Mobile communication terminal with multi orientation user interface

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile communication terminal comprising a user interface with a display and a keypad for supporting various functions. According to the invention, the orientation of the content of a hard label or a softlabel of at least one of the keys can changed so that the key can be used with the terminal in different orientations. The content of the display may also be readable in different orientations by changing the display direction. The mobile terminal may be provided with an orientation sensor allowing automatic changing of the display direction of the softlabels and the rest of the display content. The labeling of the hard keys may be changeable by operating a handle or by mechanical arrangements or optical effects.

1 - 40 . (canceled)  
   
   
       41 . A mobile communication terminal having a user interface comprising: 
 a display for showing information,    a keypad including at least one softkey,    the function of the softkey being controlled by a controller unit and being displayed as a soft label in a predetermined area of said display, and    an orientation sensor in the communications terminal for instructing the controller unit that the orientation of the mobile communication terminal is changed, and    wherein the controller unit is adapted to change the orientation of the soft label when the orientation of the mobile communication terminal is changed, and to change the functionality of the soft label in conformity with a changed functionality of the softkey.    
   
   
       42 . A terminal according to  claim 41 , wherein the controller unit changes the orientation of the soft label without changing the position of the predetermined area relative to the at least one softkey.  
   
   
       43 . A terminal according to  claim 41 , wherein the controller unit changes the orientation of the soft label in response to a state change of the terminal or upon a user entered command.  
   
   
       44 . A terminal according to claims  41 , wherein the controller unit changes the orientation of the soft label in response to a signal from an orientation sensor in the terminal.  
   
   
       45 . A terminal according to  claim 41 , wherein the controller unit applies the same orientation changes to information on the display as to the soft label.  
   
   
       46 . A terminal according to  claim 41 , wherein the soft label includes textual content.  
   
   
       47 . A terminal according to  claim 41 , wherein the soft label includes graphical content.  
   
   
       48 . A terminal according to  claim 41 , wherein the keypad comprises a plurality of hard keys, the plurality of hard keys preferably includes a group of alphanumerical keys and/or one or more navigation keys.  
   
   
       49 . A terminal according to  claim 48 , wherein at least one of the hard keys is provided with a hard label that can be read in at least two different orientations.  
   
   
       50 . A terminal according to  claim 49 , wherein the hard label is formed by a hologram.  
   
   
       51 . A terminal according to  claim 49 , wherein the orientation of the hard label is changed by changing the backlighting of the hard key concerned.  
   
   
       52 . A terminal according to  claim 49 , wherein the orientation of hard label is changed by rotating a polarized film relative to another polarized film.  
   
   
       53 . A terminal according to  claim 41 , wherein the keypad comprises a plurality of softkeys, the function of each of the softkeys being displayed by the controller unit a predetermined area in the display, the controller unit changing the orientation of the soft labels in response to user or sensor input.  
   
   
       54 . A mobile communication terminal having a user interface comprising: 
 a display for showing information,    a keypad including at least one hard key having two different hard labels presented on said display wherein one of said hard labels is readable in one orientation and the other label is readable in a different orientation;    wherein the present function of the at least one hard key being controlled by a controller unit, depending on the orientation of the terminal and that the functionality of the label is matched by the controller unit to the respective orientation dependent label.    and means for informing the controller unit of the orientation of the terminal.    
   
   
       55 . A terminal according to  claim 54 , wherein the orientation of the information on the display is changed in accordance with the orientation of the terminal.  
   
   
       56 . A terminal according to  claim 54 , wherein the hard label includes textual content.  
   
   
       57 . A terminal according to  claim 54 , wherein the hard label includes graphical content.  
   
   
       58 . A mobile communication terminal having a user interface comprising: 
 a display for showing information,    a keypad including at with a plurality of hard keys,    the labels of the hard keys including textual and or graphical content relating to the function of the hard key concerned,    the label of least one of the hard keys being formed by a hologram on which the textual and/or graphical content can be read in at least two different orientations.    
   
   
       59 . A mobile communication terminal according to  claim 58 , wherein the information on the display can be shown in different orientations.  
   
   
       60 . A mobile communication terminal having a user interface comprising: 
 a display for showing information,    a keypad including a plurality of hard keys,    the labels of the hard keys including textual and or graphical content relating to the function of the hard key concerned,    at least one of the hard keys being formed by an at least partially transparent key body that allows objects under the key to be seen through the top of the key,    at least two labels being arranged under the key on a substrate that can move relative to the key,    the at least two labels being preferably provided with different textual and/or graphical content wherein one content is readable in one orientation and the other is readable in a different orientation,    whereby the substrate can be moved relative to the hard key to allow a different one of the at least two labels to be visible through the key.    
   
