Full alphanumeric character set entry from a very limited number of key buttons
First Claim
1. A machine-user interface, comprising:
- a matrix-reduction selection keypad with corresponding user pushbuttons representing "up", "right", "down", "left", and "middle";
an alphanumeric display proximate to the matrix-reduction selection keypad and providing for the display of a first two-dimensional matrix of individual characters;
a selection indication connected to the alphanumeric display for highlighting a second two-dimensional matrix of individual characters that is a subset of said first two-dimensional matrix of individual characters; and
a processor connected to the alphanumeric display and the matrix-reduction selection keypad, and programmed to generate a screen display of said first and second two-dimensional matrices of individual characters;
wherein, the matrix-reduction selection keypad is recursively used to reduce said first two-dimensional matrices of individual characters to said second two-dimensional matrices of individual characters, and if such is not a 1×
1 matrix with a single member, then further to an nth subset of two-dimensional matrices of individual characters, and said user pushbuttons representing "up", "right", "down", "left", and "middle" are used to select a next succeeding subset from its parent subset.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A graphical machine-user interface includes a processor connected to a display screen to generate a screen display of individual items in groups together with the selector indication. The processor and a display screen are used to advantage to provide a rich keyboard function from a very limited set of pushbuttons. For example, five pushbuttons indicating "up", "right", "down", "left", and "middle" are recursively used to reduce a large two-dimensional matrix of item choices presented on the display to some subset, e.g., a top, right, bottom, left, or middle subset. If the reduction results in a choice of one, then that item is selected and output automatically. If the reduction results in a subset with more than one item, then a recursive process is used in which the selection process is repeated until the selected subset is reduced to a single item.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A machine-user interface, comprising:
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a matrix-reduction selection keypad with corresponding user pushbuttons representing "up", "right", "down", "left", and "middle"; an alphanumeric display proximate to the matrix-reduction selection keypad and providing for the display of a first two-dimensional matrix of individual characters; a selection indication connected to the alphanumeric display for highlighting a second two-dimensional matrix of individual characters that is a subset of said first two-dimensional matrix of individual characters; and a processor connected to the alphanumeric display and the matrix-reduction selection keypad, and programmed to generate a screen display of said first and second two-dimensional matrices of individual characters; wherein, the matrix-reduction selection keypad is recursively used to reduce said first two-dimensional matrices of individual characters to said second two-dimensional matrices of individual characters, and if such is not a 1×
1 matrix with a single member, then further to an nth subset of two-dimensional matrices of individual characters, and said user pushbuttons representing "up", "right", "down", "left", and "middle" are used to select a next succeeding subset from its parent subset. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A machine-user interface, comprising:
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a matrix-reduction selection keypad with corresponding user pushbuttons; an alphanumeric display proximate to the matrix-reduction selection keypad and providing for the display of a first three-dimensional matrix of individual characters; a selection indication connected to the alphanumeric display for highlighting a second three-dimensional matrix of individual characters that is a subset of said first three-dimensional matrix of individual characters; and a processor connected to the alphanumeric display and the matrix-reduction selection keypad, and programmed to generate a screen display of said first and second three-dimensional matrices of individual characters; wherein, the matrix-reduction selection keypad is recursively used to reduce said first three-dimensional matrices of individual characters to said second three-dimensional matrices of individual characters, and if such is not a 1×
1 matrix with a single member, then further to an nth subset of three-dimensional matrices of individual characters, and said user pushbuttons are used to select a next succeeding volume subset from its parent volume subset. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification