Patent ID: 7791594

Claim:
A method of reconfiguring the graphical user interface (GUI) of a touchscreen display associated with a portable mobile communications device that is operable in a variety of modes, the reconfiguration of the GUI based on the orientation of the portable mobile communications device, the method comprising: sensing whether the portable mobile communications device is currently in a portrait or landscape orientation; accessing an orientation profile that associates each mode of operation with either a portrait or landscape orientation, wherein a first mode of operation comprises a first set of control buttons displayed on a first GUI in the portrait orientation to allow input from a user for operation of the portable mobile communications device when the portable mobile communications device is orientated in the portrait orientation, and wherein a second mode of operation comprises a second set of control buttons displayed on a second GUI in the landscape orientation to allow input from a user for operation of the portable mobile communications device when the portable mobile communications device is orientated in the landscape orientation, wherein the first set of control buttons is different than the second set of control buttons, and wherein the first set of control buttons are configured to have a orientation in landscape orientation and wherein the second set of control buttons are configured to have a orientation in a portrait orientation; determining which mode of operation is the default mode for the sensed orientation of the portable mobile communications device; reconfiguring the GUI of the touchscreen display for the default mode of operation; detecting that the user has shaken the portable communication device when the GUI of the touchscreen display is in the default mode of operation; and reconfiguring the GUI of the touchscreen display for a mode of operation other than the default mode of operation in response to the detecting that the user has shaken the portable communication device.