Keyboardless Text Entry

Abstract

Keyboardless text entry methods and systems are described. Various display tools are used in conjunction with, for example, pointing, scrolling and/or clicking actions to enter text into an interface. Once display tool is a pie widget shape, another display tool uses a box like shape containing other box like shapes which are scaled according to a propationate chance of containing the desirable selection.

1 . A method for entering characters into an interface, comprising the steps of:
 displaying a text entry tool having a center and a plurality of sectors relative to said center, each of said sectors associated with at least one character;   selecting one of said characters by selecting an associated sector; and   entering said selected one of said characters into said interface in response to a predetermined event occurring subsequent to said selection step.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of said sectors is associated with one and only one of said plurality of characters. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of selecting one of said characters further comprises the step of:
 positioning a cursor over said associated sector.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of selecting one of said characters further comprises the step of:
 moving between said plurality of sectors using a scroll wheel.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined event is expiration of a timer which starts after said associated sector has been selected. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said timer has a value which is manually adjustable. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said timer has a value which is automatically adjustable based on a user's previous character selection behavior. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the text entry tool is circular and contains the letters “A” to “Z”, each of which are associated with one of said plurality of sectors. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the cursor can be positioned outside of an area contained within a perimeter of said text entry tool to select a character. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 displaying characters as they are entered in a text box; and   displaying a list of potential text entries based on previously entered characters   
     
     
         11 . An interface input method, comprising the steps of;
 selecting one of a plurality of objects provided on a display, said selected object being associated with at least one character from a first group of characters;   zooming into said selected object;   revealing a plurality of additional objects, each associated with one character from   
       a second group of characters, said second group of characters including those characters which are potentially selectable given said at least one character from said first group; and
 selecting one of said plurality of additional objects to enter a text into an interface. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said objects have a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of:
 displaying each object with an area that is proportional to the probability of that object being selected.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
 displaying each of said objects at a first magnification level; and   zooming into said additional objects by changing to a second magnification level.   
     
     
         15 . An interface input method, comprising the steps of:
 selecting one of a plurality of objects provided on a display, said selected object being associated with at least one character from a first group of characters;   zooming into said selected object; and   revealing a plurality of additional objects, each associated with a subsequent selection that is related to the selected at least one character.   
     
     
         16 - 37 . (canceled)