Method and apparatus for mapping corresponding functions in a user

1. A method comprising:

in a portable electronic device:

presenting a first user interface representing a new user interface;

detecting a selection by a user of a tutorial function via the first user interface;

in response to detecting user selection of the tutorial function, replacing the first user interface with a at least partially disabled second user interface representing a previously used interface that is different from the first user interface;

detecting a user selection of at least one user-selectable function via the second user interface to perform a selected task, wherein the at least one user-selectable function comprises at least one step performed by the user in order to perform the selected task in the at least partially disabled second user interface and the at least partially disabled second user interface does not execute the selected task; and

providing the user with tutorial information regarding at least one corresponding user-selectable function in the first user interface to execute a substantially similar task to the selected task, wherein the at least one corresponding user-selectable function comprises at least one step performed by the user in order to perform the substantially similar task in the first user interface and the at least one corresponding user-selectable function in the first user interface differs from the at least one user-selectable function in the second user interface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the portable electronic device comprises at least one of:

a portable wireless communication device;

a personal digital assistant;

a palmtop computer;

a consumer entertainment device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting a first user interface comprises providing at least one of:

a display;

a touch-sensitive display;

at least one soft key;

at least one virtual key;

a voice recognition interface;

a cursor movement interface;

a handwriting recognition interface;

an orientation-sensitive interface;

at least one key;

a finger tracking interface.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the user with tutorial information regarding the at least one corresponding user-selectable function in the first user interface to execute the substantially similar task comprises automatically actuating a macro to facilitate providing the user with the tutorial information.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the user with tutorial information regarding the at least one corresponding user-selectable function in the first user interface to execute the substantially similar task comprises highlighting a user-selectable portion of the first user interface that corresponds to the at least one corresponding user-selectable function.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein highlighting the user selectable portion of the first user interface comprises at least one of: animating the user-selectable portion; altering a visual aspect of the user-selectable portion; altering an audible aspect of the user-selectable portion; providing audible context information; and animating a user-selection tool.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein highlighting the user-selectable portion of the first user interface comprises providing information regarding modality differences that differentiate the first user interface from the second user interface.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein replacing the first user interface with the second user interface that is different from the first user interface comprises at least one of: using a pre-provisioned version of the second user interface; using a pre-provisioned abridged version of the second user interface; and obtaining at least a portion of the second user interface from a remote source.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the user with tutorial information regarding at least one corresponding user-selectable function in the first user interface to execute the substantially similar task comprises at least one of: using a correlation reference that directly correlates user-selectable functions for the first user interface with user-selectable functions for the second user interface; and using a correlation reference that indirectly correlates user-selectable functions for the first user interface with user-selectable functions for the second user interface.

10. A portable electronic device having at least a first and a second mode of operation, wherein the first mode of operation comprises an ordinary mode of operation and the second mode of operation comprises a user interface tutorial mode of operation, the portable electronic device comprising:

a first user interface representing a new user interface and comprising a plurality of user-selectable functions;

a user interface tutorial mode of operation selector;

wherein the user interface tutorial mode of operation comprises, upon detecting a selection by a user of the user interface tutorial mode of operation selector:

replacing the first user interface with a at least partially disabled second user interface representing a previously used interface that is different from the first user interface; and

upon detecting a user selection of at least one user-selectable function via the second user interface perform a selected task, wherein the at least one user-selectable function comprises at least one step performed by the user in order to perform the selected task in the at least partially disabled second user interface and the at least partially disabled second user interface does not execute the selected task, providing the user with tutorial information regarding at least one corresponding user-selectable function in the first user interface to execute a substantially similar task to the selected task, wherein the at least one corresponding user-selectable function comprises at least one step performed by the user in order to perform the substantially similar task in the first user interface and the at least one corresponding user-selectable function in the first user interface differs from the at least one user-selectable function in the second interface.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 10 wherein the portable electronic device comprises at least one of:

a portable wireless communication device;

a personal digital assistant;

a palmtop computer;

a consumer entertainment device.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 10 wherein the first user interface comprises at least one of:

a display;

a touch-sensitive display;

at least one soft key;

at least one virtual key;

a voice recognition interface;

a cursor movement interface;

a handwriting recognition interface;

an orientation-sensitive interface;

at least one key; and

a finger tracking interface.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 10 wherein the tutorial information comprises, at least in part, a highlighted user-selectable portion of the first user interface that corresponds to the at least one user-selectable function in the second user interface.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 13 wherein the highlighted use-selectable portion of the first user interface comprises at least one of:

an animated user-selectable portion; an altered visual aspect of the user-selectable portion; an altered audible aspect of the user-selectable portion; audible context information; and an animated user-selection tool.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 13 wherein the highlighted use-selectable portion of the first user interface comprises information regarding modality differences that differentiate the first user interface from the second user interface.