Method and system for efficiently navigating a text entry cursor provided by a mobile device

A method for navigating a cursor through text displayed on a display of a mobile device, the mobile device having a keypad, said method comprising:

• receiving a navigation input via the keypad;
• determining whether the navigation input requests movement of the cursor in a forward or backward direction with respect to the text;
• when said determining determines that the navigation input requests movement of the cursor in the forward direction,
• determining whether a next character in the text in the forward direction from the cursor is a word delimiter;
• advancing the cursor one character in the forward direction when said determining determines that the next character in the text in the forward direction from the cursor is not a word delimiter;
• and
• advancing the cursor in the forward direction until just before a next word delimiter or the end of the text, whichever occurs first, when said determining determines that the next character in the text in the forward direction from the cursor is a word delimiter;
• and
• when said determining determines that the navigation input requests movement of the cursor in the backward direction,
• determining whether a next character in the text in the backward direction from the cursor is a word delimiter;
• advancing the cursor one character in the backward direction when said determining determines that the next character in the text in the backward direction from the cursor is not a word delimiter;
• and
• advancing the cursor in the backward direction until just before a next word delimiter or the beginning of the text, whichever occurs first, when said determining determines that the next character in the text in the backward direction from the cursor is a word delimiter.

A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for navigating a cursor through text displayed on a display of a mobile device, the mobile device having a keypad, said computer readable medium comprising:

• computer program code for receiving a navigation input via the keypad, the navigation input requesting movement of the cursor in a particular direction with respect to the text;
• computer program code for determining whether a next character in the text in the particular direction from the cursor is a word delimiter;
• computer program code for advancing the cursor one character within the text in the particular direction when said computer program code for determining determines that the next character in the text in the particular direction from the cursor is not a word delimiter;
• and
• computer program code for advancing the cursor within the text in the particular direction until just before a subsequent word delimiter when said computer program code for determining determines that the next character in the text in the particular direction from the cursor is a word delimiter.

A mobile device, comprising:

• a display configured to display text entered by a user;
• a keypad to facilitate text entry by the user;
• and
• a processor configured to control operation of said mobile device, said processor being configured to provide assisted navigation through the text being displayed on said display by operating to receive a cursor navigation input that requests movement of a cursor in a particular direction with respect to the text, to determine whether the cursor is within a word of the text, to advance the cursor to a next character of the text in the particular direction when it is determined that the cursor is within a word of the text;
• and to advance the cursor to a next word of the text in the particular direction when it is determined that the cursor is not within a word of the text.