Motorola Corporation

Jin Guo

Charles Yimin Wu

Carlos Isak McEvilly

Lu Chang

Sadik Kapadia

Sreeram Viswanath Balakrishnan

Charles Qingle Wu

Ying Y Chang

Figen Ulgen

Victoria Lyustin

Eddy Mayoraz

Rudolf Schusteritsch

A structure and method for entering data into an electronic device (). A deterministic data input element () coupled to the electronic device () is operable to accept a user-selected data input. Modulation of a motion of a non-deterministic data input element () coupled to the electronic device () is operable to select a varying precision of data input choices. A feedback element () coupled to one or more of the deterministic data input element () and the non-deterministic data input element () presents the data input choices to the user. The user enters data into electronic device () using one of the deterministic input element () and the non-deterministic input element () and the feedback element () displays a sequence of data choices to the user. The user then navigates a tree of possible data completions in order to select a particular data completion to be entered into the electronic device ().

Method for combining deterministic and non-deterministic user interaction data input models

A portable electronic device () and method () is capable of editing processed data input. The portable electronic device () comprises a display area () and a processor () coupled to the display area. The device collects () data input and, then, removes () the data input from the display area in response to detecting () an input delay. Thereafter, the processor, in response to receiving () an undo command message, provides () the data input and/or a processed version of the data input to the display area.

Device and method for editing processed data input

A user interface method and apparatus for an electronic device operates by detecting () a stroke of a touch sensitive display () forming a part of the electronic device. The stroke is categorized () as one of a swish type stroke and a non-swish type stroke. If the stroke is a non-swish stroke, it is translated () into an application function. If the stroke is a swish stroke, it is converted () to a character input function. The touch sensitive display () has a grid () containing cells (, etc.), with each cell containing a plurality of characters, and the grid can overlay application interface to thereby occupying a common area, up to and including the entire area, of the touch sensitive display ().

Application-independent text entry for touch-sensitive display

An apparatus and a method for entering information into an electronic device are provided. The apparatus () includes five text-input buttons (, etc) that can be activated by pressing or by touching. In one embodiment, the buttons are located on a disk (). Text is entered by pressing or touching a single text-input button and then passing a finger or thumb over additional buttons in a prescribed order. The apparatus may be used in conjunction with additional input devices, such as an 'accept' or 'OK' button. Four navigation buttons (, etc) are also provided. In one embodiment, these are additional buttons. In a further embodiment, four of the five text-input buttons are selectable as navigation buttons. The selection may be achieved by rotation of the disk () on which the buttons are located. The apparatus may also include a rotatable wheel or roller () to permit scrolling through lists. The apparatus may be used to enter navigation (command), text or number information.

Method and apparatus for navigation, text input and phone dialing

Layouts for keypads are provided that have an improved combination of a regular of intuitive arrangement of alphabetic symbols of a language defined by letter characters of the Roman alphabet and an efficient distribution of the symbols to minimize input ambiguities. More particularly, the symbols are for the Pinyin alphabet which includes two main symbol groups thereof for forming Pinyin syllables. The various layouts employ a columnar-based arrangement for the symbols of the initial group. The symbols for the final group are parsed down to basic characters and are distributed in a row-based arrangement.

Keypad layout for alphabetic symbol input

The present invention is a user interface () for an ideographic character input device () comprising three rows () of adjacent input keys. A first row () includes keys that represent linear character strokes, a third row () includes keys that represent non-linear character strokes, and the second row () includes keys that represent a linear character stroke, a non-linear character stroke and a dot. The user interface () may also function as a numeric keypad in which the first row () includes keys 1 through 3, the second row () includes keys 4 through 6 and the third row () includes keys 7 through 9. The three rows () include single stroke keys corresponding to individual character strokes used to form a particular ideographic character. The user interface also includes at least one combination stroke key corresponding to a particular activation sequence of the single stroke keys used to form the ideographic character. A processor () of the device () is capable of forming the ideographic character, or a portion thereof, in two ways: upon selection of the particular activation sequence of the single stroke keys and upon selection of the combination stroke key. A display () is coupled to the processor () to display the ideographic character, or a portion thereof.

User interface for a portable electronic device

A layout for a keypad is provided that has a highly regular arrangement of alphabetic characters for ease of use thereof and a highly efficient distribution of the characters to minimize the instances where multiple words are formed from a given sequence of key inputs. The keypad layout is for the Chinese phonetic Bopomofo alphabet. The keypad layout utilizes a top-down approach to provide the desired regularity so that commonly known sets of the characters appear in an assigned column therefor but not in other columns. Further, the character groups have their sets distributed amongst the key columns in a balanced fashion to minimize ambiguity in character input. Where a separate navigation key is not available, an alternative nine-key layout utilizing the above principles is disclosed.

Keypad layout for alphabetic character input

An apparatus for inputting ideographic characters such as Chinese and Japanese characters, comprising an input pad having at least three rows and three columns of keys, forming a square with four corners and one corner key at each corner. At least two of the corner keys ( ) have corner-shaped stroke representions shaped approximately in correspondence with the corresponding corners. This gives a user a useful visual aid. Keys of a left-hand row ( ) represent strokes that predominate in left-hand portions of characters and radicals, and keys of a right-hand row ( ) represent strokes that predominate in right-hand portions of characters and radicals. A lower-left key ( ) represents a stroke having a right hook and a lower-right key ( ) represents a stroke having a left hook. These features lend themselves to ergonomic efficiency in character entry.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Jin Guo