U.S. patent application number 11/116001 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-10 for keypad reorientation.
This patent application is currently assigned to Wildseed Ltd.. Invention is credited to Engstrom, G. Eric, Salman, Majeed D..
Application Number | 20050250547 11/116001 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35320521 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050250547 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Salman, Majeed D. ; et
al. |
November 10, 2005 |
Keypad reorientation
Abstract
An apparatus includes a display and a keypad. The keypad has a
plurality of keys, a first subset of which are adapted to define a
first arrangement of keys, and a second subset of which are adapted
to define a second arrangement of keys. Further, the apparatus
includes a light provision arrangement that has at least one light
source. A controller coupled to, and adapted to control the
operations of, the light provision arrangement, to highlight the
first and second subsets of keys during a first and a second mode
of operation respectively. The keypad has a first and a second
different relative operational disposition to the display, in said
first and second modes of operation respectively.
Inventors: |
Salman, Majeed D.; (Redmond,
WA) ; Engstrom, G. Eric; (Kirkland, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCHWABE, WILLIAMSON & WYATT, P.C.
PACWEST CENTER, SUITE 1900
1211 SW FIFTH AVENUE
PORTLAND
OR
97204
US
|
Assignee: |
Wildseed Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
35320521 |
Appl. No.: |
11/116001 |
Filed: |
April 27, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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60565638 |
Apr 27, 2004 |
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60566676 |
Apr 30, 2004 |
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60567214 |
Apr 30, 2004 |
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60566704 |
Apr 30, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/566 ;
455/575.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01H 2219/039 20130101;
H04M 2250/70 20130101; G06F 3/0237 20130101; G06F 3/0233 20130101;
H04M 1/22 20130101; G06F 3/0219 20130101; H04M 1/23 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/566 ;
455/575.1 |
International
Class: |
H04Q 007/20 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a display; a keypad having a plurality
of keys, a first subset of which are adapted to define a first
arrangement of keys, and a second subset of which are adapted to
define a second arrangement of keys; a light provision arrangement
including at least one light source; and a controller coupled to,
and adapted to control the operations of, the light provision
arrangement, to at least highlight the first and second subsets of
keys during a first and a second mode of operation respectively,
and the keypad being in a first and a second different relative
operational disposition to the display, in said first and second
modes of operation respectively.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to
control the light provision arrangement to highlight the first and
second subset of keys by controlling the light arrangement to
backlight the first arrangement of keys during the first mode of
operation and backlight the second arrangement of keys during the
second mode of operation.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light provision
arrangement comprises a first light source optically coupled at
least to the first subset of keys and a second light source
optically coupled to the second subset of keys, and the controller
is further adapted to modify an intensity of light emitting from
the first light source in response, at least in part, to the first
mode of operation.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light provision
arrangement comprises one light source optically coupled at least
to the first subset of keys and the second subset of keys, the
light provision arrangement further comprises at least two light
valves, a first and a second light valve are disposed between the
light source and the first and second subset of keys, respectively,
and the controller is further adapted to selectively control the
first and second light valves based, at least in part, on the first
mode of operation.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a first of the
plurality of keys is a member of the first subset of keys and the
second subset of keys.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first key comprises at
least two indicia, a first indicia and a second indicia associated
with the first and the second subset of keys respectively.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller being adapted
to control the light provision arrangement to highlight the first
and second subset of keys further comprises illuminating the first
indicia during the first mode of operation, and illuminating the
second indicia during the second mode of operation.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the light provision
arrangement comprises at least a plurality of light sources, a
first and a second of the plurality of light sources are optically
coupled to the first and second indicia correspondingly, and the
controller is further adapted to control the light sources to
selectively modify an intensity of light emitting from the light
sources based, at least in part, on the first mode of
operation.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a selected one of the
first arrangement of keys and the second arrangement of keys
comprise a numeric keypad layout.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a selected one of
the first arrangement of keys and the second arrangement of keys
comprise an alphanumeric keypad layout.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a selected one of
the first arrangement of keys and the second arrangement of keys
comprise an alphabetic keyboard layout.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least two
keymaps in a memory, wherein at least some keys of the first subset
of keys comprise at least two pluralities of indicia, a first of
the plurality of indicia corresponds to a numeric keypad layout, a
second of the plurality of indicia corresponds to a first
alphabetic keypad layout, and the controller is further adapted to
dynamically bind a first keymap to the at least some keys of the
first subset of keys, based at least in part on the first mode of
operation, to define a set of numeric values and a first set of
alphabetic values corresponding to the first and the second
plurality of indicia, respectively.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein at least some keys of the
second subset of keys comprise at least a first portion of a third
plurality of indicia, the third of the plurality of indicia
corresponds to a second alphabetic keypad layout different from the
first alphabetic keypad layout, and the controller is further
adapted to dynamically bind a second keymap to the at least some
keys of the second subset of keys, based at least in part on the
second mode of operation, to define a second set of alphabetic
values corresponding to the third plurality of indicia.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least a first key of the
at least some of the keys of the first subset of keys comprise a
second portion of the third plurality of indicia corresponding to
the second alphabetic keypad layout, and the controller is further
adapted to dynamically bind the second keymap to the first key
based at least in part on the second mode of operation.
15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least some of the
first set of alphabetic values corresponding to the first
alphabetic keypad layout are assigned an order of input associated
with some of the keys at least partially based on their respective
first set of alphabetic values.
