Handheld electronic device and associated method enabling text input in a language employing non-roman characters

Abstract

A handheld device includes a plurality of input members, a first set of which each have a Roman character assigned thereto, a least some of which have a first non-Roman and a second non-Roman character assigned thereto. In response to an actuation of a first one of the input members, a first one of the non-Roman characters that is assigned to the first one of the input members is displayed. Based on one or more rules which govern permissible character sequences in the subject language, the display of a second one of the non-Roman characters in response to an actuation of a second one of the input members having the second one of the non-Roman characters assigned thereto immediately following the actuation of said first one of the input members is prevented.

1 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A handheld electronic device comprising:
 a processor;   a memory;   a plurality of selectable keys, at least some of the keys having more than one non-Roman character assigned thereto, said non-Roman characters being associated with a first language having rules that govern proper sequencing of non-Roman characters in the first language; and   a display structured to display character sequences,   wherein the memory has stored therein routines that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 detect selection of one of the non-Roman characters assigned to a first one of the keys having more than one non-Roman character assigned thereto; and 
 apply one or more of said rules to prevent display of the selected non-Roman character and selectively display a different character assigned to the first one of the keys having more than one non-Roman character assigned thereto. 
   
     
     
         14 . The handheld electronic device according to  claim 13 , wherein the keys having more than one non-Roman character assigned thereto each also has at least one Roman character assigned thereto. 
     
     
         15 . The handheld electronic device according to  claim 13 , wherein the selected non-Roman character is a Thai character. 
     
     
         16 . The handheld electronic device according to  claim 13 , wherein the memory having stored therein routines that, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to be selectively switchable between a Roman character input mode and a non-Roman character input mode. 
     
     
         17 . The handheld electronic device according to  claim 13 , wherein the selection of the one of the non-Roman characters is for beginning a new word. 
     
     
         18 . The handheld electronic device according to  claim 17 , wherein the memory having stored therein routines that, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to determine that the selected non-Roman character is not permissible for beginning said new word. 
     
     
         19 . The handheld electronic device according to  claim 13 , wherein the selection of the one of the non-Roman characters immediately follows a selection of one of the non-Roman characters assigned to a second one of the keys having more than one non-Roman character assigned thereto. 
     
     
         20 . The handheld electronic device according to  claim 13 , wherein the handheld electronic device includes a shift mode that causes a particular linguistic element to be input when each of the keys is selected, and wherein the selection of the one of the non-Roman characters comprises a single selection of the first one of the keys when the handheld electronic device is in the shift mode. 
     
     
         21 . An input method for a handheld electronic device having a memory structured to store executable instructions, a processor structured to execute the stored executable instructions, a display structured to display character sequences, and a plurality of selectable keys, at least some of the keys having more than one non-Roman character assigned thereto, said non-Roman characters being associated with a first language having rules that govern proper sequencing of non-Roman characters in the first language, the input method comprising:
 detecting an input requesting entry of a non-Roman character assigned to a first one of the keys having more than one non-Roman character assigned thereto;   determining, using an immediately preceding and entered non-Roman character, whether the requested entry of the non-Roman character assigned to the first one of the keys having more than one non-Roman character assigned thereto is permissible based on rules that govern proper sequencing of non-Roman characters in a first language; and   based on the determination,
 (i) preventing entry of the non-Roman character associated with the detected input, and 
 (ii) inputting and displaying another non-Roman character assigned to a first one of the keys having more than one non-Roman character assigned thereto. 
   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the keys having more than one non-Roman character assigned thereto each also has a Roman character assigned thereto. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the requested entry of the non-Roman character is a Thai character. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the processor is structured to execute the stored executable instructions to cause handheld electronic device selectively switchable between a Roman character input mode and a non-Roman character input mode. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the handheld electronic device includes a shift mode that causes a particular linguistic element to be input when each of the keys is selected, and wherein the input requesting entry of the non-Roman character comprises a single selection of the first one of the keys when the handheld electronic device is in the shift mode. 
     
     
         26 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions for a handheld electronic device comprising a display structured to display character sequences and a plurality of selectable keys, at least some of the keys having more than one non-Roman character assigned thereto, said non-Roman characters being associated with a first language having rules that govern proper sequencing of non-Roman characters in the first language, the instructions being executable by a processor of the handheld electronic device for causing the handheld electronic device to perform operations comprising:
 detecting selection of one of the non-Roman characters assigned to a first one of the keys having more than one non-Roman character assigned thereto; and   applying one or more of said rules to prevent display of the selected non-Roman character and selectively displaying a different character assigned to the first one of the keys having more than one non-Roman character assigned thereto.   
     
     
         27 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 26 , wherein the keys having more than one non-Roman character assigned thereto each also has at least one Roman character assigned thereto. 
     
     
         28 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 26 , wherein the selected non-Roman character is a Thai character. 
     
     
         29 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 26 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor of the handheld electronic device for causing the processor to be selectively switchable between a Roman character input mode and a non-Roman character input mode. 
     
     
         30 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 26 , wherein the selection of the one of the non-Roman characters is for beginning a new word. 
     
     
         31 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 30 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor of the handheld electronic device for causing the processor to determine that the selected non-Roman character is not permissible for beginning said new word. 
     
     
         32 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 26 , wherein the selection of the one of the non-Roman characters immediately follows a selection of one of the non-Roman characters assigned to a second one of the keys having more than one non-Roman character assigned thereto. 
     
     
         33 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 26 , wherein the handheld electronic device includes a shift mode that causes a particular linguistic element to be input when each of the keys is selected, and wherein the selection of the one of the non-Roman characters comprises a single selection of the first one of the keys when the handheld electronic device is in the shift mode.