Controlling user input devices based upon detected attitude of a handheld electronic device

1. A wireless handheld electronic device comprising:

a transmitter and receiver through which data is respectively transmitted to and received from a communication network utilizing radio frequency signals;

a microprocessor-based control means for receiving, processing and outputting data;

a display means in data-communication with said control means, said display means presenting information for user observation thereupon based on data output from said control means to said display means;

a user input means in data-communication with said control means and through which a user inputs information to said control means;

an attitude sensing means in data-communication with said control means, said attitude sensing means detecting the attitude of the device as held by a user and communicating data to said control means indicative of the detected attitude of the device;

said control means receiving and processing the communicated data from the attitude sensing means that is indicative of the detected attitude of the device and said control means disabling said user input means from receiving information when the detected attitude of the device matches a predetermined attitude criteria; and

a user informing means in data-communication with said control means, said user informing means outputting a notification signal when said user input means is disabled from receiving information when the detected attitude of the device matches the predetermined attitude criteria, said notification signal indicating said user input means is disabled.

2. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising said control means disabling said user input means only after the detected attitude of the device matches the predetermined attitude criteria for a predetermined period of time.

3. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 2 , further comprising a top portion and a bottom portion and said predetermined attitude criteria being an upside down attitude.

4. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said attitude sensing means is a tilt sensor.

5. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 4 , wherein said tilt sensor is an inclinometer.

6. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said attitude sensing means is an accelerometer.

7. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 6 , wherein said accelerometer is a gravimeter.

8. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said notification signal vibrates said device.

9. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said notification signal is an audible sound.

10. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said user input means comprises a keyboard suitable for accommodating textual input to the wireless handheld electronic device.

11. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 10 , wherein said keyboard comprises a plurality of keys with which alphabetic letters are associated, one letter per key.

12. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 11 , wherein said alphabetic letters are configured in one of a QWERTY, QWERTZ, AZERTY, and Dvorak layout.

13. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 10 , wherein said keyboard comprises a plurality of keys with which alphabetic letters are associated and wherein at least a portion of the individual keys have multiple letters associated therewith.

14. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 13 , wherein said alphabetic letters are configured in one of a QWERTY, QWERTZ, AZERTY, and Dvorak layout.

15. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 10 , wherein said user input means comprises a telephone keypad used for initiating telephone calls on the wireless handheld electronic device.

16. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 10 , wherein said user input means comprises a trackball navigation tool that is located essentially between the display means and keyboard.

17. A wireless handheld electronic device comprising:

a transmitter and receiver through which data is respectively transmitted to and received from a communication network utilizing radio frequency signals;

a microprocessor for receiving, processing and outputting data;

a display screen in data-communication with said microprocessor, said display screen presents information for user observation thereupon based on data output from said microprocessor to said display screen;

a user input device in data-communication with said microprocessor and through which a user inputs information to said microprocessor;

a sensor in data-communication with said microprocessor, said sensor detects the attitude of the device as held by a user and communicates data to said microprocessor indicative of the detected attitude of the device;

said microprocessor receives and processes the communicated data from the sensor that is indicative of the detected attitude of the device and said microprocessor disables said user input device from receiving information when the detected attitude of the device matches a predetermined attitude criteria; and

a user informing device in data-communication with said microprocessor, said user informing device outputting a notification signal when said user input device is disabled from receiving information when the detected attitude of the device matches the predetermined attitude criteria, said notification signal indicating said user input device is disabled.

18. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 17 , wherein said microprocessor disables said user input device only after the detected attitude of the device matches the predetermined attitude criteria for a predetermined period of time.

19. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 18 , further comprising a top portion and a bottom portion and said predetermined attitude criteria being an upside down attitude.

20. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 17 , wherein said sensor is one of a tilt sensor, an inclinometer, an accelerometer, and a gravimeter.

21. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 17 , wherein said user input device is one of a keyboard, an auxiliary user input device, a telephone keypad and a navigation tool.

22. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 17 , wherein said user input device comprises a keyboard.

23. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 22 , wherein said keyboard comprises a plurality of keys with which alphabetic letters are associated, one letter per key.

24. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 23 , wherein said alphabetic letters are configured in one of a QWERTY, QWERTZ, AZERTY, and Dvorak layout.

25. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 22 , wherein said keyboard comprises a plurality of keys with which alphabetic letters are associated and wherein at least a portion of the individual keys have multiple letters associated therewith.

26. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 25 , wherein said alphabetic letters are configured in one of a QWERTY, QWERTZ, AZERTY, and Dvorak layout.

27. The wireless handheld electronic device as recited in claim 22 , wherein said user input means further comprises a trackball navigation tool that is located essentially between the display means and keyboard.

28. A method for disabling at least one user input device on a wireless handheld electronic device comprising:

detecting an attitude of a wireless handheld electronic device;

communicating data indicative of the detected attitude of the device to a microprocessor;

receiving the communicated data by the microprocessor;

disabling a user input device from receiving information when the data indicative of the detected attitude matches a predetermined attitude criteria; and

providing a notification signal when said user input means is disabled from receiving information when the detected attitude of the device matches the predetermined attitude criteria, said notification signal indicating said user input means is disabled.

29. The wireless handheld electronic device of claim 1 , wherein said user informing means outputs a notification signal after the user input means is disabled from receiving information based on the detected attitude of the device.