Handheld Device Text Entry via Message Thread Word Lists

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Solution Overview

Problem

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

Innovation Solution

A method and device that automatically generate and display word lists from an existing message thread, allowing users to easily select and enter words by categorizing them based on length or grammatical classification, and also maintain a list of frequently used words for quick access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a reduced keyboard is used in handheld electronic devices, then device portability and compactness are improved, but text entry efficiency and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoidtext entry efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically scanning the message thread and generating a categorized word list before the user needs to enter text. This pre-processing of potential words eliminates the need for users to manually type lengthy or unfamiliar words, thereby maintaining device compactness while significantly improving text entry efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system serves itself by automatically extracting and categorizing words from the message thread context. Instead of requiring user effort to find or type words, the system autonomously prepares a curated word list with categories such as lengthy words, unfamiliar words, and frequently used words, allowing users to simply select from the pre-organized options.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If keystroke interpretation systems are used to maximize key functionality, then keyboard versatility is improved, but text entry complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvekeyboard versatilityVSAvoidtext entry time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-generates a word list from the message thread with automatic categorization into groups such as lengthy words, unfamiliar words, and frequently used words. This preliminary organization allows users to quickly locate desired words without navigating complex multi-tap or chording systems, significantly reducing text entry time while maintaining keyboard versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary word list between the user and the keyboard input process. Instead of directly interacting with the complex keystroke interpretation system, users interact with the simplified word list interface, which mediates the translation of user selection into the appropriate keystroke sequences, thereby reducing perceived complexity and entry time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If users manually type words from message threads, then text entry accuracy is improved, but user effort and time expenditure increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetext entry accuracyVSAvoiduser effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically extracting words from the message thread, categorizing them, and presenting them for user selection. This eliminates the manual typing effort while maintaining accuracy, as users can simply select from the pre-extracted words that are already contextually relevant to the conversation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary word extraction and categorization before the user needs to input text. By pre-identifying relevant words from the message thread and organizing them into categories, the system ensures accurate text entry while minimizing user effort to merely selection rather than typing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP1868064B1Handheld electronic device with assisted text entry using existing message thread, and associated method
Publication Date: 2018.12.19 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP1868064B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1868064B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP1868064B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

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.