Method and apparatus for alphanumeric data entry using a keypad
First Claim
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1. A keypad for entering letters, comprising:
- an array of keys with each key being assigned to at least one letter of an alphabetical system based on the frequency of occurrence of the least one letter in a typical body of written work, wherein the alphabetical system comprises at least one most-frequently-occurring letter that is entered by more than one key activation associated with the same key and at least one less-frequently-occurring letter that is entered by at least one key activation associated with each of at least two different keys.
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Abstract
A keypad for entering letters includes an array of keys with each key being assigned to at least one letter of an alphabetical system based on the frequency of occurrence of the least one letter in a typical body of written work. The alphabetical system comprises at least one most-frequently-occurring letter that is entered by activation of the same key twice and at least one less-frequently-occurring letter that is entered by activation of two different keys.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A keypad for entering letters, comprising:
an array of keys with each key being assigned to at least one letter of an alphabetical system based on the frequency of occurrence of the least one letter in a typical body of written work, wherein the alphabetical system comprises at least one most-frequently-occurring letter that is entered by more than one key activation associated with the same key and at least one less-frequently-occurring letter that is entered by at least one key activation associated with each of at least two different keys. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A keypad system comprising:
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(a) an array of keys with each key being assigned to at least one letter in an alphabetical system;
(b) a detector that detects activation at a key; and
(c) a signal generator that generates a character signal corresponding to a selected letter in accordance with a key sequence, wherein for a most-frequently-occurring letter, the key sequence requires two key activations at the same key, and for a less-frequently-occurring letter the key sequence requires key activation at two different keys. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 24)
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19. An information entry method for a keypad, comprising:
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(a) determining the frequency of occurrences of letters in a typical body of written work that is based on an alphabetical system;
(b) assigning letters to an array of keys based on the frequency of occurrence of the letter;
(c) activating at least one of the keys in accordance with a key sequence that corresponds to a selected letter, wherein for a most-frequently-occurring letter, the key sequence requires multiple activation of the same key, and for a less-frequently-occurring letter the key sequence requires activation of two different keys; and
(d) generating a character signal corresponding to the selected letter in response to the key sequence.
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22. A keypad for entering english letters, comprising:
(a) an array of nine keys numbered key 1 through key 9, wherein key 1 is assigned to letter A;
key 2 is assigned to letter N;
key 3 is assigned to letter I;
key 4 is assigned to letter H;
key 5 is assigned to letter O;
key 6 is assigned to letter R;
key 7 is assigned to letter T;
key 8 is assigned to letter E; and
key 9 is assigned to letter S. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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25. A keypad for entering data symbols, comprising:
an array of keys having at least one key assigned to a data symbol in accordance with a position array that has defined position elements, including at least one peripheral position that point to a non-adjacent key, wherein at least one data symbol is entered by key activation of a key and a non-adjacent key that is pointed to by a peripheral position of the key.
Specification