Communication terminal having a predictive editor application

• US 6,542,170 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2000
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Williams, Stephen, Svensson, Henrik Brun
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Muhebbullah, Sajeda
• Application Number:
  US09/507,971
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 345/816, 345/853, 345/854, 345/739, 345/783, 345/741, 345/745, 345/847
• US Class Current: 715/816
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27463 Predictive input, predictive dialling by comparing the dialled sequence with the content of a telephone directory
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237

Abstract

A communication terminal having a display; a keypad having a plurality of keys associated with several letters each; and a processor controlling the display in accordance with the operation of the keypad. The processor runs a predictive editor program for generating an output containing a word matching a received string of ambiguous key strokes. Furthermore an editor application is controlled by the processor for editing a text based on the predictive editor program'"'"'s interpretation of key strokes received from the editor application. The editor application stores a list of matching words received from the predictive editor program, at least a part of the text string is displayed in the display. The keypad includes at least one softkey whose functionality is displayed in the display and controlled by the processor. When the editor program runs out of possible word matches to the received key stroke string, the processor changes the functionality of the at least one softkey to a short cut to another editor application for inputting word based upon unambiguous key strokes.

Claims

1. A communication terminal having:

a display;

a keypad having a plurality of keys associated with several letters each;

processor means controlling the display means in accordance with the operation of the keypad;

a predictive editor program for generating an output containing words matching a received string of ambiguous key strokes;

an editor application controlled by the processor means for editing a text based on the predictive editor program'"'"'s interpretation of key strokes received from the editor application, and comprising means for storing a list of matching words received from said predictive editor program, at least a part of said text string is displayed in the display;

said keypad includes at least one softkey whose functionality is displayed in the display and controlled by the processor means; and

when said editor program runs out of possible word matches to the received key stroke string, said processor means automatically without user intervention, changes the functionality of said at least one softkey to a short cut to another editor application for inputting word based upon unambiguous key strokes.

2. A communication terminal according to claim 1 wherein an input display of another editor application will be displayed when said softkey has been pressed.

3. A communication terminal according to claim 2 wherein the input display of the another editor application has a text entry box, and said text entry box is cleared when entering the other editor application.

4. A communication terminal according to claim 1 wherein said processor means in said other editor application sets the functionality of said at least one softkey acceptance of the entered word, whereby the word is inserted in the text string handled by the editor application using the predictive editor program.

5. A method for switching between editor programs in a communications terminal comprising:

using a predictive editor program to generate an output containing words matching an inputted string of ambiguous key strokes;

using an initial editor application to edit a text based on the interpretation by the predictive editor program of the key strokes inputted to the editor application, wherein at least a portion of a text string is displayed on a display; and

automatically, without user intervention, changing a functionality of a softkey to a short-cut to another editor application when the editor application cannot match a word to the key strokes inputted, the another editor application enabling an input of words based upon unambiguous key strokes.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising automatically, without user intervention reverting back to the initial editor application after a word is accepted by the another editor application, and changing the functionality of the soft-key back to a default function.