Abstract:
In the embodiments of the present invention, a system, method and computer useable medium are introduced that increase the efficiency in which a user can interface, through keys prediction, with a system that includes a touch screen display, a computer usable medium; having a computer readable instructions for controlling a computer, a computer processor, and a predictive algorithm. This method provides the user with the ability to quickly identify and select, through the enhanced keys prediction, and display the keys of the cell phone or electronic media. The keys include but are not limited to, icons, numbers, symbols and their combinations. In addition, the computer processor and the predictive algorithm, using the keys that are inputted through the touch screen or keypad, anticipate the icons, numbers and symbols necessary to complete the interface request resulting in increase user efficiency.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present disclosure is directed to touch screens and more particularly to improvements in touch screens so as to provide users with a simplified interface through prediction of icon selection, touch screen interface modification and icon size modification and the like. 
         [0002]    Portable devices have been shrinking in dimension almost since their inception. The reduction in size has benefits from a manufacturing and logistics perspective, in that smaller items are typically less costly to manufacture once the technology has been mastered and smaller devices are typically less expensive to package and ship. Additionally, initially small electronics are typically sold at a premium. As just one example, the first thin digital watch cost approximately the same as a compact car when first introduced. 
         [0003]    The premium on size does have a downside, and that is the human interface portion. Humans still need to interact with the devices they purchase and the shrinking of the size of devices has made this interface progressively more difficult. Adding for example alphanumeric keyboard features to facilitate texting on cell phones, makes a difficult situation worse. 
         [0004]    At present the size of buttons on cell phones are principally constrained by the width of human fingers. If a soft keyboard is used as part of a touch screen a need was felt for an intelligent interface which would allow greater ease to use the on screen keyboard. In particular embodiments of this invention were sought that allowed resizing of a soft keyboard on the fly based upon calculated probabilities that specific keys would be selected next with the concomitant reduction or removal of keys that would probably not be selected. Removal may mean either diminishing in either size or illumination, so that the key is less visible, or complete removal from the keyboard. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    One of the embodiments provides a system or method that increases the efficiency in which a user can interface with a cell phone or other electronic media, through the use of a touch screen and a displayed touch screen keypad, a computer usable medium; comprising computer readable instructions for controlling a computer, a computer processor and predictive algorithm that reduces user workload. As the capabilities of electronic media increases, the need for more efficient methods of interfacing with those electronic media also increases. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, after the initial inputs from the user, the computer usable medium enables a user to quickly identify and select the next keys on a touch screen keypad executing the steps of, receiving from the touch screen or touch screen keypad the user selected area for selecting at least one keys from the group comprised of icons, numbers, letters and symbols. Once the key or keys are received the next step is to identify one or more predicted keys that a user may next select, and present those on the touch screen keypad for the next selection. The keys provide through the predictive process are ideally substantially enlarged or with increased illumination (or both) and include alphanumeric text. Further the predictions can be improved by taking into account past selections made by the user, lexicon statistics, subject matter, and/or geographic location or combinations thereof. 
         [0007]    According to an additional embodiment, at the same time the predicted keys are provided, the computer useable medium infers a set of unlikely keys. These unlikely keys are excluded from the identified one or more predicted keys. When presented the set of unlikely keys on the touch screen or touch screen keypad are substantially reduced in size and/or illumination from the predicted and initial keys (or both). 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, the method increases the user friendliness of touch screen interfaces with a computer processor, by providing a means to enhance the visibility and interactions of touch screen or touch screen keypad activities on small touch screens. As the information displayed on the screens of electronic media increases, difficulty in identifying and selecting the different options also increases to the point that user interface efficiencies decrease. This method enhances the displayed information by increasing the size and illumination intensity of the predicted keys and decreasing the size and illumination intensity of non predicted keys, with the purpose of enhancing identification and selection efficiencies. 
         [0009]    In still yet another embodiment, the method allows the rapid identification and selection of at least one keys, represented as, but not limited to, icons, numbers, letters, symbols and combinations thereof. The keys are accessed through a fully functional and interactive touch screen or touch screen keypad that is displayed in an adjustable area designated on the touch screen of an electronic media. 
