Touchscreen keyboard predictive display and generation of a set of characters

Abstract

A method including receiving an input of a character from a virtual keyboard rendered on a display, generating a set of characters that includes the character, and displaying the generated set of characters at a location that is associated with the virtual keyboard and that is on the display. An electronic device including a display having a virtual keyboard rendered thereupon and a processor, the processor being configured to perform the method. Also disclosed is a keyboard, including a plurality of keys, each key corresponding to one or more different characters of a plurality of characters, wherein in response to receiving an input of a character, the keyboard is configured to generate a set of characters that includes the character, and the keyboard is further configured to cause display of the generated set of characters at a location that is associated with the virtual keyboard and that is on the display.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 receiving an input of one or more characters from a virtual keyboard, wherein the virtual keyboard comprises a plurality of character keys and at least some the keys are configured for displaying characters;   displaying one or more first predicted words, each of the first predicted words being displayed at one or more first select locations within the virtual keyboard; and   in response to receiving an input reflecting selection of one of the first predicted words, displaying one or more predicted sets of characters at one or more second select locations within the virtual keyboard, the one or more second select locations being selected using one or more subsequent candidate input characters corresponding to the one or more predicted sets of characters.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each of the predicted sets of characters is positioned adjacent the one or more corresponding subsequent candidate input characters corresponding to the one or more predicted sets of characters. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each of the predicted sets of characters is positioned in a manner that does not overlap with any other key on the virtual keyboard. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each of the predicted sets of characters comprises at least one of a word or an affix. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein each affix corresponds to the selected one of the first predicted words. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more first select locations are selected using one or more subsequent candidate input characters corresponding to the one or more first predicted words. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the predicted sets of characters is displayed on a space key of the keyboard. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the displayed predicted sets of characters is displayed in a form that enhances visibility of each of the predicted sets of characters. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 receiving an input reflecting a selection of one of the displayed predicted sets of characters in an input field.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein in response to receiving the input reflecting the selection of the one of the displayed predicted sets of characters, displaying one or more additional predicted sets of characters at one or more third select locations within the virtual keyboard, the one or more third select locations being selected using one or more subsequent candidate input characters corresponding to the one or more additional predicted sets of characters. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein each of the additional predicted sets of characters comprises at least one of a word or an affix. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein each affix corresponds to the displayed one or more predicted sets of characters. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein one of the one or more displayed predicted sets of characters is selected for display in an input field by detecting a swipe at or near said one of the one or more predicted sets of characters or a pressing of a key for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the inputted one or more first predicted words is displayed adjacent the selected one or more predicted sets of characters in the input field. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein a space is displayed between the one or more first predicted words and the selected one or more predicted sets of characters. 
     
     
         33 . An electronic device comprising:
 a display having a virtual keyboard rendered thereupon, and a processor;   the processor configured to perform:
 receiving an input of one or more characters from the virtual keyboard, wherein the virtual keyboard comprises a plurality of character keys and at least some the keys are configured for displaying characters; 
 displaying one or more first predicted words, each of first predicted words being displayed at one or more first select locations within the virtual keyboard; and 
 in response to receiving an input reflecting selection of one of the first predicted words, displaying one or more predicted sets of characters at one or more second select locations within the virtual keyboard, the one or more second select locations being selected using one or more subsequent candidate input characters corresponding to the one or more predicted sets of characters. 
   
     
     
         34 . A keyboard rendered on a display of an electronic device, the keyboard comprising:
 a plurality of keys, each key corresponding to one or more different characters of a plurality of characters,   wherein in response to receiving an input of one or more characters, the electronic device is configured to:
 display one or more first predicted words, each of the first predicted words being displayed at one or more first select locations within the virtual keyboard; and 
 in response to receiving an input reflecting selection of one of the first predicted words, display one or more predicted sets of characters at one or more second select locations within the virtual keyboard, the one or more second select locations being selected using one or more subsequent candidate input characters corresponding to the one or more predicted sets of characters.