The present invention relates to input switching method and switching among a plurality of input modes.
Portable electronic communication devices, such as mobile phones or personal digital assistants (PDAs) generally provide various input modes. A single key is commonly designated to execute the switching between the input modes. The single key can be a standard key or rotatable. The single key combines the input modes as a one-dimensional menu. When input modes are switched, the one-dimensional menu is selected sequentially until the desired result appears.
For example, in a portable electronic communication device comprising two input modes, such as, Chinese and English, the Chinese mode can include phonetic transcription, sound combination, and character strokes inputs and English mode, capitalization, lowercase, number, and symbol inputs. All the inputs are arranged sequentially and utilize one key for selection. To switch from, for example, the phonetic transcription input in the Chinese mode to the lowercase input in the English mode, the user may be required to select through sound combination and character stroke inputs in Chinese mode, and capitalization input in the English input mode sequentially.
The operation is inconvenient due to the numerous key strokes, especially for active cross-language communication. To send a message comprising both languages, repeated operations must be executed for each message. For example, a message comprising Chinese and English is sent by a portable electronic communication device, according to the previous mentioned method, users have to push the switching key between Chinese and English input modes, and inputs therein repeatedly. However, users generally have their own favorite input mode and inputs and may not change frequently. For example, if the phonetic transcription is a favorite input in Chinese mode for a user, the user generally selects the phonetic transcription to input Chinese and may not change it frequently. Therefore, the previously mentioned method is inefficient. SUMMARY
Embodiments of the invention provide an input switching method for an electronic device. The electronic device comprises a first key and a second key, switching input modes provided by the electronic device when the first key is pushed. Each input mode comprises several inputs. The method switches inputs within an input mode if the second key is pushed.
An input switching method for an electronic device is provided. The electronic device provides input modes and each input mode comprises inputs. When a first key on the electronic is used, input modes are switched. When a second key on the electronic device is used, inputs in one of the input modes are switched. Here, the input modes comprise language input mode and symbol input mode. The first and the second keys can be a star key and a pound key.
Embodiments of the present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
a is a flowchart of an embodiment of the input switching method.
b is a flowchart of practical implementation of the input switching method.
a is a diagram of a machine-readable storage medium for storing a computer program of input switching according to an embodiment of the invention.
b-2c are diagrams of a computer program for input switching according to an embodiment of the invention.
a-5e are diagrams of the input switching method according to an embodiment of the invention.
The invention provides an input switching method for an electronic device by use of keys thereon. The electronic device, which can be a portable electronic communication device, comprises a first key and a second key.
a is a flowchart of this embodiment of the input switching method. The method first determines if the first key is pushed (step S10). If so, input mode is switched (step S12). It is then determined if the second key is pressed (step S14). The input in the input mode is switched if the second key is pressed (step S16).
Input modes may include a language input mode and a symbol input mode. A default input mode and default input are stored in a storage unit, such as a flash memory. The default input mode is displayed before input mode switching and a default input displayed before input switching. Operations of the first key and the second key are identified by display on the electronic device.
b is a flowchart of practical implementation of the input switching method, as an example, a portable electronic communication device comprising at least a star key and a pound key.
The portable electronic communication device first detects a key stroke (step S100). It is then determined if the star key has been selected (step S102). If so, input mode is switched (step S104). If not, it is determined if the pound key has been, selected (step S106). If so, the input is switched (step S108).
Referring to step S104, a default input mode is first displayed before input mode switching. If default input mode is selected, input switching is terminated. Referring to step S108, a default input is displayed before input switching. If the displayed input is selected, input switching is terminated. If the key selected is neither the star key nor the pound key, all candidate input modes and inputs are displayed (step S110). Finally, the display device is updated and awaits user input (step S112).
The input mode and corresponding input are stored when text input is terminated or turned off. The storing can reserve the input mode and corresponding input for next turn on. Thereafter, if a user executes text input, the reserved input mode and corresponding input can be switched by pushing one key. The storing can be accomplished by a flash memory device which does not affect recorded input modes and inputs when a portable electronic communication device is turned on or turned off.
a is a diagram of a machine-readable storage medium for storing a computer program of input switching according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in
b-2c are diagrams of a computer program for input switching according to an embodiment of the invention. Logic 220 receives key code from an input device. If the key code corresponds to a star key, logic 222 executes input mode switching. Logic 222 also displays the switched input mode and the inputs thereof. If the key code corresponds to a pound key, logic 224 switches inputs in one input mode. Here, logic 224 also displays inputs for user selection.
If, in the example, the phonetic transcription input in the Chinese mode is currently active and the capitalization input was previously stored in the English mode, as shown in
Referring to
Since the previously stored input in English mode was capitalization, the pound key switches to the lowercase input, as shown in
Afterward, the currently used input mode and input are stored for future operations. The storage unit 38 stores the currently used input mode and input in the storage unit 38, such as flash memory. The stored input mode and input manner can be restored in the next operation.
It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that an embodiment of the invention disclosed herein may provide a dynamic and robust solution to input switching problems.
While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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93111992 | Apr 2004 | TW | national |