Abstract: A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software that is operable to disambiguate text input. The device is structured to identify and output representations of language objects that are stored in the memory and that correspond with a text input. The device is additionally structured to identify and output representations of language objects that are stored in the memory and that correspond with a known spelling substitution particular to a language active on the handheld electronic device.

Abstract: Method and system for generating letters and characters in a certain language using a standard Latin keyboard, according to which the letters of the certain language which have corresponding Latin letters are generated by pressing the corresponding Latin letter keys, using the standard ASCII code of the keyboard. The standard ASCII code is expanded to an extended code that can represent certain language letters which do not have corresponding Latin letters and certain language letters which do not have corresponding Latin letters but look similar to, or associated with, another certain language letters that do correspond to Latin letters, using the extended code. Certain language letters which do not have corresponding Latin letters are generated by typing the keys where the certain language letters are located on a standard Latin keyboard of the certain language, using the extended code.

Abstract: A computer system having a computer and a keyboard is provided. The keyboard includes a plurality of first letter keys and respective second letter keys. Each of the first and second letter keys is associated with a respective letter. The computer system is arranged: (i) upon activation of one of the first letter keys to register the selection of the corresponding letter; and (ii) upon activation of one of the second letter keys to present to a user a predefined list of one or more words. The words of each list are associated with the corresponding letter. The computer system is further arranged to register a selection by the user of one of the presented words.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for inputting Hindi characters in a terminal. A touch screen displays a first key set and a second key set. The first key set includes first letter keys with all consonants and a combination lock key for entering a compound consonant. The second key set includes a first letter selected from the first key set and second letter keys with predetermined vowels combinable with the first letter. Upon selection of the first letter from the first key set, a controller controls the touch screen to display the second key set and receives at least one letter from the first and second key sets.

Abstract: The current application is directed to intuitive, easily manipulated, and fully functional soft-input panels (“SIPs”) and hardware input panels (“HIPs”), or physical keyboards, for mobile telephones, tablet computers, and other electronic devices that provide for input of Korean-language text. One implementation of the Korean-language SIP to which the current application is directed includes 16 different displayed input features arranged in four columns and four rows. The 16 input features of this particular implementation allow for input of all Hangul Korean-language characters as well as cursor control, text-entry control, and alternate-SIP toggles. Neither this section nor the sections which follow are intended to either limit the scope of the claims which follow or define the scope of those claims.

Abstract: The current application is directed to an intuitive, easily manipulated, and fully functional soft-input panel (“SIP”) and hardware input panels (“HIPs”), or physical keyboards, for mobile telephones, tablet computers, and other electronic devices that provides for input of Korean-language text. One implementation of the touch-zone Korean-language SIP to which the current application is directed includes 4 regions, or zones, each containing three input keys, for input of Hangul characters and control directives, including backspace, space, and enter commands. A fifth region includes two consonant-composition features, and sixth and seventh regions each include an alternate SIP toggle. The input features of this particular implementation allow for input of all Hangul Korean-language characters as well as cursor control, text-entry control, and alternate-SIP toggles.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device includes a QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software. The device provides a default output and a number of variants. The output is based, for example, upon the likelihood that a user intended a particular output. But various features of the device provide additional variants that may not be based on likelihood. The device enables editing during text entry and also provides a learning function that allows the disambiguation function to adapt to provide a customized experience for the user.

Abstract: This patent relates to a mobile terminal and a method of controlling an operation of the same. The method of controlling an operation of a mobile terminal includes displaying a file list and scroll arrows for scrolling the file list on a touch screen. When the scroll arrow is touched and entered, the file list is scrolled at a scroll speed previously set in response to a time when the scroll arrow is touched and entered. A vibration signal to identify at least one of a scroll speed and a current scrolling position of the file list is provided. Accordingly, when a file list is scrolled, a scroll speed or a current scrolling position can be easily identified by a tactile sense.

