Method and User Interface for Entering Characters

Abstract

A direction of movement indicated by an input device is detected when a start of a character entering function has been detected. The entered character is shown on the character area on a display, towards which character area the direction of movement indicated by the input device is proceeding. The termination of the character entering function is detected, and the character towards whose character area the direction of movement was last detected to proceed as the character to be entered next is detected.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 11 / 132,479, filed May 19, 2005, which is a continuation of International Application No. PCT / FI03 / 000889 filed on Nov. 19, 2003, which claims priority to European Patent Application No. 02102606.7 filed on Nov. 20, 2002, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.FIELD[0002]The invention relates to a method for entering characters in a user interface of an electronic device, and a user interface of an electronic device.BACKGROUND[0003]Electronic devices, such as mobile telephones, are continuously reduced in size. A special problem in the usage of an electronic device is the entering of text. Eventually the keypad used in electronic devices, such as a character keypad, becomes impracticable, because it is difficult for the user of the device to press extremely small keys. Since separate keypads in the devices increase the size of the devices, smal...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]The method and the user interface of the invention provide several advantages. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the method of entering characters is especially fast, easy and accurate. Great accuracy is not required of the users of the user interface according to the invention in order to select the right characters to be entered.

Problems solved by technology

A special problem in the usage of an electronic device is the entering of text.

Eventually the keypad used in electronic devices, such as a character keypad, becomes impracticable, because it is difficult for the user of the device to press extremely small keys.

The current text entry systems, such as handwriting or speech recognition systems, are often slow and error prone.

Also in the handwriting systems the area reserved on the touch screen for writing characters is small, which makes it hard to write in said area in a moving vehicle, for example.

If the selection of the characters is conducted by sliding a pen over the desired character visible on the touch screen, it is difficult to hit the correct character when, for example, the writer's hand shakes in a rush hour bus.

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