Mobile communication terminal and method therefor

Abstract

An input method for a mobile communication apparatus, and such a mobile communication apparatus, which comprises a processor and a touch sensitive display, is disclosed. The invention particularly comprises displaying a touch keypad comprising a set of keys, detecting an object over one key of said set of keys, and displaying, upon detection of said object, a first sub-set of keys adjacent to said one key, wherein said sub-set of keys is associated with a first set of sub-functions of said one key.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
 provide for display of a touch keypad on a touch sensitive display, comprising an original set of keys, each for activating a corresponding function; 
 receive an indication of an object detected at a first key of the set of keys, the indication indicating a force applied by the object against the display; 
   responsive to receiving the indication of the object at the first key at a first level of force, activate a function corresponding to the first key;
 responsive to receiving the indication of the object detected at the first key at a second level of force, provide for display of a first sub-set of keys associated with a first set of sub-functions of the first key, wherein the first sub-set of keys is arranged adjacent to the first key so that one or more of the first sub-set of keys is nearer to the first key and nearer to at least one other of the first sub-set of keys than to any other key in the original set of keys, and includes a second key that was not included in the original set of keys; and 
 responsive to receiving an indication of an object detected at the second key, activate a sub-function corresponding to the second key; 
   wherein, while the first sub-set of keys is displayed, each of the original set of keys is displayed and can activate its corresponding function.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first level of force corresponds to a press of the object against the display at the first key, and the second level of force corresponds to at most a light touch of the object against the display at the first key. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the second level of force corresponds to the object hovering over the display at the first key. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the display of the first sub-set of keys is provided responsive to the receiving of the indication of the object detected at the first key at a second level of force for at least a predetermined time. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first set of sub-functions comprises a first group of sub-functions related to a first application of the apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first sub-set of keys is displayed between the first key and one or more neighboring keys in the original set of keys. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
 provide for display of the first sub-set of keys by moving at least one neighboring key of the original set of keys relative to at least one of the other of the original set of keys on the touch sensitive display, while maintaining the first key in its previously displayed position;   wherein the first sub-set of keys is displayed between the first key and the moved neighboring key.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to provide for display of the first sub-set of keys by:
 resizing at least one neighboring key of the original set of keys relative to at least one of the other of the original set of keys on the touch sensitive display to display the neighboring key at a smaller size;   wherein the first sub-set of keys is displayed between the first key and the resized neighboring key.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to provide for display of the first sub-set of keys by:
 maintaining the display of the first sub-set of keys for a predetermined time after the indication of an object detected at the first key has ceased.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sub-functions comprise alphanumeric input, media player input, short-cuts to applications, functions or contacts, or browser input, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 causing a touch keypad to be displayed on a touch sensitive display comprising an original set of keys, each for activating a corresponding function;   detecting an object at a first key of the original set of keys and determining a force of the detected object against the display at the first key;   responsive to the detected object at the first key being at a first level of force, activating a function corresponding to the first key;   responsive to the detected object at the first key being at a second level of force, causing a first sub-set of keys to be displayed adjacent to the first key, wherein the first sub-set of keys is associated with a first set of sub-functions of the first key so that one or more of the first sub-set of keys is nearer to the first key and nearer to at least one other of the first sub-set of keys than to any other key in the original set of keys, and includes a second key that was not included in the original set of keys; and   responsive to receiving an indication of an object detected at the second key, activating a sub-function corresponding to the second key;   wherein, while the first sub-set of keys is displayed, each of the original set of keys is displayed and can activate its corresponding function.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first level of force corresponds to a press of the object against the display at the first key, and the second level of force corresponds to at most a light touch of the object against the display at the first key. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second level of force corresponds to the object hovering over the display at the first key. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the display of the first sub-set of keys is caused responsive to the receiving of the indication of the object detected at the first key at a second level of force for at least a predetermined time. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first set of sub-functions comprises a first group of sub-functions related to a first application of the apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first sub-set of keys is displayed between the first key and one or more neighboring keys in the original set of keys. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the step of causing the first sub-set of keys to be displayed comprises:
 moving at least one neighboring key of the original set of keys relative to at least one of the other of the original set of keys on the touch sensitive display, while maintaining the first key in its previously displayed position;   wherein the first sub-set of keys is displayed between the first key and the moved neighboring key.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the step of causing the first sub-set of keys to be displayed comprises:
 resizing at least one neighboring key of the original set of keys relative to at least one of the other of the original set of keys on the touch sensitive display to display the neighboring key at a smaller size;   wherein the first sub-set of keys is displayed between the first key and the resized neighboring key.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the step of causing the first sub-set of keys to be displayed comprises:
 maintaining the display of the first sub-set of keys for a predetermined time after the indication of the object detected at the first key has ceased.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the sub-functions comprise alphanumeric input, media player input, short-cuts to applications, functions or contacts, or browser input, or any combination thereof.