Abstract: A character input apparatus and method in a terminal are provided, in which a touch screen displays a first key set and a second key set. The first key set includes first letter keys with all consonants and a second letter key with symbols indicating Tone Marks (Tms) and positions of predetermined vowels, for inputting all vowels and Tms. The second key set includes the predetermined vowels or Tms. Upon selection of a symbol by the second letter key, the controller controls the touch screen to display the second key set and receives at least one letter by the first key set and the second key set.

Abstract: A method of forming words utilizing a character actuator unit in which the character actuators are segregated into certain categories. First and second categories are employed and activated simultaneously to generate the beginning and ending of a word. First and second actuating categories may be combined with third and fourth categories of actuators to further form and modify words in any languages.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software. The device provides output in the form of a default output and a number of variants. The output is based largely upon the frequency, i.e., the likelihood that a user is likely to have intended a particular output, but various features of the device provide additional variants that are not based solely on frequency and rather are provided by various logic structures resident on the device. The device provides a learning function that allows the disambiguation function to adapt to provide a customized experience for the user. The learning function is disabled, however, when the relevant words are found to be in a special category for which frequency learning, i.e., frequency revision, is not employed.

Abstract: A computer input system and an input method thereof are disclosed. The computer input system includes a storage unit, a representative number obtaining module and a coding module. The storage unit stores four carry radices, and the four carry radix have one-to-one correspondences to an amount of initial consonants, an amount of head vowels, an amount of vowels and an amount of tones of a phonetic notation symbol, respectively. After the representative number obtaining module obtains four symbol representative numbers according to a Chinese character phonetic notation, the coding module generates a coding number of the Chinese character according to the symbol permutation order, the four carry radices and the four symbol representative numbers.

Abstract: Multiple language inputs may be provided to various applications programs and/or threads in a computer system. Such inputs may be directed to various software systems on the computer for further processing, wherein the software systems provide language-specific processing. Each application program and/or thread within an application program active on or accessible by the computer may have a different selected input language. More specifically, systems, methods, and computer-readable media for this process may include: (a) determining an input language for a first application program accepting input through a computer; and (b) selecting at least one software system capable of accepting or operating on at least some of the input based, at least in part, on the input language determined for the first application program. The software system(s) may include at least one member selected from the group of: a soft keyboard generator, a handwriting recognizer, and a speech recognizer.

Abstract: A method of enabling input on a handheld electronic device, which includes an input apparatus having a number of input members that are capable of being actuated, wherein at least one of the input members has a plurality of selectable output alternatives, includes detecting as a first input an actuation of an input member, generating a first output, detecting as a second input an actuation of an input member having a plurality of selectable output alternatives comprising at least a primary punctuation and a secondary punctuation, determining that said first output has a predetermined characteristic, preferring as a second output said secondary punctuation, and outputting said second output.

Abstract: When characters are allocated to a keyboard, a plurality of consonants are divided into a plurality of groups according to pronunciation position in the oral cavity, and the groups are allocated to corresponding columns on the keyboard of (3) rows and (10) columns. A plurality of vowels are allocated to the corresponding columns according to the pronunciation position in the oral cavity. In this instance, the consonants and the vowels of which the pronunciation position are near the lips are allocated to the middle area of the area of (3) rows and (10) columns, and the consonants and the vowels of which the pronunciation position are near the vocal chords are allocated to the outer part of the area of (3) rows and (10) columns. The consonants and the vowels are allocated to the corresponding rows of the area of (3) rows and (10) columns according to usage frequency.

Abstract: Keypads are described which are row similar to a standard telephone keypad though they have a different number of columns of base-letter-assigned keys than the standard to which they are related. Smooth sequences of such row-similar keypads are exhibited. Keypads which support both row-similar telephone keypad layouts and reduced layouts corresponding to typewriter standards are disclosed. It is shown how to combine various structural and statistical limitations with row similarity. It is also shown how to embed a row-similar digit layout in row-similar base letter layouts, and how to beneficially provide negative space between keys, construct pseudo standards, and extend or reduce desktop standards or pseudo standards while obeying structural or typability constraints.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a keyboard for inputting Chinese characters and electronic apparatus containing the keyboard, wherein the method is applicable to Chinese characters input on a keyboard. The keyboard includes an initial consonant inputting region and a compound vowel inputting region, the initial consonant inputting region including multiple initial consonant keys, with each of the initial consonant keys indicating at least one initial consonant, and the compound vowel inputting region including multiple compound vowel keys, with each of the compound vowel keys indicating at least one compound vowel.