16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least some of the
second set of alphabetic values corresponding to the second
alphabetic keypad layout are assigned an order of input associated
with some of the input keys at least partially based on a frequency
of use of such alphabetic values.
17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein, each of the first set of
alphabetic values associated with the second plurality of indicia
corresponds to a DTMF signal consistent with a DTMF signal
corresponding to alphabetically ordered letters of a conventional
telephone keypad layout, and the controller is further adapted to
selectively generate said DTMF signal.
18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second alphabetic keypad
layout is a modified QWERTY or modified Dvorak keypad layout.
19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least some of the first
set of alphabetic values corresponding to the first alphabetic
keypad layout are assigned an order of input associated with some
of the input keys to provide a reduced set of possible diagrams on
a single key.
20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein each of the second set of
alphabetical values comprise a set of letters wherein letters with
a higher frequency of use are assigned an order of input associated
with some of the input keys before letters with a lower frequency
of use.
21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first relative
operational disposition comprises the display complementing the
keypad from beneath the keypad.
22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first relative
operational disposition comprises the display complementing the
keypad from above the keypad.
23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first relative
operational disposition comprises the display complementing the
keypad from a left side of the keypad.
24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first relative
operational disposition comprises the display complementing the
keypad from a right side of the keypad.
25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a portable
electronic device.
26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a wireless
mobile communication device, further comprising a wireless
communication interface to facilitate wireless communication with a
communication station of a wireless network service provider.
27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a keyboard
for use on a portable electronic device.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority from:
[0002] Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/565,638 filed Apr. 27,
2004,
[0003] Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/566,676 filed Apr. 30,
2004,
[0004] Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/567,214 filed Apr. 30,
2004, and
[0005] Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/566,704, filed Apr. 30,
2004, all of which applications are fully incorporated herein by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0006] The present disclosure is related to the field of electronic
device user interfaces. More specifically, but not exclusively, the
present disclosure relates to the design of input mechanisms for
use in portable electronic devices.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0007] Mobile electronic devices have become ubiquitous in today's
fast paced society. Various portable or mobile handheld devices can
perform multiple tasks as well as provide multiple communication
systems. For example, the personal digital assistant ("PDA")
cellular telephone, in addition to serving as a personal organizer
and cellular phone, may also provide text messaging, paging, and
Internet connectivity. Accordingly, most devices require an
interface for entering alphabetic as well as numeric
characters.
[0008] The personal preference of the user of the mobile
communications is one factor driving the different configurations
of mobile communications devices. For example, with
wireless-enabled PDAs some users prefer the use of a stylus to
"hand write" information for entry into the wireless-enabled PDAs.
In contrast, other users prefer that a wireless-enabled PDA contain
a miniaturized QWERTY keyboard to facilitate the entry of data.
Note that, at times, different users with different personal
preferences may share use of a mobile communications device.
[0009] Certain environmental conditions may affect the user of a
mobile communications device. For example, a user may have a
preference to use a mobile communications device with a keypad
located below the display device. However, under particularly sunny
conditions, the user may decide that having the keypad over the
display, so that the shadow from the hand on the keypad blocks
direct sunlight, is a more desirable configuration.
[0010] Portable communication devices may be loaded with a number
of different applications. For example, a mobile communications
device may be used in a configuration as a wireless mobile
telephone. In such a case the most desirable input method is via a
traditional numeric input keypad found on most wireless mobile
telephones. At a second time, however, a mobile communications
device may be used to record notes at a meeting attended by the
user. In this usage mode, it is more desirable to have a
traditional QWERTY keyboard for entering data.
[0011] Thus, various factors determine the method of interaction
with today's mobile communications devices.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS
[0012] Similar reference numerals in the drawings denote similar
elements throughout the several views; the figures in each of the
views illustrate various embodiments of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art mobile electronic device
including a miniaturized QWERTY keyboard for inputting data;
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art mobile telephone device
including a conventional telephone keypad for inputting data;
[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram view of a computing
environment, in accordance with an embodiment;
[0016] FIGS. 4a-4b illustrate block diagram views of keypad
environments, in accordance with various embodiments
[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of an input method
processing routine, in accordance with one embodiment.
[0018] FIGS. 6a-6d illustrate mobile electronic devices having
keypads in accordance with various embodiments;
[0019] FIGS. 7a-7b illustrate an example of a keypad and an
enlarged view of a key in accordance with an embodiment;
[0020] FIGS. 8a-8b illustrate mobile electronic devices having a
keypad in accordance with various embodiments.
[0021] FIGS. 8c-8d illustrate enlarged keys, of the keypad in FIGS.
8a and 8b, coupled to light sources in accordance with various
embodiments.
[0022] FIGS. 9a-9b illustrate an example of a keypad and an
enlarged view of a key in accordance with an embodiment; and
[0023] FIGS. 10a-10b illustrate an example of a keypad and an
enlarged view of a key in accordance with an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Embodiments of the present invention include, but are not
limited to, a reduced keypad for a mobile electronic device and
apparatuses including the same.
[0025] Parts of the description will be presented in terms such as
portable or mobile electronic devices. As is well understood by
those skilled in the art, the term "portable/mobile electronic
device" (hereafter, "electronic device", or simply "device"), as
used herein, including in the claims, comprise devices configured
to operate as wireless portable phones, PDAs, and the like.
[0026] The term "wireless portable phone", as used herein, refers
to the class of telephone devices equipped to enable a user to make
and receive calls wirelessly, notwithstanding the user's movement,
as long as the user is within the communication reach of a service
or base station of a wireless network service provider. Unless
specifically excluded, the term "wireless portable phone" is to
include the analog subclass as well as the digital subclass (of all
signaling protocols).
