Symbol entry system and methods
First Claim
1. A symbol entry tool for use on a graphical display surface, comprising:
- a symbol chart having a plurality of symbols that can be selected by a user;
the symbols of the chart being arranged to form a plurality of approximately concentric rings around a symbol entry area, extending from an inner ring to an outer ring, wherein less than all of the rings are initially displayed;
a visible focus that is responsive to user commands to move among the symbols;
wherein moving the visible focus from a symbol in one ring to a symbol in a more outward ring causes an additional outward ring to be displayed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A symbol entry system in accordance with the invention includes a graphical display surface, a handheld remote command unit, and a symbol entry tool displayed on the graphical display surface. The symbol entry tool includes a symbol entry region and a symbol chart at least partially surrounding the symbol entry region. The symbol chart shows a plurality of symbols. A visible focus is responsive to commands given by the user through the handheld remote command unit, so that a user can move the focus to a particular symbol in the symbol chart and select such a symbol for entry in the symbol entry region. Only a subset of the symbols are visible on the graphical display surface at any particular time. Generally, the subset includes those symbols nearest the current position of the focus.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A symbol entry tool for use on a graphical display surface, comprising:
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a symbol chart having a plurality of symbols that can be selected by a user; the symbols of the chart being arranged to form a plurality of approximately concentric rings around a symbol entry area, extending from an inner ring to an outer ring, wherein less than all of the rings are initially displayed; a visible focus that is responsive to user commands to move among the symbols; wherein moving the visible focus from a symbol in one ring to a symbol in a more outward ring causes an additional outward ring to be displayed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A symbol entry tool for use on a graphical display surface, comprising:
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a symbol chart having a plurality of symbols that can be selected by a user; the symbols of the chart being arranged to form a plurality of approximately concentric rings around a symbol entry area, the plurality of approximately concentric rings including one innermost ring and one or more outer rings, wherein only those characters coinciding with a wedge-shaped viewport are displayed; a visible focus that is responsive to user commands to move among the symbols; and wherein moving the visible focus from a symbol in one outer ring to a different symbol in the same outer ring causes the viewport to revolve around the symbol entry area in coincidence with the visible focus. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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7. A symbol entry tool for use on a graphical display surface, comprising:
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a symbol chart having a plurality of symbols that can be selected by a user; the symbols of the chart being arranged to form a plurality of approximately concentric rings around a symbol entry area, wherein only those characters coinciding with a wedge-shaped viewport are displayed; a visible focus that is responsive to user commands to move among the symbols; wherein moving the visible focus from a symbol in one ring to a different symbol in the same ring causes the viewport to revolve around the symbol entry area in coincidence with the visible focus; and wherein moving the visible focus from a symbol in one ring to a different symbol in a more outward ring causes the viewport to expand radially.
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8. A symbol entry tool for use on a graphical display surface, comprising:
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a symbol chart having a plurality of symbols that can be selected by a user; the symbols of the chart being arranged to form a plurality of approximately concentric rings around a symbol entry area, wherein only those characters coinciding with a wedge-shaped viewport are displayed; a visible focus that is responsive to user commands to move among the symbols; wherein moving the visible focus from a symbol in one ring to a different symbol in the same ring causes the viewport to revolve around the symbol entry area in coincidence with the visible focus; and wherein moving the visible focus from a symbol in one ring to a different symbol in a more inward ring causes the viewport to contract radially.
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12. A method of symbol selection, comprising the following steps:
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arranging a plurality of symbols around a symbol entry area in a plurality of approximately concentric rings, wherein less than all of the rings are initially displayed; moving a focus among the symbols in response to user commands; displaying an additional outward ring in response to moving the focus from a symbol in one ring to a symbol in a more outward ring. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of symbol selection, comprising:
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arranging a plurality of symbols around a symbol entry area in a plurality of approximately concentric rings, the plurality of approximately concentric rings including one innermost ring and one or more outer rings, wherein less than all of the rings are initially displayed; moving a focus among the symbols in response to user commands; constructing a viewport relative to the symbols; displaying only those symbols coinciding with the viewport; and revolving the viewport around the symbol entry area in response to moving the visible focus from a symbol in one outer ring to a different symbol in the same outer ring. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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20. A method of symbol selection, comprising:
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arranging a plurality of symbols around a symbol entry area in a plurality of approximately concentric rings, wherein less than all of the rings are initially displayed; moving a focus among the symbols in response to user commands; constructing a viewport relative to the symbols; displaying only those symbols coinciding with the viewport; revolving the viewport around the symbol entry area in response to moving the visible focus from a symbol in one ring to a different symbol in the same ring; and expanding the viewport radially in response to moving the visible focus from a symbol in one ring to a different symbol in a more outward ring.
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21. A method of symbol selection, comprising:
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arranging a plurality of symbols around a symbol entry area in a plurality of approximately concentric rings, wherein less than all of the rings are initially displayed; moving a focus among the symbols in response to user commands; constructing a viewport relative to the symbols; displaying only those symbols coinciding with the viewport; revolving the viewport around the symbol entry area in response to moving the visible focus from a symbol in one ring to a different symbol in the same ring; and contracting the viewport radially in response to moving the visible focus from a symbol in one ring to a different symbol in a more inward ring.
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27. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a program comprising the following steps:
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arranging a plurality of symbols around a symbol entry area in a plurality of approximately concentric rings, wherein less than all of the rings are initially displayed; moving a focus among the symbols in response to user commands; constructing a viewport relative to the symbols; displaying only those symbols coinciding with the viewport; revolving the viewport around the symbol entry area in response to moving the visible focus from a symbol in one ring to a different symbol in the same ring; expanding the viewport radially in response to moving the visible focus from a symbol in one ring to a different symbol in a more outward ring; contracting the viewport radially in response to moving the visible focus from a symbol in one ring to a different symbol in a more inward ring. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification