US5946376A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cellular telephone including language translation feature
Assignee: BlackBerry Ltd
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Filing: 1996-11-05
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Granted: 1999-08-31
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Expires: 2016-11-05
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for translating character strings on the display of the cellular telephone between a first and second language is disclosed. A user generated interrupt seizes control of a display driver controlling the cellular telephone display. The display driver is controlled by either a first or second language module. Operation of the language modules is controlled by a table of variables responsive to the user interrupt. The table of variables includes a first set of variables for controlling the first language module and a second set of variables for controlling the second language module. A variable set is selected in response to a user input.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven Cistulli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 01:38
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/72; H04M1/724; H04M2250/00; H04M2250/58
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A method for translating a character string on a display of a cellular telephone between a first and a second language, comprising the steps of: generating a user actuated interrupt; selecting between a first and a second set of variables in a table of variables in response to the user actuated interrupt, the first set of variables enabling a first language module to display the character string in the first language and a first language format and the second set of variables enabling a second language module to display the character string in the second language and a second language format; alerting a user interface function of state change while the user interface function is controlling the display according to the first language module, the first language module actuating the display to display characters in the first language format; seizing control of the display with the second language module after alerting the user interface function of the state change, the second language module actuating the display to display characters in the second language format; and controlling the display using the second language module.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
183 words
A method for translating a character string on a display of a cellular telephone between a first and a second language, comprising the steps of: generating a user actuated interrupt; selecting between a first and a second set of variables in a table of variables in response to the user actuated interrupt, the first set of variables enabling a first language module to display the character string in the first language and a first language format and the second set of variables enabling a second language module to display the character string in the second language and a second language format; alerting a user interface function of state change while the user interface function is controlling the display according to the first language module, the first language module actuating the display to display characters in the first language format; seizing control of the display with the second language module after alerting the user interface function of the state change, the second language module actuating the display to display characters in the second language format; and controlling the display using the second language module.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
231 words
A cellular telephone capable of translating a character string from a first language to a second language, comprising: a button for initiating the translation of the character string from the first language to the second language; a display unit for displaying the character string; a first language module for actuating the display unit to display the character string in a first language format corresponding to the first language; a second language module for actuating the display unit to display the character string in a second language format corresponding to the second language; a table of variables including a first set of variables associated with the first language and a second set of variables associated with the second language, the selection of the first set of variables enabling the first language module to display the character string in the first language and the selection of the second set of variable enabling the second language module to display the character string in the second language; and means responsive to an input from the button for interrupting the first language module while the first language module actuates the display unit according to the first set of variables and for selecting the second language module and the second set of variables to enable the second language module to display the character string on the display unit in the second language and the second language format.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
231 words
A cellular telephone capable of translating a character string from a first language to a second language, comprising: a button for initiating the translation of the character string from the first language to the second language; a display unit for displaying the character string; a first language module for actuating the display unit to display the character string in a first language format corresponding to the first language; a second language module for actuating the display unit to display the character string in a second language format corresponding to the second language; a table of variables including a first set of variables associated with the first language and a second set of variables associated with the second language, the selection of the first set of variables enabling the first language module to display the character string in the first language and the selection of the second set of variable enabling the second language module to display the character string in the second language; and means responsive to an input from the button for interrupting the first language module while the first language module actuates the display unit according to the first set of variables and for selecting the second language module and the second set of variables to enable the second language module to display the character string on the display unit in the second language and the second language format.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cellular telephone of claim 2 wherein the first language comprises Japanese and the second language comprises English.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
245 words
A cellular telephone capable of translating a character string in a first language to a second language, comprising: a button for initiating the translation of the character string from the first language to the second language; a display unit for displaying characters in a first language format corresponding to the first language and a second language format corresponding to the second language; a table of variables including a first set of variables associated with the first language and a second set of variables associated with the second language, wherein selection of the first set of variables converts the character string to the first language and selection of the second set of variables converts the character string to the second language; a first language module responsive to the selection of the first set of variables for actuating the display unit to display the character string in the first language format; a second language module responsive to the selection of the second set of variables for actuating the display unit to display the character string in the second language format; a processor responsive to an input from the button for interrupting the first language module while the first language module actuates the display unit according to the first set of variables and for selecting the second language module and the second set of variables, whereby the second language module actuates the display unit to display the character string in the second language and the second language format.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
245 words
A cellular telephone capable of translating a character string in a first language to a second language, comprising: a button for initiating the translation of the character string from the first language to the second language; a display unit for displaying characters in a first language format corresponding to the first language and a second language format corresponding to the second language; a table of variables including a first set of variables associated with the first language and a second set of variables associated with the second language, wherein selection of the first set of variables converts the character string to the first language and selection of the second set of variables converts the character string to the second language; a first language module responsive to the selection of the first set of variables for actuating the display unit to display the character string in the first language format; a second language module responsive to the selection of the second set of variables for actuating the display unit to display the character string in the second language format; a processor responsive to an input from the button for interrupting the first language module while the first language module actuates the display unit according to the first set of variables and for selecting the second language module and the second set of variables, whereby the second language module actuates the display unit to display the character string in the second language and the second language format.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cellular telephone of claim 4 wherein the first language comprises Japanese and the second language comprises English.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-08-30 | 2003-03-01 | 2003-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-30 | 2007-03-01 | 2007-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-30 | 2011-03-01 | 2011-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |