Hand-held electronic device
View Patent ↗A hand-held electronic device with a keyboard, thumbwheel, display and associated software is optimized for use of the device with the thumbs. The associated software has a plurality of features to optimize efficient use of the limited keyboard space and encourage the use of the device by thumb-based data entry through the thumbwheel and/or through a combination of minimal number of keystrokes. Software features include international character scrolling, and auto-capitalization. The keys on the device keyboard are optimally shaped and configured for thumb-based input. In addition, the thumbwheel is inclined between the front and a side edge of the device so as to be reachable by either the thumb or index finger of the user's hand at the side edge of the device.
1. A method of inputting an E-mail address into a communication device, the E-mail address having three text fields, the method comprising:
(A) inputting a first set of text characters associated with a first text field of the E-mail address;
(B) inputting a first delimiter, the first delimiter comprising a character predefined as unacceptable of the first text field, wherein the first delimiter comprising the unacceptable character of the first text field operates as a trigger to cause for the substitution of an at-sign symbol (@) for the first delimiter;
(C) appending the at-sign symbol (@) to the first text field;
(D) inputting a second set of text characters associated with a second text field of the E-mail address;
(E) inputting a second delimiter, the second delimiter comprising a character predefined as unacceptable of the second text field, wherein the second delimiter comprising the unacceptable character of the second text field operates as a trigger to cause for the substitution of a period symbol (.) for the second delimiter;
(F) appending the period symbol (.) to the second text field; and
(G) inputting a third set of text characters associated with a third text field of the E-mail address.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first delimiter is a blank space delimiter input by selecting a space bar associated with the communication device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second delimiters are blank space delimiters input by selecting a space bar associated with the communication device.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the second email delimiter comprises a period character.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising inputting a third delimiter, the third delimiter comprising a character predefined as unacceptable of the third text field, wherein the third delimiter and unacceptable character of the third text field operate as a trigger to cause character substitution of the third delimiter.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprising appending the period symbol (.) to the third text field.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising inputting a fourth set of text characters associated with a fourth text field of the E-mail address.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising substituting a second email delimiter for the second user-input delimiter trigger if the first user-input delimiter has already been entered into the email address.