[0027] In the following description, various aspects of the
illustrative embodiments will be described. It will be apparent,
however, to those skilled in the art that alternate embodiments of
the present invention may be practiced with all or only some
aspects of the present invention. For purposes of explanation,
specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in
order to provide a thorough understanding of the described
embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art
that alternate embodiments of the present invention may be
practiced without the specific details. In other instances,
well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to
obscure the illustrative embodiments.
[0028] Various operations will be described as multiple discrete
steps, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the
present invention, however, the order of description should not be
construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order
dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in
the order of presentation.
[0029] The phrase "in one embodiment" is used repeatedly. The
phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment, however, it
may. The terms "comprising", "having" and "including" are
synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise.
[0030] The term "activation" means an affirmative action by a user
to provide a value associated with a key as input to the electronic
device. Key activations may include a traditional mechanical key
that, when pressed, causes the key to contact a switch on a circuit
board located beneath the key. Alternatively, key activations may
mean the touching by a user (or stylus) of a pressure sensitive key
or a capacitive or resistive touch sensitive surface, as well as on
"soft" keys on a touch-sensitive display.
[0031] The embodiments are described herein with respect to a
character set based on the English language. It is to be recognized
that the invention may be practiced with characters of other
languages as well.
[0032] While the present invention is described with respect to its
improvement over a miniaturized "QWERTY" keyboard, one skilled in
the art will recognize that the present invention may be practiced
with respect to other keyboard layouts, such as a Dvorak keyboard
and the like. Moreover, while the present invention is described
with respect to an improvement over a miniaturized QWERTY keyboard,
the present invention may be practiced with standard-sized
keyboards in an attempt to enhance their functionality as well.
[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary prior art portable
electronic device 100 utilizing a miniaturized QWERTY keyboard 110
for inputting data. Note that a relatively large display 120 leads
to a reduced amount of surface area available for an input keyboard
such as miniaturized QWERTY keyboard 110. In contrast to standard
QWERTY keyboards in use with desktop and larger computers,
miniaturized QWERTY keyboards on portable electronic devices
typically have a limited key set. Furthermore, if the QWERTY
keyboard has numeric values, the values will frequently be located
along the top row of keys, which may be awkward for entry of
telephone numbers and the like. Competing interface requirements on
the keyboard have resulted in a reduction in input key size as well
as a reduction in spacing between input keys. Frequently, users
will activate input keys inadvertently due to the close proximity
and size of the input keys. This affects the ability of a user to
input data to electronic device 100.
[0034] Other mobile devices include simply a conventional telephone
keypad. FIG. 2 shows an exemplary prior art keypad 210 on a mobile
telephone device 200. As mentioned previously, one method for
entering alphabetic values or letters via a telephone keypad 210 is
generally known as multi-tap. In order for a user to enter text
using multi-tap, a letter is selected by repeatedly activating a
corresponding input key until the desired letter appears. For
example, a user may activate the input key associated with the
numeric value "2" once for "a", twice for" b" or three times for
"c." Thus, traditional multi-tap requires multiple activations of a
single input key in order to enter a letter.
[0035] Another method used for entering text on mobile telephone
device 200 may include predictive text entry (T9 Text Input.TM.).
Using predictive text entry, a user activates each key only once to
enter each letter of a key sequence representing a word. Software
may then produce a list of word possibilities for the particular
key sequence. If the desired word is correctly "predicted", the
user then selects it from the list.
[0036] Referring now to FIG. 3, wherein an exemplary electronic
device 300 suitable for use in embodiments of the present invention
is shown. Those of ordinary skill in the art and others will
appreciate that electronic device 300 may include many more
components than those shown in FIG. 3. However, it is not necessary
that all of these generally conventional components be shown in
order to disclose an enabling embodiment for practicing the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 3, electronic device 300 includes an
optional (wire line based or wireless) communications interface 330
for connecting to remote device(s) (not shown). Communications
interface 330 includes the necessary circuitry, driver and/or
transceiver for such a connection and, is constructed for use with
the appropriate protocols for such a connection.
[0037] Electronic device 300 also includes a processor or
processing unit 310, a controller 315, a keypad (keyboard) 325, a
display 385, a keypad display controller (also referred to as a
"light provision arrangement") 345, and a memory 350, all
interconnected along with the communications interface 330 via a
bus 320. Memory 350 generally comprises random access memory
("RAM"), a read only memory ("ROM") and a permanent mass storage
device, such as a disk drive, flash RAM, or the like. Other
components (not shown) that may be included in various embodiments
include a type of memory device separate from memory 350; such as a
subscriber identity module (SIM), a Programmable Read Only Memory
(PROM) device, an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only
Memory (EEPROM) device and the like.
[0038] Memory 350 stores an operating system 355, a key map 365,
and an input method routine 375 formed in accordance with
embodiments of the present invention. In an embodiment, input
method routine 375 may include an input routine associated with a
multi-tap input routine, a predictive text input routine, or both.
The keypad 325 has a plurality of keys. These keys may be divided
into at least two subsets of keys, each subset of keys being
adapted to define corresponding arrangements of keys.
[0039] In one embodiment in accordance with the present invention,
the light provision arrangement 345 is coupled to controller 315.
