Method and devices for generating two-dimensional visual objects

A communication terminal, comprising one or more processors or hardware modules configured to implement functional modules, the functional modules including:

• a data entry module configured to receive a data entry defining one or more characters, said data entry entered by a user of the communication terminal;
• a data representation module configured to determine a defined target visual representation of characters corresponding to the data entry, and to determine that the defined target visual representation is not defined in the communication terminal, wherein the data representation module is additionally configured to determine a first visual representation of the characters based on the data entry, and to show in a display area the first visual representation of the characters while the user continues to enter data on the communication terminal;
• and
• an enhancement module configured to at least:
• transmit via a network to a processing center a data representation of one or more characters, shown in the display area in the first visual representation, based on a set of character representation types supported in the communication terminal, and having a one-to-one correspondence to the data entry,
• transmit a request for the target visual representation of the characters,
• receive from the processing center via the network the target visual representation of the characters from a set of character representation types supported in the processing center and based on the data representation of the characters, and
• overwrite in the display area the first visual representation of the characters with the target visual representation of the characters while maintaining a position of a cursor relative to a display of the characters, such that a user of the communication terminal can continue entering data once the first visual representation is overwritten with the target visual representation.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory, tangible computer-readable medium with computer program code for controlling one or more processors of a communication terminal such that the communication terminal, in response to receiving a data entry entered by a user defining one or more characters, at least:

• determines a defined target visual representation of characters based on the data entry;
• determines that the target visual representation of the characters is not supported in the communication terminal;
• determines, from a set of character representation types supported in the communication terminal, a first visual representation of the characters with a one-to-one correspondence to the data entry;
• shows in a display area the first visual representation of the characters while the user continues to enter data on the communication terminal;
• transmits a data representation of the characters via a network to a processing center;
• transmits a request for the target visual representation of the characters;
• receives from the processing center via the network the target visual representation of the characters from a set of character representation types supported in the processing center and based on the data representation of the characters;
• and
• overwrites in the display area the first visual representation of the characters with the target visual representation of the characters.

A method of generating one or more two-dimensional visual objects in a communication terminal, the method comprising:

• receiving in the communication terminal a data entry defining one or more characters entered on the communication terminal by a user;
• determining a defined target visual representation of characters corresponding to the data entry;
• determining in the communication terminal, from a set of character representation types supported in the communication terminal, that the target visual representation of the characters is not supported in the communication terminal;
• determining in the communication terminal, from the set of character representation types supported in the communication terminal, a first visual representation of the characters with a one-to-one correspondence to the data entry;
• showing in a display area of the communication terminal the first visual representation of the characters;
• transmitting from the communication terminal a data representation of the characters via a network to a processing center;
• receiving in the communication terminal from the processing center via the network the target visual representation of the characters, the target visual representation based on a set of character representation types supported in the processing center and based on the data representation of the characters;
• and
• overwriting in the display area the first visual representation of the characters with the target visual representation of the characters.

A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores program instructions that direct a communication terminal to perform a process that comprises:

• detecting entry by a user of a sequence of characters on the communication terminal;
• determining a defined target visual representation of the sequence of characters;
• determining that the target visual representation of the sequence of characters is not currently supported on the communication terminal;
• in response to determining that the target visual representation of the sequence of characters is not currently supported, sending a request for the target visual representation to a server;
• during continued entry of characters by the user, and while the target visual representation is being retrieved from the server, displaying an initial visual representation of the sequence of characters on the communication terminal;
• and
• after the target visual representation is received from the server, overwriting the display of the initial visual representation of the sequence of characters with a display of the target visual representation of the sequence of characters.