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.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, via an input device, entry of user input including a sequence of data entry key presses;   searching a plurality of databases for entries consistent with characters indicated by the user input received, the searching operation beginning after an initial one of the data entry key presses and continuing during subsequent data entry key presses;   utilizing a human-readable display to present one or more entries found by the searching operation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more entries found by the searching operation includes an icon associated with one of the databases. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the icon is selectable by the user to initiate an action associated with the respective database. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising suppressing presentation of one or more entries found by the searching operation. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising suppressing presentation of one or more entries found by the searching operation until a first predetermined period elapses from a most recent one of the data entry key presses. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of the databases is a predictive text database, and further comprising suppressing presentation of one or more entries found by the searching operation based on entries in the predictive text database. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the predictive text database utilizes an n-gram model. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input device is a touch screen display. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input device is a keypad. 
     
     
         10 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, said instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform:
 receiving, via an input device, entry of user input including a sequence of data entry key presses;   searching a plurality of databases for entries consistent with characters indicated by the user input received, the searching operation beginning after an initial one of the data entry key presses and continuing during subsequent data entry key presses;   utilizing a human-readable display to present one or more entries found by the searching operation.   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more entries found by the searching operation includes an icon associated with one of the databases. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the icon is selectable by the user to initiate an action associated with the respective database. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , further storing instructions that when executed cause the processor to suppress presentation of one or more entries found by the searching operation. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , storing instructions that when executed cause the processor to suppress presentation of one or more entries found by the searching operation until a first predetermined period elapses from a most recent one of the data entry key presses. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein one of the databases is a predictive text database, and further storing instructions that when executed cause the processor to suppress presentation of one or more entries found by the searching operation based on entries in the predictive text database. 
     
     
         16 . A system comprising:
 a processor coupled to a memory;   an input device comprising keys, the input device configured for receiving user input including a sequence of data entry key presses;   a plurality of databases storing searchable entries, wherein each entry of the searchable entries is stored in association with a sequence of characters, and wherein a database of the plurality of databases is configured to be searched for entries stored in association with received user input;   wherein the database is searched beginning after an initial one of the data entry key presses and continuing during subsequent data entry key presses; and   an output device comprising a human-readable display configured for presenting one or more entries found by searching the database.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 one of the databases of the plurality of databases is a predictive text database;   the human-readable display configured to suppress presentation of the one or more entries found by searching the database; and   the one or more entries are found in the predictive text database.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the predictive text database utilizes an n-gram model. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the input device is a touch screen display. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the input device is a keypad.