Handheld electronic device providing feedback to facilitate navigation and the entry of information, and associated method
First Claim
1. A method of facilitating the input of information in a handheld electronic device having a plurality of input elements, comprising:
- receiving a signal indicating that a particular one of said input elements is being touched in a first manner, said particular one of said input elements having a plurality of characters or symbols assigned thereto and having a plurality of feedback signals and a plurality of functions associated therewith, wherein each one of said plurality of feedback signals corresponds to a particular one or more of said plurality of characters or symbols assigned to said particular one of said input elements;
providing a particular feedback signal that identifies at least one of said plurality of characters or symbols of said particular one of said input elements after said signal is received, said particular feedback signal being one of said plurality of feedback signals, said particular feedback signal being chosen based upon a current operating state of said handheld electronic device; and
performing a particular function associated with said particular one of said input elements when said particular one of said input elements is being touched in a second manner, said particular function being one of said plurality of functions, said particular function being determined based upon said current operating state of said handheld electronic device.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of facilitating the input of information in a handheld electronic device having a plurality of input elements such as, without limitation, keys. The method includes receiving a signal indicating that a particular one of the input elements is being touched in a first manner, providing a feedback signal, such as a sound or graphic, that identifies the particular input element after the signal is received, and performing a function associated with the particular input element when it is being touched in a second manner. Also, a handheld electronic device that includes an input apparatus having a plurality of input elements, a processor, and a memory in electronic communication with the processor. The memory stores one or more routines executable by the processor for implementing the method described above.
22 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A method of facilitating the input of information in a handheld electronic device having a plurality of input elements, comprising:
-
receiving a signal indicating that a particular one of said input elements is being touched in a first manner, said particular one of said input elements having a plurality of characters or symbols assigned thereto and having a plurality of feedback signals and a plurality of functions associated therewith, wherein each one of said plurality of feedback signals corresponds to a particular one or more of said plurality of characters or symbols assigned to said particular one of said input elements; providing a particular feedback signal that identifies at least one of said plurality of characters or symbols of said particular one of said input elements after said signal is received, said particular feedback signal being one of said plurality of feedback signals, said particular feedback signal being chosen based upon a current operating state of said handheld electronic device; and performing a particular function associated with said particular one of said input elements when said particular one of said input elements is being touched in a second manner, said particular function being one of said plurality of functions, said particular function being determined based upon said current operating state of said handheld electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A handheld electronic device, comprising:
-
an input apparatus having a plurality of input elements; a processor; and a memory in electronic communication with said processor, said memory storing one or more routines executable by said processor, said one or more routines being adapted to; receive a signal indicating that a particular one of said input elements is being touched in a first manner, said particular one of said input elements having a plurality of characters or symbols assigned thereto and having a plurality of feedback signals and a plurality of functions associated therewith, wherein each one of said plurality of feedback signals corresponds to a particular one or more of said plurality of characters or symbols assigned to said particular one of said input elements; provide a particular feedback signal that identifies at least one of said plurality of characters or symbols of said particular one of said input elements after said signal is received, said particular feedback signal being one of said plurality of feedback signals, said particular feedback signal being chosen based upon a current operating state of said handheld electronic device; and perform a particular function associated with said particular one of said input elements when said particular one of said input elements is being touched in a second manner, said particular function being one of said plurality of functions, said particular function being determined based upon said current operating state of said handheld electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification