Input method of electronic devices with a compact keypad

Abstract

The present invention provides an input method for electronic device with a compact keypad, which comprises plurality of number keys, to which multiple letter groups are assigned respectively. The method for inputting letters comprises the following steps: pressing the number key that corresponds to the letter wished to be inputted; and then pressing the number key that corresponds to the numerical order of that inputted letter within the sequence of that letter group. Using this easy input method in any electronic device equipped with a compact keypad allows the user to quickly yet accurately input any alphanumerical data without the use of any on-screen display menus.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a keypad in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the telephone for household use according a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a remote control to a television set according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An input method for electronic device with a compact keypad, comprising a plurality of number keys, to which multiple letter groups are assigned respectively, each letter group comprising a plurality of letters arranged in a predefined sequence, said method comprising the following steps: pressing a number key that is assigned with the letter wished to be inputted; andpressing a number key that has a value equal to an order of that inputted letter within the sequence of said letter group.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multiple letter groups are allocated on said number keys in alphabetical order.

3. The method in claim 2, wherein eight letter groups, consisting of ‘ABC’, ‘DEF’, ‘GHI’, ‘JKL’, ‘MNO’, ‘PQRS’, ‘TUV’ and ‘WXYZ’, are allocated on the number keys 2˜9 on said keypad respectively.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the method further comprises the following step: pressing the number key ‘0’ then a number key on said keypad to input the number corresponding to said number key.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said keypad further comprises a first special character key, with which said method further includes the following step: pressing said first special character key then a number key on said keypad to input the number corresponding to said number key.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first special character key is a start key ‘*’.

7. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said keypad further comprises a second special character key, with which said method further includes the following step: pressing said second special character key on said keypad to enter a space.

8. The method for inputting letters in claim 7, wherein the method further includes the following step: pressing said second special character key for two successive times to delete all that had been previously inputted.

9. The method for inputting letters in claim 7, wherein said second special character key is a pound key ‘#’.

10. The method for inputting letters in claim 2, wherein said keypad further comprises two function keys, with which said method further includes the following step: pressing said two function keys on said keypad once simultaneously to enter a space.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said method further includes: pressing said two function keys on said keypad twice simultaneously to delete all that had been previously inputted.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said two function keys are a volume up key ‘⊕’ and a channel up key ‘Δ’.