         [0010]    According to a further embodiment, the system includes a touch screen on the electronic media that can be organized in a manner that provides a more user friendly functional keypad interface. The keypad area, designated within the touch screen, can for example be adjusted by contacting the edge or corner of the designated area on the touch screen and dragging the edge or corner to either increase or decrease the size of the keypad area. As the area of the designated keypad increases or decreases, the size of the keypad increases or decreases proportionally. 
         [0011]    According to still another embodiment, the keypad located in the designated area within the touch screen can be minimized and displayed on an edge of the touch screen as appropriate keys (which are defined as the keyboard icon), where the minimized touch screen area can later be reactivated and returned to full or almost full size and operational capability. During this period of minimization, the entire area designed for the keypad can be utilized to display the predicted keys with greater size and/or illumination or both. To enhance visibility, the enlarged key size can for example, can be ideally at least twice the initial keys size. 
         [0012]    In accordance with an additional embodiment, a predictive algorithm is used to anticipate and display one or more keys on the designated keypad. The predictive algorithm uses an adjustable set of criteria which includes previous selections made by the user, lexicon statistics, subject matter, geographic location, previous purchases, previously dialed phone numbers, and previously inputted personal identification numbers to predict the next keys in a series of keys required to complete the data input requirement. The predicted keys or keys can be selected or an alternative selection can be made from the remaining keys located on the keypad. 
         [0013]    According to yet another embodiment, the keys are entered through the touch screen or keypad into the electronic media, predicted keys that anticipate the users input requirements appear on the touch screen or keypad significantly enlarged and illuminated, over the non predicted keys, to enhance identification and selection and increasing the efficiency of the interfacing activities. The size of the keys can be adjusted for example to ideally be at least two times their initial size though the use of formatting options located on a menu bar provided on the edge of the touch screen area designated for the keypad. 
         [0014]    In a further representation of the present invention, the predicted keys will initially be enlarged and intensified to be ideally twice the size of the remaining displayed keys. In addition, when at least one of the keys is selected, whether predicted or not, the selected keys or keys will become intensified and enlarged over the remaining not selected keys or keys, by at ideally twice the size. 
         [0015]    In an additional embodiment, the user can either select at least one of the predicted keys on the touch screen display or return to the keypad and continue to interface with the electronic media. For the purpose of this description, pop-up menus are generated either automatically by the predictive algorithm or through the initiative of the user on the touch screen keypad. The pop-up menus can also be represented on the touch screen as icon keys. When selected the icon keys result in the activation of the associated pop-up menu. 
         [0016]    In yet a further embodiment, on the electronic media touch screen, through the computer processor, multiple keypad formats can be selected from a menu bar. The formats include, but are not limited to QWERTY, Dvorak Simplified, alphabetical, numeric, and alphanumeric. Each keypad format includes international language, scientific formula, or iconic character key options, which are again selected from a pop-up menu. The actual key size, as a percentage of the original font size or font size can also be selected from a pop-up menu. In fact, a formatting capability allows different fonts, font style or font sizes, font intensities, colors or the like to be selected from a menu or other means of selecting. This can for example be accomplished in a pop-up menu selector. 
         [0017]    The present invention also includes, a predictive algorithm, in conjunction with the computer processor, progressively uses subsequent inputs from the keypad to refine the predictive process. As the predictive process progresses, a set of predicted keys is generated and a set of non-predicted keys is inferred. The elements of the inferred set of non-predicted keys are progressively dimmed and minimized until they are effectively removed from the touch screen as the likelihood of their prediction decreases. At the same time, the size and illumination of the non-predicted keys and unlikely keys is diminished, the size and illumination of the predicted keys increases proportionally. 
