Data entry apparatus having a limited number of character keys and method
First Claim
1. In a data entry apparatus having a graphical user interface, a n-gram database and a keypad having a limited number of character keys, a method comprising:
- assigning letters to the character keys on the keypad in a sequential order;
receiving a first character key from the keypad;
displaying a first set of characters associated with the first character key;
receiving a second character key from the keypad, wherein a second set of characters is associated with the second character key;
combining each character from the first set of characters with each character from the second set of characters;
displaying a set of alternative n-grams, derived from the step of combining, in descending order based on a probability of frequency of use in a given language;
detecting that an n-gram is actively highlighted;
locking the n-gram that was actively highlighted to create a locked n-gram; and
varying a character associated with subsequent character key entries in its combination with respect to the locked n-gram.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data entry apparatus (10) receives a first character key from a keypad (12). A set of characters associated with the first character key is displayed. A second character key from the keypad (12) is received, wherein a second set of characters is associated with the second character key. A character from the first set of characters is combined with a character from the second set of characters. A set of alternative n-grams is displayed, derived from the step of combining, in descending order based on a probability of frequency of use in a given language. When an alternative n-gram is detected as being actively highlighted, the n-gram is locked to create a locked n-gram and characters associated with subsequent character keys vary in their combinations with respect to the locked n-gram.
482 Citations
29 Claims
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1. In a data entry apparatus having a graphical user interface, a n-gram database and a keypad having a limited number of character keys, a method comprising:
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assigning letters to the character keys on the keypad in a sequential order;
receiving a first character key from the keypad;
displaying a first set of characters associated with the first character key;
receiving a second character key from the keypad, wherein a second set of characters is associated with the second character key;
combining each character from the first set of characters with each character from the second set of characters;
displaying a set of alternative n-grams, derived from the step of combining, in descending order based on a probability of frequency of use in a given language;
detecting that an n-gram is actively highlighted;
locking the n-gram that was actively highlighted to create a locked n-gram; and
varying a character associated with subsequent character key entries in its combination with respect to the locked n-gram. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
means for allowing a user to delete characters from an actively highlighted n-gram to create an amended n-gram; and
processing the amended n-gram as the locked n-gram.
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3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein a character is one of the following:
- an alphabet character, an ideographic character, a numeric character and a punctuation character.
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4. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising moving a selected n-gram to a position of a text buffer cursor in a message body area when a select key is received.
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5. A method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising removing the set of alternative n-grams after entering the selected n-gram into the message body area.
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6. A method in accordance with claim 5 further comprising displaying a new set of alternative n-grams after receiving a further character entry.
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7. A method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising activating a default setting, where when activated, inserts a blank space after the selected n-gram is entered into the message body area.
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8. A method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising a further default setting, where when activated, deletes the blank space when a next character entry into the message body area is a punctuation mark.
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9. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising activating a default setting, where when activated, displays a first character of each alternative n-gram in the set of alternative n-grams in uppercase and displays subsequent characters of each alternative n-gram in lowercase, when starting a new sentence.
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10. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:
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receiving a function key prior to receiving the first character key; and
displaying an icon indicating that a first character corresponding to the first character key will be displayed in uppercase and subsequent characters corresponding to subsequent character keys will be displayed in lower case.
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11. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:
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receiving a function key prior to receiving the first character key; and
displaying an icon indicating that characters of alternative n-gram in the set of alternative n-gram will be displayed in uppercase.
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12. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising providing graphical feedback on the graphical user interface when toggling between uppercase alphabetic characters, lowercase alphabetic characters, a combination of uppercase and lowercase alphabetic characters and numeric characters.
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13. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising providing graphical feedback on the graphical user interface when an input error occurs.
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14. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising providing auditory feedback when an input error occurs.
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15. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising providing graphical feedback on the graphical user interface when selecting an alternative n-gram.
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16. A method in accordance to claim 1 further comprising providing graphical feedback on the graphical user interface when there are additional alternative n-grams not currently displayed on the graphical user interface.
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17. A method in accordance to claim 1 further comprising providing graphical feedback on the graphical user interface when there are additional lines of text not currently displayed on the graphical user interface.
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18. In a data entry apparatus having a graphical user interface, a n-gram database and a keypad having a limited number of character keys, a method comprising:
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assigning letters to the character keys on the keypad in a layout found on standard telephone keypads;
receiving a first character key from the keypad;
displaying a first set of characters associated with the first character key;
receiving a second character key from the keypad, wherein a second set of characters is associated with the second character key;
combining a character from the first set of characters with a character from the second set of characters;
displaying a set of alternative n-grams, derived from the step of combining, in descending order based on a probability of frequency of use in a given language;
detecting that an n-gram is actively highlighted;
receiving a third character key from the keypad; and
displaying an updated set of alternative n-grams wherein a left-most portion of each alternative n-gram in the updated set begins with the n-gram that was actively highlighted, and varying only a combination of characters associated with the third character key with respect to the left-most portion.
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19. In a data entry apparatus having a graphical user interface, a n-gram database and a keypad having a limited number of character keys, a method comprising:
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assigning letters to the character keys on the keypad in a sequential order;
receiving a predetermined number of character keys from the keypad;
displaying a set of characters associated with a character key received, wherein this step of displaying combines a character associated with a most recently received character key with characters associated with previous character keys to create a set of alternative n-grams; and
providing graphical feedback in connection with an alternative n-gram to suggest availability of various completions for the alternative n-gram. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A data entry apparatus having a limited number of character keys comprising:
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a keypad having a set of character keys wherein each character key represents a plurality of characters and wherein the plurality of characters is in a sequential order;
a display having a character display area and a character entry cursor;
a disambiguation engine selecting, for a character key received, a character most likely to be represented by that character key, and selectively changing, for a previous character key, a character most likely to be represented by the previous character key;
a text entry mode of operation in which activation of a sequence of character keys causes generation and display of sequential characters at the character entry cursor; and
an editing mode of operation in which a text editing cursor is displayed with the sequential characters, wherein the text editing cursor delineates locked characters from non-locked characters within a continuous character string, such that further activation of character keys causes generation and display of new characters selected by the disambiguation engine at the character entry cursor within the non-locked characters and such that automatic changing of locked characters by the disambiguation engine is suppressed. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A storage medium having stored thereon a set of instructions which, when loaded into a microprocessor, causes the microprocessor to perform the following functions:
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receive a first character key from a keypad, the keypad comprising a plurality of character keys wherein each character key is assigned a plurality of letters in a sequential order;
display a first set of characters associated with the first character key;
receive a second character key from the keypad, wherein a second set of characters is associated with the second character key;
combine a character from the first set of characters with a character from the second set of characters;
display a set of alternative n-grams, derived from the step of combining, in descending order based on a probability of frequency of use in a given language;
detect that an alternative n-gram is actively highlighted;
locking the alternative n-gram that was actively highlighted to create a locked n-gram; and
varying characters associated with subsequent character keys in their combinations with respect to the locked n-gram.
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Specification