GB2378354A

GB2378354A - Mobile telephone with dedicated keys for calling predetermined telephone numbers

Info

Publication number: GB2378354A
Application number: GB0118988A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Boucher-Giles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-08-03
Filing date: 2001-08-03
Publication date: 2003-02-05
Also published as: GB0118988D0

Abstract

A mobile telephone (10) having a keypad (12), the keypad (12) including a plurality of keys (14) each of which has assigned to it a telephone number which may be determined by a user, so that a user may select a telephone number by operation of the corresponding key (14), characterised in that the plurality of keys (14) each have a surface area greater than 1cm<SP>2</SP>. The mobile telephone also has a switching means which permits a user to switch between a manual input mode and speed dial mode. The telephone numbers assigned to each key can be inputted via an external device, via a call centre or via the telephone keys (when in manual input mode).

Description

Title : Improvements Relating to Mobile Telephones Description of Invention This invention relates to a mobile telephone adapted particularly, but not exclusively, for use by a disabled or elderly user.

In recent years telecommunications technology has rapidly improved, and the size and weight of mobile telephone has decreased dramatically. This is clearly a desirable development as smaller, lighter telephones are more convenient to carry, but the keys required to operate the telephone are generally becoming smaller and more closely spaced. As a result, elderly or disabled people, who would also benefit from using the compact, light mobile telephones, can have difficulty in operating them. For example, a person with hand tremor or limited manual dexterity may find keypad operation slow and inaccurate, and a person with visual impairment may not be able to read the characters on the keys or on the liquid crystal display typically provided on such mobile telephones.

According to a first aspect of the invention I provide a mobile telephone having a keypad, the keypad including a plurality of keys each of which has assigned to it a telephone number which may be determined by a user, so that a user may select a telephone number by operation of the corresponding key, characterised in that each key of the plurality of keys has a surface area greater than lcm2.

Thus, by virtue of the enlarged key size and the provision of a"speed dial"facility whereby a telephone number to be dialled may be selected by operation of a single button, the mobile telephone may be used more easily by a person with hand tremor or limited manual dexterity. Furthermore, the enlarged key size permits large characters to be displayed on the keys and therefore a visually impaired user may more easily distinguish the keys.

Preferably, the keys are coloured, each one being a different colour to the others, as this may further assist a person with visual impairment in distinguishing the keys.

The key pad may further include a dial key which may be operated by the user after he has selected a telephone number to dial that telephone number.

Preferably the key pad includes a relatively low number of keys, such as six or fewer, to enable maximisation of their size for a given size of telephone and hence maximisation of their ease of use.

Alternatively, the key pad may include ten keys numbered 0 to 9 and the telephone may be provided with a switching means which is adapted to permit a user to switch between a manual input mode, in which each of the ten keys has uniquely assigned to it a single digit, a user thus being permitted to select a telephone number by operating the keys in an appropriate sequence, and a speed dial mode in which each of the ten keys has assigned to it a telephone number, which telephone number may be determined by the user, the user thus being permitted to select a telephone number by operation of the corresponding key.

Alternatively, the key pad may include exclusively keys each of which has assigned to it a telephone number which may be determined by a user, so that the user may select a telephone number by operation of the corresponding key. In this case, the key pad need not be provided with a dial key, and the mobile telephone may be adapted to dial the telephone number selected by the user directly after the user has operated the corresponding key.

The mobile telephone may include a input means by which the user may select the telephone number assigned to each key. The input means may be a

second keypad including at least keys numbered 0 to 9 by means of which a z : l y user may enter a telephone number. Alternatively, where the mobile phone includes a switching means to switch between manual and speed dial mode as

described above, the input means may be the keys of the keypad used in the manual mode.

Rather than the mobile telephone including an input means, the mobile telephone may include a connection means adapted to connect the telephone to an external input means, such as a personal computer, such that a telephone number assigned to a key on the keypad of the telephone may be entered by the user using the external input means. By virtue of the use of an external input means, the input means may be specially adapted to the needs of a disabled or elderly user without compromising the size and weight of the mobile telephone.

Moreover, the user may use an existing input means, such as their own specially adapted personal computer, to select the telephone numbers corresponding to each key.

Alternatively, the mobile telephone may be adapted to receive and process a signal from a call centre, the signal containing information relating to the telephone number to be assigned to at least one of the keys, this information having been verbally communicated by the user to staff at the call centre, and to assign a telephone number to each key of the keypad according to the information contained in the signal.

Preferably the mobile telephone does not include a display screen, in order to maximise the possible size of the keys on a telephone of a given size.

According to a second aspect of the invention, I provide a mobile telephone having front portion in which is provided a keypad, the keypad including a plurality of keys each of which has assigned to it a telephone number which may be determined by a user, so that a user may select a telephone number by operation of the corresponding key, characterised in that the plurality of keys occupy at least 25% of the area of the front portion of the telephone.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings of which

FIGURE 1 is an illustration of a first embodiment of a mobile telephone according to the first aspect of the invention, FIGURE 2 is an illustration of a second embodiment of a mobile telephone according to the invention.

