Reduced keypad for a mobile communication device for predictive input

Abstract

An apparatus is provided with a first and a second plurality of input keys. At least some input keys of the first plurality of input keys are associated with both a numeric value and a first set of alphabetic values, and arranged in a first alphabetic keypad layout based on their respective first sets of alphabetic values. The second plurality of input keys are positioned adjacent to the first plurality of input keys. At least some input keys of the second plurality of input keys are associated with at least one alphabetic value, and arranged in a second alphabetic keypad layout. At least some of the input keys of the first plurality of input keys have a second set of alphabetic values that is used as part of the second alphabetic keypad layout and at least some of the input keys of the first and second pluralities of input keys are arranged to provide a reduced group of words generated by a predictive text input routine for an input key sequence entered by a user.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus comprising:
 one or more computer processors;   a plurality of input keys that includes an input key, wherein:
 the input key is associated with an alphabetic character set that includes a first set of alphabetic characters; and 
 the input key is further associated with an alphanumeric character set including one or more numeric characters and a second set of alphabetic characters; and 
 the first set of alphabetic characters includes a first alphabetic character, and the second set of alphabetic characters includes a second alphabetic character that is separate and distinct from the first alphabetic character; and 
   an input module configured to be operated by the one or more computer processors to operate in a first input mode to receive as input the first alphabetic character in response to a single activation of the input key, and in a second input mode to receive as input the second alphabetic character through allowance of selection of the second alphabetic character out of the second set of alphabetic characters through one or more consecutive activations of the input key.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of input keys collectively forms an alphabetic keypad layout associated with the alphabetic character set and an alphanumeric keypad layout associated with the alphanumeric character set. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the alphabetic keypad layout includes two or more alphabetic characters sequentially reordered to reduce a number of words generated by a predictive input routine. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said two or more alphabetic characters are associated with separate input keys to provide a reduced number of alphabetic characters associated with a particular input key, and wherein the particular input key comprises a single alphabetic character. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said two or more alphabetic characters are associated with separate input keys to reduce word collisions during predictive text input when the apparatus is operated in the first input mode. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the alphabetic keypad layout comprises a sequence of alphabetic characters that are substantially arranged according to a QWERTY, QWERTZ or DVORAK sequence of alphabetic characters. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein at least two alphabetic characters in the alphabetic keyboard layout are sequentially transposed with respect to the QWERTY, QWERTZ, or DVORAK layout character sequence to reduce multiple word matches associated with an entered key sequence during a predictive text input process in the first input mode. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the alphanumeric keypad layout comprises a sequence of alphabetic characters substantially consistent with alphabetic characters of a conventional telephone keypad layout. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the sequence of alphabetic characters comprises at least two alphabetic characters that are rearranged from an order in a conventional telephone keypad layout to provide selection of letters with a higher probability of use before letters with a lower probability of use during, consecutive activations of the at least one input key. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the apparatus is a portable electronic device. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the apparatus is a mobile communication device, further comprising a communication interface to facilitate communication with a wireless network service provider. 
     
     
         33 . A computer-implemented method for receiving input of characters on a mobile computing device, the mobile computing device comprising an input key associated with an alphabetic character set that includes a first set of alphabetic characters and an alphanumeric character set including one or more numeric characters and a second set of alphabetic characters, the second set of alphabetic characters comprising at least one alphabetic character that is not in the first set of alphabetic characters, the method comprising:
 in a first input mode of the mobile computing device, receiving a single activation of the input key;   in response to the single activation, the mobile computing device receiving as input a first alphabetic character of the first set of alphabetic characters;   in a second input mode of the mobile computing device, receiving one or more consecutive activations of the input key; and   in response to the one or more consecutive activations, the mobile computing device allowing selection of a second alphabetic character of the second set of alphabetic characters and receiving input of the selected second alphabetic character.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein allowing selection of a second alphabetic character of the second set of alphabetic characters comprises allowing selection according to a sequence of alphabetic characters substantially consistent with alphabetic characters of a key of a conventional telephone keypad layout. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein allowing selection according to a sequence of alphabetic characters comprises allowing selection according to a sequence of alphabetic characters that includes at least two alphabetic characters that are rearranged from an order in a conventional telephone keypad layout to provide selection of letters with a higher probability of use before letters with a lower probability of use during consecutive activations of the at least one input key. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication for the mobile computing device to receive input in the first input mode; and   receiving an indication for the mobile computing device to receive input in the second input mode.   
     
     
         37 . One or more computer-readable media including instructions written thereon that, in response to execution by a mobile computing device comprising an input key associated with an alphabetic character set that includes a first set of alphabetic characters and an alphanumeric character set including one or more numeric characters and a second set of alphabetic characters, the second set of alphabetic characters comprising at least one alphabetic character that is not in the first set of alphabetic characters, cause the mobile computing device to:
 in a first input mode, receive a single activation of the input key;   in response to the single activation, receive as input a first alphabetic character of the first set of alphabetic characters;   in a second input mode, receive one or more consecutive activations of the input key; and   in response to the one or more consecutive activations, allow selection of a second alphabetic character of the second set of alphabetic characters and receiving input of the selected second alphabetic character.   
     
     
         38 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 37 , wherein allow selection of a second alphabetic character of the second set of alphabetic characters comprises allow selection according to a sequence of alphabetic characters substantially consistent with alphabetic characters of a key of a conventional telephone keypad layout. 
     
     
         39 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 38 , wherein allow selection according to a sequence of alphabetic characters comprises allow selection according to a sequence of alphabetic characters that includes at least two alphabetic characters that are rearranged from an order in a conventional telephone keypad layout to provide selection of letters with a higher probability of use before letters with a lower probability of use during consecutive activations of the at least one input key. 
     
     
         40 . The one or more computer-readable media of  claim 37 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the mobile computing device to:
 receive an indication for the mobile computing device to receive input in the first input mode; and   receive an indication for the mobile computing device to receive input in the second input mode.