Hand-held electronic device

• US 9,703,390 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2013
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Major, Harry R., Dunk, Craig, Brown, Michael, Lang, Jerome, Lazaridis, Mihal, Griffin, Jason T., Holmes, John A., Little, Herb A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ma, Calvin C
• Application Number:
  US13/926,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20130285918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 345326, 345168, 703 22, 707517, 341 22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1664 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs

Abstract

A hand-held electronic device with a keyboard, thumbwheel, display and associated software is optimized for use of the device with the thumbs. The associated software has a plurality of features to optimize efficient use of the limited keyboard space and encourage the use of the device by thumb-based data entry through the thumbwheel and/or through a combination of minimal number of keystrokes. Software features include international character scrolling, and auto-capitalization. The keys on the device keyboard are optimally shaped and configured for thumb-based input. In addition, the thumbwheel is inclined between the front and a side edge of the device so as to be reachable by either the thumb or index finger of the user'"'"'s hand at the side edge of the device.

Claims

1. A method performed by a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving a first set of characters and displaying the first set of characters, wherein a last character of the first set of characters is not a period, and the first set of characters is received through a keyboard including a plurality of keys with each key representing a single letter;

in response to receiving a space twice in succession following the last character of the first set of characters and without receiving a period character as the last character of the first set of characters, displaying a period after the last character of the first set of characters and displaying at least a space after the period, wherein no character in the first set of characters is replaced with another character when the period is displayed after the last character of the first set of characters; and

receiving a second set of characters through the keyboard and displaying the second set of characters after the displayed period and after the displayed space following the displayed period, wherein a first character of the second set of characters is automatically capitalized.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first set of characters is part of a first sentence.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second set of characters comprises a second sentence.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein receiving the first set of characters comprises:

receiving a first input reflecting a selection of one or more input elements of the keyboard of the mobile device.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein receiving the second set of characters comprises:

receiving a second input reflecting a selection of one or more input elements of the keyboard of the mobile device.

6. A mobile device comprising:

a display;

a memory for storing instructions; and

at least one processor for executing the stored instructions to;

receive a first set of characters and display the first set of characters, wherein a last character of the first set of characters is not a period, and the first set of characters is received through a keyboard including a plurality of keys with each key representing a single letter;

in response to receiving a space twice in succession following the last character of the first set of characters and without receiving a period character as the last character of the first set of characters, display a period after the last character of the first set of characters and display at least a space after the period, wherein no character in the first set of characters is replaced with another character when the period is displayed after the last character of the first set of characters; and

receive a second set of characters through the keyboard and display the second set of characters after the displayed period and after the displayed space following the displayed period, wherein a first character of the second set of characters is automatically capitalized.

7. A mobile device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the first set of characters is part of a first sentence.

8. A mobile device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the second set of characters comprises a second sentence.

9. A mobile device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the processor executes instructions to receive the first set of characters by receiving a first input reflecting a selection of one or more input elements of the keyboard of the mobile device.

10. A mobile device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the processor executes instructions to receive the second set of characters by receiving a second input reflecting a selection of one or more input elements of the keyboard of the mobile device.

11. A mobile device comprising a display for displaying a user interface, the user interface configured to:

receive a first set of characters and displaying the first set of characters, wherein a last character of the first set of characters is an alphanumeric character, and the first set of characters is received through a keyboard including a plurality of keys with each key representing a single letter;

in response to receiving a space twice in succession following the alphanumeric last character of the first set of characters and without receiving a period character as the last character of the first set of characters, display a period after the last character of the first set of characters and display at least a space after the period, wherein no character in the first set of characters is replaced with another character when the period is displayed after the last character of the first set of characters; and

receive a second set of characters through the keyboard and display the second set of characters after the displayed period and after the displayed space following the displayed period, wherein a first character of the second set of characters is automatically capitalized.

12. A mobile device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the first set of characters is part of a first sentence.

13. A mobile device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the second set of characters comprises a second sentence.

14. A mobile device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the mobile device is configured to receive the first set of characters by receiving a first input reflecting a selection of one or more input elements of the keyboard of the mobile device.

15. A mobile device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the mobile device is configured to receive the second set of characters by receiving a second input reflecting a selection of one or more input elements of the keyboard of the mobile device.