Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Entering Alternate Characters with a Physical Keyboard

• US 20120306747A1
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Davidson, Douglas R., Victor, B. Michael, Harvey, John III, Grady, Michael S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,922,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/160
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting

Abstract

A device displays a text entry area with an insertion point and detects activation of a first physical key in a physical keyboard. In response to a determination that the activation of the first physical key lasts more than a first predefined time period, the device displays a character selection area; while displaying the character selection area, the device detects activation of a second physical key in the physical keyboard; in response to a determination that the activated second physical key is an arrow key, the device moves a current character focus in accordance with a direction of the arrow key; and, in response to a determination that the activated second physical key is the first physical key, the device enters in the text entry area a single instance of a character that has the current character focus, and ceases to display the character selection area.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a physical keyboard;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a text entry area with an insertion point on the display;

detecting activation of a first physical key in the physical keyboard;

in response to a determination that the activation of the first physical key lasts less than a first predefined time period, entering a single instance of a default character that corresponds to the first physical key in the text entry area;

in response to a determination that the activation of the first physical key lasts more than the first predefined time period, displaying a character selection area on the display, the character selection area including the default character and a plurality of alternate characters that correspond to the first physical key;

while displaying the character selection area, detecting activation of a second physical key in the physical keyboard;

in response to a determination that the activated second physical key is an arrow key, moving a current character focus in the character selection area in accordance with a direction of the arrow key; and

in response to a determination that the activated second physical key is the first physical key;

entering in the text entry area a single instance of a character that has the current character focus in the character selection area, and

ceasing to display the character selection area.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the alternate characters displayed in the character selection area are based on a usage history of a user of the device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the alternate characters displayed in the character selection area are user configurable.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the alternate characters displayed in the character selection area are based on the physical keyboard.

5. The device of claim 1, including instructions for:

in response to a determination that the activated second physical key is a physical key for entering characters other than the first physical key;

entering in the text entry area a single instance of a character that has the current character focus in the character selection area followed by a single instance of a default character that corresponds to the second physical key, and

ceasing to display the character selection area.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein a respective character in the character selection area is displayed with a corresponding number adjacent to the respective character, the device including instructions for:

in response to a determination that the activated second physical key is a number key with the corresponding number;

entering in the text entry area a single instance of the respective character that corresponds to the number, and

ceasing to display the character selection area.

7. The device of claim 1, including instructions for:

placing a cursor over a character in the character selection area;

detecting activation of the cursor while the cursor is over the character in the character selection area; and

,

in response to detecting activation of the cursor while the cursor is over the character in the character selection area;

entering in the text entry area a single instance of the character that the cursor is over, and

ceasing to display the character selection area.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first physical key is a letter key, the device including instructions for:

while the character selection area is not displayed, detecting activation of a third physical key in the physical keyboard, the third physical key being a non-letter key;

in response to a determination that the activation of the third physical key is less than a second predefined time period, entering a single instance of a character that corresponds to the third physical key in the text entry area; and

in response to a determination that the activation of the third physical key is greater than the second predefined time period, entering multiple instances of the character that corresponds to the third physical key in the text entry area.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the character selection area includes an additional options icon, the device including instructions for:

in response to detecting activation of the additional options icon, displaying a user interface with additional alternate characters.

10. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with a display and a physical keyboard;

displaying a text entry area with an insertion point on the display;

detecting activation of a first physical key in the physical keyboard;

in response to a determination that the activation of the first physical key lasts less than a first predefined time period, entering a single instance of a default character that corresponds to the first physical key in the text entry area;

in response to a determination that the activation of the first physical key lasts more than the first predefined time period, displaying a character selection area on the display, the character selection area including the default character and a plurality of alternate characters that correspond to the first physical key;

while displaying the character selection area, detecting activation of a second physical key in the physical keyboard;

in response to a determination that the activated second physical key is an arrow key, moving a current character focus in the character selection area in accordance with a direction of the arrow key; and

in response to a determination that the activated second physical key is the first physical key;

entering in the text entry area a single instance of a character that has the current character focus in the character selection area, and

ceasing to display the character selection area.

11. A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with a display and a physical keyboard, cause the device to:

display a text entry area with an insertion point on the display;

detect activation of a first physical key in the physical keyboard;

in response to a determination that the activation of the first physical key lasts less than a first predefined time period, enter a single instance of a default character that corresponds to the first physical key in the text entry area;

in response to a determination that the activation of the first physical key lasts more than the first predefined time period, display a character selection area on the display, the character selection area including the default character and a plurality of alternate characters that correspond to the first physical key;

while displaying the character selection area, detect activation of a second physical key in the physical keyboard;

in response to a determination that the activated second physical key is an arrow key, move a current character focus in the character selection area in accordance with a direction of the arrow key; and

in response to a determination that the activated second physical key is the first physical key;

enter in the text entry area a single instance of a character that has the current character focus in the character selection area, and

cease to display the character selection area.

12. A graphical user interface on an electronic device with a display, a physical keyboard, a memory, and one or more processors to execute one or more programs stored in the memory, the graphical user interface comprising:

a text entry area with an insertion point;

wherein;

in response to a determination that an activation of a first physical key in the physical keyboard lasts less than a first predefined time period, a single instance of a default character that corresponds to the first physical key is entered in the text entry area;

in response to a determination that the activation of the first physical key lasts more than the first predefined time period, a character selection area is displayed on the display, the character selection area including the default character and a plurality of alternate characters that correspond to the first physical key;

while displaying the character selection area, activation of a second physical key in the physical keyboard is detected;

in response to a determination that a second physical key in the physical keyboard, activated while the character selection area is displayed, is an arrow key, a current character focus in the character selection area is moved in accordance with a direction of the arrow key; and

in response to a determination that the activated second physical key is the first physical key;

a single instance of a character that has the current character focus in the character selection area is entered in the text entry area, and

the character selection area ceases to be displayed.