Keyboardless text entry

1 . A method for entering characters into an interface, comprising the steps of:

displaying a text entry tool having a center and a plurality of sectors relative to said center, each of said sectors associated with at least one character;

selecting one of said characters by selecting an associated sector; and

entering said selected one of said characters into said interface in response to a predetermined event occurring subsequent to said selection step.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of said sectors is associated with one and only one of said plurality of characters.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of selecting one of said characters further comprises the step of:

positioning a cursor over said associated sector.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of selecting one of said characters further comprises the step of:

moving between said plurality of sectors using a scroll wheel.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said predetermined event is expiration of a timer which starts after said associated sector has been selected.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said timer has a value which is manually adjustable.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said timer has a value which is automatically adjustable based on a user's previous character selection behavior.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the text entry tool is circular and contains the letters “A” to “Z”, each of which are associated with one of said plurality of sectors.

9 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the cursor can be positioned outside of an area contained within a perimeter of said text entry tool to select a character.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

displaying characters as they are entered in a text box; and

displaying a list of potential text entries based on previously entered characters

11 . An interface input method, comprising the steps of;

selecting one of a plurality of objects provided on a display, said selected object being associated with at least one character from a first group of characters;

zooming into said selected object;

revealing a plurality of additional objects, each associated with one character from a second group of characters, said second group of characters including those characters which are potentially selectable given said at least one character from said first group; and

selecting one of said plurality of additional objects to enter a text into an interface.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said objects have a rectangular shape.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of:

displaying each object with an area that is proportional to the probability of that object being selected.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:

displaying each of said objects at a first magnification level; and

zooming into said additional objects by changing to a second magnification level.

15 . An interface input method, comprising the steps of:

selecting one of a plurality of objects provided on a display, said selected object being associated with at least one character from a first group of characters;

zooming into said selected object; and

revealing a plurality of additional objects, each associated with a subsequent selection that is related to the selected at least one character.

16 . The interface method of claim 15 , wherein said additional objects are movie titles.

17 . The interface method of claim 15 , wherein said additional objects are images associated with media items.

18 . An interface input method comprising the steps of:

displaying two rows of keys proximate an edge of a display screen, each key being associated with one character;

selecting one of said keys;

displaying said one character associated with said selected key in a text box on said display screen; and

displaying candidate items for selections in a display area beside said two rows of keys, wherein said candidate items for selection are chosen based on text displayed in said text box.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said displayed candidate items are images associated with movies.

20 . A keyboardless text entry interface comprising:

a text entry tool displayed on a screen having a center and a plurality of sectors relative to said center, each of said sectors associated with at least one character;

a selection mechanism for selecting one of said characters by selecting an associated sector; and

a text box for displaying said selected one of said characters after entry in response to a predetermined event occurrence.

21 . The keyboardless text entry interface of claim 20 , wherein each of said sectors is associated with one and only one of said plurality of characters.

22 . The keyboardless text entry interface of claim 20 , wherein said selection mechanism includes a cursor operating in conjunction with a pointing device.

23 . The keyboardless text entry interface of claim 20 , wherein said selection mechanism includes a scroll wheel.

24 . The keyboardless text entry interface of claim 20 , wherein said predetermined event is expiration of a timer which starts after said associated sector has been selected.

25 . The keyboardless text entry interface of claim 24 , wherein said timer has a value which is manually adjustable.

26 . The keyboardless text entry interface of claim 24 , wherein said timer has a value which is automatically adjustable based on a user's previous character selection behavior.

27 . The keyboardless text entry interface of claim 20 , wherein the text entry tool is circular and contains the letters “A” to “Z”, each of which are associated with one of said plurality of sectors.

28 . The keyboardless text entry interface of claim 22 , wherein the cursor can be positioned outside of an area contained within a perimeter of said text entry tool to select a character.

29 . The keyboardless text entry interface of claim 20 , further comprising:

a list of potential text entries populated based on previously entered characters

30 . A computer-readable medium containing a program which, when executed, performs the steps of:

displaying a text entry tool having a center and a plurality of sectors relative to said center, each of said sectors associated with at least one character;

selecting one of said characters by selecting an associated sector; and

entering said selected one of said characters into said interface in response to a predetermined event occurring subsequent to said selection step.

31 . A system for entering characters into an interface, comprising:

means for displaying a text entry tool having a center and a plurality of sectors relative to said center, each of said sectors associated with at least one character;

means for selecting one of said characters by selecting an associated sector; and

means for entering said selected one of said characters into said interface in response to a predetermined event occurring subsequent to said selection step.

32 . A computer-readable medium containing a program which, when executed, performs the steps of:

selecting one of a plurality of objects provided on a display, said selected object being associated with at least one character from a first group of characters;

zooming into said selected object;

revealing a plurality of additional objects, each associated with one character from a second group of characters, said second group of characters including those characters which are potentially selectable given said at least one character from said first group; and

selecting one of said plurality of additional objects to enter a text into an interface.

33 . An interface input system comprising:

means for selecting one of a plurality of objects provided on a display, said selected object being associated with at least one character from a first group of characters;

means for zooming into said selected object;

means for revealing a plurality of additional objects, each associated with one character from a second group of characters, said second group of characters including those characters which are potentially selectable given said at least one character from said first group; and

means for selecting one of said plurality of additional objects to enter a text into an interface.

34 . A computer-readable medium containing a program which, when executed, performs the steps of:

selecting one of a plurality of objects provided on a display, said selected object being associated with at least one character from a first group of characters;

zooming into said selected object; and

revealing a plurality of additional objects, each associated with a subsequent selection that is related to the selected at least one character.

35 . An interface input system comprising:

means for selecting one of a plurality of objects provided on a display, said selected object being associated with at least one character from a first group of characters;

means for zooming into said selected object; and

means for revealing a plurality of additional objects, each associated with a subsequent selection that is related to the selected at least one character.

36 . A computer-readable medium containing a program which, when executed, performs the steps of:

displaying two rows of keys proximate an edge of a display screen, each key being associated with one character;

selecting one of said keys;

displaying said one character associated with said selected key in a text box on said display screen; and

displaying candidate items for selections in a display area beside said two rows of keys, wherein said candidate items for selection are chosen based on text displayed in said text box.

37 . A system for keyboardless text entry comprising:

means for displaying two rows of keys proximate an edge of a display screen, each key being associated with one character;

means for selecting one of said keys;

means for displaying said one character associated with said selected key in a text box on said display screen; and

means for displaying candidate items for selections in a display area beside said two rows of keys, wherein said candidate items for selection are chosen based on text displayed in said text box.