Light provision arrangement 345 includes at least one light source
(not shown). For different embodiments, various subsets of keys may
correspondingly be highlighted by the light provision arrangement
345 to provide an indication to a user of the respective mode of
operation in which the electronic device 300 may be configured to
operate. For example, a first subset of keys (or selective subsets
of the indicia of the first subset of keys) may be configured to be
highlighted during a first mode of operation of the electronic
device 300, while a second subset of keys (or selective subsets of
the indicia of the second subset of keys) may be configured to be
highlighted during a second mode of operation.
[0040] To illustrate, in one embodiment electronic device 300 may
be configured to operate in a numeric mode. In this mode,
activation of each data entry key is interpreted by the controller
315 as numeric input selections and the light provision arrangement
345, under the instruction of controller 315, selectively
illuminates the numerals of the keypad 325. In another embodiment,
the electronic device may be configured to operate in an
alphanumeric mode. In the alphanumeric mode, activation of each
alphanumeric entry key of the keypad 325 is interpreted by the
controller 315 and the light provision arrangement 345 selectively
illuminates the QWERTY portions of the keypad 325. Alternately, the
area of the keypad 325 having the numeric, or the QWERTY portions
may be backlit corresponding to the mode of operation.
[0041] For the embodiments, the keypad 325, coupled and controlled
by controller 315, has at least two different relative operational
dispositions to the display 385. For some embodiments, the keypad
325 may be configured/adapted to be operated from a position above
the display 385, below the display 385, to the right of the display
385, and/or to the left of the display 385. The subsets of keys may
be defined to complement the relative operational dispositions,
correspondingly. For example, one subset of keys may be defined to
operate from the left of the display 385 when the electronic device
is in a PDA mode of operation (e.g., the first mode of operation)
in one embodiment. In another embodiment, a subset of the keys may
be defined to operate from below the display 385 when the
electronic device is configured to be in a phone mode of operation
(e.g., the second mode).
[0042] For some embodiments, the only keys that can be activated by
a user may be those that are highlighted by the light provision
arrangement 345.
[0043] In various embodiments, memory 350 also stores
application(s) 360. These applications, for some embodiments, may
correspond to the different modes of operation for the electronic
device 300. For example, in one embodiment the electronic device
300 may be configured to operate predominately as a PDA. In another
embodiment, the electronic device 300 may be configured to operate
as a cell phone (portable phone). For other embodiments, the
electronic device may, for example, operate as an entertainment
device providing MP3 music support, video conferencing capability,
video recorder and camera capabilities, or as a gaming device. It
will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art and
others, that while key map 365, input routine 375 and applications
360 are described as separate individual software components, they
may actually be combined, comprised of multiple software
components; or may in fact be sub-parts of one or more integrated
software components. In particular, input routine 375 may be
integrated with applications 360 or operating system 355.
Additionally, while key map 365 and input routine 375 are
illustrated as software components (e.g., part of the operating
system, or a discrete application), in alternate embodiments, they
may be hardware components of electronic device 300.
[0044] It will be appreciated that the software components may be
loaded from a computer readable medium into memory 350 of the host
computer or electronic device 300 using a drive mechanism (not
shown) or network mechanism (not shown) associated with the
computer readable medium, such as a floppy, tape, DVD/CD-ROM drive,
flash RAM, network interface card, or communications interface
330.
[0045] Further, communication interface 330 may be designed to
support one or more signaling protocols, including but not limited
to Code Division Multiple Access ("CDMA"), Time Division Multiple
Access ("TDMA"), Global System for Mobile Communications ("GSM"),
General Packet Radio Service ("GPRS") and so forth. Moreover,
communication interface 330 may be implemented using a separate
transmitter and receiver.
[0046] In accordance with various embodiments, each input key on
the keypad 325 may be associated with one or more alphabetic and/or
numeric values to comprise a reduced keypad. In aggregate, a
reduced keypad has fewer keys than the limited keyboard shown in
prior art QWERTY keyboard 110 and obviously fewer keys than a
standard QWERTY keyboard layout. However, in various embodiments,
the reduced keypads of the present invention may provide more data
entry or input keys than the simple telephone keypads, such as
conventional telephone keypad 210.
[0047] FIGS. 4a and 4b, illustrate block diagram views of a keypad
environment, in accordance with various embodiments. Controller 315
(either a hardware or software controller) operates in conjunction
with an input routine 375 in support of keypad 325. In various
embodiments, input routine 375 may have a multi-tap input
subroutine and a predictive input subroutine as described in more
detail in co-pending applications U.S. Ser. No. 05/05054 and U.S.
Ser. No. 05/05013 which are incorporated as if fully contained
herein. In other embodiments, input routine 375 may have a modified
QWERTY input subroutine. Input assembly 400 has an output 450
coupled to controller 315. As one example, when controller 315 is
operating in multi-tap input mode, controller 315 detects each
input key activation and an amount of time that has passed since
the most recent input key activation, or the length of time between
input key activations. A memory 350 is coupled to controller 315.
In one embodiment, the memory 350 may store a numeric key mapping
405 and an alphanumeric key mapping 365, which includes the
assignments between the physical input keys, the number of times an
input key is activated, and the corresponding characters as
illustrated in FIG. 4a. In an alternate embodiment, the memory may
store an alphabetic key mapping 365 as illustrated in FIG. 4b,
depending on the mode of operation of the electronic device 300
described in FIG. 3. Controller 315 provides an output signal to
output 450, the output signal indicating the character selected by
the user.
