METHOD OF E-MAIL ADDRESS SEARCH AND E-MAIL ADDRESS TRANSLITERATION AND ASSOCIATED DEVICE

• US 20090299727A1
• Filed: 05/08/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Rubanovich, Dan, Elizarov, Michael, Fux, Vadim
• Granted Patent: US 8,515,730 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/129 Handling non-Latin characters, e.g. kana-to-kanji conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

An improved method of transliterating non-Latin input within an e-mail address field to the Latin equivalent. A routine in a handheld device is structured to detect a triggering event that indicates an e-mail address is being input into an e-mail address field. Following the triggering event, both prior and subsequent input is transliterated to Latin characters as these characters are required by Internet protocols. The transliteration routine may also be utilized to search an e-mail address book wherein names are recorded using both Latin and non-Latin characters.

Claims

1. A method of transliterating non-Latin input within an e-mail address field to the Latin equivalent on a handheld electronic device, the handheld electronic device including a display, a keyboard, and a processor apparatus, the keyboard having a plurality of character keys, the processor apparatus having a processor and a memory, the processor apparatus structured to receive input from the keyboard keys and to provide output signals to the display, the memory having a number of routines stored therein, at least one keyboard routine structured to associate a character key input with a specific character, the characters being provided in a database having sets of associated characters, the sets of associated characters including at least one non-Latin character set and the Latin character set, and at least one e-mail routine structured to present an e-mail address field and to detect and present input from the keyboard character keys, the method of transliterating compromising the steps of:

a) having the plurality of character keys associated with a non-Latin character set;

b) detecting a character key input;

c) determining which non-Latin character is associated with the actuated character key;

d) presenting the non-Latin character associated with the actuated character key in the e-mail address field;

e) repeating steps (b)-(d) until a trigger event occurs and then;

f) redefining the character keys by associating the character keys with the Latin character set;

g) converting all non-Latin character presented in the e-mail address field to the Latin equivalent of that non-Latin character;

h) detecting a character key input;

i) determining which Latin character is associated with the actuated character key;

j) presenting the Latin character in the e-mail address field;

k) repeating steps (h)-(j) until the e-mail address is complete; and

l) sending the e-mail having a Latin character e-mail address.

2. The method of transliterating of claim 1 wherein the at least one e-mail routine includes an address book having at least one name and associated e-mail address stored therein, the at least one e-mail routine having an auto-complete feature, the e-mail routine further including a manual conversion option, and wherein:

the trigger event is selected from the group comprising;

actuation of the manual conversion option, detection of an input that is not subject to auto-completion, or detection of a functional character input.

3. The method of transliterating of claim 2 wherein the at least one e-mail routine is structured to present an output table, the output table being presented adjacent to the e-mail address field, and wherein the step of detecting a character key input having an associated non-Latin character includes the steps of:

a) presenting within the output table a first field and a second field, the first field presenting the Latin equivalent of the non-Latin character input, the second field presenting a predicted auto-completion address book name; and

b) allowing the selection of the Latin equivalent of the non-Latin character input or the predicted auto-completion address book name.

4. The method of transliterating of claim 3 wherein, if during the step of allowing the selection of the Latin equivalent of the non-Latin character input or the predicted auto-completion address book name the user selects the Latin equivalent of the non-Latin character input, the selection of the Latin equivalent of the non-Latin character input acts as an actuation of the manual conversion option.

5. The method of transliterating of claim 3 wherein, prior to the step of detecting a character key input having an associated non-Latin character, the output table is presented with a field indicating the use of Latin characters and wherein the method includes the step of allowing the user to select the field indicating the use of Latin characters and wherein selection of the field indicating the use of Latin characters acts as an actuation of the manual conversion option.

6. A handheld electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

an input apparatus including a keyboard with a plurality of character keys;

an output apparatus including a display;

a processor apparatus having a processor and a memory, the processor apparatus is structured to receive input from the keyboard, to provide output signals to the display, and to execute a number of routines;

the memory having a number of routines stored therein;

the number of routines including at least one keyboard routine structured to associate an individual character key input with a specific character, the characters being provided in a database having sets of associated characters, the sets of associated characters including at least one non-Latin character set and the Latin character set;

the number of routines including at least one e-mail routine structured to present an e-mail address field and to detect and present input from the keyboard character keys;

wherein the processor apparatus is structured to execute the at least one keyboard routine and the at least one e-mail routine to cause the handheld electronic device to perform operations comprising;

a) having the plurality of character keys associated with a non-Latin character set;

b) detecting a character key input;

c) determining which non-Latin character is associated with the actuated character key;

d) presenting the non-Latin character associated with the actuated character key in the e-mail address field;

e) repeating steps (b)-(d) until a trigger event occurs and then;

f) redefining the character keys by associating the character keys with the Latin character set;

g) converting all non-Latin character presented in the e-mail address field to the Latin equivalent of that non-Latin character;

h) detecting a character key input;

i) determining which Latin character is associated with the actuated character key;

j) presenting the Latin character in the e-mail address field;

k) repeating steps (h)-(j) until the e-mail address is complete; and

l) sending the e-mail having a Latin character e-mail address.

