Graphical text entry wheel

• US 6,011,542 A
• Filed: 02/13/1998
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Durrani, Sulaiman, Karmel, Clay
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US09/023,796
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/164, 345/169, 345/171, 345/172, 345/326, 345/339, 345/333-334, 345/340, 345/348-349, 345/356, 345/113, 345/121, 345/124, 345/125, 345/126, 345/133 , 345/141
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques

Abstract

In accordance with the invention, a graphical text entry system is provided. The graphical text entry system includes a graphical text entry screen, preferably on a small electronic device, and a graphical text entry wheel displayed on the graphical text entry screen. A plurality of characters are positioned on the graphical text entry wheel. The system also includes a pointing device for rotating the graphical text entry wheel to allow a user to select one of the characters on the graphical text entry wheel to be entered. After selection of one or more characters, the graphical text entry system may provide suggested next characters or words to aid in text entry. A method for entering text into an electronic device using the graphical text entry system of the invention is also provided.

Claims

1. A graphical text entry system, comprising:

a graphical text entry screen;

a graphical text entry wheel displayed on said graphical text entry screen;

a plurality of characters positioned on said graphical text entry wheel; and

a pointing device for rotating said graphical text entry wheel, a character selection indicator positioned on said graphical text entry wheel, said pointing device selecting a particular character indicated by said characteor selection indicator,

wherein said plurality of characters are arranged in a particular order on said graphical text entry wheel and said order is rearranged after one or more of said plurality of characters is selected to position most likely next characters to b selected in positions close to said one or more selected characters.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said graphical text entry wheel is depicted in its entirety on said graphical text entry screen.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein only a portion of said graphical text entry wheel is depicted on said graphical text entry screen.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said portion of said graphical text entry wheel is depicted in a lower corner of said graphical text entry screen.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said portion of said graphical text entry wheel is depicted adjacent a top portion of said graphical text entry screen.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said pointing device is operable to rotate said displayed graphical text input wheel.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a suggested text window displayed adjacent said graphical text entry wheel after one or more characters are selected, said suggested text window further comprising at least one suggested character string corresponding to said one or more selected characters.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of graphical text entry wheels;

and wherein said pointing device is operable to perform another predetermined function to shuffle through said plurality of graphical text entry wheels.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein each of said plurality of graphical text entry wheels contains a different set of characters.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said graphical text entry system is included in a hand held electronic device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said hand held electronic device is of a size sufficient to be held and said pointing device operated by a user with the same hand.

12. A method for entering text into an electronic device, comprising the steps of:

displaying a graphical text entry wheel on a graphical text entry screen;

positioning a plurality of characters on said graphical text entry wheel;

rotating said graphical text entry wheel by way of a pointing device; and

selecting at least one of said plurality of characters from said graphical text entry wheel, displaying a desired one of said plurality of characters within a character selection indicator prior to selecting said character with said pointing device,

wherein said plurality of characters are arranged in a particular order on said graphical text entry wheel and said order is rearranged after one or more of said plurality of characters is selected to position most likely next characters to be selected in positions close to said one or more selected characters.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of displaying a suggested text window adjacent said graphical text entry wheel after one or more characters are selected, said suggested text window further comprising at least one suggested character string corresponding to said one or more selected characters.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of performing an additional predetermined function with said pointer to select one of said at least one suggested character string.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of providing a plurality of graphical text entry wheels, each of said graphical text entry wheels containing a different set of characters.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of performing a predetermined function with said pointer to shuffle through and select for display one of said plurality of graphical text entry wheels.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said graphical text entry wheel is displayed in its entirety on said graphical text entry screen.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein only a portion of said graphical text entry wheel is displayed on said graphical text entry screen.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said portion of said graphical text entry wheel is displayed in a lower corner of said graphical text entry screen.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said portion of said graphical text entry wheel is displayed adjacent a top portion of said graphical text entry screen.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein said electronic device is a hand held electronic device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said electronic device is of a size sufficient to be held and said pointing device operated with the same hand of a user, thereby allowing for one handed operation and text entry.

23. A graphical text entry system, comprising:

a graphical text entry screen;

a graphical text entry wheel displayed on said graphical text entry screen;

a plurality of characters positioned on said graphical text entry wheel; and

pointing means for rotating said graphical text entry wheel, character selection indicator means positioned on said graphical text entry wheel, said pointing means being operable to select a character indicated by said character selection indicator means,

wherein said plurality of characters are arranged in a particular order on said graphical text entry wheel and said order is rearranged after one or more of said plurality of characters is selected to position most likely next characters to be selected in positions close to said one or more selected characters.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said pointing means is operable to rotate said displayed graphical text input wheel.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising a suggested text means displayed adjacent said graphical text entry wheel after one or more characters are selected, said suggested text means further comprising at least one suggested character string corresponding to said one or more selected characters.

26. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

a plurality of graphical text entry wheels; and

graphical text entry wheel selection means for shuffling through and selecting for display one of said plurality of graphical text entry wheels.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein each of said plurality of graphical text entry wheels contains a different set of characters.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein said graphical text entry system is included in a hand held electronic device.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said hand held electronic device is of a size sufficient to be held and said pointing device operated by a user with the same hand.