Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for selection of characters from an electronic user interface. In one embodiment, a letter selection interface displays letters in a row, some of which are recordable by an input interpreter and others that are unrecordable. In one embodiment, unrecordable letters visually separate letters that are both (1) recordable, and (2) assigned to different but adjacent selection buttons. In response to received touch-screen activations, an interpreter records recordable letter selections and a display displays both recordable and unrecordable letter selections. The interpreter composes a sequence of the recorded letters. An algorithm identifies alternatives to the recorded sequence by editing one or more letters of the sequence, such that each edit changes a selected letter to an adjacent unrecordable letter. The algorithm outputs words that match the originally composed sequence or one of the identified alternatives.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and systems are disclosed for interacting with an electronic device, including inputting letters. One embodiment of the apparatus includes buttons and a text output field displayed on a touch-sensitive display screen. Each button is assigned one or more letters. The text output field displays text and tentative letter selection indicators. In one embodiment of the method, the device records button actuations that ambiguously identify letter selections. With each actuation, a tentative letter selection indicator becomes appended to the end of the contents of the text output field. Upon activation of a button such as a spacebar button, or in response to an event such as expiration of a time period, a language algorithm disambiguates the recorded ambiguously identified letter selections and returns a word suggestion. The returned word replaces a sequence of appended tentative letter selection indicators displayed in the text output field.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for selection of characters from an electronic user interface. In one embodiment, a letter selection interface displays letters in a row, some of which are recordable by an input interpreter and others that are unrecordable. In one embodiment, unrecordable letters visually separate letters that are both (1) recordable, and (2) assigned to different but adjacent selection buttons. In response to received touch-screen activations, an interpreter records recordable letter selections and a display displays both recordable and unrecordable letter selections. The interpreter composes a sequence of the recorded letters. An algorithm identifies alternatives to the recorded sequence by editing one or more letters of the sequence, such that each edit changes a selected letter to an adjacent unrecordable letter. The algorithm outputs words that match the originally composed sequence or one of the identified alternatives.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for selection of characters from an electronic user interface. In one embodiment, a letter selection interface displays letters in a row, some of which are recordable by an input interpreter and others that are unrecordable. In one embodiment, unrecordable letters visually separate letters that are both (1) recordable, and (2) assigned to different but adjacent selection buttons. In response to received touch-screen activations, an interpreter records recordable letter selections and a display displays both recordable and unrecordable letter selections. The interpreter composes a sequence of the recorded letters. An algorithm identifies alternatives to the recorded sequence by editing one or more letters of the sequence, such that each edit changes a selected letter to an adjacent unrecordable letter. The algorithm outputs words that match the originally composed sequence or one of the identified alternatives.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for selection of characters from an electronic user interface. In one embodiment, a letter selection interface displays letters in a row, some of which are recordable by an input interpreter and others that are unrecordable. In one embodiment, unrecordable letters visually separate letters that are both (1) recordable, and (2) assigned to different but adjacent selection buttons. In response to received touch-screen activations, an interpreter records recordable letter selections and a display displays both recordable and unrecordable letter selections. The interpreter composes a sequence of the recorded letters. An algorithm identifies alternatives to the recorded sequence by editing one or more letters of the sequence, such that each edit changes a selected letter to an adjacent unrecordable letter. The algorithm outputs words that match the originally composed sequence or one of the identified alternatives.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for selection of characters from an electronic user interface. In one embodiment, a letter selection interface displays letters in a row, some of which are recordable by an input interpreter and others that are unrecordable. In one embodiment, unrecordable letters visually separate letters that are both (1) recordable, and (2) assigned to different but adjacent selection buttons. In response to received touch-screen activations, an interpreter records recordable letter selections and a display displays both recordable and unrecordable letter selections. The interpreter composes a sequence of the recorded letters. An algorithm identifies alternatives to the recorded sequence by editing one or more letters of the sequence, such that each edit changes a selected letter to an adjacent unrecordable letter. The algorithm outputs words that match the originally composed sequence or one of the identified alternatives.