FIGURE 3 is an illustration of a third embodiment of a mobile telephone according to the invention.

Referring now to figure 1, there is shown a mobile telephone 10 with a front portion 11 in which is provided a keypad 12 including a plurality of keys 14, a microphone 16 which is adapted to pick up the sound of a user's voice, and an eaipiece 18 which is adapted to transmit sound derived from an incoming telecommunications signal to the user. The telephone 10 is further provided with an antenna 20 which is adapted to assist in receiving the telecommunications signal.

Each of the keys 14 has assigned to it a telephone number which may be determined by a user, so that a user may select a telephone number by operation of the corresponding key 14. The surface area of each of the plurality of keys is greater than 1cm2. The mobile telephone 10 is adapted to dial the telephone number selected by the user directly after the user has operated the corresponding key 14.

Thus, by virtue of the enlarged key size and the provision of a"speed dial"facility whereby a telephone number to be dialled may be selected by operation of a single button, the mobile telephone may be used more easily by a person with hand tremor or limited manual dexterity.

In this example, the keys 14 are adapted such that, on receipt of an incoming telephone call, the user may actuate any of the keys 14 in order to answer the incoming call. In an alternative embodiment, the mobile telephone 10 maybe provided with a dedicated answer button which may be actuated by a user to answer an incoming call, and which does not have assigned to it a telephone number.

The mobile telephone 10 does not include an LCD screen as is normally provided, therefore the surface area of the telephone 10 occupied by the keys 14 may be significantly higher than in a known mobile telephones, and hence the keys 14 may be significantly bigger than in known mobile telephones. The keys 14 occupy at least 25% of the surface area of the front portion 11 of the telephone 10.

The keys 14 are coloured in a contrasting colour to the front portion 11 of the mobile telephone 10 each one being a different colour to the others, and this further assists a person with visual impairment in distinguishing the keys.

The mobile telephone 10 is also provided with a connection means 21, adapted to connect the telephone to an external input means such that a telephone number assigned to a key 14 on the keypad 12 of the telephone 10 may be entered by the user using the external input means. In this example, the connection means 21 includes a socket adapted to receive a cable from a personal computer, by means of which, data relating a telephone number and the key 14 to which it is to be assigned may be transmitted from the personal computer to the mobile telephone 10.

By virtue of the use of an external input means, the input means may be specially adapted to the needs of a disabled or elderly user without compromising the size and weight of the mobile telephone. Moreover, the user may use an existing input means, such as their own specially adapted personal computer, to select the telephone numbers corresponding to each key 14.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a second embodiment of a mobile telephone 10 according to the invention. In this case, the keypad 12 of the mobile telephone 10 includes ten keys 14 numbered 0 to 9, and a switching means 24 is provided on a side of the telephone, the switching means 24 being adapted to permit a user to switch between a manual input mode, in which each of the ten keys 14 has uniquely assigned to it a single digit, a user thus being permitted to select a telephone number by operating the keys 14 in an

appropriate sequence, and a speed dial mode in which each of the ten keys 14 has assigned to it a telephone number, which telephone number may be determined by the user, the user thus being permitted to select a telephone number by operation of the corresponding key 14.

Each of the keys 14 has a surface area of greater than 1cm2, and the keys 14 occupy more than 25% of the surface area of the front portion 11 of the telephone 10.

The enlarged key size permits large characters to be displayed on the keys 14 and therefore a visually impaired user may more easily distinguish the

I~ : I I . ha-,-. a co.-, ven± o-. iali mo u I I e"e keys 14 than in a conventional mobile telephone.

The keypad 12 also includes a dial key 22 which may be operated by the user after he has selected a telephone number to dial that telephone number, and an enter key 23, which may be operated by the user to assign'a telephone number to a key 14 on the key pad 12 as described below. The enter key 23 may also be actuated by a user to answer an incoming telephone call.

In this embodiment, the mobile telephone is provided with a display screen 26, such as an LCD screen, which is adapted to display the telephone number selected by the user. The screen 26 is adapted to display a single row of characters only, and therefore occupies as little space on the front 11 of the telephone 10 as possible. Thus the area of the front 11 of the telephone 10 which may be occupied by the keys 14 is maximised.

In order to assign a telephone number to a key 14 on the keypad 12, the user may switch the telephone 10 to manual mode, type in the telephone number using the keys 14 as numbered 0 to 9, operate the enter key 23, and then operate the key 14 to which the telephone number is to be assigned. The telephone number is thus programmed into the telephone, and will be selected when, in speed-dial mode, the corresponding key 14 is operated. A different number may subsequently be assigned to that key 14 by repeating the above steps.

Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown a third embodiment of the invention which is similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 in that the mobile telephone 10 is provided with an array of keys 14, each of which has assigned to it a telephone number which may be determined by a user, so that a user may select a telephone number by operation of the corresponding key 14.

2 The surface area of each of the plurality of keys is greater than lcm2, and the keys occupy more than 25% of the surface area of the front portion 11 of the mobile telephone 10. The mobile telephone 10 is adapted to dial the telephone number selected by the user directly after the user has operated the corresponding key 14.