[0048] In one embodiment, successive selected characters are stored
in a memory and become a generated text string. In one embodiment,
the key map 365 also includes a numeric digit corresponding to each
alphanumeric key, where the numeric digit is the numeric digit
corresponding to the data entry key. The numeric digit corresponds
to an activation count that is one greater than the activation
count corresponding to the last letter in the ordered set
corresponding to each data entry key. For example, in the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4b activating the "Zero" key three
times results in a selection of the digit "0". When numeric digits
are included in the key map 365, their corresponding activation
count is not based on frequency of use for the digit.
[0049] In an embodiment, controller 315 can be configured/adapted
to control operations of the light provision arrangement 345. Light
provision arrangement 345 includes at least one light source (not
shown). For different embodiments, various subsets of keys may
correspondingly be highlighted by the light provision arrangement
345 to provide an indication to a user of the respective mode of
operation in which the electronic device 300 may be configured to
operate. For example, in one embodiment a first subset of keys may
be configured to be highlighted by being backlit during a first
mode of operation of the electronic device 300, while a second
subset of keys may be configured to be highlighted by being backlit
during a second mode of operation. In another embodiment, the
plurality of keys may be equipped with light sources. For example,
light emitting diodes (LEDs) may be coupled to various subsets of
indicia on each key to allow different portions (the numeric,
alphanumeric, or alphabetic portions) of each key to be selectively
illuminated corresponding and in response, at least in part, to
device 300 currently configured mode of operation. In an alternate
embodiment, light valves may be disposed between each of the sets
of indicia on each of the keys and one or more corresponding light
sources. The light valves may then be controlled by controller 315
in response to the mode of operation of device 300.
[0050] The intensity of the illumination highlighting the keys, for
some embodiments, may be varied. It isn't necessary that
illumination highlighting the keys be binary (on/off). Rather, the
intensity may be varied to denote the corresponding mode of
operation and/or selection of the keys. For example, in a numeric
mode, the intensity of the illumination of the numeric indicia on a
first set of keys may be noticeably greater than that of other
indicia. Additionally, the most recently selected key may
temporally illuminated with the highest intensity. Conversely, if
device 300 is in an alphabetic mode, the QWERTY portion of each of
the keys containing the QWERTY indicia of a second subset of keys
may be noticeably greater than that of other indicia. Likewise, the
most recently selected key may temporally illuminated with the
highest intensity. In some embodiments, the controller 315 may be
adapted to modify the intensity of the light emitting from the
light source(s) illuminating the keys. For some embodiments, the
controller 315 may be modifying the intensity in response, at least
in part, to the mode of operation in which device 300 is configured
to operate. In other embodiments, a user interface for device 300
may be configured to allow a user to control the intensity of the
light emitting from the light sources based at least in part on the
user's preferences.
[0051] The number of subsets of keys, key arrangements, and modes
of operation are illustrative and are not intended to be limiting.
More than two subsets of keys, modes of operation and corresponding
key arrangements may be defined for device 300.
[0052] In one embodiment, a display 385 is coupled to controller
315. In the embodiment, an output signal for controller 315 causes
an appropriate alphabetic, numeric or non-numeric character to be
displayed on display 385. In one embodiment, as the user repeatedly
activates an input key and has not completed selection of a
character, each successive activation causes a tentative character
selection to overwrite the previous tentative character selection
on display 385.
[0053] FIG. 5 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of input method
process 500. The input method process begins at block 501 and
proceeds to decision block 505 where a determination is made
whether a text field has a designated input method. If so,
processing proceeds to block 535 where the designated input
method/mode of operation is set for inputting information into an
electronic device 300.
[0054] If, however, in decision block 505, it was determined that
no input method has been designated for a particular text field,
processing continues to decision block 510. In decision block 510 a
determination is made whether the application containing the text
field has a designated input method (e.g., some external property
indicates an input method for the particular text field). If so,
processing also proceeds to block 535.
[0055] If, however, in decision block 510 it was determined that
the application does not have a designated input method, processing
proceeds to decision block 515, where a determination is made
whether the application (and/or the text field) is of a known input
type (e.g., a "name" field is almost always known to be
alphabetic/alphanumeric and not conforming to a dictionary, so a
multi-tap input method may automatically be chosen). If so,
processing proceeds to block 530 where an appropriate input method
is set, according to the known input type.
[0056] If in decision block 515 it was not determined that the
application was of a known input type, processing proceeds to
decision block 520. In decision block 520 a determination is made
whether a user of the electronic device 300 has designated an input
method and, if so, processing proceeds to block 535.
[0057] If, however, in decision block 520 it was not determined
that the user has designated an input method, processing proceeds
to block 525 where a default input method is set. Once an input
method has been set, either in block 525, 530 or 535, processing
proceeds to the text entering subroutine 540, such as the
predictive input method subroutine, the multi-tap input method
subroutine, or a numeric input subroutine (not shown, but described
above). Once the text entering subroutine 540 returns, then the
input text is returned in block 599.
[0058] Those of ordinary skill in the art and others will
appreciate that other input methods may be automatically determined
according to input method determination process 500, without
departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For
example, in one embodiment of the present invention a modified
predictive input method may be employed to provide an adaptive
predictive input method such that as new words are entered into
text fields they are also added to a predictive input dictionary,
thereby increasing the predictive capabilities of the adaptive
input method. Those of ordinary skill in the art and others will
appreciate that there are yet still other input methods that may be
employed in various embodiments of the present invention.
[0059] FIGS. 6a-6d illustrate front views of an electronic device
600 having a keypad 625 in accordance with various embodiments.