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for selection of characters from an electronic user interface. In one embodiment, a letter selection interface displays letters in a row, some of which are recordable by an input interpreter and others that are unrecordable. In one embodiment, unrecordable letters visually separate letters that are both (1) recordable, and (2) assigned to different but adjacent selection buttons. In response to received touch-screen activations, an interpreter records recordable letter selections and a display displays both recordable and unrecordable letter selections. The interpreter composes a sequence of the recorded letters. An algorithm identifies alternatives to the recorded sequence by editing one or more letters of the sequence, such that each edit changes a selected letter to an adjacent unrecordable letter. The algorithm outputs words that match the originally composed sequence or one of the identified alternatives.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and systems are disclosed for interacting with an electronic device, including inputting letters. One embodiment of the apparatus includes buttons and a text output field displayed on a touch-sensitive display screen. Each button is assigned one or more letters. The text output field displays text and tentative letter selection indicators. In one embodiment of the method, the device records button actuations that ambiguously identify letter selections. With each actuation, a tentative letter selection indicator becomes appended to the end of the contents of the text output field. Upon activation of a button such as a spacebar button, or in response to an event such as expiration of a time period, a language algorithm disambiguates the recorded ambiguously identified letter selections and returns a word suggestion. The returned word replaces a sequence of appended tentative letter selection indicators displayed in the text output field.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for selection of characters from an electronic user interface. In one embodiment, a letter selection interface displays letters in a row, some of which are recordable by an input interpreter and others that are unrecordable. In one embodiment, unrecordable letters visually separate letters that are both (1) recordable, and (2) assigned to different but adjacent selection buttons. In response to received touch-screen activations, an interpreter records recordable letter selections and a display displays both recordable and unrecordable letter selections. The interpreter composes a sequence of the recorded letters. An algorithm identifies alternatives to the recorded sequence by editing one or more letters of the sequence, such that each edit changes a selected letter to an adjacent unrecordable letter. The algorithm outputs words that match the originally composed sequence or one of the identified alternatives.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are disclosed for error correction in text input systems that use time-dependent button presses. A frequent error type in time-based text input is errors due to inaccurately timed button presses. The result of mistimed button presses is errant button press types within a button press type sequence. An error correction algorithm identifies possible alternative button press type sequences based on the number of button presses in the sequence. The algorithm converts the alternative button press type sequences to alternative character sequences using the received button press value sequence. The algorithm compares the alternative character sequences and the presumed word with a library of known words to determine the word most likely intended by a user.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are disclosed for multi-variable character input. A device distinguishes characters by interpreting button presses relative to a short-duration elapsed time period. From the button presses, the device interprets values for one or more of the variables: (1) number of button presses, (2) value of button pressed, (3) row of button pressed, (4) if button is time-dependent or time-independent, (5) if an additional button press occurs within the same elapsed time period, and (6) the duration of the button press. From these values an algorithm synthesizes intermediate variables (1) sequence of row ID values, (2) sequence of button press values, and (3) sequence of button press types. From the intermediate variables the device identifies a presumed word and a plurality of possible alternative word possibilities. The system enables character input using fewer selection buttons than there are displayed characters and with improved speed and accuracy.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are disclosed that improve error correction in time-dependent character input systems. Error correction algorithms correct inaccurately entered words by identifying alternative button press type combinations that conform to the number of button presses in a button press type sequence. The number of possible alternative combinations compounds as the number of button presses in a sequence increases. The disclosed improvement reduces the number of possible alternative button press type sequences by including interspersed time-independent selection buttons among the time-dependent ones. The algorithm divides the button press type sequence into segments at each time-independent button press type of the sequence.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of identifying and selecting characters from among a plurality of characters. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a computer processor electronically enables identification of each of a plurality of characters arranged in a one-dimensional array. Each character is identified by an integer value that corresponds to the number of positions the character is offset from a reference position of the one-dimensional array. The computer processor electronically enables selection of any of the characters by receiving input resulting from activation of selection keys that specify the integer value of a character desired for selection. In one further embodiment, each selection key has an assigned integer value, and the integer value that identifies the selected character is calculated by summing the assigned integer values of each selection key activated for each instance that each selection key is activated within a selectable-length time period.