Data entry by string of possible candidate information

• US 20030017858A1
• Filed: 08/14/2002
• Published: 01/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christian Kraft, Jacob Hansen, Paivi Pukkila
• Original Assignee: Christian Kraft, Jacob Hansen, Paivi Pukkila
• Inventors: Pukkila, Paivi, Kraft, Christian, Hansen, Jacob
• Granted Patent: US 6,810,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/018 Input/output arrangements for oriental characters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/129 Handling non-Latin characters, e.g. kana-to-kanji conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237

Abstract

A communication terminal is provided with display means, navigation means for navigating through information candidates, selection means for selecting one of the candidates, and a processor controlling the display means in accordance with the operation of the navigation means and the selection means. The display means comprises a first display part for displaying a string of entered information, and a second display part for displaying a string of a plurality of possible information candidates. One of the candidates in the second display part is highlighted by the cursor controlled by the navigation means. The processor copies the highlighted candidate from the candidate string into the entered information string upon selection by the selection means.

Claims

1. A method of entering information into a communication terminal having a display;

navigation means for navigating through information candidates; and

selection means for selecting one of the candidates;

said method comprising;

displaying in the display a string of entered information;

displaying, separately from the entered information string, a string of possible information candidates, one of these candidates being highlighted by the cursor controlled by the navigation means; and

copying the highlighted candidate from the second string to the entered information string upon selection by the selection means.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the navigation means is provided as a navigation key in the form of a depressable roller wheel, and including moving the cursor by rolling the roller wheel, and selecting an item pointed out by the cursor by depressing the roller wheel.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is equipped with at least two entry modes for entering different types of information into different applications in the terminal, and comprising sorting the possible information candidates in the candidate string in dependence on the current mode of the terminal.

4. A method according to claims 1, comprising sorting the possible information candidates in the candidate string in dependence on at least one previously selected character.

5. A method according to claims 1, comprising sorting the possible information candidates in a default string of candidates in dependence on the current mode of the phone, and generating a dynamic string of candidates for each information candidate entry, said dynamic string comprising a group of the most probable characters in the beginning followed by the default string.

6. A method according to claims 1, comprising searching in a dictionary memory to find a word fitting with the letters already entered, and displaying the best fitting word in a third display part selectable by the user.

7. A method according to claim 6, comprising searching in pronunciation strings for signs in a language not based on Latin letters in the dictionary memory to find a pronunciation string fitting with the letters already entered, and displaying a corresponding sign in the third display part.

12. A communication terminal according to claim 11, wherein the separate selection key is provided as a soft key, the current function of which is displayed in a special part of the display.

8. A communication terminal having display means;

navigation means for navigating through information candidates;

selection means for selecting one of the candidates; and

a processor controlling the display means in accordance with the operation of the navigation means and the selection means;

said display means comprising;

a first display part for displaying a string of entered information;

a second display part for displaying a string of a plurality of possible information candidates, one of these candidates being highlighted by the cursor controlled by the navigation means; and

said processor copying the highlighted candidate from the candidate string into the entered information string upon selection by the selection means.

9. A communication terminal according to claim 8, wherein the first display part constitutes the major part of a rectangular LCD display, and the second display part is provided as a strip along one of the edges of the display.

10. A communication terminal according to claim 8, wherein the navigation means is provided as a navigation key having a roller body which, when operated, causing the cursor to move, and wherein the selection means is integrated in the navigation key as a sensor detecting the depression of the roller body.

11. A communication terminal according to claim 8, wherein the navigation means is provided as a navigation key having a step-up/step-down functionality, and wherein the selection means is provided as a separate key for selecting the item currently pointed out by the cursor.

13. A communication terminal according to claims 8, wherein the terminal is equipped with at least two entry modes for entering different types of information into different applications in the terminal, and the processor sorts the possible information candidates in the candidate string in dependence on the mode of the terminal.

14. A communication terminal according to claims 8, wherein the processor sorts the possible information candidates in the second string in dependence on the previously selected character or characters.

15. A communication terminal according to claims 8, wherein the processor sorts the possible information candidates in a default string of candidates in dependence on the current mode of the phone, and said processor for each information candidate entry generates a dynamic string of candidates, said dynamic string comprising a group of the most probable characters in the beginning followed by the default string.

16. A communication terminal according to claims 8, wherein, in some applications, the display means comprises a third display part for displaying complex information candidates to be entered in dependence on information candidates already entered.

17. A communication terminal according to claim 16, wherein the processor is connected to a memory including a dictionary, searches this dictionary memory to find a word fitting with the letters already entered, and displays the best fitting word in the third display part.

18. A communication terminal according to claim 16, wherein the processor is connected to a memory including a dictionary including signs in a language not based on Latin letters and corresponding pronunciation strings, searches the pronunciation strings in the dictionary memory to find a string fitting with the letters already entered, and displays the corresponding sign in the third display part.

19. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 of the drawings.

20. A communication terminal substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 of the drawings.