Electronic Device and Method For Character Deletion

• US 20130080963A1
• Filed: 09/28/2011
• Published: 03/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Hong, Yoojin
• Granted Patent: US 8,856,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/773
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• 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 virtual keyboard for an electronic device having a display. The keyboard comprises a plurality of virtual keys organized in accordance with a keyboard layout with each key in a position according to the layout. The plurality of virtual keys include a first virtual key designated to activate, upon selection, a backward-delete function for deleting characters in a first direction and a forward-delete function for deleting characters in a second direction. The first direction and the second direction are opposite to each other. The keyboard also comprises direction identifier indicia displayed on the first virtual key. The direction identifier indicia are configured to indicate the first direction when the backward-delete function is activated, and the second direction when the forward-delete function is activated.

Claims

1. A virtual keyboard for an electronic device having a display, the keyboard comprising:

a plurality of virtual keys and organized in accordance with a keyboard layout, with each key in a position according to the layout, the plurality of virtual keys including a first virtual key designated to activate, upon selection, a backward-delete function for deleting characters in a first direction and to activate, upon selection, a forward-delete function for deleting characters in a second direction, the first direction and the second direction being opposite to each other; and

direction identifier indicia displayed on the first virtual key, the direction identifier indicia configured to indicate the first direction when the backward-delete function is activated, and the second direction when the forward-delete function is activated.

4. The keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a second virtual key associated with the forward-delete function of the first virtual key, wherein the direction identifier indicia is configured to indicate the second direction upon selection of the second virtual key.

5. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the keyboard is associated with a keyboard language.

6. The keyboard of claim 5, wherein the second direction corresponds to the direction of character input for the keyboard language.

7. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the first direction is selected from a group consisting of left-to-right, right-to-left, top-to-bottom, and bottom-to-top with respect to the display.

8. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the second direction is selected from a group consisting of left-to-right, right-to-left, top-to-bottom, and bottom-to-top with respect to the display.

9. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the first direction is a backward direction and the second direction is a forward direction.

10. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the direction identifier indicia are represented by pointers indicating their respective directions.

11. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the keyboard is a graphical user interface rendered on a touch-sensitive display of the electronic device.

2-3. -3. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. A virtual keyboard for an electronic device, the keyboard comprising:

a plurality of virtual keys and organized in accordance with a keyboard layout, with each key in a position according to the layout, the plurality of virtual keys including;

a first virtual key designated to activate, upon selection, a backward-delete function for deleting characters in a first direction and to activate, upon selection, a forward-delete function for deleting characters in a second direction, the first direction and the second direction being opposite to each other, and

a second virtual key associated with alternate functions of the plurality of virtual keys; and

direction identifier indicia displayed on the first virtual key, the direction identifier indicia configured to indicate the first direction when the backward-delete function is activated, and the second direction when the forward-delete function is activated.

14. A method performed on an electronic device having a virtual keyboard and comprising a plurality of virtual keys organized in accordance with a keyboard layout, with each key in a position according to the layout, the plurality of virtual keys including a first virtual key, and direction identifier indicia displayed on the first virtual key and configured to indicate direction of a position indicator, the method comprising:

associating the first key with a backward-delete function for deleting characters in a first direction;

displaying the direction identifier indicia to indicate the first direction; and

responsive to receiving a selection of a forward-delete function,

associating the first key with the forward-delete function for deleting characters in a second direction, the first direction and the second direction being opposite to each other; and

displaying the direction identifier indicia to indicate the second direction.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving a selection of the forward-delete function includes receiving a selection of a second virtual key associated with the forward-delete function of the first virtual key.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising, responsive to receiving the selection of the forward-delete function, discontinuing displaying the direction identifier indicia to indicate the first direction.

18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising receiving a selection of a new keyboard language.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising, responsive to receiving the selection of a new keyboard language, changing the first direction.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein displaying the direction identifier indicia to indicate the second direction includes changing direction of a pointer displayed on the first virtual key from the first direction to the second direction.

21. The method according to claim 14, wherein displaying the direction identifier indicia to indicate the first direction includes displaying the direction identifier indicia to indicate a backward direction, and displaying the direction identifier indicia to indicate the second direction includes displaying the direction identifier indicia to indicate a forward direction.

15. (canceled)

22. An electronic device comprising:

a display;

a virtual keyboard and having a plurality of keys organized in accordance with a keyboard layout, with each key in a position according to the layout, the plurality of virtual keys including a first virtual key designated to activate, upon selection, a backward-delete function for deleting characters in a first direction and to activate, upon selection, a forward-delete function for deleting characters in a second direction, the first direction and the second direction being opposite to each other;

direction identifier indicia displayed on the first key, the direction identifier indicia configured to indicate the first direction when the backward-delete function is activated, and the second direction when the forward-delete function is activated;

a processor coupled to the display, the processor configured to perform the following steps;

causing the direction identifier indicia to indicate the first direction; and

responsive to receiving a selection of the second function, causing the direction identifier indicia to indicate the second direction.

24. The electronic device of claim 22, wherein the keyboard further comprises a second virtual key associated with the forward-delete function of the first virtual key, the second virtual key being configured to receive a selection of the forward-delete function.

25. The electronic device of claim 22, wherein the keyboard is associated with a keyboard language.

27. The electronic device of claim 22, wherein the first direction and the second direction are selected from a group consisting of left-to-right, right-to-left, top-to-bottom, and bottom-to-top with respect to the display.

28. The electronic device of claim 22, wherein the first direction is a backward direction and the second direction is a forward direction.

29. The electronic device of claim 22, wherein the keyboard is a graphical user interface rendered on a touch-sensitive display of the electronic device.

23. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

30. (canceled)