Handheld electronic device having reduced keyboard and multiple password access, and associated methods

A method of establishing a first password and a plurality of second passwords for a handheld electronic device, said handheld electronic device having a reduced keyboard having a plurality of keys, said first password being valid and accepted when input using said reduced keyboard of said handheld electronic device, said second passwords being valid and accepted when input using a non-reduced keyboard of a second electronic device, said handheld electronic device having a non-predictive keystroke interpretation system, comprising:

• performing a key depression sequence on said handheld electronic device, said key depression sequence resulting from a pressing of two or more of the keys of said reduced keyboard;
• converting said key depression sequence into a first character string using said non-predictive keystroke interpretation system;
• determining all of the possible character string permutations that correspond to said key depression sequence;
• and
• storing said first character string as said first password and said character string permutations as said plurality of second passwords.

A method of controlling access to a handheld electronic device, said handheld electronic device having a reduced keyboard having a plurality of keys and a non-predictive keystroke interpretation system, comprising:

• permitting access to said handheld electronic device when a first password is input using said reduced keyboard of said handheld electronic device;
• and
• permitting access to said handheld electronic device when one of a plurality of second passwords is input using a non-reduced keyboard of a second electronic device;
• wherein said first password consists of a first character string and said second passwords consist of a plurality of second character strings, wherein said first character string is a character string that would result from executing a key depression sequence on said reduced keyboard and using said non-predictive keystroke interpretation system to convert said key depression sequence into a corresponding character string, and wherein said second character strings are all of the possible character string permutations that correspond to said key depression sequence.

A handheld electronic device, comprising:

• a reduced keyboard having a plurality of keys;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing a plurality of routines executable by said processor, a first password, and a plurality of second passwords, said first password being valid and accepted when input using said reduced keyboard, said second passwords being valid and accepted when input using a non-reduced keyboard of a second electronic device, wherein a first one or more of said routines implements a non-predictive keystroke interpretation system, and wherein a second one or more of said routines is adapted to:
• receive a key depression sequence, said key depression sequence resulting from a pressing of two or more of the keys of said reduced keyboard;
• convert said key depression sequence into a first character string using said non-predictive keystroke interpretation system;
• determine all of the possible character string permutations that correspond to said key depression sequence;
• and
• store said first character string as said first password and said character string permutations as said plurality of second passwords.

A handheld electronic device, comprising:

• a reduced keyboard having a plurality of keys;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing a plurality of routines executable by said processor, wherein a first one or more of said routines implements a non-predictive keystroke interpretation system, and wherein a second one or more of said routines is adapted to:
• permit access to said handheld electronic device when a first password is input using said reduced keyboard;
• and
• permit access to said handheld electronic device when one of a plurality of second passwords is input using a non-reduced keyboard of a second electronic device;
• wherein said first password consists of a first character string and said second passwords consist of a plurality of second character strings, wherein said first character string is a character string that would result from executing a key depression sequence on said reduced keyboard and using said non-predictive keystroke interpretation system to convert said key depression sequence into a corresponding character string, and wherein said second character strings are all of the possible character string permutations that correspond to said key depression sequence.