Integrated keypad system

Abstract

A data entry system includes a predefined number of keys for at least inputting arbitrary characters through the keys. The data entry system uses a number of symbols having at least the letters of the alphabet of at least one language and where the symbols are assigned to the keys such that at least two of the letters are assigned to at least one of the keys. A symbol assigned to a key is inputted by providing a predefined type of interaction such as one type of pressing action on the key and providing a speech information corresponding to the symbol. The speech information is detected and analyzed based on at least one of, a user's voice and a user's lips movements. The data entry system uses a database of words of a language such that in order to enter a word of the database a user provides a combined information corresponding to the word, where the combined information includes a first and second type of information. The first type of information includes entering precisely at least one of the letters of the word by providing a corresponding pressing action on a key corresponding to the at least one letter and speaking the at least one letter. The second type of information includes providing the key presses corresponding to at least some of the other characters of the word, and based on the combined information, the system predicts the word.

1 . A data entry system comprising; 
 a predefined number of keys for at least inputting arbitrary characters through said keys, wherein;    said data entry system uses a number of symbols comprising at least the letters of the alphabet of at least one language and wherein said symbols are assigned to said keys such that at least two of said letters are assigned to at least one of said keys, and wherein;    a symbol assigned to a key, is inputted by providing a predefined type of interaction with said key such as one of at least one type of pressing action on said key and providing a speech information corresponding to said symbol for selecting said symbol among the symbols that are assigned to said key, and wherein said speech information is detected and analyzed based on at least one of, a user's voice and a user's lips movements, and wherein;    said data entry system uses a database of words of a language such that in order to enter a word of said database a user provides a combined information corresponding to said word, wherein said combined information includes;    a first type of information including of entering precisely at least one of the letters of said word by providing a corresponding pressing action on a key corresponding to said at least one letter and speaking said at least one letter; and    a second type of information including of providing the key presses corresponding to at least some of the other characters of said word, and wherein based on said combined information, the system predicts said word.    
   
   
       2 . The data entry system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least some of the other characters of said word are all of the other characters of said word.  
   
   
       3 . The data entry system according to  claim 1 , wherein said arbitrary characters constitute a chain of characters entered by providing key presses corresponding to the characters of said chain of characters and providing the speech of each of said characters.  
   
   
       4 . The data entry system according to  claim 3 , wherein said chain of characters is a word of a language.  
   
   
       5 . The data entry system according to  claim 1 , wherein further a word of a language is entered by providing the key presses corresponding to said word and speaking said word.  
   
   
       6 . The data entry system according to  claim 1 , wherein symbols having ambiguously resembling speech information and that are hard to distinguish from each other through their corresponding speech information, are separately assigned to different keys.  
   
   
       7 . The data entry system according to  claim 1 , wherein said symbol is a letter of the alphabet and said speech information is speaking said letter.  
   
   
       8 . The data entry system according to  claim 1 , wherein the absence of speech is said speech information, and wherein at least one of said symbols assigned to a key is inputted by providing said predefined interaction with said key in the absence of a speech, said absence of speech being detected by said system.  
   
   
       9 . The data entry system according to  claim 1 , wherein said number of symbols includes at least one of at least numerical characters, punctuation mark characters, commands, and functions.  
   
   
       10 . The data entry system according to  claim 1 , wherein said number of keys comprises twelve keys duplicating the key configuration of a telephone-type keypad, wherein at least substantially all of said letters are assigned to said key configuration preferably duplicating the configuration of the Roman letters of a standard telephone-type keypad.  
   
   
       11 . The data entry system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least substantially all of said letters are assigned to four keys of said number of keys.  
   
   
       12 . The data entry system according to  claim 1 , wherein keys are sensitive keys such as touch sensitive keys or pressing sensitive keys.  
   
   
       13 . The data entry system according to  claim 1 , wherein said type of pressing action is one of at least a single-taping action, a double tapping action, a press and holding action, or a gliding action on said key.  
   
   
       14 . The data entry system according to  claim 13 , wherein two different types of said pressing actions on a key, correspond to two different groups of symbols on said key.  
   
   
       15 . The data entry system according to  claim 1 , wherein said type of pressing action is pressing said key and at least one other key, wherein said pressing actions are preferably provided simultaneously.  
   
   
       16 . The data entry system according to  claim 15 , wherein symbols such as some of at least one of the punctuation mark characters, commands, or functions, are assigned to said type of interaction.  
   
   
       17 . The data entry system according to  claim 1 , wherein said keys are the predefined zones of a sensitive surface, and wherein said type of pressing action is providing a pressing action with one of the tip portion or the flat portion of a user's finger on at least one of said zones, wherein providing a pressing action with the tip portion of the user's finger on a zone on said surface corresponds to a first group of symbols assigned to said zone, and providing a pressing action with the flat portion of the user's finger on said zone or on another zone on said surface corresponds to a second group of symbols assigned to said zone.  
   
