US6005498A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Reduced keypad entry apparatus and method
Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
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Filing: 1997-10-29
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Granted: 1999-12-21
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Expires: 2017-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A reduced keypad entry method and apparatus provides a method and apparatus for entry of words using a small number of keypresses on a reduced keypad (210) having multiple symbols associated with at least one key. The method and apparatus uses validity rules (242) to rearrange the order of presentation of the multiple alphabet symbols associated with a single key on the keypad (210), automatically eliminates the presentation of invalid alphabet symbols, and allows the entry of additional information such as a tone markers. Additionally, the method and apparatus uses a dictionary (244) to convert phonetic syllables into Chinese characters.
Inventors
- 👤 Deshan Yang
- 👤 Jianlin Chen
- 👤 Changzheng Kang
- 👤 Wayne Huang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:20
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/023; G06F3/0233; G06F3/0237; G06F3/018
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of reduced keypad entry on a reduced keypad having at least one key associated with multiple symbols comprising the steps of: receiving a first keypress of a key; obtaining a validity rule associated with the first keypress; determining a presentation order of symbols associated with the key using the validity rule; and displaying a first symbol associated with the key according to the presentation order.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of reduced keypad entry on a reduced keypad having at least one key associated with multiple symbols comprising the steps of: receiving a first keypress of a key; obtaining a validity rule associated with the first keypress; determining a presentation order of symbols associated with the key using the validity rule; and displaying a first symbol associated with the key according to the presentation order.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of displaying comprises the steps of: determining if a second symbol is associated with the key according to the presentation order; if a second symbol is associated with the key, blinkingly displaying the first symbol; and if a second symbol is not associated with the key, continuously displaying the first symbol.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 2 further comprising the steps of: receiving a second keypress of the key; and displaying a second symbol associated with the key according to the presentation order.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the presentation order indicates frequency of use of each symbol associated with the key.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of: receiving a keypress indicating that a word has been entered; searching a dictionary for at least one character associated with the word; and displaying the at least one character.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the step of displaying comprises the step of: presenting the at least one character in an order corresponding to its frequency of use.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of: obtaining a character selection keypress.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 7 further comprising the step of: entering a character associated with the character selection keypress into a memory.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
A reduced keypad entry apparatus comprising: a microprocessor; a reduced keypad coupled to the microprocessor having at least one key associated with multiple symbols; a display coupled to the microprocessor; a random-access memory coupled to the microprocessor; and a read-only memory coupled to the microprocessor having: a dictionary memory; and a validity rule memory.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
A reduced keypad entry apparatus comprising: a microprocessor; a reduced keypad coupled to the microprocessor having at least one key associated with multiple symbols; a display coupled to the microprocessor; a random-access memory coupled to the microprocessor; and a read-only memory coupled to the microprocessor having: a dictionary memory; and a validity rule memory.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the dictionary memory omprises: a table associating characters with phonetic syllables.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the characters are Chinese characters and the phonetic syllables are pinyin words.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the characters are Chinese characters and the phonetic syllables are zhuyin words.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the validity rule memory comprises: a table associating valid symbols with each at least one key.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the table indicates a frequency of occurrence of each valid symbol.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the validity rule memory comprises: a table associating valid tone markers with phonetic syllables.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the validity rule memory comprises: a list of valid initial phonetic syllable symbols.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the validity rule memory comprises: a list of valid non-initial phonetic syllable symbols.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-20 | 2003-06-21 | 2003-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-20 | 2007-06-21 | 2007-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-20 | 2011-06-21 | 2011-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |