Patent ID: 9229635
Filing Date: 2016-01-05
CPC Classification: G06F

Claim Text:
1. A wireless handheld device able to accept text input, the device including: a display screen; and a virtual keypad having a plurality of keys displayed on the display screen; wherein a first key of the virtual keypad is operable to display a first character associated with the first key in a text passage shown on the display screen in response to a first contact of a pointer with a first area on the display screen corresponding to the first key, the first contact including the pointer contacting and moving from the first area along a first direction while the pointer is in continual contact with the display screen; wherein the first key of the virtual keypad is also operable to display a second character associated with the first key in the text passage shown on the display screen in response to a second contact of the pointer with the first area on the display screen corresponding to the first key, the second contact including the pointer contacting and moving from the first area along a second direction while the pointer is in continual contact with the display screen; wherein the device provides feedback for a user in a manner so as to allow a user to input at least one of the first and second characters into the device without viewing the display screen, the feedback being an aural representation of at least one of the first and second characters, aural representation being based at least on continual contact of the pointer with the display screen when moved from the first area along the second direction, and wherein each key is associable with one of a tone and rhythm, and aural representation includes generating a portamento variation of the tone or rhythm during contact occurrence movements from each key.