Method and apparatus for discoverable input of symbols on a reduced keypad

• US 7,761,175 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2001
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eatoni Ergonomics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Eatoni Ergonomics Incorporated
• Inventors: Jones, Terence, Gutowitz, Howard Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Shechtman; Sean P
• Application Number:
  US10/415,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20040056844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,218 Days
• Field of Search: 710/1, 710/62, 710/67, 710/73, 345/156, 345/168, 345/169, 345/170, 345/172, 700/49, 700/84, 700/90, 341/23, 708/144, 708/145, 400/472, 379/915
• US Class Current: 700/84
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

We discovered that a) a single key can support a multiplicity of ordered groups, b) only a subset of each group needs to be visually represented on the face of a key, c) either multi-tap or predictive methods, or both, can be used to input members of each of the groups, and d) auxiliary keys are a convenient, effective and user-discoverable method to select ordered groups, and to perform the multi-tap function. The objects of: limiting multi-tap depth, reducing keystrokes per symbol, unifying focus, increasing discoverability, graduated discoverability, power, compact presentation, and seamless integration of multi-tap and predictive text methods, can all be achieved by exploiting these discoveries.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the input of symbols, comprising:

a plurality of keys for inputting symbols, said plurality of keys having both;

a) a digit, and

b) at least one punctuation symbol assigned to the keys,

said keys characterized in that, for each key having a digit and a punctuation symbol assigned to it;

the punctuation symbols and digits are overlapped in fonts and the at least one punctuation symbol associated with the key is morphically similar to the digit assigned to the key, wherein the at least one punctuation symbol is assigned to the key based upon at least the punctuation symbol being morphically similar to the digit assigned to the key, such that;

the punctuation symbol and digit occupy substantially the same keypad surface real estate when the punctuation symbols and digits are overlapped in fonts, wherein said at least one punctuation symbol and said digit being presented at a same time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises at least one key that inputs a set of said symbols comprising:

a digit correlated to a number “

1”

, and

wherein said punctuation symbol is an exclamation point.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises at least one key that inputs a set of said symbols comprising:

a digit correlated to a digit “

2”

, and

wherein said punctuation symbol is a question mark.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises at least one key that inputs a set of said symbols comprising:

a digit correlated to a number “

3”

, and

wherein said punctuation symbol is a percent sign.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises at least one key that inputs a set of said symbols comprising:

a digit correlated to a number “

4”

, and

wherein said punctuation symbol is an underscore.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises at least one key that inputs a set of said symbols comprising:

a digit correlated to a number “

5”

, and

wherein said punctuation symbol is a hyphen.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises at least one key that inputs a set of said symbols comprising:

a digit correlated to a number “

6”

, and

wherein said punctuation symbol is a left parenthesis.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises at least one key that inputs a set of said symbols comprising:

a digit correlated to a number “

7”

, and

wherein said punctuation symbol is a slash.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises at least one key that inputs a set of said symbols comprising:

a digit correlated to a number “

8”

, and

wherein said punctuation symbol is a colon.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises at least one key that inputs a set of said symbols comprising:

a digit correlated to a number “

9”

, and

wherein said punctuation is a right parenthesis.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises at least one key that inputs a set of said symbols comprising:

a digit correlated to a number “

0”

, and

wherein said punctuation symbol is an “

at”

sign.

12. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein each digit has an outer outline,

said apparatus having:

a) a visual label identifying said digit; and

b) a label identifying said punctuation symbol as being assigned to said key,

said respective labels simultaneously displaying said punctuation symbol which is superimposed substantially within said outer outline of said digit.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

an illumination apparatus effective to highlight one of;

said punctuation label, and

said digit label

as substantially superimposed.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one said key of said plurality of said keys is a multiple-ordered-group key to which multiple ordered groups of symbols have been assigned, said apparatus further comprising:

an iterator key, engaged with said at least one multiple-ordered-group key, to select members of said ordered groups for input and presentation to the user, consecutively in an order,

wherein said order of symbols of each of said ordered groups that are assigned to any given of said ordered groups of said multiple-ordered group key is fixed independently of the actuation of any other multiple-ordered-group keys, and

wherein said orders of said ordered groups of symbols assigned to said given multiple-ordered-group key are independent of said orders of said ordered groups assigned to other multiple-ordered-group keys

such that actuation of said iterator key to advance symbols assigned to said given multiple-ordered group key advances symbols assigned to said same multiple-ordered-group keys.

15. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein a plurality of said keys having:

a) a digit and

b) a morphically similar punctuation symbol

assigned to them have;

said digit and said punctuation symbol simultaneously displayed,

with said punctuation symbol overlapped with its associated digit.

16. The Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one punctuation symbol being assigned to the key based upon at least the punctuation symbol being morphically similar to the digit assigned to the key, is a visually morphically similar type of morphic similarity, wherein said visually similar type of morphic similarity is a non-functional type of morphic similarity.