Various embodiments of electronic device 600 have been discussed
above corresponding to FIGS. 3-4b.
[0060] FIG. 6a illustrates an embodiment where keypad 625 has a
first operational disposition to that of display 685 while
electronic device 400 is configured for a first mode of operation.
As illustrated, keypad 625 is configured to be operated from below
the display 685. A first subset of keys 635 of a plurality of keys
on the keypad may be defined in this embodiment to be the first
arrangement of keys. As described above, a controller 315 may
control the definition of the first subset of keys 635. Subset 635
is highlighted by the light provision arrangement 345 of FIG. 3.
The controller may also be adapted to control or instruct the light
provision arrangement to highlight the first subset of keys 635 by
applying a backlight or backlights to illuminate either the keys
themselves or the area surrounding the keys in accordance with
various embodiments. Further, as illustrated by the embodiment in
FIG. 6a, the subset of keys are configured to operate as an
alphanumeric set of keys. Additionally, for the example illustrated
by this embodiment, the first mode of operation may be numeric mode
in support of the device 600 when it is configured to operate as a
portable phone.
[0061] FIG. 6b illustrates an embodiment where keypad 625 has a
second operational disposition to that of display 685 in a second
mode of operation. As illustrated, keypad 625 is configured to
operate from above the display 685. A second subset of keys 645 of
a plurality of keys on the keypad 625 may be defined in this
embodiment to be the first arrangement of keys. As described above,
a controller 315 may control the definition of the first subset of
keys 645. Subset 645 is highlighted by the light provision
arrangement 345. The controller may also be adapted to control or
instruct the light provision arrangement 345 to highlight the
second subset of keys 645 by applying a backlight or backlights to
illuminate either the keys themselves or the area surrounding the
keys in accordance with various embodiments. Further, as
illustrated by the embodiment in FIG. 6b, the second subset of keys
645 are configured to operate as a QWERTY like keyboard.
Additionally, for the example illustrated by this embodiment, the
second mode of operation may be a text mode in support of the
device 600 when it is configured to operate as,a PDA.
[0062] FIGS. 6c and 6d illustrate embodiments similar to that of
FIGS. 6a-6b. FIG. 6c illustrates an embodiment where keypad 625 may
be configured to be operated from the right of the display 685.
FIG. 6d illustrates an embodiment where keypad 625 may be
configured to be operated from the left of the display 685.
[0063] FIG. 7a illustrates an enlarged front view of a keypad
layout 725 for various embodiments. Keypad layout 725 is similar to
the keypads 625 illustrated in FIGS. 6a and 6b. For the illustrated
embodiment, the keypad 725 may be arranged in five rows and include
a first plurality of input keys 735 (indicated by the shaded area)
partially surrounded by a second plurality of input keys 745
(indicated by reference lines 745a and 745b). The first and the
second pluralities of keys 735a and 745 may also be referred to as
a first and a second subset of keys respectively. For some
embodiments, more than two subsets of keys may be defined.
[0064] For the embodiment, there may be at least two keymaps
(examples of which are illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b) stored in a
memory 350 as illustrated in FIG. 3. At least some of the first
subset of keys 735 include at least two pluralities of indicia.
FIG. 7b illustrates enlarged key 735b. Each of the first plurality
of indicia 737 corresponds to a first numeric keypad layout and
each of the second plurality of indicia 738 corresponds to a first
alphabetic keyboard layout. Controller 315 may be adapted to
dynamically bind a first keymap to some of the keys in the first
subset of keys. This keymap may then define a set of numeric values
and a first set of alphabetic values that correspond to, and are
represented by, the first plurality of indicia 737 and the second
plurality of indicia 738, respectively.
[0065] For the embodiment, at least some of the first plurality of
input keys 735 may be associated with numeric values 0-9 and the
first set of alphabetic values to form a telephone keypad layout
based on the first plurality of input keys' numeric values and
respective first sets of alphabetic values. Each of the input keys
of the first and second plurality of input keys 735 and 745 may be
associated with one or more non-alphabetic or non-numeric character
values as well. Thus, as illustrated, the bottom row of the first
plurality of input keys 735 may also include input keys 735b and
735c associated with at least an asterisk and a pound symbol,
respectively.
[0066] In the illustrated embodiment, at least some of the first
plurality of input keys 735 and second plurality of input keys 745
may be associated with a third plurality of indicia 740
corresponding to a second alphabetic keyboard layout that is
different from the first alphabetic keyboard layout. The controller
315 may be adapted to dynamically bind a second keymap to some of
the keys in the second subset of keys. This keymap may then define
a second set of alphabetic values that correspond to, and are
represented by, the first plurality of indicia 737 and the third
plurality of indicia 740. In contrast to each of first sets of
alphabetic indicia 738, which may include one or more
alphabetically ordered letters, each of second sets of alphabetic
indicia 740 may include one or more letters arranged to be
compatible with a QWERTY like keyboard layout. Thus, in an
embodiment, each of first plurality of input keys 735 may be
arranged relative to each of adjacent or partially surrounding
second plurality of input keys 745 to form the QWERTY like keyboard
layout. Note also that in the embodiment, and as described above,
at least one set from the first or second sets of alphabetic
indicia, 738 and 740 respectively, comprises a single alphabetic
letter or value. For example, in the embodiment, input key 735d is
associated with a second set of alphabetic values 740 comprising
the single alphabetic value `E.`
[0067] Note that for clarity, only one input key 735, one input key
745, one numeric value 737, one set of alphabetic values 738, and
one set of second set of alphabetic values 740 have been labeled in
the figure. Furthermore, please note that in the embodiment shown,
although input keys 745 may include two groups of keys
substantially disposed on a left and a right side of input keys
735, in alternate embodiments, the second plurality of input keys
745 may be disposed at other suitable locations relative to the
first plurality of input keys 735 to facilitate the formation of
the QWERTY keyboard layout or other suitable layout. FIGS. 6a and
6b exemplify such an embodiment. In another embodiment, another
suitable layout formed by first and second plurality of input keys
735 and 745 may include a Dvorak keyboard layout or other keyboard
layout familiar to users of electronic devices.
