Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Including keyboard
Reexamination Certificate
1996-06-10
2003-07-29
Shalwala, Bipin (Department: 2673)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Including keyboard
C345S168000, C375S219000, C455S073000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06600481
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of communication devices such as pagers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Pagers have gained popularity in recent years. Early on, these devices provided one-way communication—i.e., a person could be paged by dialing a preassigned telephone number and entering some numeric information, such as a telephone number to be called, and as a result the information entered would be displayed a short time later on the person's pager. Eventually, paging systems added the ability to provide alphanumeric messages. Typically, this is done by contacting an operator and requesting the operator to type an alphanumeric message for display on a designated pager. Eventually, two-way paging systems were developed.
A prior art paging device
100
for use with a two-way paging system is illustrated by FIG.
1
. This prior art device is representative of two-way pagers available from Motorola, Inc. of Schaumberg, Illinois. Generally, this prior art device operates by allowing a user to receive a message which is displayed on display
104
. When a message is received, the pager
100
will notify the user (such as by emitting an audible sound or by vibrating). The user may then display the message by depressing button
107
(
d
). Other function buttons
107
(
a
)-(
c
) and
108
-
109
are provided which perform other functions. For example, buttons
108
and
109
are used in one mode to enter answers to questions (i.e., button
108
is pressed for an answer “yes” and button
109
is depressed for an answer “no” to a question such as “Delete ALL msgs Are you sure?”). The device
100
features a lid
104
which provides the dual function of covering the display
104
and buttons
107
(
a
)-(
d
) and of providing a place to locate an antenna.
The second function of lid
104
, allowing placement of an antenna, is an important function because two-way pager
100
requires placement of two antennas—one for transmit and one for receive. The antennas are stored in separate housing (one in the main housing of pager
100
and one in the lid) to minimize their interference with each other. Thus, while after use of the pager device
100
, the lid may seem cumbersome to some users (the pager must be opened to view messages leading to the extra step in reviewing messages of opening the lid
104
as messages are received), the lid's purpose of storing an antenna in a housing which is separate from the main antenna could be viewed as almost its main purpose.
While pager
100
offers the ability to send and receive messages, various shortcomings may be noted. For example, in addition to requiring a lid which must be opened and closed when viewing messages, pager
100
essentially may be viewed as a one and one-half way (as opposed to one way or two way) paging device in that a user may only send a message in response to a message which has been received. In addition, messages which are sent are limited to allowing the user to select from a menu of responses (e.g., “Will call in 10 mins”; “On my way”; “Yes”; “No”, etc.) These limited capabilities may, of course, be due to the difficult problem of addressing, much less composing, a message—exactly how, in a device as compact as a pager, do you allow for the flexibility to enter custom addresses and message text?
What is desired is a pager which allows use of fuller advantage of two-way communication capabilities while providing a compact and easy to use style.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A data entry method and apparatus is described for use with a wireless messaging unit such as a pager. The data entry apparatus comprises a data entry device having a left tab, a right tab, an up tab, a down tab and an enter button and a display containing alphanumeric characters for selection using the data entry device.
The display further includes tokens for performing functions such as text insertion intersperced among the alphanumeric characters.
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Althoff Kim
Brown Dan
Maliniak Kristina
Williams Tim A.
Christensen O'Connor Johnson & Kindness PLLC
Glenayre Electronics, Inc.
Osorio Ricardo
Shalwala Bipin
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