         [0018]    In yet another embodiment, as the size and illumination of the predicted keys increases, the inferred set of non-predicted keys will be progressive extruded from the center of the designated keypad area. There after the non-predicted keys are grouped into a single area adjacent to the central keypad area and are diminished in size and illumination until they are eventually removed from the keypad area. The predicted keys that have not been extruded from the center of the keypad area will maintain their order on the keypad and touch screen and be displayed in a larger and more intense format. An example of this would include the following keys: “Q”,“W”,“E”,“R”,“T”,“Y”. If the “R” and “T” were extruded from the keypad, the remaining keys displayed on the keypad would appear as “Q”, “W”, “E”, “Y”, each maintaining in their previous order on the keypad. This order would also be maintained on the touch screen if the keys pad was minimized. 
         [0019]    In accordance with another embodiment, each key that is displayed either on the touch screen or keypad has an actuation area ideally equal to the size of the respective key. This actuation area allows the selection of the keys and provides an indication of the selection to the computer processor. As the size of the keys increases or decreases, the computer processor adjusts the corresponding size of the actuation area so that area in which a key or keys can be selected on the screen increases or decreases proportionally. If the size of the key is substantially increased, its actuation area is also ideally substantially increased. If the size of the keys is substantially reduced, its actuation area is also ideally substantially reduced. 
         [0020]    In a further embodiment, a system comprising the touch screen of the electronic media is communicatably coupled to a computer processor, wherein the processor, using a predictive program to identify one or more keys that a user may next select, presents the predicted keys on the touch screen keypad. When the touch screen keypad is minimized the predicted keys are enlarged to substantially fill the area of the touch screen previously occupied by a touch screen keypad initially provided to the user. The inferred unlikely keys are displayed on the touch screen substantially reduced. When touch screen keypad is not minimized the predicted keys are displayed on the keypad at least twice the size of the initial keys displayed on the keypad. 
         [0021]    In an additional embodiment, the keypad, through the computer processor, can be selected to be alternatively minimized or maximized by the user. When the keypad is minimized, the displayed predicted keys are displayed on the touch screen. When the keypad is maximized, the predicted keys are displayed on the keypad. If the keypad changes state from minimized or maximized the displayed predictive keys will also change displayed state from being displayed on the keypad to being displayed on the touch screen and vice versa. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a view of the touch screen on a cell phone or other electronic media. The touch screen includes a designated area for a keypad containing interactive keys, a display area and a menu bar at the top edge of the display area. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the method in which predicted keys are enlarged. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  a front view of the touch screen in which predicted keys are enlarged. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the touch screen in which the predicted keys are enlarged and the keys not predicted are removed from the touch screen keypad. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the touch screen in which non-predicted keys are diminished in size, or diminished in both size and illumination and in which predicted keys may become either larger or larger and more brightly illuminated than non-predicted keys. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the method in which the prediction algorithm is may be modified by a set of criteria. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the method. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a front view of the touch screen in which unlikely keys have been removed from view. 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a block diagram of a third embodiment of the method. 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  is a front view of the touch screen of a third embodiment of the method in which predicted keys are enlarged and unlikely keys are reduced in size, grouped and segregated on the touch screen keypad. 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  is a block diagram of a fourth embodiment of the method. 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  is a front view of the touch screen of a fourth embodiment of the method in which predicted keys have an enlarged actuation area and unlikely keys have a reduced actuation area. 
           [0034]      FIG. 13  is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the system. 
           [0035]      FIG. 14  is a front view of the touch screen of a preferred embodiment of the system in which the predicted keys substantially fill the actuation area of the touch screen. 
           [0036]      FIG. 15  is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the system. 
           [0037]      FIG. 16  is a front view of the touch screen of a second embodiment of the system in which unlikely keys are substantially reduced in size. 
           [0038]      FIG. 17  is a block diagram of a third embodiment of the system. 
           [0039]      FIG. 18  is a front view of the touch screen of a third embodiment of the system in which only the predicted keys remain on the touch screen. 
           [0040]      FIG. 19  is a block diagram of a fourth embodiment of the system. 
           [0041]      FIG. 20  is a front view of the touch screen of a fourth embodiment of the system in which predicted keys are enlarged and unlikely keys are substantially reduced in size. 
           [0042]      FIG. 21  is a block diagram of a fifth embodiment of the system. 
