Wireless communication device including a universal keypad

Abstract

The present invention provides a multifunctional input device. The input device includes a functional mode which defines the mode of operation of the input device. Each functional mode includes one or more domain levels with each domain level containing one or more domain-level values. Each domain level-value within each functional mode is assigned to one of a plurality of programmable input keys. The domain-level value assigned to each programmable input key controls the function of that programmable input key within a given functionality and domain level. The present invention also includes a display to indicate the domain-level value associated with each of the programmable input keys within a given functionality.

1 - 64 . (canceled)  
   
   
       65 . A wireless communication device comprising: 
 a wireless signal interface; and    an integral keypad input facilitating segmenting a set of input values, associated with a keypad functional mode, into multiple domain levels, wherein ones of the multiple domain levels each contain a subset of the set of input values, the integral keypad comprising:    a set of domain control keys, comprising at least two keys, for selecting one of the multiple domain levels; and    a set of input keys, separate and distinct from the set of domain control keys, wherein ones of the plurality of input keys are each associated with a signal, representative of one of a subset of the set of input values associated with a currently selected one of the multiple levels, transmitted by the integral keypad input in response to actuation of one of the set of input keys.