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Alternate key options for launching applications in mobile communication devicesAlternate key options for launching applications in mobile communication devices description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070188448, Alternate key options for launching applications in mobile communication devices. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/112,178, filed Apr. 22, 2005, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/977,870 filed Oct. 14, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,975,304, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/297,817, filed on Jun. 11, 2001. The disclosures of these applications are all incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Field of Art [0003] The disclosure generally relates to the field of mobile computing, in particular to launching applications on a mobile communication device. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Mobile computing devices, particularly hand-held devices and computers, are becoming increasingly more powerful and functional devices. Many hand-held devices are multifunction devices with multiple device roles, such as personal digital assistant (PDA), cellular phone, portable media player, voice recorder, video recorder, global positioning system (GPS), camera and electronic file storage. This increased functionality has caused hand-held devices to use an increased number of applications. Further, hand-held devices have become increasingly more compact and portable while their functionality has increased. This combination of increased functionality and reduced size has made hand-held device use more prevalent. [0006] Hand-held devices use specialized applications to provide different functions, so increases in functionality have increased the number of applications used by hand-held devices. However, the compact size of hand-held devices limits the number of data entry mechanisms, such as buttons or activation areas, capable of launching these different applications. Although increasing hand-held device size would increase the number of possible data entry mechanisms for application launching, such an increase would reduce the portability of the hand-held device. [0007] Alternatively, more complex data entry mechanisms, such as special key sequences, allow hand-held devices to remain compact while providing a mechanism for launching additional applications. However, requiring users to memorize complex key sequences for application launching complicates the user interface of the hand-held device. Further, using key sequences to launch applications increases the time necessary to launch applications. [0008] From the above, there is a lack of a method for quickly launching applications on a hand-held device having physical size limitations. SUMMARY [0009] Using various embodiments disclosed herein, a mobile computing device, for example, a hand-held computing device, uses an application button to launch a plurality of applications. This simplifies launching applications on a hand-held computing device by allowing multiple applications to be launched using an application button. In particular, different inputs including the application button can be used to intuitively launch multiple applications without requiring the hand-held computing device to implement a complex user interface. [0010] In one embodiment, the hand-held computing device initially associates a primary application with an application button. At least one alternate application is also associable with the application button so that an alternate application is launched through an input that includes the application button. For example, an input including the application button and an option button enables the alternate application or an input of pressing and holding the application button enables the alternate application. When input requesting the launching of the alternate application is then received, the alternate application is temporarily associated with the application button and the primary application is temporarily disassociated with the application button. This causes the application button to launch the alternate application. [0011] In an embodiment, input is received from a user that assigns a first input including the application button to a first alternate application and assigns a second input including the application button to a second alternate application. This allows an application button to launch multiple applications when different inputs including the application button are received. [0012] The features and advantages described in the specification are not all inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the described subject matter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0013] The disclosed embodiments have other advantages and features which will be more readily apparent from the detailed description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings, in which: [0014] Figure (FIG.) 1A illustrates a front perspective view of one embodiment of a hand-held computing device. [0015] FIG. 1B illustrates a rear perspective view of one embodiment of a hand-held computing device. [0016] FIG. 1C illustrates a front side view of one embodiment of a hand-held computing device. [0017] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of one embodiment of a hand-held computing device. [0018] FIG. 3A illustrates an example embodiment of a keyboard of the hand-held computing device. [0019] FIG. 3B illustrates an example embodiment of a layout of the application buttons on a hand-held computing device. [0020] FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a hand-held computing device comprising a handwriting area. Continue reading about Alternate key options for launching applications in mobile communication devices... Full patent description for Alternate key options for launching applications in mobile communication devices Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Alternate key options for launching applications in mobile communication devices patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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