Handheld electronic device having multiple-axis input device, selectable language indicator, and menus for language selection, and associated method

• US 8,667,391 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Scott, Sherryl Lee Lorraine
• Primary Examiner(s): Hillery, Nathan
• Application Number:
  US11/831,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20080114587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,408 Days
• Field of Search: 715/268
• US Class Current: 715/268
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs

Abstract

A method of enabling input into a handheld electronic device comprises detecting as an ambiguous input an actuation of one or more input members, employing an operative input method language to output a number of objects that are selectable and that each comprise at least a portion of a language object that corresponds with the ambiguous input, outputting at a location adjacent the number of objects an indicator representative of the operative input method language, detecting an input from a multiple-axis input device as being a selection input with respect to the indicator and, responsive thereto, outputting a menu of input method languages selectable as alternate operative input method languages.

Claims

1. A method of enabling input into a handheld electronic device having a touch screen display, a processor, and having available therein a plurality of input method languages and a text disambiguation function that is structured to employ an operative one of the input method languages, the method comprising:

detecting, as a first input from the touch screen display, selection of at least one linguistic element;

outputting a first plurality of selectable language objects that correspond with the first input and associated with an operative input method language;

outputting, at a location adjacent the first plurality of selectable language objects, a selectable indicator representative of the operative input method language;

detecting as a second input, from the touch screen display concurrently displaying the first plurality of selectable language objects, selection of the selectable indicator;

outputting a set of input method languages selectable as alternate operative input method languages based on the detection of the second input

detecting an additional input as being a selection of an alternate input method language from the set of input method languages, wherein the additional input is from the touch screen display, which concurrently displays the first plurality of selectable language objects; and

replacing the first plurality of selectable language objects with a second plurality of selectable language objects associated with the alternate input method language.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting the first plurality of selectable language objects towards a first end of a window on the touch screen display and outputting the selectable indicator towards a second end of the window.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an additional input from the touch screen display as being a selection of a language object from the first plurality of selectable language objects; and

outputting the selected language object as a text component.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting an additional input as being a selection input of an alternative input method language from the set of input method languages and, responsive thereto, employing the alternate input method language as the operative input method language.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting the set of input method languages within a popup window adjacent the indicator.

6. A handheld electronic device, comprising;

a touch screen display; and

a processor apparatus comprising a processor and a memory having stored therein a plurality of input method languages and a text disambiguation function structured to employ one of the input method languages, the memory having stored therein a number of routines which, when executed on the processor, cause the handheld electronic device to perform operation comprising;

detecting as a first input from the touch screen display selection of at least one linguistic element;

outputting a first plurality of selectable language objects that correspond with the first input and associated with an operative input method language;

outputting at a location adjacent the first plurality of selectable language objects, a selectable indicator representative of the operative input method language;

detecting as a second input, from the touch screen display concurrently displaying the first plurality of selectable language objects, selection of the selectable indicator;

outputting a set of input method languages selectable as alternate operative input method languages based on the detection of the second input

detecting an additional input as being a selection of an alternate input method language from the set of input method languages, wherein the operations further comprise detecting the additional input from the touch screen display which concurrently displays the first plurality of selectable language objects; and

replacing the first plurality of selectable language objects with a second plurality of selectable language objects associated with the alternate input method language.

7. The handheld electronic device of claim 6 wherein the operations further comprise outputting the first plurality of selectable language objects towards a first end of a window on the touch screen display and outputting the selectable indicator towards a second end of the window.

8. The handheld electronic device of claim 6 wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting a further input from the touch screen display as being a selection of a language object from the first plurality of selectable language objects; and

outputting the selected language object as a text component.

9. The handheld electronic device of claim 6 wherein the operations further comprise detecting an additional input from as being a selection input of an alternative input method language from the set of input method languages and, responsive thereto, employing the alternate input method language as the operative input method language.

10. The handheld electronic device of claim 6 wherein the operations further comprise outputting the set of input method languages within a popup window adjacent the indicator.