Portable electronic device and method of controlling same

1. A method comprising:

displaying a keyboard on a touch-sensitive display, wherein a key of the keyboard is associated with at least two characters that are arranged in a pattern outside the key;

detecting a confirmation of selection;

detecting, on the touch-sensitive display, a first touch location and a second touch location, wherein the first touch location is associated with the key;

determining a direction based on the first and second touch locations;

selecting a first character of the at least two characters based on the direction and confirmation of selection.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second touch location is positioned along a line that extends from the key through the first character.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second touch locations is touched while confirmation of selection occurs.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein detecting the confirmation of selection comprises receiving input from an actuator.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein detecting the confirmation of selection comprises receiving input from an actuator actuated by depression of the touch-sensitive display.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a time of actuation of an actuator;

comparing the time of actuation to a threshold time;

changing the at least two characters associated with the key when the time of actuation meets or exceeds the threshold time.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein changing the at least two characters associated with the key comprises changing to characters other than the at least two characters.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a time of actuation of an actuator after selecting the first character;

comparing the time of actuation to a threshold time;

changing an attribute of the first character when the time of actuation meets or exceeds the threshold time.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein changing an attribute of the first character comprises capitalizing the first character.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of keys is displayed for the keyboard and each of the plurality of keys is associated with a function.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second touch locations are located anywhere on the touch-sensitive display.

12. A computer-readable storage device having computer-readable code executable by a processor of a portable electronic device for carrying out the method according to claim 1 .

13. A method comprising:

displaying a keyboard on a touch-sensitive display, wherein a key of the keyboard is associated with at least two characters;

detecting a confirmation of selection;

detecting, on the touch-sensitive display, a plurality of touch locations, wherein at least one of the plurality of touch location is associated with the key;

determining a direction based on at least two of the plurality of touch locations;

selecting a first character of the at least two characters based on the direction and confirmation of selection;

wherein displaying the keyboard comprises displaying a functional area between keys of the keyboard, wherein the functional area is associated with a function, and selecting the function when the confirmation of selection occurs when one of the plurality of touch locations corresponds to the functional area.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the area has at least two functions assigned thereto and selecting the function comprises selecting one of the at least two functions based on the direction.

15. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising displaying a plurality of functional areas, wherein each of the functional areas is located between keys of the keyboard and is associated with at least one function.

16. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the functional area is displayed near corners of four keyboard keys.

17. The method according to claim 13 , wherein when the location of touch prior to receiving the confirmation corresponds to the functional area, causing a vibration in the portable electronic device.

18. A portable electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

a processor operably coupled to the touch-sensitive display, and configured to:

display a keyboard on the touch-sensitive display, wherein a key of the keyboard is associated with at least two characters that are arranged in a pattern outside the first key;

detect a confirmation of selection;

detect, on the touch-sensitive display, a first touch location and a second touch location, wherein the first touch location is associated with the key;

determine a direction based on the first and second touch locations;

select a first character of the at least two characters based on the direction and confirmation of selection.

19. A portable electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

a processor operably coupled to the touch-sensitive display, and configured to:

display a keyboard on the touch-sensitive display, wherein a key of the keyboard is associated with at least two characters;

detect a confirmation of selection;

detect, on the touch-sensitive display, a plurality of touch locations, wherein at least one of the plurality of touch locations is associated with the key;

determine a direction based on at least two of the plurality of touch locations, wherein the at least two of the plurality of touch location is not associated with the key;

select a first character of the at least two characters based on the direction and confirmation of selection;

wherein a functional area is displayed between keys of the keyboard, wherein the functional area is associated with a function, and the function is selected when the confirmation of selection occurs when one of the plurality of touch locations corresponds to the functional area.