Method and device for inputting a sequence of characters

• US 20030154327A1
• Filed: 04/04/2003
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Grudszus, Robert, Lungwitz, Thomas, Kossira, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,240,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items

Abstract

A method is proposed for the input of a character string into a processing unit, in which in a two-dimensional character field, a character to be input is determined from selectable characters for an input. In this context, the intuitive detection of a user input permits a simple navigation with the aid of a direction-input device in the thinned-out, two-dimensional character field between the selectable characters.

Claims

1. A method for the input of a character string into a processing unit, preferably into a navigation device in a vehicle, character strings being stored in a memory unit, selectable characters for a next character of the character string to be input being ascertained by the processing unit by a comparison of previously input characters to the stored character strings, the selectable characters being indicated with prominence in a display, one of the selectable characters being indicated as a character to be input, and being input as a next character of the character string by a confirmation input,

wherein the characters are shown in a two-dimensional field;

using a direction input, a change is made from the inputtable character to a selectable character lying in the input direction in the two-dimensional field with respect to the inputtable character; and

the selectable character to which the change is made is indicated as inputtable character.

2. The method for input as recited in claim 1,

wherein as a direction, one of the directions down, up, right and left is selected via the operating element, preferably a cross rocker, a key field, a trackball or a joystick.

3. The method for input as recited in one of the preceding claims,

wherein the two-dimensional field is formed by rows and columns of characters;

upon an input of the direction right or left, change is made to a selectable character whose column in the two-dimensional field is to the right or to the left of the column of the previously inputtable character and whose row at the same time is closest to the row of the previously inputtable character; and

upon an input of the direction down or up, change is made to a selectable character whose row in the field lies below or above the row of the previously inputtable character, and whose column at the same time is closest to the column of the previously inputtable character.

4. The method for input as recited in one of claims 1-2,

wherein the two-dimensional field is formed by rows and columns of characters;

upon an input of the direction right or left, change is made to a selectable character whose column in the two-dimensional field is to the right or to the left of the column of the previously inputtable character and whose column at the same time is closest to the column of the previously inputtable character; and

upon an input of the direction down or up, change is made to a selectable character whose row in the field lies below or above the row of the previously inputtable character, and whose row at the same time is closest to the row of the previously inputtable character.

5. The method for input as recited in one of claims 3-4,

wherein for the case that in the input direction, a plurality of selectable characters lie equally close to the previously inputtable character with respect to the row or the column, that character is selected from these characters which lies closest to the previously inputtable character.

6. The method for input as recited in one of the preceding claims,

wherein for the case that no selectable character in the field lies in the input direction, an error message is output, preferably acoustically.

7. The method for input as recited in one of claims 1-5,

wherein for the case that no selectable character in the field lies in the input direction, a search for a next selectable character is continued starting from an edge in the selected direction opposite an edge lying in the input direction.

8. The method for input as recited in one of the preceding claims,

wherein a character string already clearly defined by an input is supplemented by the processing unit to form a complete character string.

9. The method for input as recited in one of the preceding claims,

wherein after the input of a character and before a character string is clearly selected, the character selected before or a character nearest to the previously selected character is selected as a character inputtable via the confirmation input.

10. The method for input as recited in one of claims 1-8,

wherein after the input of a character and before a character string is clearly selected, a character in the middle of the field or a character nearest to the middle of the field is selected as a character inputtable via the confirmation input.

11. A device for carrying out the method as recited in one of the preceding claims.

12. Use of the method as recited in one of claims 1-10 for the input of a travel destination into a navigation device.