Method and device for inputting text using a touch screen

• US 8,902,179 B1
• Filed: 07/25/2011
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nightmist IP LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Life LABO Corporation
• Inventors: Ota, Tetsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US13/189,774
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 mobile device-implemented method for providing a user of a mobile device having a touch screen a function to input a code into the mobile device among candidate codes, wherein the candidate codes are divided into a plurality of code series, the method comprising: (A) providing in the touch screen a first flick area, which is located in a ⅓ side area at a side of a first lateral side of the touch screen, wherein each of the plurality of code series is associated with a corresponding flick action at the first flick area; (B) providing in the touch screen a second flick area, which is located in a ⅓ side area at a side of a second lateral side of the touch screen; (C) detecting a first flick action at the first flick area to determine the code series; (D) detecting a second flick action at the second flick area. (G) determining a code to be inputted into the mobile device from a combination of the determined code series and the second flick action.

Claims

1. A method for inputting text in a mobile device using a touch screen by inputting a code into the mobile device among candidate codes, wherein the candidate codes are divided into a plurality of code series, the method comprises:

providing in the touch screen at least three first flick areas, which are located in a ⅓

side area at a side of a first lateral side of the touch screen;

providing in the touch screen at least three second flick areas, which are located in a ⅓

side area at a side of a second lateral side of the touch screen at opposite side to the first lateral side,

wherein each of the plurality of code series is associated with one of the flick areas among the first and second flick areas, each of the codes belonging to a code series is associated with a flick action at the flick area, and a plurality of fast moves to different directions at a flick area are respectively associated with the codes associated with the flick area as flick actions at the flick area;

detecting a flick action at one flick area among the first flick areas and the second flick areas; and

determining a code to be inputted into the mobile device from a combination 20 of the flicked flick area and the flick action.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein

there are provided at least five first flick areas located in a ⅓

side area at a side of the first lateral side of the touch screen and at least five second flick areas located in a ⅓

side area at a side of the second lateral side of the touch screen,

wherein each of ten numbers, 0 to 9, is assigned to different one of the first flick areas and the second flick areas.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein

a tap is associated with a code as a flick action.

4. A mobile device having a touch screen and a function to input text by inputting a code into the mobile device among candidate codes, wherein the candidate codes are divided into a plurality of code series, the mobile device includes a program that carries out steps of:

providing in the touch screen at least three first flick areas, which are located in a ⅓

side area at a side of a first lateral side of the touch screen;

providing in the touch screen at least three second flick areas, which are located in a ⅓

side area at a side of a second lateral side of the touch screen at opposite side to the first lateral side,

wherein each of the plurality of code series is associated with one of the flick areas among the first and second flick areas, each of the codes belonging to a code series is associated with a flick action at the flick area, and a plurality of fast moves to different directions at a flick area are respectively associated with the codes associated with the flick area as flick actions at the flick area;

detecting a flick action at one flick area among the first flick areas and the second flick areas; and

determining a code to be inputted into the mobile device from a combination of the flicked flick area and the flick action.

5. The mobile device according to claim 4, wherein

there are provided at least five first flick areas located in a ⅓

side area at a side of the first lateral side of the touch screen and at least five second flick areas located in a ⅓

side area at a side of the second lateral side of the touch screen,

wherein each of ten numbers, 0 to 9, is assigned to different one of the first flick areas and the second flick areas.

6. The mobile device according to claim 4, wherein

a tap is associated with a code as a flick action.

7. The mobile device according to claim 4, wherein

a roughness for informing a location of a flick area to a user is located on the mobile device beside a lateral side of the touch screen.