Device, methods, and user interface for providing optimized entry of alphanumeric text

• US 9,792,041 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2015
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Toebes, John A., Slain, Ilya N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Brandon
• Application Number:
  US14/611,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20150149949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237

Abstract

The present invention includes a device, method, and user interface for providing optimized entry of alphanumeric text. In one form, a method for providing selectable characters within a user interface includes determining an operating mode of a communication device and receiving an input associated with a selected input key. The method determines a group of characters associated with the selected key based on the operating mode and displays the group of characters within the user interface. The user interface may display a first character of the group of characters within a first portion of the user interface and the group of characters proximal to the first character within a second portion of the user interface.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a first key selection;

determining a context of the first key selection;

selecting a group of characters based on the determined context and associated with the first key selection;

selecting a display mode based on the determined context, wherein the display mode corresponds to an orientation of the group of characters; and

displaying the group of characters based on the selected display mode within a first portion of a user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the context is a communication mode.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the communication mode is a mode accessing a uniform resource locator (URL); and

the group of characters based on the determined context is associated with a URL communication address.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second key selection, the second key selection associated with the displayed group of characters;

determining a second context of the second key selection, the second context being different than the context of the first key selection;

selecting a second group of characters based on the second determined context and associated with the second key selection; and

displaying the second group of characters.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the group of characters displayed within a first portion is only a first portion of the group of characters.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining an amount of time that has elapsed since the first key selection; and

when the amount of time is greater than a time-out period, automatically displaying a second portion of the group of characters.

7. A user interface, comprising:

a processor operable to;

receive a first key selection;

determine a context of the first key selection; and

select a group of characters based on the determined context and associated with the first key selection;

select a display mode based on the determined context, wherein the display mode corresponds to an orientation of the group of characters; and

a first display portion configured to display the group of characters based on the selected display mode within a first portion of the user interface.

8. The user interface of claim 7, wherein the context is a communication mode.

9. The user interface of claim 8, wherein:

the communication mode is a mode accessing a uniform resource locator (URL); and

the group of characters based on the determined context is associated with a URL communication address.

10. The user of interface of claim 7, wherein:

the processor is further operable to;

receive a second key selection, the second key selection associated with the displayed group of characters;

determine a second context of the second key selection, the second context being different than the context of the first key selection; and

select a second group of characters based on the second determined context and associated with the second key selection; and

the first display portion is further configured to display the second group of characters.

11. The user interface of claim 7, wherein the group of characters displayed within a first portion is only a first portion of the group of characters.

12. The user interface claim 11, wherein:

the processor is further operable to determine an amount of time that has elapsed since the first key selection; and

the first display portion is further configured to automatically display a second portion of the group of characters when the amount of time is greater than a time-out period.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising logic, the logic, when executed by a processor, operable to:

receive a first key selection;

determine a context of the first key selection;

select a group of characters based on the determined context and associated with the first key selection;

select a display mode based on the determined context, wherein the display mode corresponds to an orientation of the group of characters; and

display the group of characters based on the selected display mode within a first portion of a user interface.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the context is a communication mode.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein:

the communication mode is a mode accessing a uniform resource locator (URL); and

the group of characters based on the determined context is associated with a URL communication address.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the logic is further operable to:

receive a second key selection, the second key selection associated with the displayed group of characters;

determine a second context of the second key selection, the second context being different than the context of the first key selection;

select a second group of characters based on the second determined context and associated with the second key selection; and

display the second group of characters.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the group of characters displayed within a first portion is only a first portion of the group of characters;

and

the logic is further operable to;

determine an amount of time that has elapsed since the first key selection; and

automatically display a second portion of the group of characters when the amount of time is greater than a time-out period.