Alternative inputs of a mobile communications device
View Patent ↗In an implementation, a mobile communications device includes a display device having touchscreen functionality, a keyboard having a plurality of physical keys that include a dedicated key and letter keys arranged according to a QWERTY layout, and one or more modules. The one or more modules are configured to output a user interface on the display device responsive to selection of the dedicated key, the user interface having a plurality of portions that are selectable via the touchscreen functionality to cause input of a respective one of a plurality of emoticons.
1. A device comprising:
a touchscreen display device;
a keyboard comprising physical keys that include a dedicated key and letter keys arranged according to a QWERTY layout; and
one or more modules configured to display a library for display as at least part of a user interface on the touchscreen display device responsive to selection of the dedicated key, wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of portions that are selectable via the touchscreen display device to cause selection of an item of the library wherein an item in the library includes a function.
2. The device as described in claim 1 , wherein an item of the library includes a character not included among the physical keys.
3. The device as described in claim 2 , wherein the character includes a punctuation mark.
4. The device as described in claim 1 , wherein at least a subset of the physical keys are selectable to cause display of a number when selected concurrently with another one of the physical keys.
5. The device as described in claim 4 , wherein each of the subset of the physical keys includes indicia on the physical key of a respective number and letter for input via the physical key.
6. A method comprising:
receiving selection of a dedicated key of a keyboard, the keyboard comprising physical keys that include the dedicated key and letter keys arranged according to a QWERTY layout; and
displaying, responsive to selection of the dedicated key, a library as at least part of a user interface on a touchscreen display device, the user interface comprising a plurality of portions that are selectable via the touchscreen display device to cause selection of an item of the library wherein an item in the library includes a function.
7. The method as described in claim 6 , wherein an item of the library includes a character not included among the physical keys.
8. The method as described in claim 6 , wherein the dedicated key is selectable solely for display of the library and each of the letter keys includes indicia of a respective letter for input response to selection of the letter key.
9. The method as described in claim 6 , wherein the library comprises a plurality of punctuation marks.
10. The method as described in claim 6 , wherein the library comprises a plurality of special characters formed through combination of a letter and a punctuation mark.
11. A computing device comprising:
a display device having touchscreen functionality;
a keyboard having a plurality of physical keys that include a dedicated key and letter keys arranged according to a QWERTY layout; and
one or more modules that are configured to output a user interface on the display device responsive to selection of the dedicated key and further configured to load a library on the display device responsive to selection of the dedicated key, the user interface having a plurality of portions that are selectable via the touchscreen functionality to cause selection of an item of the library wherein an item in the library includes a function.
12. The computing device as described in claim 11 , wherein an item of the library includes a character not included among the physical keys.
13. The computing device as described in claim 11 , wherein an item of the library includes a punctuation mark.
14. The computing device as described in claim 11 , wherein an item of the library includes a plurality of characters representing a plurality of special characters formed through combination of a letter and a punctuation mark.
15. The computing device as described in claim 11 , wherein at least a subset of the physical keys are selectable to cause output of a number when selected concurrently with another one of the physical keys.
16. The computing device as described in claim 15 , wherein each of the subset of the physical keys includes indicia on the physical key of a respective number and letter for input via selection of the physical key.
17. The computing device as described in claim 11 , wherein the dedicated key is selectable solely for display of the library.