Method and apparatus for entering data strings including Hangul (Korean) and ASCII characters

• US 6,760,477 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2001
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ironworks Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ko, Soon
• Primary Examiner(s): Mariam, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/908,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20020080137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 382/180, 382/181, 382/186, 382/187, 382/189, 382/229, 382/282, 382/284, 382/309, 382/310, 382/313, 341/28, 345/141, 345/157, 345/168, 345/171, 345/467, 455/422.1, 715/535, 715/536, 715/540
• US Class Current: 382/185
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/018 Input/output arrangements for oriental characters

Abstract

Described are methods for entering and editing data strings that are inputted into cellular telephones having a screen. In one method, all basic Hangul consonants and some of the compound Hangul consonants are included in a candidate consonant list and all basic Hangul vowels and some of the compound vowels are included in a candidate vowel list. The candidate consonant and vowel lists are alternatively displayed on a component display region (906) located on the screen. For form a Korean character, a user can select consonant(s) and vowel from the candidate consonant and vowel lists. To form a compound Hangul component that is not included in either the candidate consonant list or the candidate vowel list, the user selects a basic Hangul component as a first part of the compound Hangul component from either the candidate consonant list or the candidate vowel list. The user then re-displays the candidate consonant list or the candidate vowel list and selects a basic Hangul component as a second part of the compound Hangul component. A compound Hangul component is formed by combing the two selected basic Hangul components and displayed in a data string display region (904) located on the screen. In another method, a data string can be formed using both Hangul and ASCII characters. In yet another method, a data string can include unusual characters that are invalid to the existing cellular telephone. In still another method, editing can be made at any position of a data string that is inputted to the cellular telephones.

Claims

1. A method for entering a data string including both Hangul and ASCII characters into an electronic device having a screen and key panel, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying at least one Hangul list containing a plurality of Hangul components on a first display region located on the screen;

inputting at least one Hangul character by selecting at least one Hangul component from the list displayed in the first region;

inputting at least one ASCII character by selecting at least one ASCII character from the key panel; and

forming the data string using the inputted Hangul character and the inputted ASCII character.

2. The method of 1, further comprising the step of:

displaying the string of inputs in a second display region located on the screen.

3. The method of 1, further comprising the step of:

storing the string of inputs in a memory device.

4. The method of 1, further comprising the steps of:

displaying the inputted Hangul character in a full-size space in the second display region; and

displaying the inputted ASCII character in a half-size space in the second display region.

5. A method for entering a data string including both Hangul and ASCII characters into an electronic device having a screen and a key panel, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a consonant list containing a plurality of Hangul consonants;

forming a vowel list containing a plurality of Hangul vowels;

displaying the consonant list on a first display region located on the screen;

selecting at least one consonant from the consonant list;

displaying the vowel list on the first display region to replace the consonant list;

selecting at least one vowel from the vowel list;

forming a Hangul character by combining the selected consonant and vowel;

forming at least one ASCII character by selecting the key panel; and

forming the data string using the inputted Hangul character and inputted ASCII character.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising the step of:

displaying the string on a second display region located on the screen.

7. The method of 5, further comprising the step of:

storing the string of inputs in a memory device.

8. The method of 5, further comprising the steps of:

displaying the inputted Hangul character in a full-size space in the second display region; and

displaying the inputted ASCII character in a half-size space in the second display region.

9. An apparatus for entering a data string including both Hangul and ASCII characters into an electronic device having a screen and key panel, the apparatus comprising:

means for displaying at least one Hangul list containing a plurality of Hangul components on a first display region located on the screen;

means for inputting at least one Hangul character by selecting at least one Hangul component from the list;

displayed in the first region;

means for inputting at least one ASCII character by selecting at least one ASCII character from the key panel; and

means for forming the data string using the inputted Hangul character and the inputted ASCII character.

10. The apparatus of 9, further comprising:

means for displaying the string of inputs in a second display region located on the screen.

11. The apparatus of 9, further comprising:

means for storing the string of inputs in a memory device.

12. The apparatus of 9, further comprising:

means for displaying the inputted Hangul character in a full-size space in the second display region; and

means for displaying the inputted ASCII character in a half-size space in the second display region.

13. An apparatus for entering a data string including both Hangul and ASCII characters into an electronic device having a screen and a key panel, the apparatus comprising:

means for forming a consonant list containing a plurality of Hangul consonants;

means for forming a vowel list containing a plurality of Hangul vowels;

means for displaying the consonant list on a first display region located on the screen;

means for selecting at least one consonant from the consonant list;

means for displaying the vowel list on the first display region to replace the consonant list;

means for selecting at least one vowel from the vowel list;

means for forming a Hangul character by combining the selected consonant and vowel;

means for forming at least one ASCII character by selecting the key panel; and

means for forming the data string using the inputted Hangul character and inputted ASCII character.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, comprising:

means for display the string on a second display region located on the screen.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

means for storing the string of inputs in a memory device.

16. The apparatus of 13, further comprising:

means for displaying the inputted Hangul character in a full-size space in the second display region; and

means for displaying the inputted ASCII character in a half-size space in the second display region.

17. A method for entering a Hangul character into an electronic device having a screen, comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of Hangul consonants on a screen;

selecting one of the consonants displayed on the screen;

indicating a completion of the selection; and

forming a Hangul character using the selected consonant.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

displaying the Hangul consonants in a first display region located on the screen, and displaying the formed Hangul character on a second display region located on the screen.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

storing the formed Hangul character into a memory device.

20. A method for entering a Hangul character into an electronic device having a screen, comprising the steps of:

displaying a list including a plurality of Hangul consonants on a screen;

selecting a first consonant from the list;

selecting a second consonant from the list;

indicating a completion of the selections; and

forming a Hangul character using the selected consonants.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of:

displaying the list in a first display region located on the screen, and displaying the formed Hangul character on a second display region located on the screen.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of:

storing the formed, Hangul character into a memory device.

23. A method for entering a Hangul character into an electronic device having a screen comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of Hangul vowels on a screen;

selecting one of the vowels;

indicating a completion of the selection; and

forming a Hangul character using the selected vowel.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of:

displaying the Hangul vowels in a first display region located on the screen, and displaying the formed Hangul character on a second display region located on the screen.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of:

storing the formed Hangul character into a memory device.

26. The method for entering a Hangul character into an electronic device having a screen, comprising the steps of:

displaying a list including a plurality of Hangul vowels on a screen;

selecting a first vowel from the list;

selecting a second vowel from the list;

indicating a completion of the selections; and

forming a Hangul character using the selected vowels.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of:

displaying the list in a first display region located on the screen, and displaying the formed Hangul character on a second display region located on the screen.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of:

storing the formed Hangul character into a memory device.

29. A method for entering a Hangul character into an electronic device having a screen, comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of basic consonants on a screen;

selecting a first basic consonant;

selecting a second basic consonant; and

forming a compound consonant by combining the selected two basic consonants.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of:

displaying the basic consonants in a first display region located on the screen, and displaying the formed compound consonant in a second display region on the screen.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of:

storing the formed compound consonant into a memory device.

32. A method for entering a Hangul character into an electronic device having a screen, comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of basic vowels on a screen;

selecting a first basic vowel;

selecting a second basic vowel; and

forming a compound vowel by combining the selected two basic vowels.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of:

displaying the basic vowels in a first display region located on the screen, and displaying the formed compound vowel in a second display region on the screen.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of:

storing the formed compound vowel into a memory device.

35. An apparatus for entering a Hangul character into an electronic device having a screen, comprising:

means for displaying a plurality of Hangul consonants on a screen;

means for selecting one of the consonants;

means for indicating a completion of the selection; and

means for forming a Hangul character using the selected consonant.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising:

means for displaying the Hangul consonants in a first display region located on the screen, and displaying the formed Hangul character on a second display region located on the screen.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising:

means for storing the formed Hangul character into a memory device.

38. An apparatus for entering a Hangul character into an electronic device having a screen, comprising:

means for displaying on a screen a list including a plurality of Hangul consonants;

means for selecting a first consonant from the list;

means for selecting a second consonant from the list;

means for indicating a completion of the selections; and

means for forming a Hangul character using the selected consonants.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising:

displaying the list in a first display region located on the screen, and displaying the formed Hangul character on a second display region located on the screen.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising:

apparatus for storing the formed Hangul character into a memory device.