Abstract: An operating device for controlling an apparatus as an object of control, in accordance with an instruction by a user includes a panel having a main surface, a hardware key provided on the main surface, and a display unit formed of electronic paper, provided in relation to the hardware key on the main surface of the panel or on the hardware key, allowing rewriting of displayed contents.

Abstract: A handheld device includes a plurality of input members, a first set of which each have a Roman character assigned thereto, a least some of which have a first non-Roman and a second non-Roman character assigned thereto. In response to an actuation of a first one of the input members, a first one of the non-Roman characters that is assigned to the first one of the input members is displayed. Based on one or more rules which govern permissible character sequences in the subject language, the display of a second one of the non-Roman characters in response to an actuation of a second one of the input members having the second one of the non-Roman characters assigned thereto immediately following the actuation of said first one of the input members is prevented.

Abstract: An input system and a method for an electronic device based on Chinese phonetic notation are provided. The input system includes a plurality of keys, a detecting unit, a filtering unit and a candidate character output unit. The keys are respectively arranged on two sides of a screen of the electronic device, and each of the keys respectively corresponding to two phonetic notation sets. Every time the detecting unit detects an operation on any of the keys, one of the phonetic notation sets corresponding to the operated key is chosen according to a direction of the operation. The filtering unit permutes the contents of all chosen phonetic notation sets so as to obtain at least one meaningful pronunciation. And according to a Chinese character database and the meaningful pronunciations, the candidate character output unit outputs at least one candidate character on the screen.

Abstract: An improved method of learning a context of a segment of text input enables facilitated text input on an improved handheld electronic device. In response to a series of inputs, segments and other objects are analyzed to generate a proposed character interpretation of the series of inputs. Responsive to detecting a replacement of a segment of the character interpretation with another segment, a combination object comprising the another segment and a preceding object is stored. In response to another series of inputs, the combination object can be employed by a processing algorithm to ascertain a preference for the another segment in the context of the preceding object of the combination object.

Abstract: A Unicode based non phonetic Ethiopic computer keyboard with a unique key arrangement which is easy-to-learn and requires the user to press a maximum of only two keys to type any character without knowledge of English, including keys for all Ethiopic major characters, Ethiopic numerals and extended characters.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a processor to at least perform or cause the apparatus to at least perform a number of operations. These operations include receiving pressure-measurement signals from a keyboard including an arrangement of keys, and a plurality of pressure sensors associated with a respective plurality of the keys. In this regard, the pressure sensors are configured to measure a pressure applied to the respective plurality of the keys, and produce the pressure-measurement signals representative of the measured pressure. The operations also include predicting one or more next keystrokes on the keyboard as a function of the pressure-measurement signals, and determining one or more commands or instructions for directing performance of one or more operations of an apparatus or software operating on the apparatus, where the command(s) or instruction(s) are determined as a function of the predicted next keystroke(s).

Abstract: In some embodiments, input devices and related systems and methods for electronically inputting characters of a pictographic language are disclosed. In one embodiment, an input device for a pictographic language includes a touchscreen display, and a display controller programmed to display a first arrangement including a first set of characters of a pictographic language on the touchscreen display. The first arrangement includes a plurality of regions, each of which contains a plurality of characters of the first set of characters of the pictographic language. The touchscreen display may be programmed to receive selection of one of the regions, and to receive selection of one of the characters in the selected region after receiving the selection of the region. Advantageously, the input device can be effectively used by both non-speakers and language learners as well as native speakers.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an effective keypad assembly and keypad layout for mobile computing devices. In particular, embodiments of the invention provide keyboard layouts and designs. Additionally, embodiments described herein provide for stack components to make keyboards operable on small-form factor devices.

