Method and device for operating a user-input area on an electronic display device

• US 20050022130A1
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conversant Wireless Licensing S.à.r.l. (f/k/a Core Wireless Licensing S.a.r.l.) (MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management))
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Fabritius, Henna
• Granted Patent: US 7,584,429 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/739
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/387 using human interaction, e.g. selection of the best displayed recognition candidate

Abstract

There is disclosed a method and a device for inputting a character into an electronic device, said method comprising detecting an input, activating a temporary input area upon detection of said input, displaying said temporary input area on a display of said electronic device, and terminating the display and deactivating said temporary input area in case that a relevant event is detected. The relevant event may be another user-input.

Claims

1. Method for inputting a character into an electronic device, said method comprising:

detecting an input,

activating a temporary input area upon detection of said input,

displaying said temporary input area on a display of said electronic device, and

terminating the display and deactivating said temporary input area in case that a relevant event is detected.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said electronic device is a touch screen device and said display is a touch screen display.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that said temporary input area is displayed on a touch screen and that said temporary input area is configured for a user-input via said touch screen display.

4. Method according to claim 1, characterized by outputting an audio signal that is related to said displaying of said temporary input area on a display of said electronic device.

5. Method according to claim 1, further comprising:

depicting a scroll bar and a button for a search option on said display in an area that is normally reserved for a scroll bar, wherein the detection of said input for activating said temporary input area is performed by detecting an input on said search option.

6. Method according to claim 5, further comprising

depicting a scrollbar on said display, wherein said button for a search option is depicted adjacent to said scroll bar.

7. Method according to claim 5, further comprising:

detecting if a keyboard is connected to said device and suppressing the display of said button for a search option, if a keyboard is connected.

8. Method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a user-input related to said depicted temporary input area,

recognizing said user-input, and

executing an action related to said recognized user-input.

9. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said temporary input area has handwriting recognition capabilities.

10. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said temporary input area comprises the depiction of a number of selectable user-input options.

11. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said temporary input area is displayed in a semi-transparent manner superimposed on a standard display area.

12. Computer program product comprising program code means stored on a computer readable medium for carrying out the method of claim 1, when said program product is run on a computer or network device.

13. Computer program product comprising program code, downloadable from a server for carrying out the method of claim 1, when said program product is run on a computer or network device.

14. Computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing a program that instructs a computer to perform the method of claim 1.

15. Electronic device comprising:

a central processing unit,

a display connected to said central processing unit, said display being configured to act as an interface between said central processing unit and a user, and

input means to perform an input,

detecting means for detecting said input and to activate a temporary input area upon detection of said input,

wherein said display is adapted to display said temporary input area,

wherein said detecting means is adapted to detect a user-input related to said temporary input area,

recognizing means for recognizing said user-input,

executing means for executing an action related to said user-input,

wherein said display of the temporary input area is terminated and said temporary input area is deactivated in case that a relevant event is detected.

16. Electronic device according to claim 15, characterized in that said display and said input means to perform an input are comprised by said touch screen display.

17. Electronic device according to claim 15, characterized in that said electronic device is configured to

depict a scroll bar on said display.

18. Electronic device according to claim 15, characterized in that said electronic device is configured to

depict a button for a search option on said display, wherein the detection of an input for activating said temporary input area is performed by detecting an input on said button.

19. Electronic device according to claim 15, characterized in that said electronic device is configured to

depict said scroll bar and said button for a search option on said display in the area that is normally reserved for a scroll bar button.

20. Electronic device according to claim 18, characterized in that said electronic device is configured to

depict said button for a search option adjacent and under said scroll bar on said display.

21. Electronic device according to claim 15, characterized in that said electronic device is configured to

display said temporary input area on said display in a semi-transparent manner superimposed on the standard display area.

22. Electronic device according to claim 15, characterized in that said electronic device is a keypad less electronic device.

23. Electronic device according to claim 15, further comprising an audio signal transducer connected to said central processing unit for outputting an audio signal being related to said temporary input area.