   
       18 . The data entry system according to  claim 17 , wherein each of two similar types of pressing actions provided by each of two user's fingers, wherein each pressing action provided on a different predefined zone on said surface, corresponds to a different group of symbols.  
   
   
       19 . The data entry system according to  claim 1 , wherein the frequently used symbols such as letters are inputted by providing the easiest type of pressing action such as single tapping action.  
   
   
       20 . The data entry system according to  claim 1 , wherein said type of pressing action is provided by a stylus such as the stylus used with a digitizer surface.  
   
   
       21 . The data entry system according to  claim 1 , wherein said number of keys are soft keys that are dynamically defined on a surface such as a touch sensitive surface and wherein; 
 said number of symbols form different groups of symbols wherein each of some of at least one predefined group of said symbols corresponds to one of said types of interaction provided on a position on said surface having a predefined position relationship relating to at least one other of said types of interaction provided on at least one other position on said surface and wherein;    based on said position relationship of said at least two interactions provided on at least two different positions on said surface, the system identifies the predefined group of symbols assigned to at least one of said interaction on the corresponding position.    
   
   
       22 . The data entry system according to  claim 21 , wherein said pressing actions having said position relationship relating to each to other may be provided on any region on said surface.  
   
   
       23 . The data entry system according to  claim 21 , wherein said positions of said pressing actions provided on said surface duplicate predefined keys of a predefined keypad.  
   
   
       24 . The data entry system according to  claim 23 , wherein said keypad comprises at least ten keys wherein to ten of said keys substantially all of the letters of the alphabet of at least one language are assigned.  
   
   
       25 . The data entry system according to  claim 24 , wherein each of said positions is pressed by a different user's finger.  
   
   
       26 . The data entry system according to  claim 23 , wherein said keypad comprises at least four keys wherein to four of said keys substantially all of the letters of the alphabet of at least one language are assigned.  
   
   
       27 . The data entry system according to  claim 26 , wherein each two of said four positions if pressed by one of said user's finger.  
   
   
       28 . The data entry system according to  claim 27 , wherein each of said two positions is pressed by a different portion of a user's finger.  
   
   
       29 . The data entry system according to  claim 28 , wherein one of said positions is pressed by the tip portion of a user's finger, and the other position is pressed by the flat portion of the user's finger.  
   
   
       30 . The data entry system according to  claim 1 , wherein said type of pressing action is provided by at least one of at least a first and a second predefined user's fingers on said surface.  
   
   
       31 . The data entry system according to  claim 1 , wherein said number of symbols includes substantially all of the elementary symbols such as alphanumerical characters, punctuation mark characters and commands, to input or edit a text and/or to manipulate a computer.  
   
   
       32 . The data entry system according to  claim 1 , wherein a word of a language is inputted character by character.  
   
   
       33 . A data entry system comprising: 
 a predefined number of keys for at least inputting arbitrary characters through said keys, wherein;    said data entry system uses a number of symbols comprising at least some of one of at least the numerical characters, the punctuation mark characters, and the commands, of a keyboard such as a computer keyboard and wherein said symbols are assigned to said keys such that at least two of said symbols are assigned to at least one of said keys, and wherein;    a symbol assigned to a key is inputted by providing a predefined type of interaction with said key such as one of at least one type of pressing action on said key and providing a speech information corresponding to said symbol for selecting said symbol among symbols that are assigned to said key, and wherein said speech information is detected and analyzed based on at least one of a user's voice and a user's lips movements.    
   
   
       34 . The data entry system according to  claim 33 , wherein symbols having ambiguously resembling speech information and that are hard to distinguish from each other through their corresponding speech information, are separately assigned to different position on said surface.  
   
   
       35 . The data entry system according to  claim 33 , wherein the absence of speech is said speech information, and wherein at least one of said symbols assigned to a key is inputted by providing said predefined interaction with said key in the absence of a speech, said absence of speech being detected by said system.  
   
   
       36 . The data entry system according to  claim 33 , wherein said type of pressing action is one of at least, a single-taping action, a double tapping action, a press and holding action, or a gliding action on said key.  
   
   
       37 . The data entry system according to  claim 36 , wherein two different types of said pressing actions on a key correspond to two different groups of symbols on said key.  
   
   
       38 . The data entry system according to  claim 33 , wherein said type of pressing action is pressing said key and at least one other key wherein said pressing actions are preferably provided simultaneously.  
   
   
       39 . The data entry system according to  claim 38 , wherein symbols such as some of at least one of the punctuation mark characters, commands, or functions, are assigned to said type of interaction.