41. An apparatus for entering a Hangul character into an electronic device having a screen, comprising:

means for displaying on a screen a plurality of Hangul vowels;

means for selecting one of the vowels;

means for indicating a completion of the selection; and

means for forming a Hangul character using the selected vowel.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising:

means for displaying the Hangul vowels in a first display region located on the screen, and displaying the formed Hangul character on a second display region located on the screen.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising:

means for storing the formed Hangul character into a memory device.

44. An apparatus for entering a Hangul character into an electronic device having a screen, comprising:

means for displaying on a screen a list including a plurality of Hangul vowels;

means for selecting a first vowel from the list;

means for selecting a second vowel from the list;

means for indicating a completion of the selections; and

means for forming a Hangul character using the selected vowels.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising:

means for displaying the list in a first display region located on the screen, and displaying the formed Hangul character on a second display region located on the screen.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising:

means for storing the formed Hangul character into a memory device.

47. An apparatus for entering a Hangul character into an electronic device having a screen, comprising:

means for displaying on a screen a plurality of basic consonants;

means for selecting a first basic consonant;

means for selecting a second basic consonant; and

means for forming a compound consonant by combining the selected two basic consonants.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising:

means for displaying the basic consonants in a first display region located on the screen, and displaying the formed compound consonant in a second display region on the screen.

49. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising:

means for storing the formed compound consonant into a memory device.

50. An apparatus for entering a Hangul character into an electronic device having a screen, comprising:

means for displaying on a screen a plurality of basic vowels;

means for selecting a first basic vowel;

means for selecting a second basic vowel; and

means for forming a compound vowel by combining the selected two basic vowels.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, further comprising:

means for displaying the basic vowels in a first display region located on the screen, and displaying the formed compound vowel in a second display region on the screen.

52. The apparatus of claim 50, further comprising:

means for storing the formed compound vowel into a memory device.

53. A method for editing a data string inputted into a cellular telephone having a screen, comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of Hangul components in a first display region located on the screen;

selecting a set of Hangul components from the first display region;

forming a data string containing a plurality of Hangul characters using the selected Hangul components;

displaying the formed data string in a second display region located on the screen;

locating any one of Hangul characters in the data string displayed in the second display region; and

editing the data string in a position of the located Hangul character without deleting the Hangul characters trailing that position.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the editing includes insertion and deletion.

55. A method for editing a data string inputted into a cellular telephone having a screen, comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of Hangul components in a first display region located on the screen;

setting a plurality of ASCII components on a key panel;

selecting a set of Hangul components from the first display region;

selecting a set of ASCII components from the key panel;

forming a data string containing a plurality of characters using the selected Hangul and ASCII components;

displaying the formed data string in a second display region located on the screen;

locating any one of characters in the data string displayed in the second display region; and

editing the data sting in a position of the located character without deleting the characters trailing that position.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the editing includes insertion and deletion.

57. An apparatus for editing a data string inputted into a cellular telephone having a screen, comprising:

means for displaying a plurality of Hangul components in a first display region located on the screen;

means for selecting a set of Hangul components from the first display region;

means for forming a data string containing a plurality of Hangul characters using the selected Hangul components;

means for displaying the formed data string in a second display region located on the screen;

means for locating any one of Hangul characters in the data string displayed in the second display region; and

means for editing the data string in a position of the located Hangul character without deleting the Hangul characters trailing that position.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the editing includes insertion and deletion.

59. An apparatus for editing a data string inputted into a cellular telephone having a screen, comprising:

means for displaying a plurality of Hangul components in a first display region located on the screen;

means for setting a plurality of ASCII components on a key panel;

means for selecting a set of Hangul components from the first display region;

means for selecting a set of ASCII components from the key panel;

means for forming a data string containing a plurality of characters using the selected Hangul and ASCII components;

means for displaying the formed data string in a second display region located on the screen;

means for locating any one of characters in the data string displayed in the second display region; and

means for editing the data string in a position of the located character without deleting the characters trailing that position.

60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the editing includes insertion and deletion.