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are disclosed for selection of characters from a menu using button presses and button presses that incorporate swipe gestures. In one embodiment, a button press ambiguously identifies a pair of characters in the menu. In a further embodiment, a press of the same button, but that incorporates a swipe gesture, unambiguously identifies a character adjacent to said pair. In a further embodiment, button presses are time dependent and button presses that incorporate swipe gestures are time independent. In a further embodiment, a button press lasting longer than a given time threshold unambiguously identifies a character of the character pair. In yet a further embodiment, the direction of a swipe gesture incorporated in a button press unambiguously identifies a character from several characters adjacent to the pair. Sequences of mixed ambiguous and unambiguous selections are compared with a dictionary to identify a possible intended word.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are disclosed for multi-variable character input. A device distinguishes characters by interpreting button presses relative to a short-duration elapsed time period. From the button presses, the device interprets values for one or more of the variables: (1) number of button presses, (2) value of button pressed, (3) row of button pressed, (4) if button is time-dependent or time-independent, (5) if an additional button press occurs within the same elapsed time period, and (6) the duration of the button press. From these values an algorithm synthesizes intermediate variables (1) sequence of row ID values, (2) sequence of button press values, and (3) sequence of button press types. From the intermediate variables the device identifies a presumed word and a plurality of possible alternative word possibilities. The system enables character input using fewer selection buttons than there are displayed characters and with improved speed and accuracy.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are disclosed for error correction in text input systems that use time-dependent button presses. A frequent error type in time-based text input is errors due to inaccurately timed button presses. The result of mistimed button presses is errant button press types within a button press type sequence. An error correction algorithm identifies possible alternative button press type sequences based on the number of button presses in the sequence. The algorithm converts the alternative button press type sequences to alternative character sequences using the received button press value sequence. The algorithm compares the alternative character sequences and the presumed word with a library of known words to determine the word most likely intended by a user.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are disclosed that improve error correction in time-dependent character input systems. Error correction algorithms correct inaccurately entered words by identifying alternative button press type combinations that conform to the number of button presses in a button press type sequence. The number of possible alternative combinations compounds as the number of button presses in a sequence increases. The disclosed improvement reduces the number of possible alternative button press type sequences by including interspersed time-independent selection buttons among the time-dependent ones. The algorithm divides the button press type sequence into segments at each time-independent button press type of the sequence.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are disclosed that improve error correction in time-dependent character input systems. Error correction algorithms correct inaccurately entered words by identifying alternative button press type combinations that conform to the number of button presses in a button press type sequence. The number of possible alternative combinations compounds as the number of button presses in a sequence increases. The disclosed improvement reduces the number of possible alternative button press type sequences by acquiring a row ID value with each received button press. The algorithm divides the button press type sequence into segments at each position of the button press type sequence where a row ID value changes.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are disclosed for input of characters and text using button press types. A device identifies button presses as one of three types that are both mutually exclusive and that categorize all possible button press outcomes. For all three types, a selection button press tentatively identifies a first character and initiates the elapsed time period. For a ‘short’ button press the user ends the button press before the time period expires. For a ‘long’ button press the user maintains the button press until after the time period expires. For a ‘pair’ button press the user presses an additional selection button before the time period expires. The elapsed time period ends once the second button press occurs. The button press type together with an assigned value(s) of the pressed button(s) identifies a particular character for selection.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are disclosed for input of characters and text with optional time-based button taps. The duration of the activation of a selection button specifies the selected character. In one embodiment, the system enables selection of either of two characters using one selection button based on how long the button was pressed by the user. Each character in an array of a plurality of characters is part of a pair of characters in the array. The system enables selection of any character of the array of characters based on a first character within each pair having an assigned value being a defined amount different than an assigned value of a second character in the pair. Based on received input indicative of the selection button having been activated for a particular duration compared to a threshold duration, the system selects between the assigned value of the first character and the assigned value of the second character within each pair.