Keyboardless Text Entry
Keyboardless text entry methods and systems are described. Various display tools are used in conjunction with, for example, pointing, scrolling and/or clicking actions to enter text into an interface. Once display tool is a pie widget shape, another display tool uses a box like shape containing other box like shapes which are scaled according to a propationate chance of containing the desirable selection.
1 . A method for entering characters into an interface, comprising the steps of:
displaying a text entry tool having a center and a plurality of sectors relative to said center, each of said sectors associated with at least one character;
selecting one of said characters by selecting an associated sector; and
entering said selected one of said characters into said interface in response to a predetermined event occurring subsequent to said selection step.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of said sectors is associated with one and only one of said plurality of characters.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of selecting one of said characters further comprises the step of:
positioning a cursor over said associated sector.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of selecting one of said characters further comprises the step of:
moving between said plurality of sectors using a scroll wheel.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said predetermined event is expiration of a timer which starts after said associated sector has been selected.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said timer has a value which is manually adjustable.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said timer has a value which is automatically adjustable based on a user's previous character selection behavior.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the text entry tool is circular and contains the letters “A” to “Z”, each of which are associated with one of said plurality of sectors.
9 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the cursor can be positioned outside of an area contained within a perimeter of said text entry tool to select a character.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
displaying characters as they are entered in a text box; and
displaying a list of potential text entries based on previously entered characters
11 . An interface input method, comprising the steps of;
selecting one of a plurality of objects provided on a display, said selected object being associated with at least one character from a first group of characters;
zooming into said selected object;
revealing a plurality of additional objects, each associated with one character from
a second group of characters, said second group of characters including those characters which are potentially selectable given said at least one character from said first group; and
selecting one of said plurality of additional objects to enter a text into an interface.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said objects have a rectangular shape.
13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of:
displaying each object with an area that is proportional to the probability of that object being selected.
14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
displaying each of said objects at a first magnification level; and
zooming into said additional objects by changing to a second magnification level.
15 . An interface input method, comprising the steps of:
selecting one of a plurality of objects provided on a display, said selected object being associated with at least one character from a first group of characters;
zooming into said selected object; and
revealing a plurality of additional objects, each associated with a subsequent selection that is related to the selected at least one character.
16 - 37 . (canceled)