Interface for processing of an alternate symbol in a computer device
View Patent ↗Described herein is a computer-implemented system and method for processing one or more alternate symbols associated or linked to a base symbol. A base symbol is a symbol to which at least one alternate symbol is linked. A base symbol commonly appears on a key of a keyboard or a display of a keyboard, or is a handwritten symbol recognized by handwriting entry software. Examples of alternate symbols are accented characters and punctuation marks that do not appear on a keyboard or are not commonly recognized by a handwriting entry program, and short symbol sequences. An example of a common short symbol sequence is an emoticon used in e-mail messages to convey tone or feelings. An example of a computer device that may embody the system or method is a hand-held computing device.
1. In a mobile computing device having a telephone functionality, a computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving keyed input requesting a base symbol for insertion into textual content on a display of the computing device;
receiving keyed input requesting one or more alternate symbols associated with the base symbol, wherein the one or more alternate symbols are accented versions of the base symbol;
displaying, simultaneously on the display, the one or more alternate symbols and the base symbol; and
responsive to a user selection of one of the displayed alternate symbols, replacing the base symbol with the selected alternate symbol in the textual content.
2. A mobile computing device having telephone functionality for providing one or more alternate symbols associated with a base symbol, the mobile computing device comprising:
a display;
a memory;
a processor coupled to the display and the memory;
a user input mechanism; and
a computer program stored in the memory, the computer program including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the mobile computing device to:
receive, through the user input mechanism, a request to display the base symbol for insertion at a cursor location;
receive, through the user input mechanism, a request to display the one or more alternate symbols associated with the base symbol, wherein the one or more alternate symbols are accented versions of the base symbol;
display the one or more alternate symbols and the base symbol at the same time on the display; and
responsive to a user selection of one of the displayed alternate symbols, replace the base symbol with the selected alternate symbol.
3. A computer-useable non-transitory medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a mobile computing device, cause the mobile computing device to perform operations comprising:
receiving, through a user input mechanism, a request to display a base symbol for insertion into textual content on a display of the computing device;
receiving, through the user input mechanism, a request to display one or more alternate symbols associated with the base symbol, wherein the one or more alternate symbols are accented versions of the base symbol;
displaying the one or more alternate symbols and the base symbol at the same time on the display; and
responsive to a user selection of one of the displayed alternate symbols, replacing the base symbol with the selected alternate symbol.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the displaying comprises:
displaying a menu in a portion of the display, the menu including the one or more alternate symbols.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein displaying the menu comprises:
determining a location of the base symbol; and
displaying the menu, wherein at least a portion of the menu is adjacent to the location of the base symbol.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more alternate symbols are displayed in the menu according to one or more grouping criteria.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the displaying comprises:
displaying a first group of the alternate symbols; and
responsive to a user request to view additional alternate symbols, displaying a second group of the alternate symbols.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the displaying comprises:
receiving a selected base symbol;
determining a plurality of alternate symbols associated with the selected base symbol; and
displaying the plurality of alternate symbols associated with the selected base symbol.
9. The mobile computing device of claim 2 , wherein execution of the instructions to display the one or more alternate symbols on the display causes the computing device to:
display a menu in a portion of the display, the menu including the one or more alternate symbols.
10. The mobile computing device of claim 9 , wherein execution of the instructions to display the menu causes the computing device to further:
determine a location of the base symbol; and
display the menu, wherein at least a portion of the menu is adjacent to the location of the base symbol.
11. The mobile computing device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more alternate symbols are displayed on the menu according to one or more grouping criteria.
12. The mobile computing device of claim 2 , wherein execution of the instructions to display the one or more alternate symbols causes the computing device to:
display a first group of the alternate symbols; and
responsive to a user request to view additional alternate symbols, display a second group of the alternate symbols.
13. The mobile computing device of claim 2 , wherein execution of the instructions to display the one or more alternate symbols causes the computing device to:
receive, from the user input button, a selection identifying a selected base symbol;
determine a plurality of alternate symbols associated with the selected base symbol; and
display the plurality of alternate symbols associated with the selected base symbol.
14. The mobile computing device of claim 2 , wherein the mobile computing device comprises a mobile telephone.
15. The computer-useable medium of claim 3 , wherein displaying the one or more alternate symbols comprises:
displaying a menu in a portion of a display device, the menu including the one or more alternate symbols.
16. The computer-useable medium of claim 15 , wherein displaying the menu comprises:
determining a location of the base symbol; and
displaying the menu, wherein at least a portion of the menu is adjacent to the location of the base symbol.
17. The computer-useable medium of claim 15 , wherein the one or more alternate symbols are displayed in the menu according to one or more grouping criteria.
18. The computer-useable medium of claim 3 , wherein displaying the one or more alternate symbols comprises:
displaying a first group of the alternate symbols; and
responsive to a user request to view additional alternate symbols, displaying a second group of the alternate symbols.
19. The computer-useable medium of claim 3 , wherein displaying the one or more alternate symbols comprises:
receiving a selected base symbol;
determining a plurality of alternate symbols associated with the selected base symbol; and
displaying the plurality of alternate symbols associated with the selected base symbol.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving keyed input requesting the one or more alternate symbols comprises:
maintaining contact with the display for a designated amount of time.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving keyed input requesting the one or more alternate symbols comprises:
holding down a key representing the base symbol for a designated amount of time.
22. The mobile computing device of claim 2 , wherein the user input mechanism comprises the display, and the request to display the one more or more alternate symbols comprises:
maintaining contact with the display for a designated amount of time.
23. The mobile computing device of claim 2 , wherein the user input mechanism comprises a keypad, and the request to display the one more or more alternate symbols comprises:
holding down a key representing the base symbol for a designated amount of time.
24. The computer-useable medium of claim 3 , wherein the user input mechanism comprises the display, and the request to display the one more or more alternate symbols comprises:
maintaining contact with the display for a designated amount of time.
25. The computer-useable medium of claim 3 , wherein the user input mechanism comprises a keypad, and the request to display the one more or more alternate symbols comprises:
holding down a key representing the base symbol for a designated amount of time.