Switching between input modes in a limited input device

• US 20060290660A1
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jong Hwan
• Granted Patent: US 7,973,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• 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

The present invention is directed to a method for switching a data entry mode, when editing data displayed on a limited input device. The method comprises evaluating a first input point, in relation to a second input point, postioned in an input window of the limited input device, wherein the first point is associated with a first data entry mode and the second input point is associated with a second data entry mode.

Claims

1. A method for switching data entry mode, when editing data displayed on a limited input device, the method comprising:

evaluating a first input point in relation to a second input point positioned in an input window of the limited input device,

wherein the first input point is associated with a first data entry mode and the second input point is associated with a second data entry mode; and

switching from the second data entry mode to the first data entry mode without requiring user interaction with the limited input device, in response to determining that the first and second data entry modes differ in at least one input attribute.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input point precedes the second input point.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second input point is illustrated by a cursor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein in the first data entry mode a user interacts with a user interface mechanism of the limited input device to edit text displayed in the input window.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first data entry mode is an alphabetic input mode.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second data entry mode is a numeric input mode.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the second data entry mode is a non-alphanumeric input mode.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one input attribute defines a style of an input character to be entered in the second input point.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one input attribute defines a font of an input character to be entered in the second input point.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one input attribute defines a color of an input character to be entered in the second input point.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one input attribute defines whether an input character to be entered in the second input point belongs to a class of numeric characters.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one input attribute defines whether an input character to be entered in the second input point belongs to a class of alphabetic characters.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one input attribute defines whether an input character to be entered in the second input point belongs to a class of symbol characters.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the limited input device is a mobile communication unit.

15. A limited input device comprising:

an edit window for editing data inputted by a user to the limited input device;

a first input point positioned in the edit window; and

a user interface mechanism for allowing the user to select an input point in the edit window, wherein;

the first input point is associated with a first data entry mode and a second input point is associated with a second data entry mode; and

the second data entry mode is switched to the first data entry mode without requiring user interaction with the user interface mechanism, in response to determining that the first and second data entry modes differ in at least one input attribute.

16. The limited input device of claim 15, wherein the at least one input attribute defines a style of an input character to be entered in the second input point.

17. The limited input device of claim 15, wherein the at least one input attribute defines a font of an input character to be entered in the second input point.

18. The limited input device of claim 15, wherein the at least one input attribute defines a color of an input character to be entered in the second input point.

19. The limited input device of claim 15, wherein the at least one input attribute defines whether an input character to be entered in the second input point belongs to a class of numeric characters.

20. A computing device readable medium comprising executable logic code embedded therein, wherein execution of the logic code on a controller of a limited input device causes the controller to:

evaluate a first input point positioned in an input window of the limited input device,

wherein the first input point is associated with a first data entry mode and a second input point is associated with a second data entry mode; and

switch from the second data entry mode to the first data entry mode without requiring user interaction with the limited input device, in response to determining that the first and second data entry modes differ in at least one input attribute.