# US 2014/0195960 A1 · Device, Methods, and User Interface for Providing Optimized Entry of Alphanumeric Text

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- Number: US 2014/0195960 A1
- Document ID: US20140195960A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/174,353
- Filed: 2014-02-06
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2000-12-19
- Assignees: Cisco Technology, Inc.
- Applicants: Cisco Technology, Inc.
- Inventors: John A. Toebes; Ilya N. Slain
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140195960A1

## CPC

- 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 3/02: Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
- G06F 3/0236: {using selection techniques to select from displayed items}
- G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
- G06F 3/0484: for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
- H04M 2250/70: methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)

## Abstract

The present invention includes a device, method, and user interface for providing optimized entry of alphanumeric text. In one form, a method for providing selectable characters within a user interface includes determining an operating mode of a communication device and receiving an input associated with a selected input key. The method determines a group of characters associated with the selected key based on the operating mode and displays the group of characters within the user interface. The user interface may display a first character of the group of characters within a first portion of the user interface and the group of characters proximal to the first character within a second portion of the user interface.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-22. (canceled)

### Claim 23

An interface, comprising:
a first display portion configured to display a plurality of soft keys;
a second display portion configured to:
display a group of characters associated with a first key selection in response to the first key selection; and
highlight a first character in the group of characters; and
a processor operable to:
determine an amount of time that has elapsed since the first key selection; and
calculate an average time-out period for a user based on a time interval between the first key selection and a second key selection.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The interface of claim 23, further comprising a third display portion operable to highlight a second character in the group of characters upon receiving the second key selection.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The interface of claim 24, wherein the processor is further operable to automatically select the highlighted second character in the group of characters if an amount of time since the second key selection is greater than the average time-out period for the user.

### Claim 26 (depends on 24)

The interface of claim 24, wherein the processor is further operable to calculate a new average time-out period based on the time interval between the first key selection and the second key selection and the time interval between the second key selection and a third key selection.

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

The interface of claim 23, wherein the processor is further operable to:
associate the average time-out period with a user; and
store the association of the average time-out period with the user.

### Claim 28 (depends on 23)

The interface of claim 23, wherein the first display portion is further operable to display a cursor alongside the highlighted first character.

### Claim 29

A method, comprising:
receiving a first key selection;
determining, by a processor, a group of characters associated with the first key selection;
displaying the group of characters associated with the first key selection within a first portion of a user interface;
highlighting a first character in the group of characters;
determining, by the processor, an amount of time that has elapsed since the first key selection; and
calculating, by the processor, an average time-out period for a user based on a time interval between the first key selection and a second key selection.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, further comprising highlighting a second character in the group of characters upon receiving the second key selection.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, further comprising automatically selecting, by the processor, the highlighted second character in the group of characters if an amount of time since the second key selection is greater than the average time-out period for the user.

### Claim 32 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, further comprising calculating a new average time-out period based on the time interval between the first key selection and the second key selection and the time interval between the second key selection and a third key selection.

### Claim 33 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, further comprising:
associating the average time-out period with a user; and
storing the association of the average time-out period with the user.

### Claim 34 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, further comprising displaying a cursor alongside the highlighted first character.

### Claim 35

Computer readable medium comprising logic, the logic, when executed by a processor, operable to:
receive a first key selection;
determine a group of characters associated with the first key selection;
display the group of characters associated with the first key selection within a first portion of a user interface;
highlight a first character in the group of characters;
determine an amount of time that has elapsed since the first key selection; and
calculate an average time-out period for a user based on a time interval between the first key selection and a second key selection.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the logic is further operable to highlight a second character in the group of characters upon receiving the second key selection.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein the logic is further operable to automatically select the highlighted second character in the group of characters if an amount of time since the second key selection is greater than the average time-out period for the user.

### Claim 38 (depends on 35)

The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the logic is further operable to calculate a new average time-out period based on the time interval between the first key selection and the second key selection and the time interval between the second key selection and a third key selection.

### Claim 39 (depends on 35)

The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the logic is further operable to:
associate the average time-out period with a user; and
store the association of the average time-out period with the user.

### Claim 40 (depends on 35)

The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the logic is further operable to display a cursor alongside the highlighted first character.