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US5487104A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Arrangement for displaying menu screens on a telephone terminal

Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
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Filing: 1994-12-22
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Granted: 1996-01-23
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Expires: 2014-12-22
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Abstract

Abstract An interactive display arrangement for easily moving between menu screens in a display device at a telephone terminal is provided. Ease of movement between the menu screens for certain logical functions is facilitated by a multipurpose screen prompt having a single softkey message. This softkey message is commonly displayed in each plurality of sets of softkey messages displayed in associated menu screens, with multiple tasks being assigned to this softkey label message. Each assigned task for the softkey message is determined by each menu screen in which the softkey message is displayed. By being able to use a single screen prompt for multiple functions, simplicity and screen space in a small interactive display is conserved. Also, the user of the display is able to move easily among available menu screens in the interactive display arrangement without the need for detailed knowledge of the menu hierarchy.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kimberly A. Baals
  • 👤 Kathleen J. Chylinski
  • 👤 Darren A. Kall
  • 👤 Gary C. Smith

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 03:09
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/247; H04M1/2477; H04M1/26; H04M1/27; H04M1/274; H04M1/2745; H04M1/27467; H04M1/2747; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S379/00; Y10S379/914; Y10S379/915

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim 126 words
An arrangement for displaying menu screens of information messages in a limited available space in a display device at a telephone terminal, the arrangement comprising: means for generating a plurality of sets of information messages in the telephone terminal, each one of the sets of information messages being displayed in an associated menu screen in said limited available space of said display device; and means for assigning different tasks for a selected information message, each task requiring movement from a displayed menu screen to another menu screen upon the completion of a specific task for another information message in the set of information messages in said displayed menu screen, and the selected information message being commonly displayed in each one of different sets of information messages.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 126 words
An arrangement for displaying menu screens of information messages in a limited available space in a display device at a telephone terminal, the arrangement comprising: means for generating a plurality of sets of information messages in the telephone terminal, each one of the sets of information messages being displayed in an associated menu screen in said limited available space of said display device; and means for assigning different tasks for a selected information message, each task requiring movement from a displayed menu screen to another menu screen upon the completion of a specific task for another information message in the set of information messages in said displayed menu screen, and the selected information message being commonly displayed in each one of different sets of information messages.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 51 words
The arrangement of claim 1 further including means for advancing from a displayed menu screen to a sibling menu screen at the same level in the menu hierarchy and means for moving from the displayed menu screen to a parent menu screen at the next higher level in the menu hierarchy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 45 words
The arrangement of claim 2 further including means for accessing by a user at the telephone terminal at least one information message in a set of information messages for performing a specific task requiring movement from the displayed menu screen to the sibling menu screen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 35 words
The arrangement of claim 3 wherein the assigning means, responsive to the accessing means, assigns to the selected information message the specific task of moving from the displayed menu screen to the sibling menu screen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 45 words
The arrangement of claim 2 further including means for accessing by a user at the telephone terminal at least one information message in a set of information messages for performing a specific task requiring movement from the displayed menu screen to the parent menu screen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 35 words
The arrangement of claim 5 wherein the assigning means, responsive to the accessing means, assigns to the selected information message the specific task of moving from the displayed menu screen to the parent menu screen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 191 words
An arrangement for displaying menu screens of information messages in a limited available space in a display device at a telephone terminal, the menu screens being representative of features available in the telephone terminal, the arrangement comprising: means for generating a plurality of sets of information messages, each one of the sets of information messages being displayed in an associated menu screen in said limited available space of said display device and accessed in response to actuating an associated switch on the terminal; means for performing specific tasks at each displayed menu screen, each information message within each set of information messages performing a specific task in the displayed menu screen; and means for assigning different specific tasks to a specific information message commonly located in each one of the sets of information messages, each assigned task for the specific information message being determined by each menu screen in which the information message is displayed, said assigned task requiring movement from a displayed menu screen to another menu screen upon the completion of a specific task for another information message in the set of information messages in said displayed menu screen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 191 words
An arrangement for displaying menu screens of information messages in a limited available space in a display device at a telephone terminal, the menu screens being representative of features available in the telephone terminal, the arrangement comprising: means for generating a plurality of sets of information messages, each one of the sets of information messages being displayed in an associated menu screen in said limited available space of said display device and accessed in response to actuating an associated switch on the terminal; means for performing specific tasks at each displayed menu screen, each information message within each set of information messages performing a specific task in the displayed menu screen; and means for assigning different specific tasks to a specific information message commonly located in each one of the sets of information messages, each assigned task for the specific information message being determined by each menu screen in which the information message is displayed, said assigned task requiring movement from a displayed menu screen to another menu screen upon the completion of a specific task for another information message in the set of information messages in said displayed menu screen.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 51 words