           [0043]      FIG. 22  is a front view of the touch screen of a fifth embodiment of the system in which predicted keys have a substantially enlarged actuation area and unlikely keys have a reduced actuation area. 
           [0044]      FIG. 23  is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the computer readable media. 
           [0045]      FIG. 24  is a front view of the touch screen of a preferred embodiment of the computer readable media in which the predicted keys are enlarged and the keys not predicted are removed from the touch screen keypad. 
           [0046]      FIG. 25  is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the computer readable media. 
           [0047]      FIG. 26  is a front view of the touch screen of a second embodiment of the computer readable media in which unlikely keys are substantially reduced in size. 
           [0048]      FIG. 27  is a block diagram of a third embodiment of the computer readable media. 
           [0049]      FIG. 28  is a front view of the touch screen of a third embodiment of the computer readable media in which predicted keys are enlarged and unlikely keys are substantially reduced in size. 
           [0050]      FIG. 29  is a block diagram of a fourth embodiment of the computer readable media. 
           [0051]      FIG. 30  is a front view of the touch screen of a fourth embodiment of the computer readable media in which predicted keys have a substantially enlarged actuation area and unlikely keys have a reduced actuation area. 
           [0052]      FIG. 31  is a block diagram of a fifth embodiment of the computer readable media. 
           [0053]      FIG. 32  is a front view of the touch screen of a fifth embodiment of the computer readable media in which the predicted keys are substantially enlarged to fill the entire touch screen keypad and the keys not predicted are removed from the touch screen keypad. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0054]      FIG. 1  demonstrates a standard touch screen layout for a portable device such as a cellular telephone or the like. The portable device  100  has a keypad area  102  for the input of alphanumeric data. 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a preferred embodiment of a method for enabling a user to quickly identify and select keys on a touch screen keypad  200  includes providing  210  the user with the touch screen keypad for selection of at least one key selected from the group consisting of icons, numbers, letters and symbols. The method provides  212  a predictive algorithm that identifies one or more predicted keys that a user may next select, and presents  214  on the touch screen keypad the one or more predicted keys that are substantially enlarged. 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the substantially enlarged predicted keys  312  may substantially fill the area of the touch screen  314  previously occupied by the touch screen keypad initially provided to the user, and/or altering the color of the keys not predicted compared to the predicted keys. 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , keys  412  may be provided for selection which allow the option of retention of the presented touch screen keypad and return to the touch screen keypad initially provided to the user. The size of the predicted keys  414  may be at least twice the size of the original keys on the touch screen keypad initially provided to the user. Keys that are not predicted may be removed as user&#39;s choices from the touch screen keypad. 
         [0058]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the keys  502  may be diminished in size by approximately fifty percent or more, or be both diminished in size by approximately fifty percent or more and reduced in illumination compared to the predicted keys. Additionally, the color of the unlikely keys may be altered compared to the predicted keys. Predicted keys  504  may be increased in illuminated and/or enlarged than the keys not predicted or both. The touch screen keypad may be for example a cellular telephone touch screen keypad, although the system and methodology described herein would likewise work on other devices, such as personal media players or other types of touch activated devices 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the prediction may be based or enhanced using for example past selections of the user  608 , lexicon statistics  610 , subject matter  612 , geographic location  614 , user&#39;s past purchases  616 , past dialed telephone numbers  618 , or personal identification numbers  620  or combinations thereof. For example, if the user has in the past dialed a specific number while the phone is located in a away city, the probability of predication of that number would be enhanced. 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a second embodiment  700  is shown of a method for enabling a user to quickly identify and select keys on a touch screen keypad includes providing  702  the user with the touch screen keypad for selection of at least one key selected from the group consisting of icons, numbers, letters and symbols and providing  704  a predictive algorithm that identifies one or more predicted keys that a user may next select. The method also includes inferring  706  a set of unlikely keys that excludes the identified one or more predicted keys, and removing or diminishing  708  unlikely keys as user choices from the touch screen keypad. 
