Method and device for implementing a function

• US 20030006967A1
• Filed: 04/29/2002
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Pihlaja, Pekka
• Application Number:
  US10/135,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20030006967A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A method and apparatus for forming a sub-character on a touch-sensitive display, which comprises a touch-sensitive keyboard. In the method, a touching means is set to touch the surface of a key of said keyboard to form the main character of said key on a display device. Further, in the method, the touching location is moved along the surface of the keyboard to a distance from the initial location of the location of touch; an angle is calculated between said initial location and the termination location, which is located at the distance, relative to the formed straight and the coordination system, in which coordination system said initial location and termination location are located; the sub-character corresponding to the formed angle is selected; the selected sub-character is formed on the display apparatus. The sub-characters are indicated on the keys and show the sweeping direction.

Claims

1. A method of performing a sub-function on a touch-sensitive surface, the method comprising the steps of

showing at least one key on a touch-sensitive surface;

showing on said key at least one character indicating a main function at a given first location of said key;

showing on said key at least one character indicating a sub-function at a given second location of said key; and

detecting the touch of said key on the touch-sensitive surface, wherein the method further comprising the steps of detecting the movement of the touch along the touch-sensitive surface to a distance from the initial location of the location of touch in a given direction; and

implementing said sub-function as a response to the detection of said movement of touch.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said sub-function being selected if said distance from said initial location to said termination location is longer than a predetermined threshold value.

4. A method according to claims 1 and 2, wherein said direction being substantially the same as the direction of the location of said character, which indicates the sub-function shown on the key, from the midpoint of said key.

5. A method according to claims 3 and 4, wherein said main function being formation of a primary character and said sub-function being formation of an accented character of said primary character.

6. A method according to claims 3 and 4, wherein said main function being formation of a first character and said sub-function being formation of a second character.

7. A method according to claims 3 and 4, wherein said main function being formation of a function and said sub-function being formation of an alternative to said function.

8. A method according to claims 3 and 4, wherein said main function being formation of a first function and said sub-function being formation of a second function.

2. A method of performing a sub-function with a keyboard;

the keyboard comprising at least one key and a control device for determining the sub-function to be implemented with said key;

the method comprising the steps of

showing on said key at least one character indicating a main function at a given first location of said key;

showing on said key at least one character indicating a sub-function at a given second location of said key; and

detecting the tapping of said key, wherein the method further comprising the steps of

detecting a given direction formed with said control device; and

implementing said sub-function as a response to detecting said formation of direction.

9. An electronic device for forming a sub-function, comprising a touch-sensitive surface for showing the keyboard in a visual form, which keyboard further comprises at least one key, and which key shows at least one character indicating a main function and at least one character indicating a sub-function;

the device comprising

detecting means for detecting the touch on said surface; and

generating means for forming a main function as a response to touching the corresponding key, wherein the device further comprises

detecting means for detecting the movement of the touch on the touch-sensitive surface to a distance from the initial location of the location of touch in a given direction; and

implementation means for implementing said sub-function as a response to the detection of said movement of touch.

10. An electronic device for performing a sub-function, the device comprising a keyboard further comprising at least one key, which key shows at least one character indicating a main function at a given first location of said key;

and at least one character indicating at least one sub-function at a given second location of said key;

the apparatus comprising means for detecting the tapping of said key, wherein the apparatus further comprises

a control device for determining the sub-function to be implemented by said key;

detecting means for detecting the given direction formed with said control device; and

implementation means for implementing said sub-function as a response to the detection of the formation of said direction.

11. A computer program product for forming a sub-function in an electronic device, the device comprising a touch-sensitive surface, on which surface a keyboard can be shown in a visual form, the keyboard further comprising at least one key, which key comprises at least one character indicating a main function and at least one character indicating a sub-function, the computer program product comprising

computer program means for causing the electronic device to detect a touch on said touch-sensitive surface;

computer program means for causing said electronic device to form a main function as a response to the touching of the key corresponding to said main function, wherein the device further comprises

computer program means for detecting the movement of the touch on the touch-sensitive surface to a distance from the initial location of the location of touch in a given direction; and

computer program means for causing said electronic device to implement said sub-function as a response to the detection of said movement of touch.

12. A computer program product for forming a sub-function in an electronic device, the device comprising a keyboard, which keyboard further comprises at least one key, which key shows at least one character indicating a main function at a given first location of said key and at least one character indicating a sub-function at a given second location of said key, and a control device for determining the sub-function to be implemented with said key, the computer program product comprising

computer program means for causing said electronic device to detect the tapping of said key, wherein the device further comprises

computer program means for causing the electronic device to determine the sub-function formed with the control device and to be implemented with said key;

computer program means for causing said electronic device to detect the direction formed with said control device; and

computer program means for causing said electronic device to implement said sub-function as a response to the detection of said formation of direction.