Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for entering data comprised of characters and including the steps of: - providing a plurality of hard keys, each of which is identified with two characters: - providing two soft keys; - actuating one of the hard keys, thereby displaying a different character at each of the soft keys; and - actuating the soft key displaying the character desired to be entered, thereby entering the displayed character.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of hard keys is identified with two alpha characters and the hard-key actuating step includes displaying a different alpha character at each of the soft keys.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 wherein data may be entered for either of two data fields and the method includes the step of: - selecting a first field for which data is to be entered; - displaying the first field at a first location; and - creating a new field displayed at a second location.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 3 including, at the conclusion of data entry, the step of: - replacing the field at the first location with the new field.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 1 further including, between the actuating steps, the step of: - inadvertently actuating a soft key displaying an undesired alpha character; and wherein the step of actuating the soft key displaying the alpha character desired to be entered removes the undesired alpha character and substitutes therefor the alpha character desired to be entered.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the data is comprised of characters selected from a group of character types including alpha characters, numeric characters and symbolic characters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 6 wherein data may be entered for either of two data fields and the method includes the step of: - selecting the field for which data is to be entered.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
An apparatus for carrying out the method of claim 1 wherein (a) the data is comprised of alpha characters, (b) the apparatus includes a display panel and a keyboard comprised of a plurality of hard keys, each hard key being identified by two alpha characters, and (c) one of the hard keys is actuated, the apparatus characterized by: - a plurality of soft keys, each soft key displaying a different alpha character corresponding to one of the alpha characters of the actuated hard key.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 8 including: - a first data field at a first location; - a second data field at a second location; - an actuated soft key; and wherein: - the first and second data fields differ from one another; and - the second data field includes the alpha character displayed by the actuated soft key.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each hard key is further identified with a numeric character and the apparatus includes: - a first data field displayed at a first location; - a new data field displayed at a second location; and wherein: - the first and second data fields differ from one another; and - the second data field includes the numeric character identifying the actuated hard key.