Method and Apparatus for Selective Suspension of Error Correction Routine During Text Input

A portable electronic device comprising:

• a memory having an error correction routine stored therein;
• a processor structured to have the error correction routine executed thereon;
• a touch-sensitive display having an input component that comprises a plurality of input elements, at least some of the input elements each being an alphanumeric input element having at least a first alphanumeric character assigned thereto;
• the memory further having stored therein one or more routines which, when executed on the processor, cause the portable electronic device to perform operations comprising:
• detecting a number of inputs as being a number of initial actuations of a number of the alphanumeric input elements without an intervening deletion input;
• subjecting each of at least some of the number of initial actuations to the error correction routine for possible correction;
• outputting for each initial actuation of an alphanumeric input element an alphanumeric character that is either an alphanumeric character assigned to the alphanumeric input element or is an alphanumeric character selected based at least in part upon an error-correction output of the error correction routine;
• detecting a deletion input followed immediately by an actuation of a particular alphanumeric input element;
• suspending the error correction routine as to the actuation of a particular alphanumeric input element;
• and
• outputting for the actuation of a particular alphanumeric input element an alphanumeric character assigned thereto.