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US 6,271,835 B1Granted
Touch-screen input device
AssigneeNortel Networks Limited
InventorHenry Hoeksma
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A touch screen input device for improving the input of alphanumeric data in an area of limited space. The input device employs a multi-touch method of input which is intuitive to a first time user. The device maps a plurality of characters to each of its input keys and upon selection of a key subsequently re-labels the input keys with the characters displayed on the selected key. The device is intuitive to a first time user since the input keys are re-labeled in manner which corresponds to their relative position within the selected input key. In comparison to single stroke input devices this device reduces the number of keys required for data input. Alternatively a user could select a single character without employing the multi-touch method by selecting a pre-defined element of a particular input key.
Claims14
A method for operating a touch-screen input device including a touch sensitive screen comprising the steps of:
- displaying a plurality of input keys on said touch sensitive screen;
- mapping a plurality of characters to each input key;
- receiving a user input;
- determining whether said user input designates a single character;
- determining whether said user input designates a re-map command;
- selecting said single character responsive to said input designating said single character;
- and
- re-mapping said keys responsive to said input designating a re-map command;
- wherein the step of selecting said single character includes:
- inserting an alphanumeric character or symbol into the text stream;
- or
- performing the function represented by the selected character representing said function;
- wherein said input keys are divided into a plurality of elements;
- and wherein said mapping step includes initially mapping single characters to particular elements;
- and wherein said re-map command includes receiving an input of a plurality of elements when single characters are mapped to individual elements;
- and wherein said re-mapping step includes mapping single characters to input keys;
- and wherein said input designating a single character includes an input of a particular element when a single character is mapped to said particular element, or an input of any number of elements from the same input key when a single character is mapped to said input key.
14 more elements
A method for operating a touch-screen input device including a touch sensitive screen comprising the steps of:
- displaying a plurality of character keys and a plurality of assignment keys on said touch sensitive screen;
- mapping a plurality of characters to each character key;
- receiving a user input;
- determining whether said user input designates a single character;
- determining whether said user input designates a re-map command;
- and
- selecting said single character responsive to said input designating said single character;
- and
- re-mapping said keys responsive to said input designating a re-map command;
- wherein the step of selecting said single character includes:
- inserting an alphanumeric character or symbol into the text stream;
- or
- performing the function represented by the selected character representing said function;
- wherein said character keys are further divided into a plurality of elements;
- and wherein said mapping step includes initially mapping single characters to particular elements of said character keys;
- and wherein said re-map command includes receiving an input of an assignment key or an input of a plurality of elements when single characters are mapped to particular elements;
- and wherein said re-mapping step includes mapping single character to character keys, and mapping different characters to said elements;
- and wherein said input designating a single character includes an input of a particular element when single characters are mapped to particular elements or an input of any number of elements from the same character key when a single character is mapped to said character key.
15 more elements
A touch-screen device comprising:
- a touch-screen;
- means for displaying on said touch-screen a plurality of input keys;
- means for mapping a plurality of characters to each input key;
- means for determining whether said input designates a single character or a re-map command;
- means for selecting a single character responsive to an input designating a particular character;
- and
- means for re-mapping said input keys responsive to a re-map command input;
- wherein said means for selecting a character responsive to an input designating a particular character includes:
- means for inserting an alphanumeric character or symbol into the text steam;
- and
- means for performing the function represented by the selected character representing said function;
- wherein said input keys are divided into a plurality of elements and wherein said means for mapping includes means for initially mapping single characters to particular elements;
- wherein said means for determining comprises means for determining whether individual or multiple elements are input;
- wherein said means for selecting a character further includes means for selecting a character responsive to an input of a particular element when a single character is mapped to said particular element and means for a character responsive to an input of any number of elements on the same input key when a single character is mapped to particular input key;
- and wherein said means for re-mapping further includes means for mapping single characters to input keys responsive to an input of a plurality of elements when single characters are mapped to particular elements.
12 more elements
A touch-screen device comprising:
- a touch-screen;
- means for displaying on said touch-screen a plurality of character keys and a plurality of assignment keys;
- means for mapping a plurality of characters to each character key;
- means for determining whether said input designates a single character or a re-map command;
- means for selecting a character responsive to an input designating a particular character;
- and
- means for re-mapping said input keys responsive to a re-map command input;
- wherein said means for selecting a character responsive to an input designating a particular character includes:
- means for inserting an alphanumeric character or symbol into the text stream;
- and
- means for performing the function represented by the selected character representing said function;
- wherein said character keys are further divided into plurality of elements wherein said means for mapping includes means for initially mapping single character to particular elements;
- wherein said means for determining comprises means for determining whether individual or multiple elements are input;
- wherein said means for re-mapping further includes means for mapping single character to character keys responsive to an input of a plurality of elements when single characters are mapped to particular elements;
- and wherein said means for selecting a character further includes means for selecting a character responsive to an input of a particular element when a single character is mapped to said particular element and means for selecting a character responsive to an input of any number of elements on the same input key when a single character is mapped to a particular input key.
12 more elements
A method for operating a touch-screen input device including a touch sensitive screen comprising the steps of:
- displaying a plurality of input keys on said touch sensitive screen;
- mapping a plurality of characters to each input key;
- receiving a user input;
- determining whether said user input designates a single character;
- determining whether said user input designates a re-map command;
- selecting said single character responsive to said input designating said single character;
- and
- re-mapping said keys responsive to said input designating a re-map command;
- wherein the step of selecting said single character includes:
- inserting an alphanumeric character or symbol into the text stream;
- or
- performing the function represented by the selected character representing said function;
- wherein said input keys are divided into a plurality of elements wherein said mapping step includes initially mapping single characters or character sub-arrays to particular elements;
- and wherein said re-map command includes receiving an input of a plurality of elements when single characters or character arrays are mapped to individual elements;
- and wherein an input designating a single character includes an input of a particular element when a single character is mapped to said particular element or an input of any number of elements on the same input key when a single character is mapped to said particular input key.
12 more elements
A method for operating a touch-screen input device including a much sensitive screen comprising the steps of:
- displaying a plurality of character keys and a plurality of assignment keys on said touch sensitive screen;
- mapping a plurality of characters to each character key;
- receiving a user input;
- determining whether said user input designates a single character;
- determining whether said user input designates a re-map command;
- and
- selecting said single character responsive to said input designating said single character;
- and
- re-mapping said keys responsive to said input designating a re-map command;
- wherein the step of selecting said single character includes:
- inserting an alphanumeric character or symbol into the text stream;
- or
- performing the function represented by the selected character representing said function;
- wherein said character keys are further divided into a plurality of elements wherein said mapping step includes initially mapping single characters or character sub-arrays to particular elements;
- and wherein said re-map command includes receiving an input of a plurality of elements when single characters or character arrays are mapped to individual elements, or receiving an input of a particular element when character sub-arrays are mapped to individual elements;
- and wherein an input designating a single character includes an input of a particular element when a single character is mapped to said particular elements or an input of any number of elements on the same character key when a single character is mapped to said particular character key.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.