Method of facilitating user input in handheld electronic device employing a text disambiguation function

Abstract

Methods of facilitating input into a handheld electronic device based on the intent of the user wherein possible intended inputs generated by the text disambiguation function of the handheld electronic device are grouped and displayed in particular directional orientations. A multi-directional navigation mechanism may then be used to select a particular one of the possible intended inputs by providing a direction input that corresponds to the direction of the group that includes the desired possible intended input.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method for facilitating input into a handheld electronic device having a text disambiguation function, a display, and a keyboard having a plurality of keys, one or more of the keys having multiple characters associated therewith, the method comprising:
 receiving an ambiguous input resulting from a selection of a plurality of the keys;   generating a plurality of possible intended input strings based on the ambiguous input using the text disambiguation function, the possible intended input strings including a default string;   displaying the possible intended input strings on the display in a first directional orientation relative to a reference location on the display, the default string being positioned at the reference location;   receiving a selection of a character of the default string;   generating a single-character variant containing an alternate character, the alternate character and the selected character of the default string being associated with a same key; and   displaying the single-character variant in a second directional orientation relative to the reference location, the second directional orientation being different from the first directional orientation.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 receiving a selection of one of the possible intended input strings based on a directional input, the directional input being in a direction that corresponds to the first directional orientation.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein displaying the single-character variant in the second directional orientation includes displaying the single-character variant in a directional orientation parallel and opposite to the first directional orientation. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein receiving the selection of a character of the default string includes receiving a directional input, the directional input being in a direction corresponding to a text input direction or opposite to the text input direction. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein displaying the possible intended input strings in the first directional orientation includes displaying the possible intended input strings in a directional orientation perpendicular to the text input direction. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 receiving a selection of the single-character variant; and   responsive to the selection of the single-character variant, replacing the selected character of the default string by the alternate character.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein generating the possible intended input strings include generating possible intended input strings having a same number of characters. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein generating the possible intended input strings includes generating possible intended words. 
     
     
         31 . A handheld electronic device, comprising:
 a keyboard having a plurality of keys, one or more of the keys having multiple characters associated therewith;   a display; and   a processor configured to:
 receive an ambiguous input resulting from a selection of a plurality of the keys; 
 generate a plurality of possible intended input strings based on the ambiguous input using the text disambiguation function, the possible intended input strings including a default string; 
 display the possible intended input strings on the display in a first directional orientation relative to a reference location on the display, the default string being positioned at the reference location; 
 receive a selection of a character of the default string; 
 generate a single-character variant containing an alternate character, the alternate character and the selected character of the default string being associated with a same key; and 
 display the single-character variant in a second directional orientation relative to the reference location, the second directional orientation being different from the first directional orientation. 
   
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive a selection of one of the possible intended input strings based on a directional input, the directional input being in a direction that corresponds to the first directional orientation.   
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the second directional orientation is parallel and opposite to the first directional orientation. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the selection of a character of the default string is based on a directional input, the directional input being in a direction corresponding to a text input direction or opposite to the text input direction. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the first directional orientation is perpendicular to the text input direction. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive a selection of the single-character variant; and   responsive to the selection of the single-character variant, replace the selected character of the default string by the alternate character.   
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the possible intended input strings have a same number of characters. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein each of the possible intended input strings represents a word.