Switching between input modes in a limited input device

• US 7,973,764 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jong Hwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdulselam; Abbas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bolotin; Dmitriy
• Application Number:
  US11/445,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20060290660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,859 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184, 455/565, 455/566, 715/203, 715/223, 715/226, 715/708, 715/810, 715/864
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• 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 is directed to a method for switching a data entry mode, when editing data displayed on a limited input device. The method comprises evaluating a first input point, in relation to a second input point, positioned in an input window of the limited input device, wherein the first point is associated with a first data entry mode and the second input point is associated with a second data entry mode.

Claims

1. A method for modifying attributes of characters in text displayed on a touch screen of a device, the method comprising:

displaying an input table according to a first character attribute at the touch screen;

determining that an input point in the text is repositioned from a first location to a second location, wherein the first location is associated with the first character attribute, and wherein the second location is designated according to a portion of the touch screen touched by a user;

identifying a second character attribute associated with a character located next to the second location and further associated with a character located next to a space character if the character located next to the second location is the space character;

controlling an enlarging or highlighting of a display of the character located next to the second location or the character located next to the space character and associated with the second character attribute, wherein the display of the character located next to the second location or the character located next to the space character is enlarged or highlighted different than a display of all other characters displayed on the touch screen;

changing, independent of operation by the user, a character attribute associated with the second location to match the second character attribute; and

changing, independent of the operation by the user, the input table displayed on the touch screen according to the changed character attribute associated with the second location,

wherein the second character attribute comprises a code including a most significant bit (MSB), and

wherein identifying the second character attribute comprises;

identifying the character located next to the second location or the character located next to the space character as a figure, an English upper-case letter, or an English lower-case letter if the MSB of the code of the second character attribute has a first value; and

identifying the character located next to the second location or the character located next to the space character as a non-English character if the MSB of the code of the second character attribute has a second value.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising illustrating the input point using a cursor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the changed character attribute associated with the second location is alphabetic.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the changed character attribute associated with the second location is numeric.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the changed character attribute associated with the second location is a symbol.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the changed character attribute associated with the second location is a style of the character located next to the second location or the character located next to the space character.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the changed character attribute associated with the second location is a font of the character located next to the second location or the character located next to the space character.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the changed character attribute associated with the second location is a color of the character located next to the second location or the character located next to the space character.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a mobile communication unit.

10. A device comprising:

a touch screen for displaying text and an input point within the text and for generating a signal in response to a user inputting a character; and

a control unit for;

controlling the touch screen to display an input table according to a first character attribute;

determining that the input point within the text is repositioned from a first location to a second location, wherein the first location is associated with the first character attribute and the second location is designated according to a portion of the touch screen touched by the user;

identifying a second character attribute associated with a character located next to the second location and further associated with a character located next to a space character if the character located next to the second location is the space character;

controlling the touch screen to enlarge or highlight a display of the character located next to the second location or the character located next to the space character and associated with the second character attribute, wherein the display of the character located next to the second location or the character located next to the space character is enlarged or highlighted different than a display of all other characters displayed on the touch screen;

changing, independent of operation by a user, a character attribute associated with the second location to match the second character attribute; and

controlling the touch screen, independent of the operation by the user, to change the displayed input table according to the changed character attribute associated with the second location,

wherein the second character attribute comprises a code including a most significant bit (MSB), and

wherein the control unit identifies the second character attribute by;

identifying the character located next to the second location or the character located next to the space character as a figure, an English upper-case letter, or an English lowercase letter if the MSB of the code of the second character attribute has a first value; and

identifying the character located next to the second location or the character located next to the space character as a non-English character if the MSB of the code of the second character attribute has a second value.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the changed character attribute associated with the second location is a style of the character located next to the second location or the character located next to the space character.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the changed character attribute associated with the second location is a font of the character located next to the second location or the character located next to the space character.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the changed character attribute associated with the second location is a color of the character located next to the second location or the character located next to the space character.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the second character attribute is alphabetic and the first character attribute is non-alphanumeric.

15. A computing device readable medium comprising executable logic code embedded therein, wherein execution of the logic code by a controller of a device causes the controller to:

control a touch screen to display an input table according to a first character attribute;

determine that an input point in text displayed on the touch screen is repositioned from a first location to a second location, wherein the first location is associated with the first character attribute and the second location is designated according to a portion of the touch screen touched by a user;

identify a second character attribute associated with a character located next to the second location and further associated with a character located next to a space character if the character located next to the second location is the space character;

control the touch screen to enlarge or highlight a display of the character located next to the second location or the character located next to the space character and associated with the second character attribute, wherein the display of the character located next to the second location or the character located next to the space character is enlarged or highlighted different than a display of all other characters displayed on the touch screen;

change, independent of operation by the user, a character attribute associated with the second location to match the second character attribute; and

control the touch screen, independent of the operation by the user, to change the displayed input table according to the changed character attribute associated with the second location,

wherein the second character attribute comprises a code including a most significant bit (MSB), and

wherein the controller identifies the second character attribute by;

identifying the character located next to the second location or the character located next to the space character as a figure, an English upper-case letter, or an English lowercase letter if the MSB of the code of the second character attribute has a first value; and

identifying the character located next to the second location or the character located next to the space character as a non-English character if the MSB of the code of the second character attribute has a second value.