Movable user interface
View Patent ↗A wireless communication handset ( 100 ) having a movable housing portion ( 204 ) coupled to a housing portion ( 202 ) that rotates relative to the housing portion. The movable housing portion may be a ring that rotates from one position 200 to another position 300 relative to the housing. Rotation of the ring to a first position activates a first function. Indicia 210 disposed on the ring indicates the desired mode. Rotation of the ring to a second position activates a second mode corresponding to a second indicia on the ring. The ring is interchangeable with other rings (FIG. 5 through FIG. 7 ) having different indicia corresponding to different modes or functions. The software that corresponds to the different modes may be stored in a memory 104 of the device or downloaded to the device upon coupling the ring thereto.
1. A wireless communication device comprising:
a first housing portion having electronic components;
a controller of said wireless communication device said controller having a plurality of functions;
an interchangeable rotateable ring having a plurality of icons disposed on a first surface thereof, wherein said each icon of a plurality of icons corresponds to a function of said device;
a interchangeable rotateable ring ID coupled to said interchangeable rotateable ring, said ID readable by said wireless communication device, and said ID corresponding to said at least one function of a plurality of functions; and
a position sensor coupled to said first housing portion and to said interchangeable rotateable ring, wherein a set of modes is changed based on replacing the ring.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said functions are phone functions, gaming functions, personal information management functions, or messaging functions.
3. The device of claim 2 , a interchangeable rotateable ring ID reader coupled to said controller of said wireless communication device.
4. A method for menu selection short cut in a wireless communication device comprising:
receiving a removable rotateable housing portion;
downloading a software defined set of operating functions that correspond to said removable rotateable housing portion;
reading an identification of said removable rotateable housing portion;
determining a position of said removable rotateable housing portion relative to a first housing portion;
changing a set of modes based on replacing the ring;
operating a first function of said device that corresponds to said first position of said removable rotateable housing portion.
5. A selector ring adapted to movably couple to an electronic device comprising:
a coupling means for removably coupling the selector ring to an electronic device and allowing said selector ring to move to a plurality of positions relative to said electronic device, each position associated with a function of said electronic device;
an selector ring identification means readable by said electronic device, to identify at least one function of said device associated with said ring; and
at least one indicia disposed on a surface of the selector ring, said indicia associated with a function of at least one function of said device, wherein a set of modes is changed based on replacing the ring.