Information entry mechanism for small keypads

Abstract

Presentation of results of a predictive analysis of text is delayed until entry of the text by a user is paused by a particular amount of time. The results are available for selection by the user for another particular amount of time. After the other particular amount of time is expired, the results are no longer available to for selection. If a particular result is selected, the selected result either replaces or supplements the entered text.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for generating information in response to signals generated by a user, the method comprising: 
 generating a predictive interpretation of data intended by the user by the signals; and    postponing presentation of the predictive interpretation during a first interval of time.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method includes: 
 presenting the predictive interpretation to the user after the first interval of time;    receiving an indication of a selection of the predictive interpretation from the user; and    accepting the selected predictive interpretation as accurately representing the data intended by the user.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of presenting includes: 
 displaying the selected predictive interpretation.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of presenting includes: 
 generating a voice synthesis of the selected predictive interpretation; and    outputting the voice synthesis through a speaker.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method includes: 
 determining that a second predetermined time interval has expired; and    changing a display characteristic to indicate that the predictive interpretation is not available.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of generating includes: 
 searching a predictive database for data corresponding to the one or more signals.    
     
     
         7 . A method for generating information in response to signals generated by a user, the method comprising: 
 determining that the signals from the user represent entered data;    predicting supplemental data from the entered data;    determining that the user has paused during generation of the signals for a first time interval of a predetermined length; and    presenting the supplemental data to the user.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the predicting includes: 
 searching a predictive database for the data.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the method includes: 
 receiving an indication of selection of the predicted supplemental data from the user; and    modifying the entered data in accordance with the supplemental data.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the method includes: 
 determining that a second predetermined time period has expired; and    changing a display characteristic to indicate that the supplemental data is not available.    
     
     
         11 . A method for generating information in response to signals generated by a user, the method comprising: 
 receiving data from a user;    predicting at least one character from the data;    determining that a first time-interval has expired since the receiving;    presenting the at least one character for selection by the user after the first time-interval;    receiving an indication of selection of the at least one character from the user; and    modifying the data in accordance with the selected character.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the predicting includes: 
 searching a predictive database for the data.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the method includes: 
 changing a characteristic of a display to indicate that the selection is not available, after expiration of a second predetermined time interval.    
     
     
         14 . A computer readable medium useful in association with a computer which includes a processor and a memory, the computer readable medium including computer instructions which are configured to cause the computer to provide predictive interpretation of a plurality of user input signals by performing the steps of: 
 generating in the memory a predictive interpretation of data intended by the user by the signals; and    postponing presentation of the predictive interpretation to an output device during a first interval of time.    
     
     
         15 . The computer readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein execution of the computer instructions cause the computer to also perform the steps of: 
 presenting the predictive interpretation to the user through the output device after the first interval of time;    receiving an indication of a selection of the predictive interpretation from the user through an input device; and    accepting the selected predictive interpretation as data specified by the one or more user input gestures.    
     
     
         16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the step of presenting includes: 
 displaying the selected predictive interpretation.    
     
     
         17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the step of presenting includes: 
 generating a voice synthesis of the selected predictive interpretation; and    outputting the voice synthesis through a speaker.    
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the computer instructions are configured to cause the computer to perform the following additional steps: 
 determining that a second predetermined time interval has expired; and    changing a display characteristic to indicate that the predictive interpretation is not available.    
     
     
         19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the step of generating includes: 
 searching a predictive database for data corresponding to the one or more signals.    
     
     
         20 . A computer readable medium useful in association with a computer which includes a processor and a memory, the computer readable medium including computer instructions which are configured to cause the computer to provide predictive interpretation of one or more user input signals by performing the steps of: 
 generating in a memory a predictive interpretation during a first time interval of signals of one or more user input gestures; and    postponing presentation of the predictive interpretation to an output device during the first interval of time.    
     
     
         21 . The computer readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein the computer instructions are configured to cause the computer to perform the following additional steps: 
 presenting the predictive interpretation to the user through the output device after the first interval of time;    receiving an indication of a selection of the predictive interpretation from the user through an input device; and    accepting the selected predictive interpretation as data specified by the one or more user input gestures.    
     
     
         22 . The computer readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the step of presenting includes: 
 displaying the selected predictive interpretation.    
     
     
         23 . The computer readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein the step of presenting includes: 
 generating a voice synthesis of the selected predictive interpretation; and    outputting the voice synthesis through a speaker.    
     
     
         24 . The computer readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein the computer instructions are configured to cause the computer to perform the following additional steps: 
 determining that a second predetermined time interval has expired; and    changing a display characteristic to indicate that the predictive interpretation is not available.    
     
     
         25 . The computer readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein the step of generating includes: 
 searching a predictive database for data corresponding to the one or more signals.    
     
     
         26 . A computer readable medium useful in association with a computer which includes a processor and a memory, the computer readable medium including computer instructions which are configured to cause the computer to provide predictive interpretation of user input signals, by performing the steps of: 
 determining that the signals from the user represent entered data;    predicting supplemental data from the received data;    determining that the user has paused during entry of the data for a first predetermined time interval; and    presenting the supplemental data to the user.    
     
