Rapid entry of data and information on a reduced size input area
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device for use in inputting a set of characters, comprising:
- a first set of control input mechanisms each of which has one first character displayed thereon and each of which first character is associated with a respective subset of more than one character, wherein the first characters of said first set of control input mechanisms are from an ordered set of characters, and wherein each said respective subset of characters is from the same ordered set of characters, and wherein the first character is the first character in each respective ordered subset associated with such first character and wherein the character in each respective subset of characters is also from the ordered set of characters;
multiple subsets of secondary input mechanisms, each of which is comprised of more than one secondary input mechanism, wherein each of said multiple subsets of said secondary input mechanisms is associated with a respective control input mechanism of said first set, wherein each of said secondary input mechanisms represents a single character from the ordered set of characters in said respective subset of characters for data entry of said single character, and wherein a respective set of more than one of said secondary input mechanisms is displayable in response to selection of one of said control input mechanisms;
a display area for display of a user-selectable character associated with each of said selected control input mechanisms and said secondary input mechanisms, wherein the totality of characters of said first set and said multiple subsets are not displayable on said display area at any one time, and wherein in response to selecting one of said control input mechanisms said subset of characters appears on said display area; and
an input source for user selection of anyone of said control input mechanisms and anyone of said secondary input mechanisms.
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Abstract
A method and device designed to improve the speed, accuracy, and ease of entry of characters and other symbols by a user. The device is designed to use a reduced size input area as an input source and optionally as a display screen. A set of characters or other symbols is divided into subsets, each subset being represented by a control button for display on the reduced size input area for user selection. A user'"'"'s selection of a control button produces a secondary set of buttons representing the characters or other symbols in the selected subset for user selection, storage, and display.
111 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A device for use in inputting a set of characters, comprising:
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a first set of control input mechanisms each of which has one first character displayed thereon and each of which first character is associated with a respective subset of more than one character, wherein the first characters of said first set of control input mechanisms are from an ordered set of characters, and wherein each said respective subset of characters is from the same ordered set of characters, and wherein the first character is the first character in each respective ordered subset associated with such first character and wherein the character in each respective subset of characters is also from the ordered set of characters; multiple subsets of secondary input mechanisms, each of which is comprised of more than one secondary input mechanism, wherein each of said multiple subsets of said secondary input mechanisms is associated with a respective control input mechanism of said first set, wherein each of said secondary input mechanisms represents a single character from the ordered set of characters in said respective subset of characters for data entry of said single character, and wherein a respective set of more than one of said secondary input mechanisms is displayable in response to selection of one of said control input mechanisms; a display area for display of a user-selectable character associated with each of said selected control input mechanisms and said secondary input mechanisms, wherein the totality of characters of said first set and said multiple subsets are not displayable on said display area at any one time, and wherein in response to selecting one of said control input mechanisms said subset of characters appears on said display area; and an input source for user selection of anyone of said control input mechanisms and anyone of said secondary input mechanisms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer readable medium having instructions stored therein which when executed causes the following steps to be performed on a device having an input source with a display:
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displaying a plurality of control buttons on the display of the input source of the device, wherein each control button has one first character displayed thereon initially and each of which is associated with a respective subset of more than one character, wherein the first characters of said plurality of control buttons are from an ordered set of characters; receiving a user selection of one of said control buttons from the display of the input source; in response to receiving a user selection of one of said control buttons, displaying on the input source a subset of secondary data entry buttons each of which represents a respective character of the subset associated with the one of the selected control buttons, wherein each respective subset of characters comprises an ordered set of characters; receiving a user selection of one of said secondary data entry buttons from the input source; displaying the character represented by said selected secondary data entry button on the display; and wherein the instructions do not allow displaying all of the control buttons and the secondary data entry buttons at any one time. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification