System and method for inputting characters using a directional pad

• US 7,592,998 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2005
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Anson, David Leininger Adolphson
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shapiro; Leonid
• Application Number:
  US11/293,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20060082547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-157, 345/164, 345168-169
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items

Abstract

A system and method for enabling a user to input characters using a directional pad of a computing device. The directional pad is configured to generate directional inputs. The invention creates mappings for the directional inputs where each of the mappings associates at least one of the directional inputs with at least one of the characters. The user may activate one of the mappings by selecting one of the directional inputs. While the mapping is activated, the user may input a character by selecting a directional input associated with that character.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for selecting characters with a directional pad configured to generate directional inputs, the method comprising:

providing ranked character mappings, wherein the ranked character mappings include;

a second highest ranked character mapping including common consonants, a third highest ranked character mapping including semi-common consonants, a fourth highest ranked character mapping including less common consonants, and a lowest ranked character mapping including least common consonants;

providing ranked directional inputs for a base state;

providing a base state for activating the ranked character mappings, wherein an input associated with a ranked character mapping activates the ranked character mapping;

providing a mapping state when the ranked character mapping is activated;

providing ranked characters of the ranked character mappings when the mapping state is activated;

providing ranked directional inputs for the mapping state, wherein an easiest directional input is associated with the highest ranked character; and

reactivating the base state upon selection of a character in the mapping state.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the ranked directional inputs for the mapping state is associated with a group of characters.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a highest ranked character mapping includes vowels.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a visual representation of the mapping state when the mapping state is activated.

5. A computer-readable storage medium having computer executable instructions for selecting characters with a directional pad of a mobile device, the instructions comprising:

providing ranked character sets, wherein the ranked character sets include;

a second highest ranked character set including common consonants, a third highest ranked character set including semi-common consonants, a fourth highest ranked character set including less common consonants, and a lowest ranked character set including least common consonants;

providing ranked inputs for a base state;

displaying a base state for activating the ranked character sets, wherein an input associated with a ranked character set activates the ranked character set;

displaying a mapping state when the ranked character set is activated;

displaying ranked characters of the ranked character set when the mapping state is activated;

providing ranked directional inputs for the mapping state, wherein an easiest input is associated with the highest ranked character; and

redisplaying the base state upon selection of a character in the mapping state.

6. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein at least one of the ranked inputs for the mapping state is associated with a group of characters.

7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein a highest ranked character set includes vowels.

8. A computing device, comprising:

an input pad configured to generate directional inputs;

a character input engine for inputting characters using the directional pad, wherein the character input engine is configured to;

provided ranked character mappings, wherein the ranked character mappings include;

a second highest ranked character mapping including common consonants, a third highest ranked character mapping including semi-common consonants, a fourth highest ranked character mapping including less common consonants, and a lowest ranked character mapping including least common consonants;

provided ranked directional inputs for a base state;

provided a base state for activating the ranked character mappings, wherein an input associated with a ranked character mapping activates the ranked character mapping;

provided a mapping state when the ranked character mapping is activated;

provided ranked characters of the ranked character mappings when the mapping state is activated;

provided ranked directional inputs for the mapping state, wherein an easiest directional input is associated with the highest ranked character; and

reactivate the base state upon selection of a character in the mapping state.