         [0061]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the second embodiment  800  of a front view of the touchpad for the method is shown. The unlikely keys have been removed and the predicted keys remain on the touchpad. 
         [0062]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , a third embodiment  900  of a method for enabling a user to quickly identify and select an keys on a touch screen keypad includes providing  902  the user with the touch screen keypad for selection of at least one keys selected from the group consisting of icons, numbers, letters and symbols and providing  904  a predictive algorithm that identifies one or more predicted keys that a user may next select. The method also includes inferring  906  a set of unlikely keys that excludes the identified one or more predicted keys and presenting  908  on the touch screen keypad the one or more predicted keys and presenting  910  the set of unlikely keys. 
         [0063]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , the one or more predicted keys  1002  are provided substantially enlarged, and the set of unlikely keys  1004  are provided substantially reduced in size. The method may additionally include reducing illumination of the unlikely keys and or increasing illumination of the predicted keys where the unlikely keys are grouped and segregated into a separate area of the display from the predicted keys. Additionally, the color of the unlikely keys may be altered compared to the predicted keys. 
         [0064]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , the fourth embodiment  1100  of a method for enabling a user to quickly identify and select a key on a touch screen keypad includes providing  1102  the user with the touch screen keypad for selection of at least one keys selected from the group consisting of icons, numbers, letters and symbols and providing  1104  a predictive algorithm that identifies one or more predicted keys that a user may next select. The method also includes inferring  1106  a set of unlikely keys that excludes the identified one or more predicted keys and presenting  1108  on the touch screen keypad the one or more predicted keys where the one or more predicted keys have a substantially enlarged touch screen actuation area and presenting  1110  on the touch screen keypad the unlikely keys, where the unlikely keys have a substantially reduced touch screen actuation area. 
         [0065]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , the touch screen keypad layout  1200  shows the one or more predicted keys  1202  where the one or more predicted keys have a substantially enlarged touch screen actuation area and the unlikely keys  1204 , that have a substantially reduced touch screen actuation area. The method may additionally include increasing illumination of the predicted keys and or reducing illumination of the unlikely keys. Additionally, the color of the unlikely keys may be altered compared to the predicted keys. 
         [0066]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , a preferred embodiment of a system  1300  for enabling a user to quickly identify and select an keys on a touch screen keypad  1302  includes a touch screen that provides the user with the touch screen keypad for selection of at least one key selected from the group consisting of icons, numbers, letters and symbols, and a processor  1304  communicably coupled  1306  to the touch screen. The processor identifies  1308  one or more predicted keys that a user may next select and presents  1310  on the touch screen keypad the one or more predicted keys. The one or more predicted keys are enlarged to substantially fill the area of the touch screen previously occupied by a touch screen keypad initially provided to the user. 
         [0067]    Referring to  FIG. 14 , in the preferred embodiment of the system  1400  the processor may modify the size of the one or more predicted keys  1402  to become at least twice the size of original keys on the keypad initially provided to the user and or provide a key for selection  1404  which allows retention of or the return to the keypad initially provided to the user. The layout of the at least one key upon the touch screen keypad is selected from the group consisting of QWERTY, Dvorak Simplified, alphabetical, numeric, and alphanumeric, or the layout may retain the same order as the full keyboard where the keys not predicted are removed as user choices from the touch screen keypad. 
         [0068]    Referring to  FIG. 15 , a second embodiment of a system  1500  for enabling a user to quickly identify and select keys on a touch screen keypad includes a touch screen  1502  that provides the user with the touch screen keypad for selection of at least one keys selected from the group consisting of icons, numbers, letters and symbols. A processor  1504  is communicably coupled  1506  to the touch screen, wherein the processor identifies  1508  one or more predicted keys that a user may next select and presents  1510  on the touch screen keypad the one or more predicted keys. The processor infers  1512  a set of unlikely keys that excludes the identified one or more predicted keys and presents  1514  on the touch screen keypad the unlikely keys, which are provided substantially reduced in size. 
         [0069]    Referring to  FIG. 16 , the second embodiment of the system  1600  shows the unlikely keys  1602 , which are provided substantially reduced in size (or intensity of illumination or both). Also the color of illumination may also change. 
