HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING AUTO COMPLETION OF PUNCTUATION IN NUMERICAL ENTRY, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

• US 20080115054A1
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Scott, Sherryl Lee Lorraine
• Granted Patent: US 8,171,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/255
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/027 for insertion of the decimal point
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs

Abstract

The disclosed and claimed concept describes a handheld electronic device that has the capability to automatically prefer a preferred punctuation arrangement in response to determining whether a first output has a predetermined characteristic.

Claims

1. A method of enabling input on a handheld electronic device, said handheld electronic device including an input apparatus and an output apparatus, said input apparatus having a plurality of input members that are capable of being actuated, said method comprising:

detecting as an alphanumeric input a first number of input member actuations;

responsive to said detecting an alphanumeric input, generating a first output;

detecting as a punctuation input a second number of input member actuations;

making a determination that said first output comprises a digit;

responsive to said making said determination, identifying as a preferred punctuation arrangement a predetermined punctuation arrangement from among a plurality of punctuation arrangements that correspond with said punctuation input; and

outputting said predetermined punctuation arrangement.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising identifying as said preferred punctuation arrangement a decimal symbol.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising outputting a period as the decimal symbol.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising detecting at least one of a selectable geographic location of use and an actual geographic location of use as being European and, responsive thereto, identifying as said preferred punctuation arrangement a comma.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising outputting another punctuation arrangement as an alternative punctuation arrangement selectable by a user.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising outputting as said another punctuation arrangement a period followed by at least a first space.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

prior to detecting said alphanumeric input, detecting as an initial input an actuation of a number of input members;

responsive to said detecting an initial input, generating an initial output; and

making as a portion of said determination, a determination that said initial output comprises a currency symbol.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an operative language on said handheld electronic device; and

making another determination that said operative language is a non-English convention.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising responsive to said making another determination, identifying as said preferred punctuation arrangement a comma.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising making as said another determination a determination that said operative language is Spanish.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising outputting a period as an alternative punctuation arrangement selectable by a user.

12. A handheld electronic device, comprising;

a keyboard having a plurality of input members;

a display;

a processor apparatus comprising a processor and a memory in electronic communication with one another, said processor apparatus having stored therein a number of routines which, when executed on the processor, cause the handheld electronic device to perform operations comprising;

detecting as an alphanumeric input a first number of input member actuations;

responsive to said detecting an alphanumeric input, generating a first output;

detecting as a punctuation input a second number of second input member actuations;

making a determination that said first output comprises a digit;

responsive to said making said determination, identifying as a preferred punctuation arrangement a predetermined punctuation arrangement from among a plurality of punctuation arrangements that correspond with said punctuation input; and

outputting said predetermined punctuation arrangement.

13. The handheld electronic device according to claim 12, wherein said preferred punctuation arrangement is a decimal symbol.

14. The handheld electronic device according to claim 12, wherein said preferred punctuation arrangement is a period.

15. The handheld electronic device according to claim 12, wherein said number of routines cause the handheld electronic device to perform operations further comprising detecting at least one of a selectable geographic location of use and an actual geographic location of use as being European and, responsive thereto, identifying as said preferred punctuation a comma.

16. The handheld electronic device according to claim 12, wherein said number of routines cause the handheld electronic device to perform operations further comprising outputting another punctuation arrangement as an alternative punctuation arrangement selectable by a user.

17. The handheld electronic device according to claim 16, wherein said another punctuation arrangement comprises a period followed by at least a first space.

18. The handheld electronic device according to claim 12, wherein said number of routines causes the handheld electronic device to perform operations further comprising:

prior to detecting said alphanumeric input, detecting as an initial input an actuation of a number of input members;

responsive to said detecting as an initial input, generating an initial output; and

making as a portion of said determination, a determination that said initial output comprises a currency symbol.

19. The handheld electronic device according to claim 12, wherein said number of routines causes the handheld electronic device to perform operations further comprising:

detecting an operative language on said handheld electronic device; and

making another determination that said operative language is a non-English convention.

20. The handheld electronic device according to claim 19, wherein said preferred punctuation arrangement is a comma.

21. The handheld electronic device according to claim 20, wherein said operative language is Spanish.

22. The handheld electronic device according to claim 12, wherein said number of routines causes the handheld electronic device to perform operations further comprising outputting another punctuation arrangement as an alternative punctuation arrangement selectable by a user.