Matrix Keyboarding System
First Claim
1. A method of effecting data input with a keyboard including a first keypad having at least five keys and a second keypad having at least five keys, the method comprising:
- (a) with the at least ten keys of the first and second keypads, establishing at least twenty-five two-key combinations including one key from each of the first and second keypads, the two-key combinations each representing characters;
(b) establishing at least twenty chord combinations including multiple keys from the first keypad and multiple keys from the second keypad, the chord combinations representing special characters and commands;
(c) selecting a matrix of characters;
(d) activating one of the two-key combinations corresponding to a selected one of the characters in the selected matrix of characters to effect input of the character or activating one of the chord combinations corresponding to a selected special character or a selected command to effect input of the selected special character or activation of the selected command, respectively; and
(e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until data entry is complete.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data input system and method utilize a keyboard including a first keypad having at least five keys and a second keypad having at least five keys. With the at least ten keys of the first and second keypads, at least twenty-five two-key combinations including one key from each of the first and second keypads are established, where the two-key combinations each represent characters. Additionally, at least twenty chord combinations including multiple keys from the first keypad and multiple keys from the second keypad are established, where the chord combinations each represent special characters and commands. A matrix of characters may be selected, and one of the two-key combinations corresponding to a selected one of the characters in the selected matrix of characters is activated to effect input of the character; or one of the chord combinations corresponding to a selected special character or a selected command is activated to effect input of the selected special character or activation of the selected command, respectively. The activations are repeated until data entry is complete.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of effecting data input with a keyboard including a first keypad having at least five keys and a second keypad having at least five keys, the method comprising:
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(a) with the at least ten keys of the first and second keypads, establishing at least twenty-five two-key combinations including one key from each of the first and second keypads, the two-key combinations each representing characters; (b) establishing at least twenty chord combinations including multiple keys from the first keypad and multiple keys from the second keypad, the chord combinations representing special characters and commands; (c) selecting a matrix of characters; (d) activating one of the two-key combinations corresponding to a selected one of the characters in the selected matrix of characters to effect input of the character or activating one of the chord combinations corresponding to a selected special character or a selected command to effect input of the selected special character or activation of the selected command, respectively; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until data entry is complete. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A keyboard data input system operatively coupleable with a device including a processor and a display, the keyboard data input system comprising:
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a first set of at least five keys positioned for operation by an operator'"'"'s left hand; a second set of at least five keys positioned for operation by the operator'"'"'s right hand, wherein the first set of keys and the second set of keys define at least twenty-five two-key combinations including one key from each of the first and second sets of keys, the two-key combinations each representing characters, and wherein the first set of keys and the second set of keys further define at least twenty chord combinations including multiple keys from the first set of keys and multiple keys from the second set of keys, the chord combinations representing special characters and commands; and a selection unit cooperable with the first and second sets of keys, the selection unit enabling a selection of a matrix of characters, wherein one of the two-key combinations corresponding to a character in the selected matrix of characters is activated to effect input of the character or one of the chord combinations corresponding to a selected special character or a selected command is activated to effect input of the selected special character or activation of the selected command, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer apparatus including a processor and a keyboard data input system, the keyboard data input system comprising:
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a first keypad consisting of five keys, the keys of the first keypad being operatively coupled with the processor; and a second keypad consisting of five keys, the keys of the second keypad being operatively coupled with the processor, wherein the keys of the first and second keypads are arranged to define twenty-five two-key combinations including one key from each of the first and second keypads and twenty chord combinations including multiple keys from the first keypad and multiple keys from the second keypad, and wherein activation or non-activation of one of the chord combinations effects access to a plurality of character sets.
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Specification