Movable user interface

Abstract

A wireless communication handset ( 100 ) having a movable housing portion ( 204 ) coupled to a housing portion ( 202 ) that rotates relative to the housing portion. The movable housing portion may be a ring that rotates from one position 200 to another position 300 relative to the housing. Rotation of the ring to a first position activates a first function. Indicia 210 disposed on the ring indicates the desired mode. Rotation of the ring to a second position activates a second mode corresponding to a second indicia on the ring. The ring is interchangeable with other rings (FIG. 5 through FIG. 7) having different indicia corresponding to different modes or functions. The software that corresponds to the different modes may be stored in a memory 104 of the device or downloaded to the device upon coupling the ring thereto.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A portable electronic device comprising: 
 a first housing portion capable of retaining electronic components;    a moveable housing portion, coupled to said first housing portion and moveable to a plurality of positions relative to said first housing portion,    wherein said moveable housing portion comprises at least two indicia, a first indicia indicative of a first mode of said device and a second indicia indicative of a second mode of said device;    a detector for detecting said plurality of positions of said moveable housing portion relative to said first housing portion; and    a controller coupled to said detector.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , said moveable housing portion is removably coupled to said first housing portion.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , said removable housing portion is a rotateable removable housing portion, rotateable relative to said first housing portion, coupled to said first housing portion and rotateable to a plurality of positions relative to said first housing portion.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , said removable rotateable housing portion, coupled to said first housing portion such that said removable rotateable housing portion and said first housing portion are planarly adjacent and said removable rotateable housing portion is rotateable to a plurality of positions relative to said first housing portion, 
 wherein said removable rotateable housing portion comprises at least two indicia, a first indicia indicative of a first mode of said device and a second indicia indicative of a second mode of said device.    
     
     
         6 . The device of claim  5 , a rotateable removable housing portion ID, said ID is coupled to said rotateable removable housing portion and associated with a set of modes of said device and said ID readable by said device.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said indicia of said removable rotateable housing portion are associated with said removable rotateable housing portion ID.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein a downloadable set of modes is associated with said removable rotateable housing portion ID.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8  wherein said device has a downloaded set of modes that corresponds to said removable rotateable housing portion ID.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said rotateable removable housing portion ID is a unique pattern disposed on a face of said rotateable removable housing portion.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said rotateable removable housing portion is a circular ring.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said rotateable removable housing portion is a circular ring.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10 , a rotateable housing portion ID reader coupled to said controller.  
     
     
         15 . A wireless communication device comprising: 
 a first housing portion having electronic components;    a controller of said wireless communication device said controller having a plurality of functions;    an interchangeable rotateable ring having a plurality of icons disposed on a first surface thereof, wherein said each icon of a plurality of icons corresponds to a function of said device;    a interchangeable rotateable ring ID coupled to said interchangeable rotateable ring, said ID readable by said wireless communication device, and said ID corresponding to said at least one function of a plurality of functions; and    a position sensor coupled to said first housing portion and to said interchangeable rotateable ring.    
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said functions are phone functions, gaming functions, personal information management functions, or messaging functions.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , a interchangeable rotateable ring ID reader coupled to said controller of said wireless communication device.  
     
     
         18 . A method for menu selection short cut in a wireless communication device comprising: 
 determining a position of said removable rotateable housing portion relative to a first housing portion;    operating a first function of said device that corresponds to said first position of said removable rotateable housing portion.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , changing a set of modes based on replacing the ring.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , after the step of receiving said removable rotateable housing portion; 
 downloading a software defined set of operating functions that correspond to said removable rotateable housing portion.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , prior to determining said position of said removable rotateable housing portion, 
 reading an identification of said removable rotateable housing portion.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , prior to reading an identification, receiving a removable rotateable housing portion.  
     
     
         23 . A selector ring adapted to movably couple to an electronic device comprising: 
 a coupling means for removably coupling the selector ring to an electronic device and allowing said selector ring to move to a plurality of positions relative to said electronic device, each position associated with a function of said electronic device;    an selector ring identification means readable by said electronic device, to identify at least one function of said device associated with said ring; and    at least one indicia disposed on a surface of the selector ring, said indicia associated with a function of at least one function of said device.