Abstract: An improved handheld electronic device and associated method enable the phonetic inputting of text using a reduced keyboard and transformation algorithm. The handheld electronic device and method advantageously enable the inputting of languages such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and the like without limitation. The transformation algorithm subjects each of a number of linguistic element permutations to an algorithm such as the Maximum Matching Algorithm or other algorithm to generate a string of words and selects one string of words as a default textual output. The character interpretation and variations thereof are output in a lookup component along with a pin and variants thereof to enable the user to select among various character interpretations of an input as well as various alternative pins that correspond with the input.

Abstract: A method for inputting a Korean character by using a touch screen is provided. The method includes detecting touch points of a first touch and a second touch on the touch screen, displaying a consonant of a consonant input key corresponding to a center point of the detected touch points on the touch screen, and releasing the first touch and the second touch and inputting the displayed consonant as an initial sound. The method can minimize the number of character input keys arranged on the touch screen used in the portable terminal and combine the Korean character with the minimal touch action for inputting the Korean character, so that it is possible to simplify the input action for the Korean character input, thereby curtailing an input time for inputting the Korean character and effectively utilizing a limited touch screen region.

Abstract: Provided is a character inputting method and apparatus. The character inputting method includes displaying a first keypad on a touch screen while hiding a second keypad, sensing a touching of one of a plurality of regions partitioning the first keypad, dragging the touch releasing the touch to a position that is different than the touched region extracting a character of a region of the hidden second keypad, the extracted character being associated with a region of the hidden second keypad corresponding to the touched region of the first keypad, and displaying the extracted character of the second keypad on the touch screen.

Abstract: A keypad includes a plurality of keys, and a processor that is coupled to control use of the keypad, including to enable use of the keypad in each of a letter entry mode or an alternative entry mode. The plurality of keys include a subset of keys, each key in the subset being (i) enlarged as compared to other keys of the keypad that are not part of the subset, (ii) assigned m letter values for when the keypad is operated in the letter entry mode, and (iii) assigned n numeric values, where 1?n<m, for when the keypad is operated in the alternative entry mode.

Abstract: An interface device includes at least one programmable device and a display portion coupled to the at least one programmable device. The display portion is configured to convey a hierarchical relationship of a plurality of screen images that at least partially overlap each other. The hierarchical relationship includes the plurality of screen images defined in a series of logically related, ordered, and ranked groupings.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multilingual key input apparatus and method capable of inputting a plurality of keys and outputting a character corresponding to a combination of the input keys. Upon a reference key being input, at least one associated key including inputtable characters is displayed on a screen. When the input of the associated key is detected within a preset time, a character selected by the detected reference key and associated key or a character selected by using the selected character as a reference key and recursively using the succeeding key as an associated key is output as a target character. The key input includes an actual key input, a touch and a touch & drag, and especially, displaying and outputting a character is controlled according to a dragged position and direction of the touch & drag.

Abstract: The grouping unit assigns an m-digit value expressed by an n-ary notation to each input candidate character one-for-one to classify the respective input candidate characters into n groups on a basis of each of the m digits. The group displaying unit causes the display device to display, in the lump on a group basis, the input candidate characters classified on a digit basis. Among n selection keys corresponding to the respective groups, the input device has one key operated by a user to output information indicating which selection key is operated (information indicative of a selection key operated) to the character structuring unit. The character structuring unit determines a character according to information input from the input device.

Abstract: A control method of an alterable key is applied in a portable electronic device including switch a plurality of function modes. The portable electronic device has an opaque key portion, a pattern template layer, and a plurality of light emitting portions. A pattern template layer has many groups of operating patterns. Light emitting portions are corresponding to the operating patterns and emit the specific light, and the operating patterns are corresponding to the function modes. The control method includes the following steps of receiving a first command to switch the corresponding function mode, brightening the light emitting portion corresponding to the function mode to show the corresponding operating patterns on the opaque key portion, receiving a second command to switch another corresponding function mode, and brightening the light emitting portion corresponding to another function mode to show another corresponding operating patterns on the opaque key portion.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for providing a character input interface are provided. The method for providing a character input interface in a terminal having a touchscreen, includes simultaneously displaying a first keyboard on a first region and a second keyboard including second keyboard language selection keys on a second region by the touchscreen in a character inputting mode; and changing a language of the second keyboard to a language corresponding to a second touched keyboard language selection key touched while maintaining a language of the first keyboard when input touching the second keyboard language key is received.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer media for selecting characters through touchscreen input are provided. A user selection of a first character, such as a Japanese kana character, displayed on a touchscreen is received. A plurality of additional characters syllabically related to the first character are identified. A presentation order of the plurality of additional characters is identified. In response to receiving the user selection of the first character, at least a first and a second additional character from the plurality of syllabically related additional characters are displayed. The first additional character is displayed adjacent to the first character, and the second additional character is displayed adjacent to the first additional character. The displayed first and second additional characters are selectable by a user touch input.

