Handheld Electronic Device Having Multiple-Axis Input Device, Selectable Language Indicator, and Menus for Language Selection, and Associated Method

• US 20080114587A1
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Scott, Sherryl Lee Lorraine
• Granted Patent: US 8,667,391 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs

Abstract

A method of enabling input into a handheld electronic device comprises detecting as an ambiguous input an actuation of one or more input members, employing an operative input method language to output a number of objects that are selectable and that each comprise at least a portion of a language object that corresponds with the ambiguous input, outputting at a location adjacent the number of objects an indicator representative of the operative input method language, detecting an input from a multiple-axis input device as being a selection input with respect to the indicator and, responsive thereto, outputting a menu of input method languages selectable as alternate operative input method languages.

Claims

1. A method of enabling input into a handheld electronic device having an input apparatus, an output apparatus, a processor, and having available therein a plurality of input method languages and a text disambiguation function that is structured to employ an operative one of the input method languages, the input apparatus having a number of input members including a multiple-axis input device, at least some of the input members each having assigned thereto a plurality of linguistic elements, the method comprising:

detecting as an ambiguous input an actuation of one or more of the input members;

employing an operative input method language to output a number of objects that are selectable and that each comprise at least a portion of a language object that corresponds with the ambiguous input;

outputting at a location adjacent the number of objects an indicator representative of the operative input method language; and

detecting an input from the multiple-axis input device as being a selection input with respect to the indicator and, responsive thereto, outputting a menu of input method languages selectable as alternate operative input method languages.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting the number of objects towards a first end of a window on a display of the output apparatus and outputting the indicator towards a second end of the window.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a preceding input from the multiple-axis input device as being a scrolling input through the number of objects to reach the indicator.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising detecting a rotation of the multiple-axis input device as being the scrolling input.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising detecting an actuation of the multiple-axis input device as being the selection input.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting an input from a touch screen display as being the input from the multiple-axis input device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising outputting on the touch screen display a depiction representative of the multiple-axis input device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a further input from the multiple-axis input device as being a scrolling input through at least some of the input method languages of the menu.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting the menu within a popup window adjacent the indicator.

9. The method of claim 9, further comprising detecting an additional input from the multiple-axis input device as being a selection input with respect to one of the input method languages and, responsive thereto, employing the one of the input method languages as the operative input method language.

11. A handheld electronic device, comprising;

a keyboard having a plurality of input members including a multiple-axis input device, at least some of the input members having assigned thereto a plurality of linguistic elements;

a display; and

a processor apparatus comprising a processor and a memory having stored therein a plurality of input method languages and a text disambiguation function structured to employ one of the input method languages, the memory having stored therein a number of routines which, when executed on the processor, cause the handheld electronic device to perform operation comprising;

detecting as an ambiguous input an actuation of one or more of the input members;

employing an operative input method language to output a number of objects that are selectable and that each comprise at least a portion of a language object that corresponds with the ambiguous input;

outputting at a location adjacent the number of objects an indicator representative of the operative input method language; and

detecting an input from the multiple-axis input device as being a selection input with respect to the indicator and, responsive thereto, outputting a menu of input method languages selectable as alternate operative input method languages.

12. The handheld electronic device of claim 11 wherein the operations further comprise outputting the number of objects towards a first end of a window on a display of the output apparatus and outputting the indicator towards a second end of the window.

13. The handheld electronic device of claim 11 wherein the operations further comprise detecting a preceding input from the multiple-axis input device as being a scrolling input through the number of objects to reach the indicator.

14. The handheld electronic device of claim 13 wherein the operations further comprise detecting a rotation of the multiple-axis input device as being the scrolling input.

15. The handheld electronic device of claim 14 wherein the operations further comprise detecting an actuation of the multiple-axis input device as being the selection input.

16. The handheld electronic device of claim 11 wherein the operations further comprise detecting an input from a touch screen display as being the input from the multiple-axis input device.

17. The handheld electronic device of claim 16 wherein the operations further comprise outputting on the touch screen display a depiction representative of the multiple-axis input device.

18. The handheld electronic device of claim 11 wherein the operations further comprise detecting a further input from the multiple-axis input device as being a scrolling input through at least some of the input method languages of the menu.

20. The handheld electronic device of claim 11 wherein the operations further comprise outputting the menu within a popup window adjacent the indicator.

19. The handheld electronic device of claim 19 wherein the operations further comprise detecting an additional input from the multiple-axis input device as being a selection input with respect to one of the input method languages and, responsive thereto, employing the one of the input method languages as the operative input method language.