Character Input Method

• US 20090259962A1
• Filed: 03/07/2007
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Malvern Scientific Solutions Limited
• Original Assignee: Malvern Scientific Solutions Limited
• Inventors: Beale, Marc Ivor John
• Application Number:
  US12/225,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20090259962A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/773
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A method is provided for inputting characters to an electronic device having a virtual keyboard displayed on a screen. The method includes the step of displaying a plurality of character entry regions (1). Each region is adapted to display either, at a first level, a plurality of character options, or, at a second level, a single character option from the plurality of character options from a previously selected region. The number of regions and the number of characters is such that a desired character option can always be selected with no more than two keystrokes.

Claims

1. A method of inputting characters to an electronic device having a virtual keyboard displayed on a screen, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of first character entry regions (1), each region being adapted to display either;

at a first level a plurality of character options;

or

at a second level a single character option from the plurality of

character options from a previously selected region, the number of regions and the number of characters being such that a desired character option can always be selected with no more than two keystrokes, wherein the method further comprises displaying a plurality of second character entry regions (1) for displaying, after a first character has been selected, at the first level one or more predicted words or phrases for selection by a user.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein after a desired character option has been selected the virtual keyboard reverts in the first character entry regions to a display in which each region (1) is adapted to display a plurality of character options.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the character options at the first level are always displayed in the same arrangement.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the character options at the second level are always displayed in the same arrangement in dependence upon the character selected at the first level

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second character entry regions (1) are additionally activated at the second level.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second character entry regions (1) are located above the first character entry regions (1).

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the virtual keyboard includes a character display region (3) for displaying character options selected by a user.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the character display region (3) is located above the first and second character entry regions (1).

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second character entry regions (1) are arranged in an array.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the character entry regions (1) are arranged as four rows of regions with four regions in each row.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the character entry regions (1) are arranged as eight rows with two regions in each row.

14. A method according to claim 11, wherein the character entry regions (1) are arranged as two rows with eight regions in each row.

5. (canceled)

7. (canceled)