Handheld electronic device including auto completion of punctuation in numerical entry, and associated method

• US 9,075,450 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• 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): STORK, KYLE R
• Application Number:
  US13/436,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20120182221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 715/234, 715/243, 715/254, 715/255, 715/261
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/027 for insertion of the decimal point
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs

Abstract

The disclosed and claimed concept describes a handheld electronic device that has the capability to automatically prefer a preferred punctuation arrangement in response to determining whether a first output has a predetermined characteristic.

Claims

1. A method of enabling input on a handheld electronic device, said handheld electronic device including an input apparatus and an output apparatus, said input apparatus having a plurality of input keys, said method comprising:

detecting as an alphanumeric input a first number of input key selections;

detecting as a punctuation input a second number of input key selections, wherein the punctuation input generates a punctuation mark different from the second number of input key selections;

determining whether said alphanumeric input comprises a numerical value;

responsive to said determination that said alphanumeric input comprises a numerical value, selecting as a preferred punctuation arrangement a predetermined punctuation arrangement from among a plurality of punctuation arrangements that correspond with said punctuation input, wherein the preferred punctuation arrangement includes the numerical value adjacent the punctuation mark; and

outputting said punctuation input in accordance with said predetermined punctuation arrangement.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising identifying as said preferred punctuation arrangement a decimal symbol.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising outputting a period as the decimal symbol.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising detecting at least one of a selectable geographic location of use and an actual geographic location of use as being European and, responsive thereto, identifying as said preferred punctuation arrangement a comma.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising identifying as said preferred punctuation arrangement a period followed by at least a first space.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

prior to detecting said alphanumeric input, detecting as an initial input a selection of a number of input keys;

responsive to said detecting an initial input, generating an initial output; and

making as a portion of said determination, a determination that said initial output comprises a currency symbol.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an operative language on said handheld electronic device; and

making another determination that said operative language is a non-English convention.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising responsive to said making another determination, identifying as said preferred punctuation arrangement a comma.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising making as said another determination a determination that said operative language is Spanish.

10. A handheld electronic device, comprising:

a keyboard having a plurality of input keys;

a display;

a processor apparatus comprising a processor and a memory in electronic communication with one another, said processor apparatus having stored therein a number of routines which, when executed on the processor, cause the handheld electronic device to perform operations comprising;

detecting as an alphanumeric input a first number of input key selections;

detecting as a punctuation input a second number of second input key selections, wherein the punctuation input generates a punctuation mark different from the second number of input key selections;

determining whether said alphanumeric input comprises a numerical value;

responsive to said determination that said alphanumeric input comprises a numerical value, selecting as a preferred punctuation arrangement a predetermined punctuation arrangement from among a plurality of punctuation arrangements that correspond with said punctuation input, wherein the preferred punctuation arrangement includes the numerical value adjacent the punctuation mark; and

outputting said punctuation input in accordance with said predetermined punctuation arrangement.

11. The handheld electronic device according to claim 10, wherein said preferred punctuation arrangement is a decimal symbol.

12. The handheld electronic device according to claim 10, wherein said preferred punctuation arrangement is a period.

13. The handheld electronic device according to claim 10, wherein said number of routines cause the handheld electronic device to perform operations further comprising detecting at least one of a selectable geographic location of use and an actual geographic location of use as being European and, responsive thereto, identifying as said preferred punctuation a comma.

14. The handheld electronic device according to claim 10, wherein said preferred punctuation arrangement comprises a period followed by at least a first space.

15. The handheld electronic device according to claim 10, wherein said number of routines causes the handheld electronic device to perform operations further comprising:

prior to detecting said alphanumeric input, detecting as an initial input a selection of a number of input keys;

responsive to said detecting as an initial input, generating an initial output; and

making as a portion of said determination, a determination that said initial output comprises a currency symbol.

16. The handheld electronic device according to claim 10, wherein said number of routines causes the handheld electronic device to perform operations further comprising:

detecting an operative language on said handheld electronic device; and

making another determination that said operative language is a non-English convention.

17. The handheld electronic device according to claim 16, wherein said preferred punctuation arrangement is a comma.

18. The handheld electronic device according to claim 17, wherein said operative language is Spanish.