Handheld Electronic Device and Associated Method Providing Advanced Text Editing Function in a Text Disambiguation Environment

• US 20090058814A1
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Rubanovich, Dan, Griffin, Jason T., Fux, Vadim
• Granted Patent: US 8,773,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs

Abstract

An improved handheld electronic device and associated method provide an advanced editing feature and an improved learning feature that are provided in a disambiguation environment. The advanced editing feature advantageously enables a new word that has been incorrectly disambiguated by a disambiguation routine to be readily by the user without requiring the incorrectly disambiguated word to be deleted and retyped. Rather, the advanced editing feature enables the incorrectly disambiguated characters to be replaced with opposite characters on the same keys, and such changes can be accomplished merely through the use of inputs to a track ball. The newly edited word can then be learned by a learning database. The improved learning function advantageously favors words that are learned using the advanced editing feature over words that have been learned in other fashions.

Claims

1. A method of enabling input on a handheld electronic device that comprises an output apparatus, an input apparatus comprising a plurality of input members, and a processor apparatus, the method comprising:

detecting a predetermined input when an edit focus of the processor apparatus is on a character of a displayed object, the character being assigned to an input member having a plurality of characters assigned thereto; and

responsive to the predetermined input, replacing in the displayed object the character with a different character assigned to the input member.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, responsive to the predetermined input, moving the edit focus to another character disposed adjacent the different character.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

detecting as the predetermined input a navigational input in one direction and another navigational input in another direction different than the one direction; and

responsive to the another navigational input, initiating the moving of the edit focus.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising detecting as the navigational input a rotation of a multiple-axis input member a predetermined rotational distance about a first axis and detecting as the another navigational input a rotation of a multiple-axis input member the predetermined rotational distance about a second axis different than the first axis.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying the different character at a location disposed in a first direction from the character, and detecting as the navigational input a navigational input in the first direction.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising detecting as the another navigational input a navigational input in a direction generally perpendicular to the first direction.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising detecting as the another navigational input a navigational input in the direction of the another character.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an alternate character when an edit focus of the processor apparatus is on a first character of the displayed object, the given character and the alternate character being assigned to an input member;

detecting a navigational input in a direction toward a second character of the displayed object;

moving the edit focus from the first character onto each successively adjacent character of the displayed object until the edit focus is on the second character; and

when the edit focus is on any given character, displaying a separate character assigned to the same input member as the given character.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting as the predetermined input a rotation of a multiple-axis input member plus a translation of the multiple-axis input member.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an actuation of an input member having a number of characters assigned thereto and, responsive thereto;

adding to the displayed object a character of the number of characters; and

exiting an edit mode on the handheld electronic device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the displayed object in a learning database; and

deleting from the learning database a conflicting word that conflicts with the displayed object.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining that one of the displayed object and the conflicting word lacks a predetermined characteristic whereas the other of the displayed object and the conflicting word does not lack the predetermined characteristic and, responsive thereto, initiating the deleting of the conflicting word.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining that the conflicting word lacks a sticky flag and, responsive thereto, initiating the deleting of the conflicting word.

14. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a processor apparatus comprising a processor and a memory;

an input apparatus comprising a plurality of input members and being structured to provide input to the processor apparatus;

an output apparatus structured to receive output signals from the processor apparatus;

the memory having stored therein a number of routines which, when executed on the processor, cause the handheld electronic device to perform operations comprising;

detecting a predetermined input when an edit focus of the processor apparatus is on a character of a displayed object, the character being assigned to an input member having a plurality of characters assigned thereto; and

responsive to the predetermined input, replacing in the displayed object the character with a different character assigned to the input member.

15. The handheld electronic device of claim 14 wherein the operations further comprise, responsive to the predetermined input, moving the edit focus to another character disposed adjacent the different character.

16. The handheld electronic device of claim 15 wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting as the predetermined input a navigational input in one direction and another navigational input in another direction different than the one direction; and

responsive to the another navigational input, initiating the moving of the edit focus.

17. The handheld electronic device of claim 16 wherein the operations further comprise detecting as the navigational input a rotation of a multiple-axis input member a predetermined rotational distance about a first axis and detecting as the another navigational input a rotation of a multiple-axis input member the predetermined rotational distance about a second axis different than the first axis.

18. The handheld electronic device of claim 14 wherein the operations further comprise:

displaying an alternate character when an edit focus of the processor apparatus is on a first character of the displayed object, the given character and the alternate character being assigned to an input member;

detecting a navigational input in a direction toward a second character of the displayed object;

moving the edit focus from the first character onto each successively adjacent character of the displayed object until the edit focus is on the second character; and

when the edit focus is on any given character, displaying a separate character assigned to the same input member as the given character.

19. The handheld electronic device of claim 14 wherein the operations further comprise detecting as the predetermined input a rotation of a multiple-axis input member plus a translation of the multiple-axis input member.

20. The handheld electronic device of claim 14 wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting an actuation of an input member having a number of characters assigned thereto and, responsive thereto;

adding to the displayed object a character of the number of characters; and

exiting an edit mode on the handheld electronic device.