Method and User Interface for Entering Characters

Abstract

A direction of movement indicated by an input device is detected when a start of a character entering function has been detected. The entered character is shown on the character area on a display, towards which character area the direction of movement indicated by the input device is proceeding. The termination of the character entering function is detected, and the character towards whose character area the direction of movement was last detected to proceed as the character to be entered next is detected.

1 . A device, comprising:
 a touch screen configured to display a keypad and receive touch inputs to the keypad, wherein the touch inputs comprise at least a first touch input and one more touch movements that are input in sequence without lifting of the touch inputs from the keypad; and   a processor configured via software to cause the device at least to:
 detect the start of a character entering function that comprises at least the first touch input to the keypad that enters a first character; 
 detect the one more touch movements on the touch screen subsequent to the character entering function, wherein endings of each of the touch movements correspond to locations of the keypad that cause entering one or more respective other characters; 
 detect a termination of the character entering function; and 
 displaying at least the first and other characters on an area of the touch screen that displays entered characters. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the termination of the character entering function comprises a lifting of the touch inputs following the one or more touch movements. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the termination of the character entering function comprises a stopping of movement of the touch inputs following the one or more touch movements. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the endings of at least one of the one or more touch movements comprises a change in direction of the touch inputs that corresponds to the beginning of a subsequent touch movement of the one or more touch movements that follows the at least one touch movement. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the endings of at least one of the touch movements comprises stopping of movement the touch inputs. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor further causes the device to detect a random back and forth input to the touch screen during the character entering function and, in response thereto, ending the character entering function without entering the first and other characters. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor further causes the device to detect sudden direction changes of movement input to the touch screen during the character entering function and, in response thereto, executing a control command for editing. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor further causes the device to detect sudden direction changes of movement input to the touch screen during the character entering function and, in response thereto, entering a special character. 
     
     
         9 . A method, comprising:
 receiving touch inputs to a keypad of a touch screen, wherein the touch inputs comprise at least a first touch input and one more touch movements that are input in sequence without lifting of the touch inputs from the keypad;   detecting the start of a character entering function that comprises at least the first touch input to the keypad that enters a first character;   detecting the one more touch movements on the touch screen subsequent to the character entering function, wherein endings of each of the touch movements correspond to locations of the keypad that cause entering one or more respective other characters;   detecting a termination of the character entering function; and   displaying at least the first and other characters on an area of the touch screen that displays entered characters.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the termination of the character entering function comprises a lifting of the touch inputs following the one or more touch movements. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the termination of the character entering function comprises a stopping of movement of the touch inputs following the one or more touch movements. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the endings of at least one of the one or more touch movements comprises a change in direction of the touch inputs that corresponds to the beginning of a subsequent touch movement of the one or more touch movements that follows the at least one touch movement. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the endings of at least one of the touch movements comprises stopping of movement of the touch inputs. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising detecting a random back and forth input to the touch screen and, in response thereto, ending the character entering function without entering the first and other characters. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising detecting sudden direction changes of movement input to the touch screen during the character entering function and, in response thereto, executing a control command for editing. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising detecting sudden direction changes of movement input to the touch screen during the character entering function and, in response thereto, entering a special character. 
     
     
         17 . A computer program product encoding a computer program of instructions for executing the method of  claim 9  as a computer process. 
     
     
         18 . A user interface device, comprising:
 means for receiving touch inputs to a keypad of a touch screen, wherein the touch inputs comprise at least a first touch input and one more touch movements that are input in sequence without lifting of the touch inputs from the keypad;   means for detecting the start of a character entering function that comprises at least the first touch input to the keypad that enters a first character;   means for detecting the one more touch movements on the touch screen subsequent to the character entering function, wherein endings of each of the touch movements correspond to locations of the keypad that cause entering one or more respective other characters;   means for detecting a termination of the character entering function; and   means for displaying at least the first and other characters on an area of the touch screen that displays entered characters.