Single finger or thumb method for text entry via a keypad
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsJustine E. Coates, Timothy D. Sharpe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A single press method for entering text using a keypad is disclosed. A conventional four-row by three-column 12-key keypad is used to enter all of the letters of the alphabet using single key actuation. Depending on the letter, either a single key or multiple side-by-side keys, such as a pair of side-by-side keys, that can be substantially simultaneously depressed by a user's finger or thumb are used to enter alphabet letters.
Claims25
A method for entering text using a keypad comprising a number of keys fewer than the number of items in the text to be entered, comprising:
- (a) detecting the actuation of the keys of the keypad;
- (b) determining if the detected actuation was created by the actuation of one key or the substantially simultaneous actuation of multiple keys by using a stored clock signal to detect a delay for substantially simultaneous actuation of multiple adjacent keys or otherwise the actuation of one key, the act of determining being not executed if a result of an all keys released test is negative, and the act of determining being executed if the result of the all keys released test is positive, enabling a clock from which the stored clock signal originates;
- (c) if the detected key actuation was created by the actuation of one key chosen from a group of “1”, “2”, “3”, “4”, “5”, “6”, “7”, “8”, “9”, “*”, “0”, and “#”, entering the item associated with the one key that is respectively chosen from a group of “g”, “b”,“e”,“i”,“k”,“n”,“q ”,“u”, “x”, “s”, all caps mode, and backspace function;
- and
- (d) if the detected key actuation was created by the substantially simultaneous actuation of multiple keys chosen from a group of “1” and “2”, “2” and “3”, “4” and “5”, “5” and “6 ”, “7” and “8”, “8” and “9”, “*” and “0”, “0” and “#”, “1” and “4”, “2” and “5”, “3” and “6”, “4” and “7”, “5” and “8”, “6” and “9” associated with the multiple keys that is respectively chosen from a group of “a”, “d”, “j”, “m”, “t”,“w”,“z”, numerical mode, “h”,“c”,“f”,“p”,“l”,“o”,“r”,“v”, and “y”.
In a device containing a keypad formed of a plurality of keys oriented in a row/column matrix, the improvement comprising computer-executable code for:
- (a) detecting the actuation of the keys of the keypad;
- (b) determining if the detected actuation was created by the actuation of one key or the substantially simultaneous actuation of two keys by using a stored clock signal to detect a delay for substantially simultaneous actuation of multiple adjacent keys or otherwise the actuation of one key, the act of determining being not executed if a result of an all keys released test is negative, and the act of determining being executed if the result of the all keys released test is positive, enabling a clock from which the stored clock signal originates;
- (c) if the detected key actuation is created by the actuation of one key chosen from a group of “1”, “2”, “3”, “4”, “5”, “6”, “7”, “8”, “9”, “*”, “0”, and “#”, entering a text item associated with the one key that is respectively chosen from a group of “a”, “c”, “e”, “i”, “k”, “m”, “q”, “s”, “u”, “y”, all caps mode, and backspace function;
- and
- (d) if the detected key actuation is created by the substantially simultaneous actuation of two keys chosen from a group of “1” and “2”, “2” and “3”, “4” and “5”, “5” and “6”, “7” and “8”, “8” and “9”,“7” and “*”,“8” and “0” and “9” and “#”, entering a text item associated with the two keys that is respectively chosen from a group of “b”, “d”, “j”, “l”, “r”, “t”, “z”, numerical mode, “f”, “g”, “h”, “n”, “o”, “p”, “v”, “w”, and “x”.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.