Character input apparatus and method for mobile communications terminal

• US 20060282791A1
• Filed: 05/26/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optis Cellular Technology LLC (Brevet Capital)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Karmanenko, Sergey S., Bogomolov, Sergey E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,705,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/773
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42214 using alphanumerical characters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42218 for mapping a matrix of displayed objects on the screen to the numerical key-matrix of the remote control

Abstract

A method for inputting characters on a terminal, which includes displaying virtual character sets on a display screen of the terminal, in which each of the virtual character sets includes a plurality of virtual characters corresponding to physical keys included on a keypad of the terminal. The method also includes selecting a particular virtual character set among the displayed virtual character sets, and selecting a particular virtual character from the selected virtual character set.

Claims

1. A method for inputting characters on a terminal, said method comprising:

displaying virtual character sets on a display screen of the terminal, each of said virtual character sets including a plurality of virtual characters corresponding to physical keys included on a keypad of the terminal;

selecting a particular virtual character set among the displayed virtual character sets; and

selecting a particular virtual character from the selected virtual character set.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of virtual characters included in the character sets comprise selectable key buttons that can be selected by selecting a corresponding physical key included on the keypad of the terminal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual characters included in the virtual character sets are displayed on the display of the terminal in a same pattern or array as the physical keys included on the keypad of the terminal are arranged.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal comprises at least one from a mobile terminal, a wire-line or wireless telephone, and a remote control for a television, a video player, or other electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

highlighting or popping up the particular virtual character set that is selected among the displayed virtual character sets.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular virtual character is displayed at a same position among the plurality of displayed virtual characters as the corresponding physical key is located among the physical keys included on the keypad of the terminal.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein selection of either of the two characters on the key button is distinguished by a length of time that the key button is depressed.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a second character of the two characters is selected when the key button is continuously depressed for a time period that is longer than a time period for selection of a first character of the two characters.

9. A character input apparatus for a terminal, said apparatus comprising:

a display configured to display virtual character sets;

a keypad having a plurality of physical keys used to allow movement between the displayed virtual character sets and virtual characters included in the virtual character sets; and

a controller configured to move between the displayed virtual character sets and to select a particular virtual character among the virtual characters based on selection of the plurality of keys included in the keypad.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of virtual characters included in the character sets comprise selectable key buttons that can be selected by selecting a corresponding physical key included on the keypad of the terminal.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller displays the virtual characters included in the virtual character on the display in a same pattern or array as the physical keys included on the keypad of the terminal are arranged.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the terminal comprises at least one from a mobile terminal, a wire-line or wireless telephone, and a remote control for a television, a video player, or other electronic device.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller highlights or pops up the particular virtual character set that is selected among the displayed virtual character sets.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller displays the particular virtual character at a same position among the plurality of displayed virtual characters as the corresponding physical key is located among the physical keys included on the keypad.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller distinguishes the selection of either of the two characters on the key button by a length of time that the key button is depressed.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the controller selects a second character of the two characters when the key button is continuously depressed for a time period that is longer than a time period for selection of a first character of the two characters.