         [0070]    Referring to  FIG. 17 . a third embodiment of a system  1700  for enabling a user to quickly identify and select a key on the touch screen keypad includes a touch screen  1702  that provides the user with the touch screen keypad for selection of at least one key selected from the group consisting of icons, numbers, letters and symbols. A processor  1704  is communicably coupled  1706  to the touch screen. The processor identifies  1708  one or more predicted keys that a user may next select and presents  1710  on the touch screen keypad the one or more predicted keys. The processor infers  1712  a set of unlikely keys that excludes the identified one or more predicted keys and removes  1714  the unlikely keys as user choices from the touch screen keypad. 
         [0071]    Referring to  FIG. 18 . the third embodiment of the system  1800  shows that the unlikely keys as having been removed and only the predicted keys  1802  remaining visible on the touch screen keypad. 
         [0072]    Referring to  FIG. 19 , a fourth embodiment of a system  1900  for enabling a user to quickly identify and select a key on a touch screen keypad includes a touch screen  1902  that provides the user with the touch screen keypad for selection of at least one key selected from the group consisting of icons, numbers, letters and symbols and a processor  1904  is communicably coupled  1906  to the touch screen. The processor identifies  1908  one or more predicted keys that a user may next select and presents  1910  on the touch screen keypad the one or more predicted keys. The processor infers  1912  a set of unlikely keys that excludes the identified one or more predicted keys and presents  1914  on the touch screen keypad the unlikely keys. 
         [0073]    Referring to  FIG. 20 , the fourth embodiment of the system  2000  shows the presentation of the one or more predicted keys  2002  is substantially enlarged, and the unlikely keys  2004  are presented substantially reduced in size and/or illumination and/or color. 
         [0074]    Referring to  FIG. 21 . a fifth embodiment of a system  2100  for enabling a user to quickly identify and select a key on the touch screen keypad includes a touch screen  2102  that provides the user with the touch screen keypad for selection of at least one key selected from the group consisting of icons, numbers, letters and symbols and a processor  2104  is communicably coupled  2106  to the touch screen. The processor identifies  2108  one or more predicted keys that a user may next select and presents  2120  on the touch screen keypad the one or more predicted keys. The processor infers  2112  a set of unlikely keys that excludes the identified one or more predicted keys and presents  2114  on the touch screen keypad the unlikely keys. 
         [0075]    Referring to  FIG. 22 , the fifth embodiment of the system  2200  shows the one or more predicted keys  2202  have a touch screen actuation area that is substantially enlarged and the unlikely keys  2204  have a touch screen actuation area that is substantially reduced. 
         [0076]    Referring to  FIG. 23  a preferred embodiment of a computer usable medium  2300  that includes computer readable instructions for controlling a computer to enable a user to quickly identify and select a key on the touch screen keypad executes the steps of receiving  2302  from the touch screen keypad for selection of at least one key selected from the group consisting of icons, numbers, letters and symbols, identifying  2304  one or more predicted keys that a user may next select and presenting  2306  on the touch screen keypad the one or more predicted keys. 
         [0077]    Referring to  FIG. 24  the preferred embodiment of the computer usable medium  2400  shows the one or more predicted keys  2402  are enlarged to substantially fill the area of the touch screen previously occupied by a touch screen keypad initially provided to the user and the keys that were not predicted are removed as user choices from the touch screen keypad. 
         [0078]    Referring to  FIG. 23 , the computer usable medium may also provide a key for selection which allows full alphanumeric selection, where the prediction is based upon past selections of the user  2308 , lexicon statistics  2310 , subject matter  2312 , geographic location  2314 , the user&#39;s past purchases  2316 , past dialed telephone numbers  2318  and personal identification numbers  2320 . The keys may include alphanumeric text. The touch screen may be a cellular telephone touch screen. The size of the one or more predicted keys may be at least twice the size of the original keys on the keypad initially provided to the user. 