[0068] Additionally, as noted previously, in various embodiments,
the first plurality of input keys 735 or the second plurality of
input keys 745 may include one or more input keys associated with
one or more non-alphabetic or non-numeric values. Examples of such
associated values include, but are not limited to, punctuation
marks, special symbols or characters, device commands or other
suitable values. In one embodiment, device command values may
include function keys, cursor-control keys, or modifier keys. For
example, as referenced above, input keys 735c and 735d, may include
an asterisk or pound symbol on a lower portion of the respective
keys. In the illustrated embodiment, input key 735a includes
symbols, "?" "!" and "/" while input key 745c includes a device
command value of "select." As another example, in the embodiment
shown, first plurality of input keys 735 includes an input key 735e
associated with device command value of 'space bar ' as well as
numeric value "0".
[0069] Note also that although in FIG. 7b, each of first and second
sets of alphabetic values 738 and 740, the numeric values, and
non-alphabetic and non-numeric values are displayed on particular
portions of the input keys (i.e., upper, lower, central portions),
in alternate embodiments, the values may be displayed on varying
portions of input keys. Also, note that in alternate embodiments,
input keys of the first and second plurality of input keys 735 and
745 may be associated with more or fewer values and are not limited
to the specific associated values as shown in FIG. 7. Furthermore,
in one embodiment, input keys 735 and 745 may include input keys
rendered on a display, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD).
[0070] In one embodiment, there may be a toggle button or an input
key for activation of a QWERTY mode of operation or telephone
keypad mode of operation. Thus, a user may input data using a
QWERTY like layout for textual input and a telephone keypad for
entry of telephone numbers and the like. For a user to input data
into electronic device 300, in an embodiment, a keypad such as the
ones illustrated in FIGS. 6a-6d, FIG. 7a, or FIGS. 8a and 8b may be
used with a multi-tap mode of entry. For example, in one
embodiment, a particular numeric value, an alphabetic value from
the first set of alphabetic value, or an alphabetic value from the
second set of alphabetic value may be selectable based on a number
of key activations applied to a corresponding input key. Thus, in
one embodiment, key map 365 maps a combination of one or more key
activations and an input key to a corresponding character or
alphabetic value of first and second sets of alphabetic values. In
other embodiments, a predictive text mode of entry may be used for
text entry, in either a QWERTY mode or a telephone keypad mode.
[0071] In the illustrated embodiment, each of the first plurality
of keys 735 (indicated in shaded area) may be a numeric key
associated with a unique number or numeric value and corresponding
indicia 737. Input keys having numeric values zero, and four
through nine (0, 4-9) of first plurality of keys 735 may be
associated with a first set of alphabetic values and corresponding
first alphabetic indicia 738, each set having approximately three
or four alphabetically ordered letters, in accordance with the
embodiment. Thus, more specifically, in one embodiment, as
illustrated in FIG. 7a, the following ordered groups of first sets
of alphabetic indicia 738 correspond to their respective numeric
key: abc--2 key, def--3 key, ghi--4 key, jkl--5 key, mno--6 key,
pqrs--7 key, tuv--8 key, wxyz--9 key. Thus, in an embodiment,
correspondence between each of the numeric keys and alphabetically
ordered letters of first sets of alphabetic values associated with
the first alphabetic indicia 738 is substantially the same as the
correspondence between each of the numeric keys and letters of a
conventional telephone keypad.
[0072] Furthermore, in an embodiment, each of the alphabetically
ordered letters of first sets of alphabetic values associated with
the first alphabetic indicia 738 corresponds to a DTMF signal
substantially consistent with a DTMF signal corresponding to the
alphabetically ordered letters of a conventional telephone keypad
layout. This may allow mnemonic phone numbers, such as
1-800-FLOWERS, and the like, to be entered in the same manner as on
a conventional telephone keypad because the correspondence between
each letter and numeric key is compatible.
[0073] FIGS. 8a and 8b illustrate front views of an electronic
device 800 having a keypad 825 in a first and a second different
relative operational disposition to a display 885 while being
configured in a first and second mode of operation respectively, in
accordance with various embodiments. These embodiments illustrate
an example of how key pad 325 can be configured in so that a second
plurality of input keys 845 may be positioned adjacent to or
partially surrounding first plurality of input keys 835. Second
plurality of input keys 845 may include two (2) groups of keys
substantially disposed on one or more sides of the first plurality
of input keys 835 as indicated by reference lines 845a and 845b,
respectively. At least some of first plurality of input keys 835
and second plurality of input keys 845 may be associated with a
second set of alphabetic indicia 840. In an embodiment, each of
first plurality of input keys 835 may be arranged relative to each
of partially surrounding second plurality of input keys 845 to form
an alphabetic arrangement different from the alphabetic keyboard
arrangement of a telephone keypad. In the embodiment illustrated, a
QWERTY keyboard layout may be formed.
