TEXT SELECTION USING A TOUCH SENSITIVE SCREEN OF A HANDHELD MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE
First Claim
1. A method for accommodating character or text selection by a user on a touch screen of a handheld electronic device where displayed characters available for selection are small enough that user contact with the touch screen when making a character selection is capable of overlapping a plurality of simultaneously displayed characters, said method comprising:
- displaying text on a touch screen of a handheld electronic device in which selectable characters are smaller than an area of user contact with the screen, said display of text constituting an original display configuration;
detecting that a first area of the touch screen has been user contacted, said first area encompassing a plurality of characters of which at least two have been partially covered by the user'"'"'s contact with the touch screen;
displaying an expanded view of the first area that has been expanded to an extent that each of the at least two partially covered characters is individually sufficiently large that only one of said at least two characters can be predominantly covered by similar user contact with the touch screen;
detecting a first character from the at least two characters that is being selected in the first expanded view by being predominantly covered by said similar user contact with the touch screen in said expanded view; and
resuming the original display configuration of the text with the first character that has been detected as being user selected in the first expanded view being signified.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method is disclosed that provides for character or text selection and editing. The text and character selection is made by user contact with a touch sensitive screen. In order to allow for refinement of the selection, a second expanded view is implemented as compared to the original display configuration of the screen. Furthermore, the selection is described in relation to two endpoints of the block of text. Additionally, a point is specified as the point desired for insertion of the selected text. The expanded view is implemented along with the original view as required when making character selection.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for accommodating character or text selection by a user on a touch screen of a handheld electronic device where displayed characters available for selection are small enough that user contact with the touch screen when making a character selection is capable of overlapping a plurality of simultaneously displayed characters, said method comprising:
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displaying text on a touch screen of a handheld electronic device in which selectable characters are smaller than an area of user contact with the screen, said display of text constituting an original display configuration; detecting that a first area of the touch screen has been user contacted, said first area encompassing a plurality of characters of which at least two have been partially covered by the user'"'"'s contact with the touch screen; displaying an expanded view of the first area that has been expanded to an extent that each of the at least two partially covered characters is individually sufficiently large that only one of said at least two characters can be predominantly covered by similar user contact with the touch screen; detecting a first character from the at least two characters that is being selected in the first expanded view by being predominantly covered by said similar user contact with the touch screen in said expanded view; and resuming the original display configuration of the text with the first character that has been detected as being user selected in the first expanded view being signified. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A handheld electronic device capable of displaying characters for user selection and in which the displayed characters are small enough that user contact with the touch screen can overlap a plurality of simultaneously displayed characters, said handheld electronic device comprising:
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a body; a touch screen mounted within the body, wherein said touch screen is arranged to display text in an original display configuration with selectable characters that are smaller than an area of user contact with the screen; a microprocessor in signal communication with said touch screen for receiving data indicative of a sensed location and area of user contact and for transmitting data to said touch screen indicative of characters to be displayed on the touch screen; and a microprocessor-run software program that is programmed to; assess a first area of the touch screen that has been user contacted and wherein said first area encompasses a plurality of characters of which at least two have been partially covered by the user'"'"'s contact with the touch screen; present on the touch screen an expanded view of the first area that has been expanded to an extent that each of the at least two partially covered characters is individually sufficiently large that only one of said at least two characters can be predominantly covered by similar user contact with the touch screen; determine a first character from the at least two characters that is user selected in the first expanded view by being predominantly covered by similar contact with the touch screen in the expanded view; and display text in the original display configuration on the touch screen the first character signified that has been determined as being user selected in the first expanded view. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21-23. -23. (canceled)
Specification