Character input method and display apparatus

Abstract

A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes: a display configured to display a virtual keyboard; an inputter configured to receive a stroke input on a key on the virtual keyboard; and a controller configured to display a character which corresponds to the key in an input window in response to the stroke input being received, and configured to perform a control operation to suggest at least one character that is likely to follow a character which corresponds to the key and display the at least one suggested character. The at least one suggested character is displayed so as not to overlap a character of a basic key on the virtual keyboard.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A display apparatus comprising:
 a display configured to display a virtual keyboard;   an inputter configured to receive a stroke input on a key on the virtual keyboard; and   a controller configured to display a character corresponding to the key in an input window in response to the stroke input being received, and configured to perform a control operation to suggest at least one character that is likely to follow a character which corresponds to the key and display the at least one suggested character, and   wherein the at least one suggested character is displayed so as not to overlap a character of a basic key on the virtual keyboard.   
     
     
         2 . The display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller arranges the at least one suggested character on a diagonal direction at a corner of the stroke-input key. 
     
     
         3 . The display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one suggested character is displayed on a side of the stroke-input key with the shape of the at least one suggested character being changed. 
     
     
         4 . The display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to display the at least one suggested character on a side of the stroke-input key, and
 wherein the controller changes a location of another key adjacent to the stroke-input key and displays the another key.   
     
     
         5 . The display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one suggested character is transparently displayed on a side of the stroke-input key. 
     
     
         6 . The display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to perform a control operation to display a key which corresponds to the at least one suggested character on the virtual keyboard to be distinguished from other keys. 
     
     
         7 . The display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to a pointer being placed on a certain key of the virtual keyboard, the controller is configured to perform a control operation to display the key on the virtual keyboard where the pointer is placed to be distinguished from other keys. 
     
     
         8 . The display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to a stroke being input onto the at least one suggested character, the controller is configured to display the at least one suggested character in the input window, and control the at least one suggested character to have the suggested character disappear from the virtual keyboard. 
     
     
         9 . The display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to a pointer being placed away from the at least one suggested character on the virtual keyboard by more than a predetermined distance, the controller is configured to control the at least one suggested character to have the suggested character disappear from the virtual keyboard. 
     
     
         10 . The display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to an input mode of the display apparatus being changed, the controller is configured to perform a control operation to display information on a display location of the at least one suggested character on a certain area of the virtual keyboard. 
     
     
         11 . The display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to an acceleration higher than a predetermined value being sensed in a direction of the at least one suggested character through a remote control apparatus, the controller is configured to control the at least one suggested character to have the suggested character disappear from the virtual keyboard. 
     
     
         12 . A character input method comprising:
 displaying a virtual keyboard;   receiving a stroke input on a key on the virtual keyboard; and   displaying a character which corresponds to the key in an input window in response to the stroke input being received, and suggesting at least one character that is likely to follow the character corresponding to the key and displaying the at least one suggested character, and   wherein the at least one suggested character is displayed so as not to overlap a basic key on the virtual keyboard.   
     
     
         13 . The character input method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one suggested character is arranged on a diagonal direction at a corner of the stroke-input key. 
     
     
         14 . The character input method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one suggested character is displayed on a side of the stroke-input key with the shape of the at least one suggested character being changed. 
     
     
         15 . The character input method of  claim 12 , wherein the suggesting the at least one character and displaying comprises displaying the at least one suggested character on a side of the stroke-input key, and changing a location of another key adjacent to the stroke-input key and displaying the another key. 
     
     
         16 . The character input method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one suggested character is transparently displayed on a side of the stroke-input key. 
     
     
         17 . The character input method of  claim 12 , further comprising displaying a key which corresponds to the at least one suggested character on the virtual keyboard to be distinguished from other keys. 
     
     
         18 . A character input method comprising:
 calling a character input screen;   selecting an input apparatus for inputting a character;   distinguishing a type of the input apparatus based on information on the selected input apparatus;   in response to a stroke input on a key on a virtual keyboard displayed on the character input screen being received, displaying a different user interface to display a suggested character according to the type of the input apparatus; and   in response to a stroke input on the suggestion character being received, displaying the suggested character in an input window.   
     
     
         19 . The character input method of  claim 18 , wherein the displaying the user interface comprises, in response to the input apparatus being a four-direction input apparatus or being in a four-direction input mode, and the stroke input on the key on the virtual keyboard displayed on the character input screen being received, displaying the suggested character on a side of the stroke-input key. 
     
     
         20 . The character input method of  claim 18 , wherein the displaying the user interface comprises displaying the suggestion character on a corner of the stroke-input key, in response to the input apparatus being a pointing input apparatus or being in a pointing input, and the stroke input on the key on the virtual keyboard displayed on the character input screen being received. 
     
     
         21 . A display apparatus comprising:
 an inputter configured to receive a stroke input for a key on a virtual keyboard;   a controller configured to display on an input window, a character which corresponds to the stroke input key, suggest characters which follow the character which corresponds to the stroke input key, and display the suggested characters around the key, in response to the stroke input for the key being received.   
     
     
         22 . The display apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising a display configured to display the virtual keyboard. 
     
     
         23 . The display apparatus as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the suggested characters are arranged differently, according to an input mode of a display apparatus. 
     
     
         24 . The display apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the suggested characters are arranged and displayed at diagonal corners of the stroked key in response to the input mode of the display apparatus being a pointing input mode. 
     
     
         25 . The display apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the controller is configured to remove the suggested characters from the virtual keyboard in response to the input mode of the display apparatus being a pointing input mode and a position of a pointer being more than a predetermined distance away from the recommended characters. 
     
     
         26 . The display apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the at least one suggested character on the virtual keyboard to be distinguished from other keys is distinguished by being highlighted.