Method and apparatus for keyboard arrangement for efficient data entry for navigation system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for entering an address for a navigation system allows a user to easily and quickly select a key indicating the next character of the address. At the start of operation, the navigation system shows a full alpha-numeric keyboard. Once the next candidate characters are narrowed down to a certain degree, the navigation system shows a simplified keyboard with a limited number of keys on the monitor screen and highlights the next candidate characters on the simplified keyboard. The navigation system displays both the simplified keyboard and a street name list on the same screen. Since the keys of the limited number are arranged within a small space such as in the three-by-three manner, the user can easily point a cursor or other pointing device to the desired key.

1 . A method for entering an address for a navigation system, comprising the following steps of:
 displaying a screen including a street name input field for accepting input characters by a user and a full keyboard having all alphabetic keys;   searching street names that match the input characters in the street name input field specified by the user through the full keyboard and determining candidate characters of street names that come after the input characters;   displaying a screen including a simplified keyboard having a reduced number of alphabetic keys when a number of the candidate characters is equal to or smaller than a predetermined number and a list of candidate street names; and   searching street names that match the input characters in the street name input field specified by the user through the simplified keyboard and determining candidate characters of street names that come after the input characters;   selecting a final street name from the list of candidates street names.   
     
     
         2 . A method for entering an address as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a step of repeating the steps of displaying the screen including the full keyboard and the step of searching the street names that match the input characters until the number of the candidate characters becomes equal to or smaller than the predetermined number. 
     
     
         3 . A method for entering an address as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a step of repeating the steps of displaying the screen including the simplified keyboard and the step of searching the street names that match the input characters until the step of selecting the final street name every time when the user adds a new character in the street name input field. 
     
     
         4 . A method for entering an address as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a step of scrolling the list of street names by operating a scroll key on the screen. 
     
     
         5 . A method for entering an address as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a step of displaying a screen including a list of candidate street names without showing the simplified keyboard when a number of candidate street names is equal to or smaller than a predetermined number. 
     
     
         6 . A method for entering an address as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the keys corresponding to the candidate characters are distinguished from the other keys on the full keyboard, and wherein the keys corresponding to the candidate characters are distinguished from the other keys on the simplified keyboard. 
     
     
         7 . A method for entering an address as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the keys corresponding to the candidate characters are highlighted to be distinguished from the other keys on the full keyboard, and wherein the keys corresponding to the candidate characters are highlighted to be distinguished from the other keys on the simplified keyboard. 
     
     
         8 . A method for entering an address as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the street name input field, the simplified keyboard with the reduced number of alphabetic keys, and the list of candidate street names are displayed on the same screen at the same time. 
     
     
         9 . A method for entering an address as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the simplified keyboard has nine keys which are arranged in a three-by-three checker board manner. 
     
     
         10 . A method for entering an address as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the simplified keyboard has the reduced number of keys which are arranged in a straight line. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for entering an address for a navigation system, comprising:
 means for displaying a screen including a street name input field for accepting input characters by a user and a full keyboard having all alphabetic keys;   means for searching street names that match the input characters in the street name input field specified by the user and for determining candidate characters of street names that come after the input characters;   means for displaying a screen including a simplified keyboard having a reduced number of alphabetic keys when a number of the candidate characters is equal to or smaller than a predetermined number and a list of candidate street names; and   means for selecting a final street name from the list of candidates street names.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for entering an address as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising means for repeating the function of displaying the screen including the full keyboard and the function of searching the street names that match the input characters until the number of the candidate characters becomes equal to or smaller than the predetermined number. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for entering an address as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising means for repeating the functions of displaying the screen including the simplified keyboard and searching the street names that match the input characters until selecting the final street name every time when the user adds a new character in the street name input field. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for entering an address as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising means for scrolling the list of street names by operating a scroll key on the screen. 
     
     
         15 . A method for entering an address as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising means for displaying a screen including a list of candidate street names without showing the simplified keyboard when a number of candidate street names is equal to or smaller than a predetermined number. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for entering an address as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the keys corresponding to the candidate characters are distinguished from the other keys on the full keyboard, and wherein the keys corresponding to the candidate characters are distinguished from the other keys on the simplified keyboard. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for entering an address as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the keys corresponding to the candidate characters are highlighted to be distinguished from the other keys on the full keyboard, and wherein the keys corresponding to the candidate characters are highlighted to be distinguished from the other keys on the simplified keyboard. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for entering an address as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the street name input field, the simplified keyboard with the reduced number of alphabetic keys, and the list of candidate street names are displayed on the same screen at the same time. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for entering an address as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the simplified keyboard has nine keys which are arranged in a three-by-three checker board manner. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for entering an address as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the simplified keyboard has the reduced number of keys which are arranged in a straight line.