Electronic device with reconfigurable keypad

Abstract

An electronic device with a primary display having a first power consumption and a keypad display separate from the primary display, and having a second power consumption less than the first power consumption is presented. The keypad display is coupled to a touch sensor and displays a standard keypad interface when the electronic device is powered on. Based on user selection of one or more applications on the electronic device, custom keypad interfaces associated with the selected application is displayed on the keypad display. User selection of icons on the custom keypad interfaces cause the electronic device to perform corresponding functions of the selected application. The custom keypad interface associated with the selected application may be stored in the electronic device or configured based on the user's individual settings. The custom keypad interfaces may include characters, symbols and images relevant to the operational state of the selected application.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic device comprising:
 a primary display having a first power consumption;   a keypad display separate from the primary display and having a second power consumption less than the first power consumption;   one or more processors coupled to the primary display and the keypad display;   a memory storing instructions for execution by the one or more processors; and   a touch sensor coupled to the keypad display and configured to sense a user input on the keypad display.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the keypad display corresponds to at least one member of the group consisting of a backlit liquid crystal display (LCD), a reflective LCD, an electroluminescent (EL) display, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, an electrophoretic display (EPD), and a bistable display. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the keypad display and the primary display are positioned on different surfaces of the electronic device. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile computing device. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein execution of the instructions causes the electronic device to:
 receive a first user selection of a first application associated with a first keypad interface;   execute the first application;   present the first keypad interface on the keypad display;   receive a second user selection of a second application associated with a second keypad interface, wherein the second application is different from the first application;   execute the second application; and   present the second keypad interface on the keypad display, wherein the second keypad interface is at least partially different from the first keypad interface.   
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein execution of the instructions causes the electronic device to:
 present a standard keypad interface on the keypad display when the electronic device is not in use or when the user restarts the electronic device.   
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein execution of the instructions causes the electronic device to:
 present a standard keypad interface on the keypad display;   receive a user selection of an application associated with a custom keypad interface;   execute the selected application; and   present the custom keypad interface on the keypad display.   
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the custom keypad interface includes at least one member of the group consisting of characters, symbols, icons, and images. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein execution of the instructions causes the electronic device to:
 receive a user input on the custom keypad interface; and   perform a function of the selected application based on the received user input.   
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the user input is received on an icon presented on the custom keypad interface. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the custom keypad interface indicates a functional mode of the selected application. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the custom keypad interface indicates an operational state of the selected application. 
     
     
         13 . A method of operating an electronic device including at least a primary display and a keypad display, the method comprising:
 presenting a standard keypad interface on the keypad display;   receiving a first user selection of a first application associated with a first custom keypad interface;   executing the first application by at least presenting a portion of the first application on the primary display; and   presenting the first custom keypad interface on the keypad display, wherein the keypad display consumes less power than the primary display.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the keypad display corresponds to at least one member of the group consisting of a backlit liquid crystal display (LCD), a reflective LCD, an electroluminescent (EL) display, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, an electrophoretic display (EPD), and a bistable display. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile computing device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 presenting the standard keypad interface on the keypad display when the electronic device is not in use or when the user restarts the electronic device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 receiving a second user selection of a second application associated with a second custom keypad interface, wherein the second application is different from the first application;   executing the second application; and   presenting the second custom keypad interface on the keypad display, wherein the second custom keypad interface is at least partially different from the first custom keypad interface.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first custom keypad interface includes at least one member of the group consisting of characters, symbols, icons, and images. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 receiving a user input on the first custom keypad interface; and   performing a function of the first application based on the received user input.   
     
     
         20 . An electronic device including a primary display and a keypad display, the electronic device further comprising:
 means for presenting a standard keypad interface on the keypad display;   means for receiving a user selection of an application associated with a custom keypad interface;   means for executing the selected application by at least presenting a portion of the selected application on the primary display; and   means for presenting the custom keypad interface on the keypad display, wherein the keypad display consumes less power than the primary display.