Keyboardless text entry

Abstract

Keyboardless text entry methods and systems are described. Various display tools are used in conjunction with, for example, pointing, scrolling and/or clicking actions to enter text into an interface.

1 . A method for entering characters into an interface, comprising the steps of: 
 displaying a text entry tool having a center and a plurality of sectors relative to said center, each of said sectors associated with at least one character;    selecting one of said characters by selecting an associated sector; and    entering said selected one of said characters into said interface in response to a predetermined event occurring subsequent to said selection step.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of said sectors is associated with one and only one of said plurality of characters.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of selecting one of said characters further comprises the step of: 
 positioning a cursor over said associated sector.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of selecting one of said characters further comprises the step of: 
 moving between said plurality of sectors using a scroll wheel.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined event is expiration of a timer which starts after said associated sector has been selected.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said timer has a value which is manually adjustable.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said timer has a value which is automatically adjustable based on a user's previous character selection behavior.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the text entry tool is circular and contains the letters “A” to “Z”, each of which are associated with one of said plurality of sectors.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the cursor can be positioned outside of an area contained within a perimeter of said text entry tool to select a character.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 displaying characters as they are entered in a text box; and    displaying a list of potential text entries based on previously entered characters    
     
     
         11 . An interface input method, comprising the steps of; 
 selecting one of a plurality of objects provided on a display, said selected object being associated with at least one character from a first group of characters;    zooming into said selected object;    revealing a plurality of additional objects, each associated with one character from a second group of characters, said second group of characters including those characters which are potentially selectable given said at least one character from said first group; and    selecting one of said plurality of additional objects to enter a text into an interface.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said objects have a rectangular shape.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of: 
 displaying each object with an area that is proportional to the probability of that object being selected.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of: 
 displaying each of said objects at a first magnification level; and    zooming into said additional objects by changing to a second magnification level.    
     
     
         15 . An interface input method, comprising the steps of: 
 selecting one of a plurality of objects provided on a display, said selected object being associated with at least one character from a first group of characters;    zooming into said selected object; and    revealing a plurality of additional objects, each associated with a subsequent selection that is related to the selected at least one character.    
     
     
         16 . The interface method of  claim 15 , wherein said additional objects are movie titles.  
     
     
         17 . The interface method of  claim 15 , wherein said additional objects are images associated with media items.  
     
     
         18 . An interface input method comprising the steps of: 
 displaying two rows of keys proximate an edge of a display screen, each key being associated with one character;    selecting one of said keys;    displaying said one character associated with said selected key in a text box on said display screen; and    displaying candidate items for selections in a display area beside said two rows of keys, wherein said candidate items for selection are chosen based on text displayed in said text box.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said displayed candidate items are images associated with movies.  
     
     
         20 . A keyboardless text entry interface comprising: 
 a text entry tool displayed on a screen having a center and a plurality of sectors relative to said center, each of said sectors associated with at least one character;    a selection mechanism for selecting one of said characters by selecting an associated sector; and    a text box for displaying said selected one of said characters after entry in response to a predetermined event occurrence.    
     
     
         21 . The keyboardless text entry interface of  claim 20 , wherein each of said sectors is associated with one and only one of said plurality of characters.  
     
     
         22 . The keyboardless text entry interface of  claim 20 , wherein said selection mechanism includes a cursor operating in conjunction with a pointing device.  
     
     
         23 . The keyboardless text entry interface of  claim 20 , wherein said selection mechanism includes a scroll wheel.  
     
     
         24 . The keyboardless text entry interface of  claim 20 , wherein said predetermined event is expiration of a timer which starts after said associated sector has been selected.  
     
     
         25 . The keyboardless text entry interface of  claim 24 , wherein said timer has a value which is manually adjustable.  
     
     
         26 . The keyboardless text entry interface of  claim 24 , wherein said timer has a value which is automatically adjustable based on a user's previous character selection behavior.  
     
     
         27 . The keyboardless text entry interface of  claim 20 , wherein the text entry tool is circular and contains the letters “A” to “Z”, each of which are associated with one of said plurality of sectors.  
     
     
         28 . The keyboardless text entry interface of  claim 22 , wherein the cursor can be positioned outside of an area contained within a perimeter of said text entry tool to select a character.  
     
     
         29 . The keyboardless text entry interface of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 a list of potential text entries populated based on previously entered characters    
     
     
         30 . A computer-readable medium containing a program which, when executed, performs the steps of: 
 displaying a text entry tool having a center and a plurality of sectors relative to said center, each of said sectors associated with at least one character;    selecting one of said characters by selecting an associated sector; and    entering said selected one of said characters into said interface in response to a predetermined event occurring subsequent to said selection step.    
     
     
         31 . A system for entering characters into an interface, comprising: 
 means for displaying a text entry tool having a center and a plurality of sectors relative to said center, each of said sectors associated with at least one character;    means for selecting one of said characters by selecting an associated sector; and    means for entering said selected one of said characters into said interface in response to a predetermined event occurring subsequent to said selection step.    
     
     
         32 . A computer-readable medium containing a program which, when executed, performs the steps of: 
 selecting one of a plurality of objects provided on a display, said selected object being associated with at least one character from a first group of characters;    zooming into said selected object;    revealing a plurality of additional objects, each associated with one character from a second group of characters, said second group of characters including those characters which are potentially selectable given said at least one character from said first group; and    selecting one of said plurality of additional objects to enter a text into an interface.    
     
     
         33 . An interface input system comprising: 
 means for selecting one of a plurality of objects provided on a display, said selected object being associated with at least one character from a first group of characters;    means for zooming into said selected object;    means for revealing a plurality of additional objects, each associated with one character from a second group of characters, said second group of characters including those characters which are potentially selectable given said at least one character from said first group; and    means for selecting one of said plurality of additional objects to enter a text into an interface.    
     
     
         34 . A computer-readable medium containing a program which, when executed, performs the steps of: 
 selecting one of a plurality of objects provided on a display, said selected object being associated with at least one character from a first group of characters;    zooming into said selected object; and    revealing a plurality of additional objects, each associated with a subsequent selection that is related to the selected at least one character.    
     
     
         35 . An interface input system comprising: 
 means for selecting one of a plurality of objects provided on a display, said selected object being associated with at least one character from a first group of characters;    means for zooming into said selected object; and    means for revealing a plurality of additional objects, each associated with a subsequent selection that is related to the selected at least one character.    
     
     
         36 . A computer-readable medium containing a program which, when executed, performs the steps of: 
 displaying two rows of keys proximate an edge of a display screen, each key being associated with one character;    selecting one of said keys;    displaying said one character associated with said selected key in a text box on said display screen; and    displaying candidate items for selections in a display area beside said two rows of keys, wherein said candidate items for selection are chosen based on text displayed in said text box.    
     
     
         37 . A system for keyboardless text entry comprising: 
 means for displaying two rows of keys proximate an edge of a display screen, each key being associated with one character;    means for selecting one of said keys;    means for displaying said one character associated with said selected key in a text box on said display screen; and    means for displaying candidate items for selections in a display area beside said two rows of keys, wherein said candidate items for selection are chosen based on text displayed in said text box.