Abstract: A user interface suited for use on mobile devices for entering characters which may require one or more modifiers is disclosed. The interface may be implemented utilizing a touch screen interface on which a user engages the interface, is provided feedback, and removes the user's touch to enter a character. The interface presents a series of main, supplemental and modifier keys. Touching an interface button or main key presents a series of “petals” or supplemental keys emanating from the main key. Each petal or supplemental key may in turn present one or more sub petals or modifier keys emanating from the supplemental key. Each petal or sub-petal may represent another character or a modifier action. The characters and/or actions on the supplemental keys and modifier keys provide options for characters or modifiers which are dependent or related to the main input key.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-storage media having computer-usable instructions embodied thereon, for displaying and inputting symbols are provided. Bopomofo symbols are phonetic representations of Chinese characters. To accommodate all the Bopomofo symbols on a mobile device keyboard without sacrificing key size, the Bopomofo keys are dynamically disabled based on grammar rules and user inputs. For example, a symbol that is not eligible to follow an input symbol is disabled such that it does not distract a user searching for a symbol in the keyboard. Further, specific keys on a keyboard are dynamically replaced with tone keys once a user inputs a symbol. A user interface for displaying the symbols is, thus, consistent and easy to navigate for a user.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for inputting Korean characters are provided. The method includes determining an initial consonant by making a first touch of a consonant input key displayed on a touch screen and determining a vowel by making a second touch while maintaining the first touch and making a dragging gesture continuing from the second touch. The method of inputting Korean characters provides a Korean input scheme that effectively uses a multi-touch feature capable of recognizing simultaneous touches on two or more points.

Abstract: A system associated with a text entry application, such as email or instant messaging, comprises an optional onscreen representation of a circular keyboard, a list of potential linguistic object matches, and a message area where the selected words are entered. The circular keyboard is manipulated via a hardware joystick or game-pad with analog joystick or omni-directional rocker switch built therein. The user points the joystick in the general direction of the desired letter, and then continues pointing roughly to each letter in the desired word. Once all letters have been roughly selected, buttons are used to select a specific word from the list of potential matches and send the selected word to the message area.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable, handheld housing, and a display and keyboard carried by the portable, handheld housing. The keyboard may include a plurality of multi-symbol keys each having indicia of a plurality of respective symbols thereon, and a predetermined multi-symbol key may have a comma/apostrophe symbol and at least one other symbol thereon. A controller may be used for generating, in response to an ambiguous input including an ambiguous punctuations input, a menu of possible desired words including at least one word with a comma and at least one word with an apostrophe and at least one other character additional to the ambiguous input. The device further includes a multiple-axis input device that is operable to provide movement inputs to move to, for example, a variant output and is further operable to provide a selection input as to, for example, the variant output.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device enabled with disambiguation software. The device provides output in the form of a default output and a number of variants. The output is based largely upon the frequency, i.e., the likelihood that a user intended a particular output, but various features of the device provide additional variants that are provided by logic structures resident on the device. The device enables editing during text entry and provides a learning function that allows the disambiguation function to adapt to provide a customized experience for the user. The disambiguation function can be selectively disabled and an alternate keystroke interpretation system provided. Additionally, the device can facilitate the selection of variants by displaying a graphic of a special <NEXT> key of the keypad that enables a user to progressively select variants without changing the position of the user's hands on the device.

