Device, methods, and user interface for providing optimized entry of alphanumeric text

• US 7,603,142 B1
• Filed: 04/08/2005
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Toebes, John A., Slain, Ilya N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller; Brandon J
• Application Number:
  US11/101,918
• Time in Patent Office: 1,649 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/556.1, 455/466, 455/566, 455/564, 345/157, 345/171, 345/169, 345/168, 345/172
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• 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

The present invention includes a device, method, and user interface for providing optimized entry of alphanumeric text. In one form, a method for providing selectable characters within a user interface includes determining an operating mode of a communication device and receiving an input associated with a selected input key. The method determines a group of characters associated with the selected key based on the operating mode and displays the group of characters within the user interface. The user interface may display a first character of the group of characters within a first portion of the user interface and the group of characters proximal to the first character within a second portion of the user interface.

Claims

1. A method for providing selectable characters within a user interface comprising:

receiving a first input associated with a selected key;

determining a group of characters associated with the selected key, in response to the first input;

displaying the group of characters associated with the selected key within a first portion of a user interface, wherein a first character of the group of characters is highlighted;

while displaying the group of characters within the first portion of the user interface, displaying the first character within a second portion of the user interface;

receiving a second input associated with the selected key subsequent to displaying the first character within the second portion of the user interface;

highlighting, in the first portion of the user interface, a second character of the group of characters, in response to the second input; and

while highlighting the second character in the first portion of the user interface, displaying the second character within the second portion of the user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring an amount of time that has elapsed since receiving an input associated with the selected key; and

entering a character that is currently displayed in the second display portion if the amount of time that has elapsed is at least as great as a time-out period.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining a period of time associated with the time-out period based on user-interaction with the user interface.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining the period of time associated with the time-out period based on an average time-interval between successive key selections for a user of the user interface.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising updating the time-out period based on subsequent user-interaction with the user interface.

6. A communications device comprising:

means for receiving a first input associated with a selected key;

means for determining a group of characters associated with the selected key, in response to the first input;

means for displaying the group of characters associated with the selected key within a first portion of a user interface, wherein a first character of the group of characters is highlighted;

means for displaying the first character within a second portion of the user interface, while displaying the group of characters within the first portion of the user interface;

means for receiving a second input associated with the selected key subsequent to displaying the first character within the second portion of the user interface;

means for highlighting, in the first portion of the user interface, a second character of the group of characters, in response to the second input; and

means for displaying the second character within the second portion of the user interface, while highlighting the second character in the first portion of the user interface.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

means for measuring an amount of time that has elapsed since receiving an input associated with the selected key; and

means for entering a character that is currently displayed in the second display portion if the amount of time that has elapsed is at least as great as a time-out period.

8. The communications device of claim 7, further comprising means for determining a period of time associated with the time-out period based on user-interaction with the user interface.

9. The communications device of claim 8, further comprising means for determining the period of time associated with the time-out period based on an average time-interval between successive key selections for a user of the communication device.

10. The communications device of claim 8, further comprising means for updating the time-out period based on subsequent user-interaction with the user interface.