Method and apparatus for entering text using an input device having a

Abstract

A method and apparatus for entering alphanumeric or other text to a computer system using an input device having a small number of keys. The computer system includes a processor programmed to display a character selection menu (including displayed groups of characters), to move a displayed cursor from one group to another in response to actuation of at least one cursor movement key on the input device, and to select a character within a group in response to actuation of one of at least two selection keys on the input device. The invention reduces the maximum number of keystrokes required conventionally to select a character from a character set, and enables character selection from a larger set of displayed characters using no more keystrokes than required conventionally to select the same character from a smaller set. In preferred embodiments, the input device has A cursor movement keys and B selection keys, where each of A and B is a integer less than twelve, and the character selection menu includes C groups of B characters (where C is a positive integer). Preferably, A=B=4, and C=16. The inventive system can be interfaced with a passenger information network, for example to enable a passenger to manipulate a hand-held controller having few keys to enter a mailing address for a product purchased by the passenger.