Multi-tap keyboard user interface

• US 8,346,297 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2010
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Vuong, Thanh, Mousseau, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Arevalo, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US12/692,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20100120469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 379/433.07, 379/355.01, 379/100.14, 379/202.01, 379/216.01, 455/566, 455/575.1, 455/466, 345/172, 345/168, 345/173
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation

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 dialling a destination comprising the steps of:

associating groups of more than one input key and buttons of a mobile device to define at least one input region whereby a keying from any key of a same input region defines a same input;

associating auditory responses and actions for operating the mobile device to respective inputs received from input keys and buttons of the mobile device comprising the keys of the at least one input region, at least 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 of characters associated to that input region; and

for each input received from said input keys and buttons, 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 the steps of associating auditory responses and performing the respective action thereby to associate different auditory responses and actions with the inputs received for subsequent operation of the mobile device; and

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.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the characters for composing a dialling 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 keys and buttons 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 one of the at least one of the actions initiates a dialling function to recall a destination stored for subsequent dialling thereby to associate the input regions with said different auditory responses and actions to input a reference to recall the destination for dialling.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said repeating defines a first and a second input region for inputting respective portions of the reference to store the destination.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein at least three input regions are defined such that at least two of the input regions are active input regions associated to respective actions and one of the at least three input regions is associated to a null action to define a dead zone among the active input regions.

7. 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; and

a memory coupled to the processor and having instructions thereon for execution by the processor for controlling the operation of the mobile device via a plurality of input keys and buttons, the instructions adapting the mobile device to;

associate groups of more than one input key and buttons of a mobile device to define at least one input region whereby a keying from any key of a same input region defines a same input;

associate auditory responses and actions for operating the mobile device to respective inputs received from input keys and buttons of the mobile device comprising the keys of the at least one input region, at least 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 of characters associated to that input region; and

for each input received from said input keys and buttons, perform the respective action and output the respective auditory response associated with each input thereby to dial a destination;

wherein at least one of the actions comprises repeating at least the steps of associating auditory responses and performing the respective action thereby to associate different auditory responses and actions with the inputs received for subsequent operation of the mobile device; and

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.

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

9. The mobile device of claim 7 wherein respective inputs from one or more of the input keys and buttons 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.

10. The mobile device of claim 7 wherein one of the at least one of the actions initiates a dialling 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 dialling.

11. The mobile device of claim 7 wherein said repeating defines a first and a second input region for inputting respective portions of the reference to store the destination.

12. The mobile device of claim 7 wherein at least three input regions are defined such that at least two of the input regions are active input regions associated to respective actions and one of the at least three input regions is associated to a null action to define a dead zone among the active input regions.

13. A Non-transitory computer program product for controlling operation of a mobile device having a plurality of input keys and buttons, the computer program product comprising a memory storing program code to configure a processor of the mobile device to control operation of the mobile device for dialling a destination characterized by comprising the steps of:

associating groups of more than one input key and buttons of a mobile device to define at least one input region whereby a keying from any key of a same input region defines a same input;

associating auditory responses and actions for operating the mobile device to respective inputs received from input keys and buttons of the mobile device comprising the keys of the at least one input region, at least 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 of characters associated to that input region; and

for each input received from said input keys and buttons, 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 the steps of associating auditory responses and performing the respective action thereby to associate different auditory responses and actions with the inputs received for subsequent operation of the mobile device; and

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.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the characters for composing a dialling destination comprise 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, #, and * allocated among the respective sets associated with respective input regions.

15. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein respective inputs from one or more of the input keys and buttons 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.

16. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein one of the at least one of the actions initiates a dialling function to recall a destination stored for subsequent dialling thereby to associate the input regions with said different auditory responses and actions to input a reference to recall the destination for dialling.

17. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein said repeating defines a first and a second input region for inputting respective portions of the reference to store the destination.

18. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein at least three input regions are defined such that at least two of the input regions are active input regions associated to respective actions and one of the at least three input regions is associated to a null action to define a dead zone among the active input regions.