Keyboard menus displayed on the computer screen for directing entry of alphanumeric characters in a two-stroke mode

Claim 1

A general purpose electronic computer system for processing large amounts of data in an alphabetic mode that handles complete sets of decimal digits and alphabetic characters presented in alphanumeric words having alphabetic characters intermixed with decimal digits and punctuation, comprising in combination, a general purpose electronic computer, manually operable input means for selecting input alphabetic characters and punctuation entries for entry into the computer system for processing with a sequence of two strokes, alphabetic operation means for internally operating the computer to respond to said input means sequences of two strokes to introduce intermixed decimal digit, alphabetic character and punctuation entries into the computer, electronic screen display means operable by said computer for temporarily storing for viewing a set of said alphanumeric characters with associated punctuation and decimal digits, mode selection means for operating said computer in a plurality of different modes, including an entry mode for alphabetic characters, computer operated means for forming and displaying said alphanumeric characters on said screen in different patterns, including explicitly means for forming and displaying on a portion of the screen by means of said screen display means in said entry mode for alphabetic characters menu patterns of those alphabetic characters in said set currently selectable by said input means for each stroke of said sequence of two strokes, said menus providing for selection of an entire set of alphabetic characters and additional punctuation characters with no more than sixteen keys at said keyboard locations, and means providing for the current entry and display of expressions made manually from said input means having mixed alphabetic characters and decimal digits alongside the menus on said electronic screen display means, wherein said means for forming and displaying said menu patterns provides a sequence of two menus corresponding with said sequences of two strokes for entry of the alphabetic characters which respectively display a set of keyboard locations displaying said set of alphabetic characters in locations for identifying selections available with a first of the two sequential strokes and for displaying a subset of the alphabetic characters for identifying the alphabetic characters available with the second of the two sequential strokes.