     
         27 . The computer readable medium of  claim 26 , wherein the predicting includes: 
 searching a predictive database for the data.    
     
     
         28 . The computer readable medium of  claim 26 , wherein the computer instructions are configured to cause the computer to perform the following additional steps: 
 receiving an indication of selection of the predicted supplemental data from the user; and    modifying the data in accordance with the supplemental data.    
     
     
         29 . The computer readable medium of  claim 26 , wherein the computer instructions are configured to cause the computer to perform the following additional steps: 
 determining that a second predetermined time period has expired; and    changing a display characteristic to indicate that the supplemental data is not available.    
     
     
         30 . A computer readable medium useful in association with a computer which includes a processor and a memory, the computer readable medium including computer instructions which are configured to cause the computer to provide predictive interpretation of a plurality of user input signals, by performing the steps of: 
 receiving data from a user;    predicting at least one character from the data;    determining that a first time-interval has expired since the receiving;    presenting the predicted character for selection by the user after the first time-interval;    receiving an indication of selection of the predicted character from the user; and    modifying the data in accordance with the selected character.    
     
     
         31 . The computer readable medium of  claim 30 , wherein the predicting includes: 
 searching a predictive database for the data.    
     
     
         32 . The computer readable medium of  claim 30 , wherein the computer instructions are configured to cause the computer to perform the following additional steps: 
 changing a characteristic of the display to indicate that the selection is not available, after expiration of a second predetermined time interval.    
     
     
         33 . A computer system comprising: 
 a processor;    a memory operatively coupled to the processor; and    a predictive interpreter which executes in the processor from the memory and which, when executed by the processor, causes the computer to provide predictive interpretation of a plurality of user input signals, by performing the steps of: 
 generating a predictive interpretation of data intended by the user by the signals; and  
 postponing presentation of the predictive interpretation during a first interval of time.  
   
     
     
         34 . The computer system of  claim 33 , wherein the predictive interpreter, when executed, performs the following additional step: 
 presenting the predictive interpretation to the user after the first interval of time;    receiving an indication of a selection of the predictive interpretation from the user; and    accepting the selected predictive interpretation as accurately representing the data intended by the user.    
     
     
         35 . The computer system of  claim 34 , wherein the step of presenting includes: 
 displaying the selected predictive interpretation.    
     
     
         36 . The computer system of  claim 34 , wherein the step of presenting includes: 
 generating a voice synthesis of the selected predictive interpretation; and    outputting the voice synthesis through a speaker.    
     
     
         37 . The computer system of  claim 33 , wherein the predictive interpreter, when executed, performs the following additional steps: 
 determining that a second predetermined time interval has expired; and    changing a display characteristic to indicate that the predictive interpretation is not available.    
     
     
         38 . The computer system of  claim 33 , wherein the step of generating includes: 
 searching a predictive database for data corresponding to the one or more signals.    
     
     
         39 . A computer system comprising: 
 a processor;    a memory operatively coupled to the processor; and    a predictive interpreter which executes in the processor from the memory and which, when executed by the processor, causes the computer to provide predictive interpretation of a plurality of user input signals, by performing the steps of: 
 determining that the signals from the user represent entered data;  
 predicting supplemental data from the received text;  
 determining that the user has paused during entry of the data for a first predetermined time interval; and  
 presenting the supplemental data to the user.  
   
     
     
         40 . The computer system of  claim 39 , wherein the predicting includes: 
 searching a predictive database for the data.    
     
     
         41 . The computer system of  claim 39 , wherein the predictive interpreter, when executed, performs the following additional steps: 
 receiving an indication of selection of the predicted supplemental data from the user; and    modifying the data in accordance with the supplemental data.    
     
     
         42 . The computer system of  claim 39 , wherein the predictive interpreter, when executed, performs the following additional steps: 
 determining that a second predetermined time period has expired; and    changing a display characteristic to indicate that the supplemental data is not available.    
     
     
         43 . A computer system comprising: 
 a processor;    a memory operatively coupled to the processor; and    a predictive interpreter which executes in the processor from the memory and which, when executed by the processor, causes the computer to provide predictive interpretation of a plurality of user input signals, by performing the steps of: 
 receiving data from a user;  
 predicting at least one character from the data;  
 determining that a first time-interval has expired since the receiving;  
 presenting the predicted character for selection by the user after the first time-interval;  
 receiving an indication of selection of the predicted character from the user; and  
 modifying the data in accordance with the selected character.  
   
     
     
         44 . The computer system of  claim 43 , wherein the predicting includes: 
 searching a predictive database for the data.    
     
     
         45 . The computer system of  claim 43 , wherein the predictive interpreter, when executed, performs the following additional step: 
 changing a characteristic of a display to indicate that the selection is not available, after expiration of a second predetermined time interval.