Handheld Device Text Entry via Message Thread Word Lists

Solution Overview

Problem

Current handheld electronic devices with reduced keyboards face challenges in efficiently entering lengthy or unfamiliar words, especially when replying to or forwarding messages, as users must expend substantial effort using keystroke interpretation systems.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that facilitate text entry by scanning existing message threads, generating and displaying word lists categorized by length or grammatical classification, allowing users to easily select and enter words from these lists into new messages, and maintaining a list of frequently used words for quick access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a reduced keyboard with multiple linguistic elements per key is used, then the device can provide more functionality with fewer keys, but text entry becomes more cumbersome and requires substantial user effort

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidtext entry effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically scanning the message thread and generating a word list of candidate words before the user needs to enter text. This pre-processing eliminates the need for users to manually type lengthy or unfamiliar words, directly reducing text entry effort while maintaining the reduced keyboard configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary word list between the reduced keyboard and the message thread. This word list acts as a mediator that translates the context from the message thread into selectable candidate words, allowing users to insert relevant words with minimal effort instead of typing them using the reduced keyboard

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If keystroke interpretation systems are used to generate language elements, then the reduced keyboard can function effectively, but entering lengthy or unfamiliar words requires substantial effort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekeyboard functionalityVSAvoidtext entry time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically scanning the message thread and generating a word list of candidate words before the user needs to enter text. This pre-processing eliminates the need for users to manually type lengthy or unfamiliar words, directly reducing text entry effort while maintaining the reduced keyboard configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by extracting and replicating words that already exist in the message thread into a candidate word list. Instead of requiring users to type words from scratch using keystroke interpretation, the system copies relevant words directly from the context, significantly reducing text entry time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If users manually type words using the keyboard, then text entry is possible, but the process is cumbersome especially for lengthy or unfamiliar words

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetext entry efficiencyVSAvoiduser effort

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically scanning the message thread and generating a word list of candidate words before the user needs to enter text. This pre-processing eliminates the need for users to manually type lengthy or unfamiliar words, directly reducing text entry effort while maintaining the reduced keyboard configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the system to automatically provide candidate words from the message thread without requiring users to manually search or type. The system serves itself by generating the word list and presenting relevant options, allowing users to simply select rather than type, thereby improving productivity and reducing effort

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9020975B2Handheld electronic device with assisted text entry using existing message thread, and associated method

Publication Date: 2015.04.28 MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LTD

AI summary

A method of facilitating the entry of text into a new message generated by a messaging application of a handheld electronic device is provided that includes receiving a command to reply to or forward a received message that is included within a message thread, scanning the message thread, identifying a plurality of words in the message thread, generating one or more word lists that include the identified words, and displaying the one or more word lists. The method further includes receiving a selection of a selected one of the words from the one or more word lists, and entering the selected one of the words into the new message. Also provided is an improved handheld electronic device that implements the described method.