Multi-tap keyboard user interface

• US 7,684,821 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Vuong, Thanh, Mousseau, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Pérez-Gutiérrez; Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Arevalo; Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/235,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20070072647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,638 Days
• Field of Search: 455/557, 455/556.2, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/525, 455/566, 455/158.5, 455/550, 455/466, 455/556, 455/158, 455/433.01, 455/564, 455/456, 379/433.01, 710/67, 376/46
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27457 Management thereof, e.g. manual editing of data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72481 for visually impaired users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/18 including more than one keyboard unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57
• 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

There is provided a multi-tap keyboard user interface with auditory feedback. In one embodiment, there is provided a method for controlling operation of a mobile device having a plurality of input devices, comprising associating groups of one or more keys of the input devices to define at least one input region and in response to an input received from said input devices, performing an associated action for operating the device, responding equally to any input from a same input region. A repeated input (multi-tap) to a same input region cycles through a plurality of actions associated with the input region. Auditory feedback comprising a vocalized description of the action is provided. The multi-tap keyboard user interface with auditory feedback may adapt a mobile device (e.g. PDA or smart phone) for use by visually impaired users.

Claims

1. A method for dialing a destination using a mobile device comprising a plurality of input devices comprising a plurality of keys providing respective different inputs in accordance with a first user interface, the method comprising:

(i) associating groups of one or more keys of a mobile device to define a plurality of input regions, at least three of said input regions having a plurality of keys, whereby a keying from any key of a same input region defines a same input;

(ii) associating auditory responses and actions for operating the device to respective inputs receivable from input devices of the mobile device including the keys of the at least one input region in accordance with a second user interface, at least a one of the input regions associated with actions to input a character from a respective set of characters for composing a destination for inputting into the device such that repeating an input from a same input region selects a different character from the respective set and at least one of the input regions comprising a plurality of keys associated with a null action to define a dead input region to separate at least some of the other input regions associated to respective actions for dialing a destination; and

(iii) for each input received from said input devices, performing the respective action and outputting the respective auditory response associated with each input thereby to dial a destination

wherein at least one of the actions comprises repeating at least steps (ii) and (iii) thereby to associate different auditory responses and actions with the inputs receivable for subsequent operation of the mobile device and further wherein a one of the at least one of the actions initiates a dialing function to recall a destination stored for subsequent dialing thereby to associate the input regions with said different auditory responses and actions to input a reference to recall the destination for dialing.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the characters for composing a dialing destination comprise 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, #, and * allocated among the respective sets associated with respective input regions.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein respective inputs from one or more of the input devices are associated with at least one of:

an action to select a current action from a plurality of actions;

an action to confirm a current action; and

an action to cancel a current action.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a one of the at least one of the actions initiates a dialing function to store a destination for subsequent dialing thereby to associate the input regions with said different auditory responses and actions to input a reference to store the destination for dialing.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said repeating defines a first and a second input region for inputting respective portions of the reference to store the destination.

6. A mobile device comprising:

a communication system for transmitting and receiving communications via a communication network;

a processor coupled to the communication system for communications;

a plurality of input devices comprising a plurality of keys providing respective different inputs in accordance with a first user interface; and

memory coupled to the processor for storing instructions to configure the processor to control operation of the mobile device via the plurality of input devices, the instructions configuring the processor to;

(i)associate groups of one or more keys of said input devices to define a plurality of input regions, at least three of said input regions having a plurality of keys, whereby a keying from any key of a same input region defines a same input;

(ii) associate auditory responses and actions for operating the device to respective inputs receivable from input devices of the mobile device including the keys of the at least one input region in accordance with a second user interface, at least a one of the input regions associated with actions to input a character from a respective set of characters for composing a destination for inputting into the device such that repeating an input from a same input region selects a different character from the respective set and at least one of the input regions comprising a plurality of keys associated with a null action to define a dead input region to separate at least some of the other input regions associated to respective actions for dialing a destination; and

(iii) for each input received from said input devices, performing the respective action and outputting the respective auditory response associated with each input thereby to dial a destination,

wherein at least one of the actions comprises repeating at least steps (ii) and (iii) thereby to associate different auditory responses and actions with the inputs receivable for subsequent operation of the mobile device and further wherein a one of the at least one of the actions initiates a dialing function to recall a destination stored for subsequent dialing thereby to associate the input regions with said different auditory responses and actions to input a reference to recall the destination for dialing.

7. A computer readable memory storing instructions and data for configuring a processor of a mobile device, when executed, to control operation of the mobile device via a plurality of input devices comprising a plurality of keys providing respective different inputs to the mobile device in accordance with a first user interface, the instructions configuring the processor to:

(i) associate groups of one or more keys of said input devices to define a plurality of input regions, at least three of said input regions having a plurality of keys, whereby a keying from any key of a same input region defines a same input;

(ii) associate auditory responses and actions for operating the device to respective inputs receivable from input devices of the mobile device including the keys of the at least one input region in accordance with a second user interface, at least a one of the input regions associated with actions to input a character from a respective set of characters for composing a destination for inputting into the device such that repeating an input from a same input region selects a different character from the respective set and at least one of the input regions comprising a plurality of keys associated with a null action to define a dead input region to separate at least some of the other input regions associated to respective actions for dialing a destination; and

(iii) for each input received from said input devices, performing the respective action and outputting the respective auditory response associated with each input thereby to dial a destination, wherein at least one of the actions comprises repeating at least steps (ii) and (iii) thereby to associate different auditory responses and actions with the inputs receivable for subsequent operation of the mobile device and further wherein a one of the at least one of the actions initiates a dialing function to recall a destination stored for subsequent dialing thereby to associate the input regions with said different auditory responses and actions to input a reference to recall the destination for dialing.