# US 2010/0164879 A1 · Portable electronic device and method of controlling same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0164879 A1 - Document ID: US20100164879A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/455,454 - Filed: 2009-06-01 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-08-26 - Assignees: Research in Motion Limimted - Inventors: Laura Doktorova; Jason Tyler Griffin; John Jong-Suk Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100164879A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/0233: {Character input methods} - G06F 3/0414: {using force sensing means to determine a position} - G06F 3/0445: {using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer} - G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text - G06F 3/04886: by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A method of controlling a touch-sensitive display includes displaying a keyboard on the touch-sensitive display. A key of the keyboard is associated with at least two characters. Confirmation of selection is detected and a plurality of touch locations on the touch-sensitive display are detected. At least one of the plurality of touch locations is associated with the key. A direction is determined based on at least two of the plurality of touch locations and a first character of the at least two characters is selected based on the direction and confirmation of selection. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of controlling a touch-sensitive display comprising: displaying a keyboard on the touch-sensitive display, wherein a key of the keyboard is associated with at least two characters; detecting a confirmation of selection; detecting, on the touch-sensitive display, a plurality of touch locations, wherein at least one of the plurality of touch locations is associated with the key; determining a direction based on at least two of the plurality of touch locations; selecting a first character of the at least two characters based on the direction and confirmation of selection. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of touch locations is one of the at least two of the plurality of touch locations. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of touch locations is touched while confirmation of selection occurs. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein detecting the confirmation of selection comprises receiving input from an actuator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein detecting the confirmation of selection comprises receiving input from an actuator actuated by user-depression of the touch- sensitive display. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: determining a time of actuation of an actuator; comparing the time of actuation to a threshold time; changing the at least two characters associated with the key when the time of actuation meets or exceeds the threshold time. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein changing the at least two characters assigned to the key comprises changing to characters other than the at least two characters. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: determining a time of actuation of an actuator after selecting the first character; comparing the time of actuation to a threshold time; changing an attribute of the first character when the time of actuation meets or exceeds the threshold time. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein changing an attribute of the first characters comprises capitalizing the first character. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein displaying the keyboard comprises displaying a functional area between keys of the keyboard, wherein the functional area is associated with a function, and selecting the function when the confirmation of selection occurs when one of the plurality of touch locations corresponds to the functional area. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the area has at least two functions assigned thereto and selecting the function comprises selecting one of the at least two functions based on the direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising displaying a plurality of functional areas, wherein each of the functional areas is located between keys of the keyboard and is associated with at least one function. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the functional area is displayed near corners of four keyboard keys. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein when the location of touch prior to receiving the confirmation corresponds to the functional area, causing a vibration in the portable electronic device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of keys is displayed for the keyboard and each of the plurality of keys is associated with at least two characters. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least two of the plurality of touch locations are located anywhere on the touch-sensitive display. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A portable electronic device comprising: a touch-sensitive display for displaying a keyboard having one or more keys and including an overlay disposed on a display device and a controller connected to the overlay; an actuator for confirming a selection of any of the one or more keys; and memory and a processor operably connected to the touch-sensitive display, the actuator, and the memory, the memory having computer-readable program code embodied therein and executable by the processor to cause the portable electronic device to carry out the method according to claim 1. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A computer-readable medium having computer-readable code embodied therein for execution by a processor for carrying out the method according to claim 1.