Communication device with a multi-functional control

1. A method for controlling a radio transceiver, comprising:

controlling a first function of said radio transceiver in response to an actuation of at least a first switch by a depression of a center of an elongated roller of a control element, said first switch disposed adjacent to said center of said elongated roller;

controlling a second function of said radio transceiver in response to an actuation of a second switch by a depression of a first peripheral edge portion of said elongated roller for a first period of time, said second switch disposed adjacent to a first end of said elongated roller;

controlling a third function of said radio transceiver in response to an actuation of a third switch by a depression of a second peripheral edge portion of said elongated roller for a second period of time, said second peripheral edge portion opposed from said first peripheral edge portion, and said third switch disposed adjacent to a second end opposed from said first end of said elongated roller; and

controlling a fourth function of said radio transceiver in response to a rotation of said elongated roller around a central axis of said elongated roller.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising controlling a fifth function of said radio transceiver in response to a depression of said first peripheral edge portion for a third period of time that is longer than said first period of time.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising controlling a fifth function of said radio transceiver in response to a depression of said second peripheral edge portion for a third period of time that is longer than said second period of time.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising changing an operational parameter of said radio transceiver based on a rotation of said elongated roller around said central axis.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein said operational parameter is selected from the group consisting of a talk group parameter and an audio volume parameter.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising selecting at least one of said first, second, third and fourth functions from the group consisting of an audio volume function, a channel selection function, a mute function, a brightness selection function, an “on/off” function, a play function, a rewind function, a fast forward function, a pause function, a channel recall function, a camera function, a talk group selection function, a media profile selection function, an individual call function, a group call function, an emergency call function, a map selection function, a priority selection function, a user interface selection function and a PTT function.

7. An apparatus for controlling a device, comprising:

an elongated control element comprising an elongated roller; and

at least one controller operable with said elongated roller and configured to:

(a) control a first function of said device in response to an actuation of at least a first switch by a depression of a center of said elongated roller, said first switch disposed adjacent to a first end of said elongated roller;

(b) control a second function of said device in response to an actuation of a second switch by a depression of a first peripheral edge portion of said elongated roller for a first period of time, said second switch disposed adjacent to a first end of said elongated roller;

(c) control a third function of said device in response to an actuation of a third switch by a depression of a second peripheral edge portion of said elongated roller for a second period of time, said second peripheral edge portion opposed from said first peripheral edge portion, and said third switch disposed adjacent to a second end opposed from said first end of said elongated roller; and

(d) control a fourth function of said device in response to a rotation of said elongated roller around a central axis of said elongated roller.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said controller is further configured to control a fifth function of said device in response to a depression of said first peripheral edge portion for a third period of time that is longer than said first period of time.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said controller is further configured to control a fifth function of said device in response to a depression of said second peripheral edge portion for a third period of time that is longer than said second period of time.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said controller is further configured to change an operational parameter of said device responsive to a rotation of said elongated roller around said central axis.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said operational parameter is selected from the group consisting of a talk group parameter and an audio volume parameter.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein at least one of said first, second, third and fourth functions is selected from the group consisting of an audio volume function, a channel selection function, a mute function, a brightness selection function, an “on/off” function, a play function, a rewind function, a fast forward function, a pause function, a channel recall function, a camera function, a talk group selection function, a media profile selection function, an individual call function, a group call function, an emergency call function, a map selection function, a priority selection function, a user interface selection function and a PTT function.

13. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said device is selected from the group consisting of a radio, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a global positioning device, a personal computer, a television and a vehicular communication device.

14. A system for controlling a radio transceiver device, comprising:

an elongated control element comprising an elongated roller; and

at least one controller operable with said elongated roller and configured to

(a) select a talk group or social media profile in response to a rotation of said elongated roller around a central axis of said elongated control element,

(b) initiate a call to members of said selected talk group or social media profile in response to an actuation of at least a first switch by a depression of a center of said elongated roller, and

(c) control an audio volume of said radio transceiver device in response to an actuation of second switch by a depression of a first peripheral edge portion of said elongated roller for a first period of time.

15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein said controller is further configured to control said audio volume of said radio transceiver device in response to a depression of said first peripheral edge portion of said elongated roller for a second period of time that is longer than said first period of time.

16. The system according to claim 14 , wherein said controller is further configured to control said audio volume of said radio transceiver device in response to a depression of a second peripheral edge portion of said elongated roller for a second period of time, said second peripheral edge portion opposed from said first peripheral edge portion.

17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein said controller is further configured to control said audio volume of said radio transceiver device in response to a depression of a second peripheral edge portion of said elongated roller for a third period of time that is longer than said second period of time.

18. The system according to claim 14 , wherein said controller is further configured to change an operational parameter of said radio transceiver device responsive to a rotation of said elongated roller.

19. The system according to claim 18 , wherein said operational parameter is selected from the group consisting of a talk group parameter and an audio volume parameter.

20. The system according to claim 14 , wherein said radio transceiver device is selected from the group consisting of a radio, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a global positioning device, a personal computer, a television and a vehicular communication device.

21. A radio transceiver, comprising;

a Push-To-Talk (PTT) switch comprising an elongated roller; and

at least one controller operable with said elongated roller and configured to

select a talk group in response to a rotation of said elongated roller around a central axis of said elongated roller, and

initiate a PTT call to members of said selected talk group in response to an actuation of at least a first switch by a depression of a center of said elongated roller, said first switch disposed adjacent to said center of said elongated roller.

22. The radio transceiver according to claim 21 , wherein said controller is further configured to control an audio volume of said radio transceiver in response to a depression of a peripheral edge portion of said elongated roller for a pre-defined period of time.

23. The radio transceiver according to claim 21 , wherein said controller is further configured to change a talk group parameter of said radio transceiver based on an amount of rotation of said elongated roller from a rest position.

24. The radio transceiver according to claim 21 , wherein said radio transceiver is selected from the group consisting of a radio, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a personal computer and a vehicular communication device.