The arrangement of claim 7 further including means for advancing from a displayed menu screen to a sibling menu screen at the same level in the menu hierarchy and means for moving from the displayed menu screen to a parent menu screen at the next higher level in the menu hierarchy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 45 words
The arrangement of claim 8 further including means for accessing by a user at the telephone terminal at least one information message in a set of information messages for performing a specific task requiring movement from the displayed menu screen to the sibling menu screen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 35 words
The arrangement of claim 9 wherein the assigning means, responsive to the accessing means, assigns to the specific information message the specific task of moving from the displayed menu screen to the sibling menu screen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 45 words
The arrangement of claim 8 further including means for accessing by a user at the telephone terminal at least one information message in a set of information messages for performing a specific task requiring movement from the displayed menu screen to the parent menu screen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 35 words
The arrangement of claim 11 wherein the assigning means, responsive to the accessing means, assigns to the specific information message the specific task of moving from the displayed menu screen to the parent menu screen.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 188 words
A method of displaying menu screens of information messages in a limited available space in a display device at a telephone terminal, the menu screens being representative of features available in the telephone terminal, the method comprising the steps of: generating a plurality of sets of information messages, each one of the sets of information messages being displayed in an associated menu screen in said limited available space of said display device and accessed in response to actuating an associated switch on the terminal; performing specific tasks at each displayed menu screen, each information message within each set of information messages performing a specific task in the displayed menu screen; and assigning different specific tasks to a selected information message located in each one of the sets of information messages, each assigned task for the selected information message being determined by each menu screen in which the information message is displayed, said assigned task requiring movement from a displayed menu screen to another menu screen upon the completion of a specifically assigned task for another information message in the set of information messages in said displayed menu screen.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 188 words
A method of displaying menu screens of information messages in a limited available space in a display device at a telephone terminal, the menu screens being representative of features available in the telephone terminal, the method comprising the steps of: generating a plurality of sets of information messages, each one of the sets of information messages being displayed in an associated menu screen in said limited available space of said display device and accessed in response to actuating an associated switch on the terminal; performing specific tasks at each displayed menu screen, each information message within each set of information messages performing a specific task in the displayed menu screen; and assigning different specific tasks to a selected information message located in each one of the sets of information messages, each assigned task for the selected information message being determined by each menu screen in which the information message is displayed, said assigned task requiring movement from a displayed menu screen to another menu screen upon the completion of a specifically assigned task for another information message in the set of information messages in said displayed menu screen.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 50 words
The method of claim 13 further including the steps of advancing from a displayed menu screen to a sibling menu screen at the same level in the menu hierarchy and moving from the displayed menu screen to a parent menu screen at the next higher level in the menu hierarchy.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 46 words
The method of claim 14 further including the step of accessing by a user at the telephone terminal at least one information message in a set of information messages for performing a specific task requiring movement from the displayed menu screen to the sibling menu screen.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the assigning step, responsive to the accessing step, assigns to the selected information message the specific task of moving from the displayed menu screen to the sibling menu screen.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 46 words
The method of claim 14 further including the step of accessing by a user at the telephone terminal at least one information message in a set of information messages for performing a specific task requiring movement from the displayed menu screen to the parent menu screen.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the assigning step, responsive to the accessing step, assigns to the selected information message the specific task of moving from the displayed menu screen to the parent menu screen.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 15 words
The arrangement of claim 12 wherein the display device is a two line character display.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the display device is a two line character display.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 121 words
An arrangement for displaying menu screens of information messages in a two line character display device at a telephone terminal, the arrangement comprising: means for generating a plurality of sets of information messages in the telephone terminal, each one of the sets of information messages being displayed in an associated menu screen in said two line character display; and means for assigning different tasks for a selected information message, each task requiring movement from a displayed menu screen to another menu screen upon the completion of a specific task for another information message in the set of information messages in said displayed menu screen, and the selected information message being commonly displayed in each one of different sets of information messages.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 121 words
An arrangement for displaying menu screens of information messages in a two line character display device at a telephone terminal, the arrangement comprising: means for generating a plurality of sets of information messages in the telephone terminal, each one of the sets of information messages being displayed in an associated menu screen in said two line character display; and means for assigning different tasks for a selected information message, each task requiring movement from a displayed menu screen to another menu screen upon the completion of a specific task for another information message in the set of information messages in said displayed menu screen, and the selected information message being commonly displayed in each one of different sets of information messages.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 23 words
The arrangement of claim 21 wherein the selected information message is commonly displayed at the same location in different sets of information messages.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

No citation records indexed.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-01-22 1999-07-24 2000-01-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-01-22 2003-07-24 2004-01-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-01-22 2007-07-24 2008-01-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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