Abstract: An input processing device comprises a display screen and a pointing device for inputting corresponding 2-dimensional coordinates on the display screen. A 3-dimensional space is displayed on the display screen and the 2-dimensional coordinates inputted from the pointing device are detected. Next, shift amounts, per unit of time, of the detected 2-dimensional coordinates are calculated based on a predetermined calculation start condition. And the calculated shift amounts are converted to 3-dimensional coordinate shift amounts in the 3-dimensional space.

Abstract: An input device including a frame in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped body which is supported by a base and which is movable between a first angular position in which an angle of a lower surface of the frame with respect to a horizontal upper surface of the base is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, and a second angular position in which the angle of the lower surface of the frame as seen in the first angular position with respect to the horizontal upper surface of the base is not smaller than the threshold value, a first input portion disposed on an upper surface of the frame as seen when the frame has a horizontal posture in the first angular position, in which a lower surface of the frame is parallel to the horizontal upper surface of the base, a second input portion disposed on a side surface of the frame as seen when the frame has the horizontal posture; and a detecting portion configured to detect an operation by an operator of the input device on at least one of the first and second

Abstract: A method is for input of text symbols into an electronic device having a reduced keyboard. The reduced keyboard has keys representing a plurality of characters. The method includes receiving character inputs from the reduced keyboard and identifying symbol variants based on the received character inputs. A list of symbol variants is displayed. An input symbol from the list of symbol variants is selected, wherein the input symbol is a Korean Hangul syllable. At least one Chinese Hanzi syllable is designated, to correspond to at least one Korean Hangul syllable. The Korean Hangul syllable is replaced with a Chinese Hanzi syllable.

Abstract: A method of running an application in a mobile communication terminal is disclosed. The method includes, if a predetermined key-value is input on a standby screen, analyzing the key-value to determine which application (or applications) to run; setting a parameter for running the application determined according to the key-value analysis result as the key-value; and running the application using the set parameter. A mobile communication terminal for running an application includes: a key input unit for receiving a predetermined key-value on a standby screen; a controller for if the key-value is input through the key input unit, analyzing the key-value to determine which application to run and setting a parameter for running the application determined according to the key-value analysis result as the key-value; and an application driver for running the application using the parameter set by the controller.

Abstract: A method for inputting a Korean character using a touch screen of a mobile device determines a vowel as a neutral vowel according to multi-touches centered around a consonant input key displayed on the touch screen. The method can minimize the number of character input keys arranged on the touch screen utilized in the mobile device, and can combine the Korean characters through the minimal touch action for inputting the Korean character.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for selecting characters and a device thereof. The method comprises the steps of sensing a touch on a first key, which has a plurality of characters marked thereon; confirming the touch and displaying the plurality of characters associated with the first key on a display unit; sensing a shifting motion of the touch on the first key; and selecting one of the plurality of characters associated with the first key in response to the shifting motion of the touch. The present invention further provides a character input module and an electronic device for implementing the character selection method.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software. The device provides an improved text case feature. The device provides output in the form of a default output and a number of variants. The output is based largely upon the frequency, i.e., the likelihood that a user intended a particular output, but various features of the device provide additional variants that are not based solely on frequency and rather are provided by various logic structures resident on the device. The device enables editing during text entry and also provides a learning function that allows the disambiguation function to adapt to provide a customized experience for the user. The disambiguation function can be selectively disabled and an alternate keystroke interpretation system provided.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for indicating additional character combination choices from a disambiguation function on a handheld electronic device.

Abstract: An electronic reader includes a touch display screen receiving user inputs and displaying a keypad and a processing unit. The keypad includes a plurality of first keys and a plurality of second keys, the keypad selectively operable between a pinyin mode where the first keys display letters a to z, and a Chinese character mode where the first keys display Chinese characters. The processing unit controls the electronic reader to enter the Pinyin mode, displays an intended pinyin inputted by a user on one of the second keys, activates the keypad to enter into the Chinese character mode whereby according to the input of the pinyin and displays a plurality of possible Chinese characters on the first keys, selects and displays a intended Chinese character in an entry field. A Chinese pinyin input method is also provided.