[0074] FIGS. 8c-8d, illustrate a perspective and plan view of an
embodiment of the invention where a single key selected from the
keypad illustrated in FIGS. 8a and 8b is described for ease of
understanding. As discussed above, for various embodiments a light
provision arrangement 345 may be controlled by a controller 315 to
highlight a first subset of keys and/or a second subset of keys
depending and in response at least in part on the device 800
configured mode of operation. FIG. 8c illustrates such an
embodiment wherein, for ease of understanding, only one key 835a is
described. For the embodiment, the light provision arrangement 345
has at least one light source 870. In an embodiment, light valves
875 may be disposed between a light source and the first and second
subset of keys 835a, respectively. The at least one light source
870 may be coupled to the key 835a by a light pipe 890.
[0075] Alternately, in an embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 8d,
each set of indicia 837, 838, and 840 may have a corresponding
light valve 875 that is selectively controlled by controller 315 in
response to the mode of operation. The controller 315 being adapted
to selectively control the first and second light valves. Various
approaches to selectively lighting keys are described in
contemporaneously filed application, express mail number <insert
express number>, entitled <insert title>, which
specification is hereby fully incorporated by reference (for U.S.
version of the subject application).
[0076] FIGS. 9a and 9b illustrate an embodiment wherein first sets
of alphabetic indicia 938 on the keys 935a (represented by the area
in gray) includes groups or sets of letters having an order on some
input keys based on a frequency of occurrence of the letters,
rather than alphabetically ordered as in keypad 725 of FIG. 7a. For
the embodiment letter-to-key correspondence matches a standard
letter-to-key correspondence as illustrated in FIG. 7a, but within
a group of letters, letters with a higher frequency of use are
positioned before letters with a lower frequency of use.
[0077] Such an embodiment may be advantageous when using multi-tap
entry. Thus, the letters having a higher probability of occurrence
are selected by a single activation of the input key and letters
with a lower probability of occurrence are selected by activating
the input key two or more times. For example, as illustrated in
FIG. 9b, the input key associated with numeric value "2" has an
associated first set of alphabetic values 938 of "acb," rather than
"abc." In the embodiment, a standard correspondence between numeric
input keys and letters of the alphabet is maintained for
compatibility when entering mnemonic phone numbers and generating
DTMF signals. The ordered sets of alphabetic indicia may correspond
to an order of multi-tap input associated with the respective input
keys. An appropriate key map 365 is bound to the input keys to
facilitate the multi-tap input.
[0078] FIG. 10a illustrates a front view of a reduced QWERTY like
keypad 1025 according to an embodiment. In the embodiment, reduced
keypad 1025 may enhance multi-tap input by placing more frequently
used alphabetic values or letters in positions that require fewer
activations than those of less frequently used letters. For a given
language, for example, English, an arrangement of letters may be
implemented by determining the frequency of use, sometimes referred
to as the probability of occurrence, of each of the letters of the
language. In one embodiment, the frequency of the use of each
letter may be determined with respect to a corpus of usage
representing general usage in a language. A table of probability of
usage derived in this manner is included in "One-Gram Probability
Distribution" from Alan G. Konheim's "Cryptography--A Primer," John
Wiley, 1981, p. 16. This work cites the letters of the English
alphabet as the following, in decreasing order of frequency of use:
E, T, A, O, N, R, I, S, H, D, L, F, C, M, U, G, P, Y, W, B, V, K,
X, J, Q, Z. In one embodiment, letters may be grouped in a manner
compatible with standard keyboards or telephone keypads, and then
some of the letters may be ordered on each input key in order of
decreasing frequency of use. In an embodiment, each of first
plurality of input keys 1035 (represented by the area in gray) may
be arranged relative to each of partially surrounding second
plurality of input keys 1045 to form an alphabetic arrangement
different from the alphabetic keyboard arrangement of a telephone
keypad. In one embodiment, a modified QWERTY keyboard layout may be
formed in conjunction with the first plurality of input keys
1035.
[0079] Input key 1035b of FIGS. 10a and 10b illustrate an
embodiment of the second alphabetic set 1040 on key 1035b has
displayed thereon "I U", rather than "U I" because "I" may be more
frequently occurring than "U." Thus, the present invention, as
described, may advantageously make user entry of the more
frequently used letters more convenient and efficient.
[0080] Thus, it can be seen from the above descriptions, a keypad
having two or more subsets of keys in a keypad has been described
for use on a portable electronic device. In various embodiments,
the keypad has at least a first and a second operational
disposition to a display corresponding to a first and a second mode
of operation within the device. In one embodiment, there may be a
toggle button or an input key for activation of a QWERTY mode or a
telephone keypad mode. Thus, a user may use a QWERTY layout for
textual input and a telephone keypad for entry of telephone numbers
and the like. In various embodiments, keypad 325/425/5251625 may be
used with a multi-tap mode of entry or a predictive text mode of
entry.
[0081] Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that
exemplary keypad 1025, as well as the other exemplary keypads 325,
625, 725, 825, 925 and 1025 are shown by way of illustration and
are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention.
[0082] It will be appreciated that although particular embodiments
of the invention has been described in detail, various
modifications and improvements can be made by a person skilled in
the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.
It will also be appreciated that the frequency of use of letters
varies in situations where users predominately use languages other
than English, or where geographical or cultural differences result
in different corpuses of use. In these situations, ordered sets
other than those explicitly described, in accordance with the
present invention, may be desirable.
* * * * *