7. The handheld electronic device of claim 6 wherein:

the at least one e-mail routine includes an address book having at least one name and associated e-mail address stored therein, the at least one e-mail routine having an auto-complete feature;

the e-mail routine further including a manual conversion option; and

the trigger event is selected from the group comprising;

actuation of the manual conversion option, detection of an input that is not subject to auto-completion, or detection of a functional character input.

8. The handheld electronic device of claim 7 wherein:

the at least one e-mail routine is structured to present an output table, the output table being disposed adjacent to the e-mail address field; and

wherein the routines further, when executed on the processor, cause the handheld electronic device to perform operations comprising;

a) presenting within the output table an first field and a second field, the first field presenting the Latin equivalent of the non-Latin character input, the second field presenting a predicted auto-completion address book name; and

b) allowing the selection of the Latin equivalent of the non-Latin character input or the predicted auto-completion address book name.

9. The handheld electronic device of claim 8 wherein, if during the operation of allowing the selection of the Latin equivalent of the non-Latin character input or the predicted auto-completion address book name the user selects the Latin equivalent of the non-Latin character input, the selection of the Latin equivalent of the non-Latin character input acts as an actuation of the manual conversion option.

10. The handheld electronic device of claim 8 wherein:

the e-mail routine is structured to presented a field indicating the use of Latin characters within the output table;

the routines further, when executed on the processor, cause the handheld electronic device to perform operations comprising;

allowing the user to select the field indicating the use of Latin characters; and

wherein selection of the field indicating the use of Latin characters acts as an actuation of the manual conversion option.

11. A method of performing a multilingual search within an e-mail address book search field on a handheld electronic device, the handheld electronic device including a display, a keyboard, and a processor apparatus, the keyboard having a plurality of character keys, including a plurality of character keys associated with a non-Latin character set, the processor apparatus having a processor and a memory, the processor apparatus structured to receive input from the keyboard keys and to provide output signals to the display, the memory having a number of routines stored therein, at least one keyboard routine structured to associate a character key input with a specific character, the characters being provided in a database having sets of associated characters, the sets of associated characters including at least one non-Latin character set and the Latin character set, and at least one e-mail routine having an address book structured to store names in both at least one non-Latin character set and the Latin character set, said e-mail routine further structured to present an e-mail address book search field and to detect and present input from the keyboard character keys, the method of performing a multilingual search within an e-mail address book search field on a handheld electronic device compromising the steps of:

a) detecting a non-Latin character string input;

b) determining if a non-Latin character name within the address book correspond to the detected character string;

c) determining which Latin characters are associated with the character string;

d) determining if a Latin character name within the address book correspond to the associated character string; and

e) if any non-Latin character names or Latin character names within the address book correspond to the associated character string, presenting at least one name that corresponds to the detected character string.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said at least one e-mail routine includes a search function and a selectable search option, said at least one e-mail routine structured to present a search field and a results list, further comprising the steps of:

prior to step (a), selecting an e-mail address book search option;

after step (e), selecting at least one name that is presented; and

creating a new e-mail message being addressed to the selected name.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of presenting at least one name that corresponds to the detected character string includes the step of:

presenting a plurality of corresponding name in a results list.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

prior to step (a), creating a new e-mail message, the message having at least one “

To;

”

field;

positioning a cursor within the new e-mail “

To;

”

field; and

after step (e), selecting the at least one name that is presented.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

reiterating steps (a)-(e) wherein the character string becomes longer with each iteration.

16. A handheld electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

an input apparatus including a keyboard with a plurality of character keys;

an output apparatus including a display;

a processor apparatus having a processor and a memory, the processor apparatus is structured to receive input from the keyboard, to provide output signals to the display, and to execute a number of routines;

the memory having a number of routines stored therein;

the number of routines including at least one keyboard routine structured to associate an individual character key input with a specific character, the characters being provided in a database having sets of associated characters, the sets of associated characters including at least one non-Latin character set and the Latin character set;

the number of routines including at least one e-mail routine structured to present an e-mail address field and to detect and present input from the keyboard character keys;

wherein the processor apparatus is structured to execute the at least one keyboard routine and the at least one e-mail routine to cause the handheld electronic device to perform operations comprising;

a) having the plurality of character keys associated with a non-Latin character set;

b) detecting a non-Latin character string input;

c) determining if any non-Latin character names within the address book correspond to the detected character string;

d) determining which Latin characters are associated with the character string;

e) determining if any Latin character names within the address book correspond to the associated character string; and

f) if any non-Latin character names or Latin character names within the address book correspond to the associated character string, presenting at least one name that corresponds to the detected character string.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said at least one e-mail routine includes a search function and a selectable search option, said at least one e-mail routine structured to present a search field and a results list, further comprising the steps of:

prior to step (b), selecting an e-mail address book search option;

after step (f), selecting at least one name that is presented; and

creating a new e-mail message being addressed to the selected name.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of presenting at least one name that corresponds to the detected character string includes the step of:

presenting a plurality of corresponding name in a results list.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

prior to step (b), creating a new e-mail message, the message having at least one “

To;

”

field;

positioning a cursor within the new e-mail “

To;

”

field; and

after step (f), selecting the at least one name that is presented.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

reiterating steps (b)-(f) wherein the character string becomes longer with each iteration.