Patent ID: 7636748

Claim:
A data processing device comprising: a plurality of control elements to perform a first plurality of defined functions when the data processing device is in a first operational mode and to perform a second plurality of defined functions when the data processing device is in a second operational mode, wherein: the first operational mode is associated with a first physical orientation of the data processing device and the plurality of control elements; and the second operational mode is associated with a second physical orientation of the data processing device and the plurality of control elements, wherein at least one of the plurality of control elements includes: a first plurality of glyphs on a corresponding plurality of physical keys of an alphanumeric keyboard, each of the first plurality of glyphs representing a designated one of the first specified functions, the first plurality of glyphs being highlighted by reflecting light from one or more light sources located external to the plurality of physical keys when the data processing device is in the first operational mode; and a second plurality of glyphs on the plurality of physical keys of the alphanumeric keyboard, each of the second plurality of glyphs representing a designated one of the second specified functions, the second plurality of glyphs being highlighted by a one or more light sources located beneath the plurality of physical keys when the data processing device is in the second operational mode, the first plurality of glyphs located on a first plurality of surfaces of the plurality of physical keys, the second plurality of glyphs located on a second plurality of surfaces of the plurality of physical keys, the second plurality of surfaces located beneath the first plurality of surfaces of the plurality of physical keys, wherein the first plurality of glyphs and the first plurality of surfaces are semi-transparent or semi-translucent with respect to the one or more light sources located beneath the plurality of physical keys; wherein the data processing device automatically highlights the first plurality of glyphs when in the first operational mode and automatically highlights the second plurality of glyphs when in the second operational mode; a display having a viewable display screen for rendering images generated by the data processing device, the display screen rendering images in a first orientation when the data processing device is in the first operational mode and rendering images in a second orientation when the data processing device is in the second operational mode, wherein the images generated by the data processing device include menus and/or user interface elements, and wherein functions performed by the menus and/or user interface elements are modified to reflect switching between the first operational mode and the second operational mode.