   
       61 . A mobile communication terminal according to  claim 60 , wherein the substrate forms part of a slidable or rotatable substrate that covers a plurality of keys so that a group of labels belonging to a plurality of keys can be moved simultaneously relative to the keys concerned.  
   
   
       62 . A mobile communication terminal according to  claim 61 , wherein a coherent group of functions for a set of keys visible in one position of the substrate, and another group of functions visible in another position of the substrate.  
   
   
       63 . A mobile communication terminal according to  claim 60 , wherein the substrate can move linearly relative to key or keys concerned.  
   
   
       64 . A mobile communication terminal according to  claim 60 , wherein the substrate can rotatably move relative to key or keys concerned.  
   
   
       65 . A mobile communication terminal according to  claim 61 , wherein the substrate is user exchangeable and provided with means allowing the mobile terminal to identify the substrate.  
   
   
       66 . A mobile communication terminal having a user interface comprising: 
 a display for showing information,    a keypad including a plurality of hard keys,    the labels of the hard keys including textual and or graphical content relating to the function of the hard key concerned,    at least one of the hard keys comprises a lenticular screen with at least two interlaced labels there behind, wherein one of the at least two labels being visible and readable in an upright orientation and the other of the label being visible and readable in an upside down orientation of the mobile communication terminal, and    further wherein the information shown on the display is reversed in orientation when the orientation of the mobile communication terminal is reversed.    
   
   
       67 . A mobile communication terminal having a user interface comprising: 
 a display for showing information,    a keypad including a plurality of hard keys arranged in a substantially circular pattern,    the labels of the hard keys including textual and or graphical content relating to the function of the hard key concerned,    the hard keys being formed by an at least partially transparent key body that allows objects under the key to be seen through the top of the key,    the labels of the hard keys being arranged on a rotatable substrate in a substantial circular pattern that matches the circular pattern in which the hard keys are arranged.    
   
   
       68 . A mobile communication terminal according to  claim 67 , wherein the substrate is user exchangeable and provided with means allowing the mobile terminal to identify the substrate.  
   
   
       69 . A mobile communication terminal having a user interface comprising: 
 a display,    a function confirming key and a function rejection key,    a function to be confirmed or to be rejected being controlled by a controller unit and being displayed in a predetermined area of said display, and    an orientation sensor within the mobile terminal adapted to signal the controller unit to change the orientation in which the function is displayed when the orientation of the mobile communication terminal is changed.    
   
   
       70 . A terminal according to  claim 69 , wherein the controller unit changes the orientation of the function to be confirmed or to be rejected without changing the position of the predetermined area relative to the confirming key and rejection key.  
   
   
       71 . A terminal according to  claim 69 , wherein the controller unit changes the orientation of the function to be confirmed or to be rejected in response to a state change of the terminal or upon a user entered command.  
   
   
       72 . A terminal according to  claim 69 , wherein the controller unit changes the orientation of the function to be confirmed or to be rejected in response to a signal from an orientation sensor in the terminal or in response to a manually activated switch.  
   
   
       73 . A terminal according to  claim 69 , wherein the controller unit applies the same orientation changes to information on the display as to the function to be confirmed or to be rejected.  
   
   
       74 . A terminal according to  claim 69 , wherein the function to be confirmed or to be rejected is represented by textual content.  
   
   
       75 . A terminal according to  claim 69 , wherein the function to be confirmed or to be rejected is represented by graphical content.  
   
   
       76 . A terminal according to  claim 69 , wherein the keypad comprises a plurality of hard keys, the plurality of hard keys preferably includes a group of alphanumerical keys and/or one or more navigation keys.  
   
   
       77 . A terminal according to  claim 69 , wherein at least one of the hard keys is provided with a hard label that can be read in at least two different orientations.  
   
   
       78 . A terminal according to  claim 77 , wherein the hard label is formed by a hologram.  
   
   
       79 . A terminal according to  claim 77 , wherein the hard label is changed by changing the backlighting of the hard key concerned.  
   
   
       80 . A terminal according to  claim 77 , wherein the orientation of hard label is changed by rotating a polarized film relative to another polarized film.