Patent ID: 6377966
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for selecting characters from a hierarchical language within a user interface of a hand-held electronic device having a display, comprising the steps of:displaying a text edit dialog on said user interface, said text edit dialog having a first-level selection menu for displaying character categories, and a fixed-position selection window; allowing said user to choose a character category from said text edit dialog, wherein said character categories include a combination of Roman characters, Arabic numerals, Hiragana characters, Katakana characters, and Kanji characters; displaying characters representing articulation groups belonging to said selected character category in said first-level selection menu, wherein said characters represent phonetic articulations â€œwâ€ , â€œrâ€ , â€œyâ€ , â€œmâ€ , â€œhâ€ , â€œnâ€ , â€œtâ€ , â€œsâ€ , â€œkâ€ , and â€œno articulationâ€ ; allowing said user to select an articulation group from within said selected character category by scrolling through said first-level selection menu until a character representing a desired articulation group is within said fixed-position selection window; displaying a second-level selection menu of characters belonging to said selected articulation group, said second-level selection menu including a selection window, wherein said characters in said second-level selection menu represent phonetic articulations â€œaâ€ , â€œiâ€ , â€œuâ€ , â€œeâ€ , and â€œoâ€ ; and allowing said user to choose a specific character from within said selected articulation group by positioning said specific character within said selection window.