Patent US5543818A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5543818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for entering text using an input device having a small number of keys
Assignee: Sony Corp
•
Filing: 1995-06-01
•
Granted: 1996-08-06
•
Expires: 2015-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for entering alphanumeric or other text to a computer system using an input device having a small number of keys. The computer system includes a processor programmed to display a character selection menu (including displayed groups of characters), to move a displayed cursor from one group to another in response to actuation of at least one cursor movement key on the input device, and to select a character within a group in response to actuation of one of at least two selection keys on the input device. The invention reduces the maximum number of keystrokes required conventionally to select a character from a character set, and enables character selection from a larger set of displayed characters using no more keystrokes than required conventionally to select the same character from a smaller set. In preferred embodiments, the input device has A cursor movement keys and B selection keys, where each of A and B is a integer less than twelve, and the character selection menu includes C groups of B characters (where C is a positive integer). Preferably, A=B=4, and C=16. The inventive system can be interfaced with a passenger information network, for example to enable a passenger to manipulate a hand-held controller having few keys to enter a mailing address for a product purchased by the passenger.
Inventors
- 👤 Ed Scott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0489; G06F3/02; G06F3/023; G06F3/0233; G06F3/0236
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for entering text into a computer system using an input device having keys, including the steps of: (a) displaying on a display device a character selection menu which includes simultaneously displayed groups of character representations, each of said groups including representations of B characters, where B is a positive integer not less than two and where the characters within each group are arranged in a pattern; (b) highlighting a selected one of the groups in response to actuation of a first set of the keys; and (c) selecting a character representation within the selected one of the groups in response to actuation of one of a second set of the keys, where said second set of the keys consists of B of the keys and where said second set of the keys is separate from the display device and is arranged in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the characters within each group.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for entering text into a computer system using an input device having keys, including the steps of: (a) displaying on a display device a character selection menu which includes simultaneously displayed groups of character representations, each of said groups including representations of B characters, where B is a positive integer not less than two and where the characters within each group are arranged in a pattern; (b) highlighting a selected one of the groups in response to actuation of a first set of the keys; and (c) selecting a character representation within the selected one of the groups in response to actuation of one of a second set of the keys, where said second set of the keys consists of B of the keys and where said second set of the keys is separate from the display device and is arranged in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the characters within each group.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1, also including the step of: (d) displaying a second character selection menu including displayed groups of character representations, each of said groups including representations of B characters, in response to actuation of a shift key of the input device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 2, also including the step of: (c) displaying a third character selection menu including displayed groups of character representations, in response to another actuation of said shift key of the input device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of the keys has at least one cursor movement key and the second set of the keys includes a set of at least two selection keys, wherein step (b) includes the step of highlighting the selected one of the groups in response to actuation of said at least one cursor movement key, and wherein step (c) includes the step of selecting said character representation within said selected one of the groups in response to actuation of one of the selection keys.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the set of at least two selection keys consists of four selection keys.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) includes the step of: moving a displayed cursor to the selected one of the groups in response to actuation of the first set of the keys.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the character selection menu displays the groups as an array of columns and rows of said groups, and wherein step (b) includes the steps of: (d) highlighting a first one of the groups in one of the columns and in an uppermost one of the rows in response to actuation of the first set of the keys; and (e) after step (d), actuating one of the first set of the keys to execute a cursor roll around operation, thereby highlighting a second one of the groups in said one of the columns but in a lowermost one of the rows.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
104 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the character selection menu displays the groups as array columns and rows of said groups, and wherein step (b) includes the steps of: (d) highlighting a first one of the groups in one of the rows and in a leftmost one of the columns in response to actuation of the first set of the keys, and (e) after step (d), actuating one of the first set of the keys to execute a cursor roll around operation, thereby highlighting a second one of the groups in said one of the rows but in a rightmost one of the columns.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
171 words
A system for entering text into a computer system, including: a processor; a display device connected to the processor; and an input device connected to the processor, said input device including keys, wherein the processor is programmed with software for displaying on the display device a character selection menu including simultaneously displayed groups of character representations, each of said groups including representations of B characters, the characters within each group arranged in a pattern, highlighting a selected one of the groups in response to actuation of a first set of the keys, and selecting a character representation within the selected one of the groups in response to actuation of a one of a second set of the keys, where said second set of the keys consists of B of the keys, where B is a positive integer not less than two, and where said second set of the keys is separate from the display device and is arranged in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the characters within each group.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
171 words
A system for entering text into a computer system, including: a processor; a display device connected to the processor; and an input device connected to the processor, said input device including keys, wherein the processor is programmed with software for displaying on the display device a character selection menu including simultaneously displayed groups of character representations, each of said groups including representations of B characters, the characters within each group arranged in a pattern, highlighting a selected one of the groups in response to actuation of a first set of the keys, and selecting a character representation within the selected one of the groups in response to actuation of a one of a second set of the keys, where said second set of the keys consists of B of the keys, where B is a positive integer not less than two, and where said second set of the keys is separate from the display device and is arranged in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the characters within each group.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
82 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the first set of the keys consists of at least one cursor movement key and the second set of the keys consists of B selection keys, and wherein the processor is programmed with software for highlighting the selected one of the groups in response to actuation of the at least one cursor movement key, and selecting said character representation within said selected one of the groups in response to actuation of one of the selection keys.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
7 words
The system of claim 10, wherein B=4.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 11, wherein the first set of the keys consists of four cursor movement keys, and wherein the processor is programmed with software for moving a displayed cursor to the selected one of the groups in response to sequential actuation of the cursor movement keys.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the input device includes a shift key, and wherein the processor is programmed with software for displaying a second character selection menu in response to actuation of the shift key, wherein the second character selection menu includes displayed groups of character representations, each of said groups consisting of representations of B characters.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 13, wherein the character selection menu includes displayed groups of representations of lower case characters, and the second character selection menu includes displayed groups of representations of upper case characters.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is programmed with software for moving a displayed cursor to the selected one of the groups in response to actuation of the first set of the keys.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
7 words
The system of claim 9, wherein B=4.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the input device has less than twelve keys.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the processor includes means for communicating with a passenger information and entertainment network.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 18, wherein the processor includes means for sending alphanumeric text that has been entered into said computer system to the passenger information and entertainment network.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the text is alphanumeric text.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-08-06 | 2000-02-05 | 2000-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-06 | 2004-02-05 | 2004-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-06 | 2008-02-05 | 2008-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |