Electronic device and method for rendering secondary characters

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions;

a screen configured to display data;

a keyboard including a plurality of physical keys configured to receive key inputs, each of the physical keys being associated with inputting a primary character and a secondary character; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to:

detect an input of a physical key;

determine whether the input is a press input of the physical key or a tap input of the physical key, the press input being associated with inputting the primary character, and the tap input being associated with inputting the secondary character;

enable display on the screen of the primary character associated with the physical key based on the determination that the input is the press input of the physical key; and

enable display on the screen of the secondary character associated with the physical key based on the determination that the input is the tap input of the physical key.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute instructions to cause the primary character or the secondary character displayed on the screen to be entered into a text editor.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the secondary character includes a symbol.

4. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions;

a screen configured to display data;

a keyboard including a plurality of physical keys configured to receive key inputs, each of the physical keys being associated with inputting a primary character and one or more secondary characters; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to:

detect a first input;

determine that the first input is a press and hold input of a physical key;

enable a diacritic input mode based on the determination that the first input is the press and hold input; and

while the diacritic input mode is enabled,

enable display on the screen the one or more secondary characters;

detect a second input,

determine that the second input is a drag input on the keyboard, and

enable display on the screen an indicator sequentially indicating selection of a secondary character among the one or more secondary characters while the drag input is detected.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 4 , wherein while the diacritic input mode is enabled, the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

detect a release of the drag input;

enable the selected secondary character indicated by the indicator to be entered into a text editor; and

disable the diacritic input mode after the selected secondary character is entered.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the one or more secondary characters include at least one of a capital letter associated with the physical key and a diacritic character associated with the physical key.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 4 , while the diacritic input mode is enabled, the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

detect a press input of the keyboard following determining that the second input is the drag input;

enable the selected secondary character indicated by the indicator to be entered into a text editor; and

disable the diacritic input mode after the selected secondary character is enter.

8. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions;

a screen configured to display data;

a keyboard including a plurality of physical keys configured to receive key inputs, each of the physical keys being associated with inputting a primary character and one or more secondary characters; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to:

detect a press input of a physical key;

detect a first tap input of the physical key within a first time period following detection of the press input;

enable a diacritic input mode based on detection of the first tap input; and

while the diacritic input mode is enable, enable display on the screen the one or more secondary characters associated with the physical key.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the first tap input of the physical key is detected at the same physical key.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the first tap input of the physical key is detected within a tap zone associated with the physical key.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the tap zone is defined by keys surrounding the physical key.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the tap zone is defined by a circle having a radius.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the press input is a short press or a long press.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is also configured to execute the instructions to:

while the one or more secondary characters are displayed on the screen, display an indicator indicating selection of a secondary character among the one or more secondary characters.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the processor is also configured to execute the instructions to:

detect one or more subsequent tap inputs of the physical key within a second time period following detection of the first tap input; and

enable display on the screen the indicator to cyclically indicate selection of a secondary character among the one or more secondary characters based on detection of the one or more subsequent tap inputs.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the processor is also configured to execute the instructions to:

determine that a third time period has elapsed following the detection of the one or more subsequent tap inputs; and

cause the selected secondary character to be entered in a text editor after the third time period has elapsed.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 14 ,

wherein the physical key is a first physical key, and

wherein the processor is also configured to execute the instructions to:

while the diacritic input mode is enabled and the one or more secondary characters are displayed on the screen with the indicator indicating selection of the secondary character, detect a press input of a second physical key; and

cause the selected secondary character to be entered in a text editor based on detection of the press input of the second physical key.

18. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions;

a screen configured to display data;

a keyboard including a plurality of physical keys configured to receive key inputs, each of the physical keys being associated with inputting a primary character and one or more secondary characters; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to:

detect a tap input of a physical key;

detect a first press input of the physical key within a first time period following detection of the tap input;

enable a diacritic input mode based on detection of the first press input; and

while the diacritic input mode is enable, enable display on the screen the one or more secondary characters associated with the physical key.

19. The portable electronic device claim 18 , wherein the processor is also configured to execute the instructions to:

detect one or more subsequent press inputs of the physical key within a second time period following detection of the first tap input; and

enable display on the screen the indicator to cyclically indicate selection of a secondary character among the one or more secondary characters based on detection of the one or more subsequent tap inputs.