         [0079]    Referring to  FIG. 25 , a second embodiment of a computer usable medium that includes computer readable instructions for controlling a computer to enable a user to quickly identify and select a key on a touch screen keypad executes the steps of receiving  2502  from the touch screen keypad for selection at least one key selected from the group consisting of icons, numbers, letters and symbols and identifying  2504  one or more predicted keys that a user may next select. The executed steps include inferring  2506  a set of unlikely keys that excludes the identified one or more predicted keys, and presenting  2508  on the touch screen keypad both the predicted and the unlikely keys, wherein the unlikely keys are presented substantially reduced in size. 
         [0080]    Referring to  FIG. 26 , the second embodiment of the computer usable medium  2600  shows the unlikely keys  2604  are presented substantially reduced in size. 
         [0081]    Referring to  FIG. 27 , a third embodiment of a computer usable medium  2700  that includes computer readable instructions for controlling a computer to enable a user to quickly identify and select an keys on a touch screen keypad executes the steps of receiving  2702  from the touch screen keypad for selection at least one key selected from the group consisting of icons, numbers, letters and symbols and identifying  2704  one or more predicted keys that a user may next select. The executed steps include inferring  2706  a set of unlikely keys that excludes the identified one or more predicted keys and presenting  2708  on the touch screen keypad the one or more predicted keys. The one or more predicted keys are presented substantially enlarged, and the unlikely keys are presented  2710  substantially reduced in size. 
         [0082]    Referring to  FIG. 28 , the third embodiment of the computer usable medium  2800  shows the predicted keys  2802  being presented and the unlikely keys  2804  being presented substantially reduced in size. 
         [0083]    Referring to  FIG. 29 , a fourth embodiment of a computer usable medium  2900  that includes computer readable instructions for controlling a computer to enable a user to quickly identify and select a key on a touch screen keypad executes the steps of receiving  2902  from the touch screen keypad for selection at least one keys selected from the group consisting of icons, numbers, letters and symbols and identifying  2904  one or more predicted keys that a user may next select. The executed steps include inferring  2906  a set of unlikely keys that excludes the identified one or more predicted keys and presenting  2908  on the touch screen keypad the one or more predicted keys. The one or more predicted keys are then provided on a touch screen actuation area with an actuation area that is substantially enlarged and the unlikely keys are presented  2910  on a touch screen actuation area that is substantially reduced or essentially eliminated. 
         [0084]    Referring to  FIG. 30 , the fourth embodiment of a computer usable medium  3000  shows the predicted keys  3002  have a touch screen actuation area that is substantially enlarged and the unlikely keys  3004  have a touch screen actuation area that is substantially reduced. 
         [0085]    Referring to  FIG. 31 , a fifth embodiment of a computer usable medium  3100  that includes computer readable instructions for driving a touch screen display executes the steps of receiving  3102  at least one keys selection from a touch screen keypad, where the at least one keys is selected from the group consisting of icons, numbers, letters and symbols and identifying  3104  one or more predicted keys that a user may next select, based at least in part upon the received selection of the at least one keys. The executed steps include displaying  3106  on the touch screen keypad the one or more predicted keys that are enlarged to substantially fill the area of the touch screen previously occupied by a keypad initially provided to the user. 
         [0086]    Referring to  FIG. 32 , the fifth embodiment of a computer usable medium  3200  shows the predicted keys  3202  are enlarged to substantially fill the area of the touch screen previously occupied by a keypad initially provided to the user. 
         [0087]    These steps are preferably embodied in a computer readable medium or software but may also be embodied in firmware and are utilized via hardware. The steps performed in this figure are performed by software, hardware, firmware, and/or the combination of software, hardware, and/or firmware. 
         [0088]    Although an exemplary embodiment of the system of the present invention has been illustrated in the accompanied drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to any embodiment disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims. Further, although depicted in a particular manner, various modules or blocks may be repositioned without departing from the scope of the current invention. Still further, although depicted in a particular manner, a greater or lesser number of modules and connections can be utilized with the present invention in order to accomplish the present invention, to provide additional known features to the present embodiment, and/or to make the present invention more efficient.