Portable communication apparatus

Abstract

A portable communication apparatus includes arrow keys for moving a highlight bar to select one of a plurality of information items displayed on screen and an Enter key for executing a selected information item. The arrow keys and the Enter key are disposed close to each other within one area on the housing.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A portable communication apparatus having a display and a keypad on a main side of a housing thereof, 
 wherein the keypad includes a key section comprising at least one key which Is used to select a desired information item from a plurality of information items displayed in the display and then to execute a selected information item.    
     
     
         2 . The portable communication apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein the key section comprises: 
 a plurality of movement operation keys for instructing a search direction to select the desired information item from the information items displayed in the display; and    an execution key disposed at a position sandwiched by the plurality of movement operation keys, for executing the selected information item.    
     
     
         3 . The portable communication apparatus according to    claim 2   , wherein the key section consisting of the movement operation keys and the execution key is disposed with a space from other operation keys of the keypad.  
     
     
         4 . The portable communication apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein the key section consists of a joystick-type key, which is inclined in a desired search direction to select the desired information item and is depressed to execute the desired information item.  
     
     
         5 . The portable communication apparatus according to    claim 4   , wherein the key section is disposed with a space from other operation keys of the keypad.  
     
     
         6 . A portable communication apparatus having a display and a keypad on a main side of a housing thereof, the keypad comprising two key sections which are separately provided on the main side, 
 wherein a predetermined one of the two key sections comprises a plurality of key contacts which are used to select a desired information item from a plurality of information items displayed in the display and then to execute a selected information item.    
     
     
         7 . The portable communication apparatus according to    claim 6   , wherein the key contacts are a plurality of movement operation key contacts and an execution key contact surrounded by the movement operation key contacts.  
     
     
         8 . The portable communication apparatus according to    claim 7   , wherein the predetermined key section comprises: 
 a plurality of arrow keys corresponding to the movement operation key contacts, respectively, for instructing a search direction to select the desired information item from the information items displayed in the display; and    an execution key disposed at a position sandwiched by the plurality of movement operation keys and corresponding to the execution key contact, for executing the selected information item.    
     
     
         9 . The portable communication apparatus according to    claim 7   , wherein the predetermined key section comprises a joystick-type key, which is inclined in a desired search direction to turn on a movement operation key contact corresponding to the desired search direction and is depressed to turn on the execution key contact.  
     
     
         10 . A portable communication apparatus having a display and a keypad on a main side of a housing thereof, 
 the keypad comprising a first key section and a second key section which are separately provided on the main side, wherein    the first key section comprises a plurality of key contacts which are used to select a desired information item from a plurality of information items displayed in the display and then to execute a selected information item; and    the second key section comprises a ten-key pad,    the portable communication apparatus further comprising: 
 a memory for storing a plurality of names and destination addresses corresponding to the names; and  
 a controller for selecting a desired name and a destination address corresponding to the desired name and executing a calling operation according to the destination address of the desired name according to a series of operations of the first key section.  
   
     
     
         11 . The portable communication apparatus according to    claim 10   , wherein the key contacts are a plurality of movement operation key contacts and an execution key contact surrounded by the movement operation key contacts.  
     
     
         12 . The portable communication apparatus according to    claim 11   , wherein the first key section comprises: 
 a plurality of arrow keys corresponding to the movement operation key contacts, respectively, for instructing a search direction to select the desired information item from the information items displayed in the display; and    an execution key disposed at a position sandwiched by the plurality of movement operation keys and corresponding to the execution key contact, for executing the selected information item.    
     
     
         13 . The portable communication apparatus according to    claim 11   , wherein the first key section comprises a joystick-type key, which is inclined in a desired search direction to turn on a movement operation key contact corresponding to the desired search direction and is depressed to turn on the execution key contact.