Patent ID: 7170497

Claim:
An electronic device comprising: a protective cover; a control element mounted at a specified place on the protective cover, the control element configured to receive input, the control element comprising at least a first input means and a second input means, the first input means comprising a multi-function input means and the second input means comprising an essentially a ring-shaped input means rotatable in a plane. where said control element has a first input mode and a second input mode; wherein when in the first input mode, the control element is arranged to provide the electronic device with navigation information in response to at least one of the following actions: operation of the first input means; or operation of the second input means; and when in the second input mode, the first and second input means are configured to display alphanumeric information, particular alphanumeric information being associated with, and displayed by, each of the first input means and particular locations of the second input means, and the control element is arranged to provide the electronic device with particular alphanumeric information in the second input mode in response to at least one of the following actions: a press on the first input means if the particular alphanumeric information is associated with the first input means; or a press on a particular location of the second input means out of several possible press locations, if the particular alphanumeric information is associated with that particular location.