Method and apparatus for selection of one from a plurality of entries listed on a computer display

Claim 2

In a computing system having a keyboard, a search control program and a display, a method for allowing a user from a keyboard to select a selected entry from a plurality of entries, the method comprising the steps of: (a) displaying in a first region on the display letters typed in by the user on the keyboard; (b) displaying in a second region on the display a first subset of the plurality of entries; (c) highlighting on the display, at the direction of the search control program, a first entry whose first letter(s) match the letter(s) displayed in the first region when the search control program determines the first entry is in alphabetical order first among entries from the plurality of entries whose first letter(s) match the letter(s) displayed in the first region; and, (d) making, at the direction of the search control program, the first entry the selected entry when the search control program determines that the user has pressed a designated key on the keyboard; (e) displaying the first subset of the plurality of entries in the second region, highlighting no entry, and making the selected entry equal to a null set when the search control program determines that the first letter(s) of no entry in the plurality of entries match the letter(s) displayed in the first region.

Claim 3

A method as in claim 1, wherein step (c) additionally comprises the following substep: (c1) displaying in the second region, instead of the first subset of the plurality of entries, a second subset of the plurality of entries which includes the first entry when the search control program determines that the first entry is not in the first subset of the plurality of entries.

Claim 4

In a computing system having a display and a keyboard, an apparatus for selecting a selected entry from a plurality of entries, the apparatus comprising: display control means coupled to the display for displaying things on the display; and, search control processor means, coupled to the display control means and responsive to the keyboard, for causing the display control means to display information and for allowing the selection of the selected entry, the search control processor means including edit box means for causing the search control processor to display in a first region of the display, letters typed in on the keyboard, list display means, for causing the search control processor to display in a second region of the display, in alphabetical order, a first subset of the plurality of entries, highlight means for causing the search control processor to highlight on the display a first entry displayed in the second region when the search control processor means determines the first letter(s) in the first entry match the letter(s) displayed in the first region when the first entry is in alphabetical order first among entries from the plurality of entries whose first letter(s) match the letter(s) displayed in the first region; selection means for making the first entry the selected entry when the search control processor means determines a designated key on the keyboard is pressed; means for causing the display control means to display the first subset of the plurality of entries in the second region and highlighting no entry when the first control processor means determines the first letter(s) of no entry in the plurality of entries match the letter(s) displayed in the first region; and, means for making the selected entry equal to a null set when the first control processor means determines the first letter(s) of no entry in the plurality of entries match the letter(s) displayed in the first region.

Claim 5

In a computing system having a display and a keyboard, an apparatus for selecting a selected entry from a plurality of entries, the apparatus comprising: display control means coupled to the display for displaying things on the display; and, search control processor means, coupled to the display control means and responsive to the keyboard, for causing the display control means to display information and for allowing the selection of the selected entry, the search control processor means including edit box means for causing the search control processor to display in a first region of the display, letters typed in on the keyboard, list display means, for causing the search control processor to display in a second region of the display, in alphabetical order, a first subset of the plurality of entries, highlight means for causing the search control processor to highlight on the display a first entry displayed in the second region when the search control processor means determines the first letter(s) in the first entry match the letter(s) displayed in the first region when the first entry is in alphabetical order first among entries from the plurality of entries whose first letter(s) match the letter(s) displayed in the first region; selection means for making the first entry the selected entry when the search control processor means determines a designated key on the keyboard is pressed; means for causing the display control means to display the first subset of the plurality of entries in the second region and highlighting no entry when the first control processor means determines the first letter(s) of no entry in the plurality of entries match the letter(s) displayed in the first region; and, means for making the selected entry equal to a null set when the first control processor means determines the first letter(s) of no entry in the plurality of entries match the letter(s) displayed in the first region.

Claim 6

An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the highlight means additionally comprises means for causing the display control means to display in the second region a second subset of the plurality of entries when the search control processor means determines the first entry is not in the first subset of the plurality of entries.

Claim 7

In a computing system having a keyboard, a search control program and a display, a method for allowing a user from a keyboard to select a selected entry from a plurality of entries, the method comprising the steps of: (a) displaying in a first region on the display letters typed in by the user on the keyboard; (b) displaying in a second region on the display a first subset of the plurality of entries; (c) highlighting on the display, at the direction of the search control program, a first entry whose first letter(s) match the letter(s) displayed in the first region when the search control program determines the first entry is in alphabetical order first among entries from the plurality of entries whose first letter(s) match the letter(s) displayed in the first region; and, (d) deleting from the second region the last letter displayed in the second region upon the user pressing a first designated key on the keyboard. (e) highlighting on the display, at the direction of the search control program, a second entry whose first letter(s) match the letter(s) displayed in the first region when the search control program determines the second entry is in alphabetical order first among entries from the plurality of entries whose first letter(s) match the letter(s) displayed in the first region; and, (f) making, at the direction of the search control program, the second entry the selected entry when the search control program determines that the user has pressed a second designated key on the keyboard.

Claim 8

In a computing system having a keyboard, a search control program and a display, a method for allowing a user from a keyboard to select a selected entry from a plurality of entries, the method comprising the steps of: (a) displaying in a first region on the display letters typed in by the user on the keyboard; (b) displaying in a second region on the display a first subset of the plurality of entries; (c) highlighting on the display, at the direction of the search control program, a first entry whose first letter(s) match the letter(s) displayed in the first region when the search control program determines the first entry is in alphabetical order first among entries from the plurality of entries whose first letter(s) match the letter(s) displayed in the first region; and, (d) deleting from the second region the last letter displayed in the second region upon the user pressing a first designated key on the keyboard. (e) highlighting on the display, at the direction of the search control program, a second entry whose first letter(s) match the letter(s) displayed in the first region when the search control program determines the second entry is in alphabetical order first among entries from the plurality of entries whose first letter(s) match the letter(s) displayed in the first region; and, (f) making, at the direction of the search control program, the second entry the selected entry when the search control program determines that the user has pressed a second designated key on the keyboard.

Claim 9

A method as in claim 5 additionally comprising the step of: (g) displaying the first subset of the plurality of entries in the second region, highlighting no entry, and making the selected entry equal to a null set when the search control program determines that the first letter(s) of no entry in the plurality of entries match the letter(s) displayed in the first region.

Claim 10

A method as in claim 5, wherein step (c) additionally comprises the following substep: (c1) displaying in the second region, instead of the first subset of the plurality of entries, a second subset of the plurality of entries which includes the first entry when the search control program determines that the first entry is not in the first subset of the plurality of entries.