In the embodiment shown in figure 3, however, only six keys are provided, compared to the twelve provided in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, and by virtue of providing fewer keys, the key size for a given site of mobile telephone 10 may be increased, although the number of telephone numbers which may be dialled from the telephone 10 is correspondingly reduced.

It will be appreciated that, whilst in the embodiments of Figure 1 and Figure 3 shown mobile telephones 10 with twelve and six keys respectively, any other number of keys may be provided.

It will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not restricted to the embodiments described above, and that various modifications may be made without affecting the scope of the invention.

For example, in addition to or instead of the keys 14 being coloured, each key 14 may have a Braille character, for example a number from 0 to 9, formed on the surface of the key 14 to assist a partially sighted or blind person in identifying the keys 14.

In order to maximise the area available on the front portion 11 of the mobile telephone 10 for the plurality of keys 14 a display screen may be located on a rear portion of the telephone 10. Such a screen may replace or be in addition to a display screen 26 provided on the front portion 11 of the

telephone 10. In the latter case, the screen 26 on the front portion 11 of the telephone 10 may be capable of displaying one row of characters only, whereas the screen on the rear of the telephone 10 may be larger and capable of displaying a plurality of rows of characters.

One of the plurality of keys 14 may be larger than the remaining keys 14, and may have assigned to it an emergency telephone number such as the telephone number of an ambulance service or of a close relative or neighbour.

The larger size of this key 14 would assist an elderly or disabled person in identifying this key in the event of an emergency.

The mobile telephone may include a dedicated input means by means of y AAAVL" L%, % A IIIF L%., v I which the user may select the telephone number assigned to each key, such as a second keypad including at least keys numbered 0 to 9. This second keypad may, for example, be provided on a rear side of the telephone 10, and/or may be concealed during normal use behind a removable panel, or may be provided on a panel which may be slid out by a user to input a telephone number and slid into a concealed position during normal use of the telephone 10. The keys on

2 the second keypad need not have a surface area of greater than lcm2, as they may be adapted to be used by an able-bodied person who can set up the telephone 10 for use by the elderly or disabled user.

In the present specification"comprises"means"includes or consists of and"comprising"means"including or consisting of.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following

claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in 0

terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A mobile telephone having a keypad, the keypad including a plurality of keys each of which has assigned to it a telephone number which may be determined by a user, so that a user may select a telephone number by operation of the corresponding key, characterised in that each key of the
2 plurality of keys has a surface area greater than Icm2. 2. A mobile telephone according to claim 1 characterised in that the keys are coloured, each one being a different colour to the others.
3. A mobile telephone according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the key pad includes a dial key which may be operated by the user, after he has selected a telephone number, to dial that telephone number.
4. A mobile telephone according to any preceding claim characterised in that the key pad includes six or fewer keys.
5. A mobile telephone according to any one of claims I to 3 characterised in that the key pad includes ten keys numbered 0 to 9 and the mobile telephone is provided with a switching means which is adapted to permit a user to switch between a manual input mode, in which each of the ten keys has uniquely assigned to it a single digit, a user thus being permitted to select a telephone number by operating the keys in an appropriate sequence, and a speed dial mode in which each of the ten keys has assigned to it a telephone number, which telephone number may be determined by the user, the user thus being permitted to select a telephone number by operation of the corresponding key.

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6. A mobile telephone according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the key pad includes exclusively keys each of which has assigned to it a telephone number which may be determined by a user, so that the user may select a telephone number by operation of the corresponding key.
7. A mobile telephone according to claim 6 where dependent on claim 1, 2 or 4, characterised in that the mobile telephone is adapted to dial the telephone number selected by the user directly after the user has operated the corresponding key.
8. A mobile telephone according to any preceding claim characterised in that the mobile telephone includes an input means by which the user may select the telephone number assigned to each key.
9. A mobile telephone according to claim 8 characterised in that the input means is a second keypad including at least keys numbered 0 to 9 by means of which a user may enter a telephone number.
10. A mobile telephone according to claim 5 characterised in that the input means is the keys of the keypad when the telephone is in the manual mode.
11. A mobile telephone according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterised in that the mobile telephone includes a connection means adapted to connect the telephone to an external input means, such that a telephone number assigned to a key on the keypad of the telephone may be entered by the user using the external input means.
12. A mobile telephone according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterised in that the mobile telephone is adapted to receive and process a signal from a

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call centre, the signal containing information relating to the telephone number to be assigned to at least one of the keys, this information having been verbally communicated by the user to staff at the call centre, and to assign a telephone number to each key of the keypad according to the information contained in the signal.
13. A mobile telephone according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the mobile telephone does not include a display screen.
14. A mobile telephone having front portion in which is provided a keypad, the keypad including a plurality of keys each of which has assigned to it a telephone number which may be determined by a user, so that a user may select a telephone number by operation of the corresponding key, characterised in that the plurality of keys occupy at least 25% of the area of the front portion of the telephone.
15. A mobile telephone substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
16. Any novel feature or combination of features hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.