Service access method and apparatus

Abstract

A method of selecting a service and inputting information to that service, in which an input device having keys is provided. When a key is pressed and released quickly, the user indicates a desire to enter a symbol on the key in order to enter symbols of an entry string. In addition, one or more of the keys may also be used to identify a service and also supply that service with the entry string. For example, by pressing and holding such a key, the entry string may be delimited and then sent to a service corresponding to the pressed key. In this manner, a single key press may be used to both delimit an entry string and also send the entry string to the service. The service may use the delimited entry string to retrieve information, which is then supplied to the input device.

1 . A method of selecting a service and accessing information stored remotely from a user appliance, comprising:
 receiving entry of a sequence of keys from an input device having a plurality of keys, each key of which may be used to enter more than one symbol;   receiving a response from a service provider, based in part on entry of at least one key in the sequence of keys, the at least one key selecting a service associated with the service provider, wherein the at least one key in the sequence of keys is a delimiter key having a service context associated with the service provider; and   presenting, on a display screen coupled to the input device, information relating to the response from the service provider.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the response includes a list of matched entries in an ordered list. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving a selection corresponding to a matched entry in the list of matched entries in the ordered list.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the more than the one symbol is entered by pressing non-polysemous keys. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the more than the one symbol is entered by pressing non-polysemous keys. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the entry of the sequence of keys relates to an initial portion of an input string. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 upon receiving the entry of the sequence of keys, transmitting to the service provider, the entry of the at least one key in the sequence of keys.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the keys includes a distinctive feature not found on other keys in order to assist a user with identifying a preferred service. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an input device with a keyboard having:   a plurality of keys, each key of which may be used to enter more than one symbol, at least one key included in the plurality of keys for selecting a service associated with a service provider computer, the service provider computer having a service context identified by the at least one key; and   one or more software programs running thereon, the one or more software programs instructing the input device to:
 select a service associated with the service provider computer, based in part, on entry of the at least one key; 
 upon receiving entry of a sequence of keys, transmit to the service provider computer, the entry of the at least one key in the sequence of keys; and 
 presenting on a display screen coupled to the input device, a response received from the service provider computer. 
   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the entry of the at least one key causes the service provider computer to search a database corresponding to the service provider context for identifying one or more matches. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the response received from the service provider computer includes one or more matches associated with the service provider context. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one key is a delimiter key for delimiting an input received from the keys, the input corresponding to an initial portion of an input string. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a key in the plurality of keys includes distinctive features not found on other keys in order to assist a user with identifying a preferred service associated with the service provider computer. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more matches are arranged in an ordered list. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a delimiter key in the plurality of keys is configured to enter the more than one symbol of an input string upon pressing and releasing the delimiter key. 
     
     
         16 . A computer-readable non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions which when executed by a user appliance causes the user appliance to perform a method for selecting a service associated with a service provider, comprising:
 receiving entry of a sequence of keys from an input device having a plurality of keys and coupled to the user appliance, each key of which may be used to enter more than one symbol;   upon receiving the entry of the sequence of keys, transmitting to a service provider, the entry of at least one key in the sequence of keys, the at least one key selecting a service associated with the service provider;   receiving a response from the service provider; and   presenting, on a display screen coupled to the input device, information relating to the response from the service provider.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the more than the one symbol is entered by pressing non-polysemous keys. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the more than the one symbol is entered by pressing non-polysemous keys. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one key selecting the service associated with the service provider is a delimiter key having a service context associated with the service provider. 
     
     
         20 . A method of selecting a service and accessing information stored remotely from a user appliance, comprising:
 receiving entry of a sequence of keys from an input device having a plurality of keys, each key of which may be used to enter more than one symbol;   receiving a response from a service provider, based in part on entry of at least one key in the sequence of keys, the at least one key selecting a service associated with the service provider; and   presenting, on a display screen coupled to the input device, information relating to the response from the service provider.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the more than the one symbol is entered by pressing non-polysemous keys. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the more than the one symbol is entered by pressing non-polysemous keys. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the entry of the sequence of keys relates to an initial portion of an input string. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one key in the sequence of keys is a delimiter key having a service context associated with the service provider.