Multi-tap keyboard user interface

• US 20070072647A1
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Vuong, Thanh, Mousseau, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,684,821 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/564
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27457 Management thereof, e.g. manual editing of data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72481 for visually impaired users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/18 including more than one keyboard unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation

Abstract

There is provided a multi-tap keyboard user interface with auditory feedback. In one embodiment, there is provided a method for controlling operation of a mobile device having a plurality of input devices, comprising associating groups of one or more keys of the input devices to define at least one input region and in response to an input received from said input devices, performing an associated action for operating the device, responding equally to any input from a same input region. A repeated input (multi-tap) to a same input region cycles through a plurality of actions associated with the input region. Auditory feedback comprising a vocalized description of the action is provided. The multi-tap keyboard user interface with auditory feedback may adapt a mobile device (e.g. PDA or smart phone) for use by visually impaired users.

Claims

1. A method for controlling operation of a mobile device having a plurality of input devices comprising:

(i) associating groups of one or more keys of said input devices to define at least one input region; and

(ii) in response to an input received from said input devices, performing an associated action for operating the device, responding equally to any input from a same input region.

2. The method of claim 1 including performing an associated auditory response in response to the input received.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the associated action comprises selecting a character to input from a set of characters, the associated action associated to an input from an input region such that consecutive inputs from the input region selects a different character from the set of characters.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the input of a one of the input devices is associated to an action to select a current action from a plurality of actions thereby to define an action button.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the input from a one of the input devices is associated to an action to confirm a current action thereby to define a confirm button.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the input from a one of the input devices is associated to an action to cancel a current action thereby to define a cancel button.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the associated action is a null action associated to an input of one of the input regions thereby to define a dead input region.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said steps (i) to (ii) define a multi-tap mode of operating the device and wherein the method includes invoking the multi-tap mode.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein invoking comprises selecting a device application to automatically invoke said multi-tap mode.

10. The method of claim 1 comprising associating a plurality of actions to respective inputs receivable from said input devices, said plurality of actions defining a function of said device;

and in response to said input received, determining the associated action for performing.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the function comprises a messaging function to review messages reviewable by the device and wherein respective inputs of the input regions are associated with actions to navigate said messages for reviewing.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the messages comprise one of voice messages and data messages.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the messages comprise data messages and a one of the plurality of actions comprises reading out the data message.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the function comprises a dialing function to recall a destination stored for subsequent dialing and wherein respective inputs of the input regions are associated with actions to input a reference to recall the destination for dialing.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the function comprises a dialing function to store a destination for subsequent dialing and wherein respective inputs of the input regions are associated with actions to input a reference to store the destination for dialing.

16. A method for dialing a destination comprising:

(i) associating groups of one or more keys of a mobile device to define at least one input region whereby a keying from any key of a same input region defines a same input;

(ii) associating auditory responses and actions for operating the device to respective inputs receivable from input devices of the mobile device including the keys of the at least one input region, at least a one of the input regions associated with actions to input a character from a respective set of characters for composing a destination for inputting into the device such that repeating an input from a same input region selects a different character from the respective set; and

(iii) for each input received from said input devices, performing the respective action and outputting the respective auditory response associated with each input thereby to dial a destination.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the characters for 1 composing a dialing destination comprise 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, #, and * allocated among the respective sets associated with respective input regions.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein respective inputs from one or more of the input devices are associated with at least one of:

an action to select a current action from a plurality of actions;

an action to confirm a current action; and

an action to cancel a current action.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein at least one of the actions comprises repeating at least steps (ii) and (iii) thereby to associate different auditory responses and actions with the inputs receivable for subsequent operation of the mobile device.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein a one of the at least one of the actions initiates a dialing function to recall a destination stored for subsequent dialing thereby to associate the input regions with said different auditory responses and actions to input a reference to recall the destination for dialing.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein a one of the at least one of the actions initiates a dialing function to store a destination for subsequent dialing thereby to associate the input regions with said different auditory responses and actions to input a reference to store the destination for dialing.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said repeating defines a first and a second input region for inputting respective portions of the reference to store the destination.

23. A mobile device comprising:

a communication system for transmitting and receiving communications via a communication network;

a processor coupled to the communication system for communications; and

memory coupled to the processor for storing instructions to configure the processor to control operation of the mobile device via a plurality of input devices comprising, the instructions configuring the processor to;

(i) associating groups of one or more keys of said input devices to define at least one input region; and

(ii) in response to an input received from said input devices, performing an associated action for operating the device, responding equally to any input from a same input region.

24. The mobile device of claim 25 further including instructions to configure the processor to performing an associated auditory response in response to the input received.