Character input using multidirectional input device

• US 7,973,762 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2007
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Triggerfinger Software, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Triggerfinger Software, Inc.
• Inventors: Naimo, Douglas Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang; Regina
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sheng; Tom V
• Application Number:
  US11/673,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20070205983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,607 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-167
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0234 using switches operable in different directions

Abstract

Character information is input into a computing device using one or more multidirectional keys, such as an analog stick, a multidirectional button, or a d-pad. The complete collection of desired characters can be divided into character sets. Each of these sets can then be associated with one input value of one of the multidirectional keys, such as, for example, the d-pad. Selecting a value (such as up) then selects one of the character sets. Another multidirectional input device, such as an analog stick, can then be used to choose one of the characters within the chosen character set. The chosen character is then displayed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying a character on a computing device comprising:

registering a first multidirectional key position of a first multidirectional key, the first multidirectional key having at least five possible first multidirectional key positions, wherein the possible first multidirectional key positions comprise a no-button-is-pushed position;

based at least on which of the possible first multidirectional key positions is detected, choosing at least one character set from at least five possible character sets, wherein the no-button-is-pushed position results in choosing from the possible character sets, at least one of the possible character sets has eight or more characters, and the possible first multidirectional key positions correspond to respective of the possible character sets;

registering a second multidirectional key position of a second multidirectional key, the second multidirectional key having at least eight positions, wherein the positions of the second multidirectional key comprise at least one diagonal position;

choosing at least one character from the chosen character set based at least in part on the second multidirectional key position; and

displaying the chosen character on the computing device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second multidirectional key position is registered using an analog stick.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first multidirectional key is one of a d-pad, two or more shoulder buttons, one or more button arrays, one or more multidirectional buttons, or an analog stick.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, after choosing at least one character set from the at least five possible character sets, displaying characters associated with the second multidirectional key positions on the computing device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first multidirectional key positions of the at least five possible character sets are arranged at least in part, to minimize user finger movement when choosing characters that occur with greater frequency.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising at least three multidirectional keys, and wherein the choosing at least one character from the chosen character set based at least in part on the second multidirectional key position further comprises choosing the at least one character from the chosen character set based at least in part on a third key position.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the choosing at least one character from the chosen character set based at least in part on the second multidirectional key position further comprises choosing the at least one character from the chosen character set based at least in part on a state of at least one button separate from the first multidirectional key and the second multidirectional key.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

dividing possible characters into the at least five possible character sets, the at least five possible character sets each comprising multiple characters.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the possible characters comprise an alphabet.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying the character on the computing device comprises writing the character to a file.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying the character on the computing device comprises displaying the character on a game display.

2. One or more computer-readable storage media not consisting of a signal and having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for displaying a character on a computing device comprising:

registering a first multidirectional key position of a first multidirectional key, the first multidirectional key having at least five possible first multidirectional key positions, wherein the possible first multidirectional key positions comprise a no-button-is-pushed position;

based at least on which of the possible first multidirectional key positions is detected, choosing at least one character set from at least five possible character sets, wherein the no-button-is-pushed position results in choosing from the possible character sets, at least one of the possible character sets has eight or more characters, and the possible first multidirectional key positions correspond to respective of the possible character sets;

registering a second multidirectional key position of a second multidirectional key, the second multidirectional key having at least eight positions, wherein the positions of the second multidirectional key comprise at least one diagonal position;

choosing at least one character from the chosen character set based at least in part on the second multidirectional key position; and

displaying the chosen character on the computing device.

13. A computer-implemented system for implementing character entry comprising:

a first multi-choice input mechanism having at least three possible first multidirectional key positions, wherein the possible positions comprise a no-button-is-pushed position;

a second multi-choice input mechanism having at least eight positions, wherein the positions of the second multi-choice input mechanism comprise at least one diagonal position;

a register device for registering that a choice has been registered on the first and second multi-choice input mechanisms; and

a selector which selects a character set out of possible character sets based on a choice registered on the first multi-choice input mechanism, based at least on which of the possible first multidirectional key positions is detected, wherein the no-button-is-pushed position chooses from the possible character sets, and the possible first multidirectional key positions correspond to respective of the possible character sets, and wherein the selector selects a character from the character set based at least on a choice registered on the second multi-choice input mechanism.

14. The computer-implemented system of claim 13 wherein the character represents a phrase.

15. The computer-implemented system of claim 13 further comprising a displayer which displays the character.

16. The computer-implemented system of claim 15 further comprising a second displayer which displays the character.

17. The computer-implemented system of claim 13 further comprising a displayer which displays a phrase associated with the character.

18. The computer-implemented system of claim 13 wherein the first multi-choice input mechanism is one of an array of buttons, a dance pad, a rocker button, a joystick, an analog stick, a paddle, a trackball, a keypad, a motion controller, or a musical instrument.

19. One or more computer-readable storage media not consisting of a signal and having computer-executable instructions for performing a method of selecting a character on a computing device, the method comprising:

registering a first multidirectional key position of a first multidirectional key, the first multidirectional key having at least five possible first multidirectional key positions, wherein the possible first multidirectional key positions comprise four button-is-pushed positions and a no-button-is-pushed position;

based at least on which of the possible first multidirectional key positions is detected, choosing at least one character set from at least five possible character sets, wherein the no-button-is-pushed position chooses from the possible character sets, the possible first multidirectional key positions correspond to respective of the possible character sets, and a single position of the possible first multidirectional key positions is sufficient to select any of the possible character sets;

registering a second multidirectional key position of a second multidirectional key, the second multidirectional key having at least eight positions, wherein at least one of the at least eight positions is a diagonal position;

choosing at least one character from the chosen character set based at least in part on the second multidirectional key position; and

outputting the at least one chosen character on the computing device.

20. The computer-readable storage media not consisting of a signal of claim 19 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a position of a third key; and

selecting from the possible character sets based at least on the position of the third key.

21. The computer-readable storage media not consisting of a signal of claim 19 wherein:

characters of the possible character sets are divided based on frequency of selection.