software module  60  might interpret the pressing of the “4” key based on the state of the user interface in the display  70 . That is, if the user were performing a numeric function, such as entering a telephone number, the software module  60  might interpret the pressing of the “4” key as the entry of a “4”. If the user were navigating through a list or a document, the software module  60  might interpret the pressing of the “4” key as a movement to the left.  
         [0073]     The number of functions that are available on a single key  10  can vary in different embodiments. In some cases, functions that are accessed frequently might be accessible through a single, dedicated key  10  while less frequently used functions might be combined into a single key  10 . In some embodiments, a user might be given the capability to specify the functions that are available through each key  10 .  
         [0074]     Combining multiple functions in a single key  10  in this manner can simplify the layout of a keypad. A small number of touch-sensitive keys  10  can be used to perform functions that might previously have required a greater number of traditional keys. The reduction in the number of keys  10  can allow a keypad to fit into a smaller space than was previously possible, which can be especially desirable as handheld devices  50  become smaller and smaller. Alternatively, the keypad could remain the same size be enlarged since reducing the number of keys  10  could allow each key  10  to be larger. This could aid users with visual impairments or users, such as children or the elderly, who lack the dexterity to comfortably manipulate smaller keys.  
         [0075]     Audio User Interface  
         [0076]     The use of a touch-sensitive keypad  5  can assist visually impaired users in entering the appropriate characters into a handheld device  50 . In an embodiment, when a user touches a touch-sensitive key  10 , the device  50  in which the touch-sensitive keypad  5  is present can audibly speak the character or characters that will be entered if that key  10  is pressed. For example, if a user touches the “5” key, an electronic voice might pronounce the word “five”. If the user intended to enter a “5”, the user could then press the key  10  that was being touched. If the user intended to enter a different number (or to access a function or service not associated with the “5” key), the user could touch other keys  10  until a spoken word corresponding to the number desired for entry was heard. The user could then press the key  10  currently being touched. In this way, a visually impaired user can explore a keypad  5  by feel and, by hearing which key  10  is being touched, can be certain before the pressing actually occurs that the correct key  10  will be pressed. This feature might be helpful when the keys  10  are not large enough to accommodate Braille symbols that represent all of the functions available through a key  10 . This feature might also be helpful when a non-visually impaired user is driving or otherwise cannot devote full attention to looking at a keypad  5  or a display screen  70 .  
         [0077]     Other Applications  
         [0078]      FIG. 7  depicts a menu that might appear on the display screen  70  of the device  50  equipped with touch-sensitive keys  10 . Each item in the menu might be associated with a particular one of the touch-sensitive keys  10  or might be selectable via scrolling. In an embodiment, an icon that appears in such a menu might become larger when a key  10  associated with the icon is touched. The text associated with the icon might also become larger. If the key  10  is pressed, the function associated with the icon might be selected. The enlargement of an icon might provide a user with a clearer idea of the function that will be performed if the key  10  associated with the icon is pressed.  
         [0079]     An alternative display of menu items is illustrated in  FIG. 8 , where a group of icons is arranged in a grid-like pattern. Each rectangle in the grid might be associated with a key  10  in a corresponding location on a keypad. That is, the rectangle in the upper left corner of the grid might be associated with the “1” key on a keypad, the rectangle in the upper middle portion of the grid might be associated with the “2” key, etc. Touching a key  10  might cause the associated icon to become larger or to otherwise provide an indication of the function associated with the icon.  
         [0080]     In either of the above menu configurations, a user may be given the capability to designate one or more icons to represent one or more favorite functions. This can allow the user to gain access to a function in fewer steps than would otherwise be necessary. A scrolling action as described above might be used to select a “favorites” icon and/or to select a favorite function from a group of favorite functions. As an example, a user might choose to store emergency contact information under a single icon or menu item so that access to this information can easily be gained in case of an emergency. In another embodiment, a wireless communications company might wish to store revenue generating functions under a “favorites” icon and display such an icon prominently on its mobile telephones. According to another embodiment, the present disclosure provides icons that are more readily identifiable. The icons listed in  FIGS. 7 and 8  are examples of such icons that a user will readily identify as associated with a particular service or feature without requiring the associated textual description.  
         [0081]     The system described above may be implemented on any handheld mobile electronic device  50  such as is well known to those skilled in the art. An exemplary mobile handset system  50  for implementing one or more embodiments disclosed herein is illustrated in  FIG. 9 . The mobile handset  50  includes a processor  1210  (which may be referred to as a central processor unit or CPU) that is coupled to a first storage area  1220 , a second storage area  1230 , an input device  1240  such as a keypad, and an output device such as a display screen  70 .  
         [0082]     The processor  1210  may be implemented as one or more CPU chips and may execute instructions, codes, computer programs, or scripts that it accesses from the first storage area  1220  or the second storage area  1230 . The first storage area  1220  might be a non-volatile memory such as flash memory. The second storage area  1230  might be firmware or a similar type of memory.  
         [0083]     While several embodiments have been provided in the present disclosure, it should be understood that the disclosed systems and methods may be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.  
         [0084]     The present examples are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the intention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents. For example, the various elements or components may be combined or integrated in another system or certain features may be omitted, or not implemented.  
         [0085]     Also, techniques, systems, subsystems and methods described and illustrated in the various embodiments as discrete or separate may be combined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, or methods without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Other items shown or discussed as directly coupled or communicating with each other may be coupled through some interface or device, such that the items may no longer be considered directly coupled to each other but may still be indirectly coupled and in communication, whether electrically, mechanically, or otherwise with one another. Other examples of changes, substitutions, and alterations are ascertainable by one skilled in the art and could be made without departing from the spirit and scope disclosed herein.