Methods, devices and computer program products for operating mobile devices responsive to user input through movement thereof

1. A method of operating a mobile device having first and second modes of operation, the method comprising:

detecting a predefined localized movement of a housing of the mobile device using a sensor associated therewith;

associating the detected predefined localized movement with first and second functions of the mobile device responsive to a user input assigning the detected predefined localized movement thereto;

performing the first function responsive to detecting the predefined localized movement in the first mode of operation; and

performing the second function responsive to detecting the predefined localized movement in the second mode of operation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting a predefined localized movement comprises:

detecting a localized movement of the housing in a user-defined pattern using the sensor; and

storing parameters generated by the sensor corresponding to the user-defined pattern in a memory of the mobile device to define the predefined localized movement.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting a predefined localized movement comprises: detecting the predefined localized movement in a motion programming mode of operation of the mobile device different from the first and second modes of operation.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first mode of operation comprises a communication mode, and wherein the second mode of operation comprises a standby mode.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first and/or second mode of operation comprises an application execution mode in which a particular application on the mobile device is executing.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the first and/or second functions further comprises:

performing the first and/or second functions responsive to concurrently detecting the predefined localized movement and depression of a button of the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predefined localized movement comprises tilting, shaking, waving, and/or snapping the mobile device housing.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predefined localized movement comprises an alphanumeric motion, wherein the first mode of operation comprises a standby mode, wherein the second mode of operation comprises a messaging application execution mode, and wherein performing the first and second functions comprises:

dialing a number associated with the alphanumeric motion responsive to detecting the alphanumeric motion in the standby mode; and

displaying a character associated with the alphanumeric motion responsive to detecting the alphanumeric motion in the messaging application execution mode.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predefined localized movement comprises a turn-over motion, wherein the first mode of operation comprises a standby mode, wherein the second mode of operation comprises a communication mode, and wherein performing the first and second functions comprises:

rejecting an incoming call responsive to detecting the turn-over motion in the standby mode; and

activating a speakerphone of the mobile device responsive to detecting the turn-over motion in the communication mode.

10. A computer program product for operating a mobile device, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therein configured to carry out the method of claim 1 .

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first function is different than the second function.

12. A mobile device having first and second modes of operation, comprising:

a mobile device housing;

a sensor configured to detect localized movements of the housing;

a user interface configured to receive a user input assigning a particular predefined localized movement to first and second functions of the mobile device; and

a controller coupled to the sensor and the user interface and configured to associate the predefined localized movement with the first and second functions responsive to receiving the user input, wherein the controller is further configured to perform the first function responsive to detection of the predefined localized movement in the first mode of operation and perform the second function responsive to detection of the predefined localized movement in the second mode of operation.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to detect a localized movement of the housing in a user-defined pattern using the sensor, and further comprising:

a memory unit coupled to the controller and configured to store parameters generated by the sensor corresponding to the user-defined pattern as the predefined localized movement.

14. The device of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to detect the predefined localized movement using the sensor in a motion programming mode of operation of the mobile device that is different from the first and second modes of operation.

15. The device of claim 12 , wherein the user interface comprises a keypad including a plurality of buttons, and wherein the controller is further configured to perform the first and/or second functions responsive to concurrent detection of the predefined localized movement and depression of one of the plurality of buttons.

16. The device of claim 12 , wherein the predefined localized movement comprises tilting, shaking, waving, and/or snapping the mobile device housing.

17. The device of claim 12 , wherein the predefined localized movement comprises an alphanumeric motion, wherein the first mode of operation comprises a standby mode, wherein the second mode of operation comprises a messaging application execution mode, and wherein the first and second functions comprise:

dialing a number associated with the alphanumeric motion responsive to detecting the alphanumeric motion in the standby mode; and

displaying a character associated with the alphanumeric motion responsive to detecting the alphanumeric motion in the messaging application execution mode.

18. The device of claim 12 , wherein the predefined localized movement comprises a turn-over motion, wherein the first mode of operation comprises a standby mode, wherein the second mode of operation comprises a communication mode, and wherein the first and second functions comprise:

rejecting an incoming call responsive to detecting the turn-over motion in the standby mode; and

activating a speakerphone of the mobile device responsive to detecting the turn-over motion in the communication mode.

19. The device of claim 12 , wherein the first function is different than the second function.