Inputting data into a mobile device using a dynamically configured number pad
AssigneeSprint Communications Company L.P.
InventorsWoojae Lee, Trevor Daniel Shipley
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Abstract
Systems, products, and methods are disclosed for facilitating a method of receiving data from a keypad of the mobile communications device. One embodiment of the method includes receiving input by way of a given key of the keypad and then dynamically configuring that given key to be a “5” key. In this way, input received by way of this given key will be received as the Arabic numeral “5” regardless of a prior configuration associated with that key. A final illustrative step includes dynamically mapping numerical values to the eight surrounding keys that surround the newly configured “5” key.
Claims14
A mobile communications device, comprising:
- a set of physically depressible keys that includes keys for all 26 letters of the English alphabet,
- (1) wherein said set of keys is made up of three rows of keys that include a first row, a second row, and a third row, and
- (2) wherein said second row includes a plurality of keys situated between a left-most key and a right-most key;
- and
- computer-readable media that includes a set of computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, cause at least a portion of the set of keys to be configured in a specified configuration incident to receiving input from any key (hereafter “a certain key”) of the second row other than said left-most key or said right-most key, the specified configuration including,
- (1) the certain key is mapped to the Arabic numeral “5,” such that when said certain key is pressed, a “5” is received as input into the mobile communications device, and
- (2) a set of contiguous keys that immediately surround said certain key are respectively mapped to Arabic numerals “1” through “9,” except for the Arabic numeral “5,” which was already mapped to said certain key.
Computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, facilitate a method of receiving data from a keypad of a mobile communications device, the method comprising:
- receiving input by way of a given key of the keypad;
- dynamically configuring said given key to be a “5” key such that said input received is received as the Arabic numeral “5” regardless of a prior configuration associated with said given key;
- and
- dynamically mapping numeric values to a set of eight keys that surround said given key, wherein said numeric values are Arabic numerals “1” through “9” except for “5.”
A mobile communications device comprising a plurality of physically depressible keys, each of which when pressed conveys a certain character input when said mobile device is in a first mode, but when said device is in a second mode then any one key of said plurality of keys conveys the Arabic numeral “5” as character input to the mobile communications device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.