Method and system for rendering diacritic characters

• US 8,902,170 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2012
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Pasquero, Jerome, McKenzie, Donald Somerset
• Primary Examiner(s): DANIELSEN, NATHAN ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US13/485,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20130321280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/168, 345/169, 345171-173, 345467-469, 715810-816, 715/864
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A method and system for enabling input of diacritic characters on a handheld electronic device. The method includes detecting an input associated with a selected key and determining a likelihood that the input reflects selection of a diacritic character. The time after which the set of possible diacritic characters that are utilized is rendered in response to a selected key being engaged in a press-and-hold operation is based on the determined likelihood.

Claims

1. A method of enabling input on a handheld electronic device comprising:

detecting an input associated with a selected key;

determining a likelihood that the input reflects selection of a diacritic character from a set of one or more diacritic characters associated with the selected key;

rendering the set of the one or more diacritic characters when the likelihood meets or exceeds a threshold value following expiration of a first period of time that the selected key is engaged in a press-and-hold operation; and

rendering the set of the one or more diacritic characters when the likelihood is below the threshold value following expiration of a second period of time longer than the first period of time, that the selected key is engaged in a press-and-hold operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second period of time is a function of the determined likelihood.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the likelihood is determined based on a probability calculation utilizing all of possible diacritic characters that are associated with the selected key.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first period of time is less than half the second period of time.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a language for the input prior to the step of determining the likelihood whether the input reflects selection of the diacritic character.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of determining the likelihood that the input reflects selection of the diacritic character is one of;

based on the language, includes utilizing a dictionary stored by the handheld electronic device that corresponds to the language, or includes utilizing a language rule set handheld electronic device that corresponds to the language.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of detecting the language comprises one of;

detecting a selection of a predetermined language by a user of the handheld electronic device, analyzing a metadata of a message previously received by the handheld electronic device, or analyzing heuristically a message previously received by the handheld electronic device.

8. A handheld electronic device comprising:

one or more input members that are capable of being actuated;

a processor;

a memory in electronic communication with the processor, the memory storing one or more routines executable by the processor, the one or more routines being adapted to;

detect an input associated with a selected key;

determine a likelihood that the input reflects selection of a diacritic character from a set of one or more diacritic characters associated with the selected key;

render a set of the one or more diacritic characters when the likelihood meets or exceeds a threshold value following expiration of a first period of time that the selected key is engaged in a press-and-hold operation; and

render the set of the one or more diacritic characters when the likelihood is below the threshold value following expiration of a second period of time longer than the first period of time, that the selected key is engaged in a press-and-hold operation.

9. The handheld device of claim 8, wherein the second period of time is a function of the determined likelihood.

10. The handheld device of claim 8, wherein the likelihood is determined based on a probability calculation that utilizes all of possible diacritic characters that are associated with the selected key.

11. The handheld device of claim 8, wherein the first period of time is less than half the second period of time.

12. The handheld device of claim 8, wherein the one or more routines are further adapted to detect a language for the input prior to the step of determining the likelihood whether the input reflects selection of a diacritic character.

13. The handheld device of claim 12, wherein the determination of the likelihood that the inputs reflects selection of a diacritic character is on one of;

based on the language, utilizes a dictionary stored by said handheld electronic device that corresponds to the language, or utilizes a language rule set handheld electronic device that corresponds to the language.

14. The handheld device of claim 12, wherein the language detection comprises one of;

detect a selection of a predetermined language by a user of the handheld electronic device, analyze a metadata of a message previously received by the handheld electronic device, or analyze heuristically a message previously received by the handheld electronic device.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, when executed by a computing device, cause the device to:

detect an input associated with a selected key;

determine a likelihood that the input reflects selection of a diacritic character from a set of one or more diacritic characters associated with the selected key;

render a set of the one or more diacritic characters when the likelihood meets or exceeds a threshold value following expiration of a first period of time that the selected key is engaged in a press-and-hold operation; and

render the set of the one or more diacritic characters when the likelihood is below the threshold value following expiration of a second period of time longer than the first period of time, that the selected key is engaged in a press-and-hold operation.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the second period of time is a function of the determined likelihood.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the likelihood is determined based on a probability calculation that utilizes all of possible diacritic characters that are associated with the selected key.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the first period of time is less than half the second period of time.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more routines are further adapted to detect a language for the input prior to the step of determining the likelihood whether the input reflects selection of a diacritic character.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the determination of the likelihood that the input reflects selection of the diacritic character is one of;

based on the language, utilizes a dictionary stored by said handheld electronic device that corresponds to the language, or utilizes a language rule set handheld electronic device that corresponds to the language.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the language detection comprises one of;

detect a selection of a predetermined language by a user of the handheld electronic device, analyze a metadata of a message previously received by the handheld electronic device, or analyze heuristically a message previously received by the handheld electronic device.