Abstract:
A method of mapping a traditional touchtone telephone keypad on a handheld electronic device having a disambiguation function, and an associated apparatus comprises outputting a representation of a remapped character layout and generating a disambiguated interpretation of an input.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/558,621, filed Nov. 10, 2006, and entitled “Method of Mapping a Traditional Touchtone Telephone Keypad on a Handheld Electronic Device and Associated Apparatus.” 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The disclosed and claimed concept relates generally to handheld electronic devices that employ a text disambiguation function and, more particularly, to an improved method of enabling input on a handheld electronic device having a disambiguation function. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Numerous types of handheld electronic devices are known. Examples of such handheld devices include, for instance, personal data assistants (PDAs), handheld computers, two-way pagers, cellular telephones, and the like. Many handheld electronic devices also feature wireless communication capability, although many such handheld devices are stand-alone devices that are functional without communication with other devices. 
         [0006]    Such handheld electronic devices are generally intended to be portable, and thus are of a relatively compact configuration in which keys and other input structures often perform multiple functions under certain circumstances or may otherwise have multiple aspects or features assigned thereto. With advances in technology, handheld electronic devices are built to have progressively smaller form factors yet have progressively greater numbers of applications and features resident thereon. As a practical matter, the keys of a keypad can only be reduced to a certain small size before the keys become relatively unusable. 
         [0007]    One way of providing numerous letters in a small space has been to provide a “reduced keyboard” in which multiple letters, symbols, and/or digits, and the like, are assigned to any given key. For example, a traditional touchtone telephone ( FIG. 1 ) includes a reduced keypad which comprises twelve keys, of which ten have digits thereon, and of these ten keys, eight have letters assigned thereto. For instance, one of the keys includes the digit “2” as well as the letters “A”, “B”, and “C”. Other “reduced keyboards”, however, can be based on a QWERTY keyboard layout ( FIG. 2 ). Accordingly, unlike the traditional touch-tone telephone keypad, in an exemplary reduced QWERTY keypad the key that is assigned the digit “2” may be assigned the letters “T” and “Y” as opposed to “A”, “B”, and “C”. 
         [0008]    Despite the numerous advantages that a reduced QWERTY keypad provides over a traditional touch-tone telephone keypad, the reduced QWERTY keypad does have one shortcoming. This shortcoming relates to a given key&#39;s letter assignment, specifically, the letter assignment given to the keys associated with a digit (digit keys). For example, when a user calls an automated company directory using a touchtone telephone, the automated telephone system will typically ask the user to spell the name of the individual that the user would like to speak to by using the letters that are found on the traditional touchtone telephone keypad. Accordingly, if the user wanted to speak to an individual named “ALLIE”, the user would dial “25543” as the key sequence since on the traditional touchtone telephone keypad “25543” is the key sequence that spells the name “ALLIE” (see  FIG. 1 ). The automated company directory would then recognize the Dual Tone Multi-Frequency signal (hereinafter, referred to as DTMF singal(s)) that is associated with the key sequence “25543” and would automatically connect the user to the dialed party. As stated above, however, the letters associated with the digit keys on a reduced QWERTY keypad do not correspond to the letters that are found on a traditional touchtone telephone keypad. In other words, the key sequence “25543” on a reduced QWERTY keypad does not spell the name “ALLIE”. Therefore, the user would be unable to use the letters that are printed on the keys of a reduced QWERTY keypad to enter the desired name into the automated company directory. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    A full understanding of the disclosed and claimed concept can be gained from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a traditional touch tone keypad; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of an embodiment of the improved handheld electronic device in accordance with the disclosed and claimed concept; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a schematic depiction of the handheld electronic device of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  depicts an output that can be generated on the improved handheld electronic device of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  is a top plan view of the improved handheld electronic device of  FIG. 2  with the output of  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  depicts another output that can be generated on the improved handheld electronic device of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    As used herein, the phrase “a number of” or variations thereof means one or an integer greater than one. 
         [0017]    As used herein, the phrase “digit” or variations thereof shall broadly refer to the digits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0. 
         [0018]    As used herein, the phrase “letters” or variations thereof shall broadly refer to a component of an alphabet or a symbol/character that represents a speech sound. By way of example and not limitation, the letter can be a Latin letter. 
         [0019]    Directional phrases used herein, such as, for example, upper, lower, left, right, vertical, horizontal, top, bottom, above, beneath, clockwise, counterclockwise and derivatives thereof, relate to the orientation of the elements shown in the drawings and are not limiting upon the claims unless expressly recited therein. 
         [0020]    One embodiment of a handheld electronic device  2  in accordance with the disclosed and claimed concept is depicted generally in  FIG. 2 . The handheld electronic device  2  of  FIG. 2  is depicted schematically in  FIG. 3 . The handheld electronic device  2  includes a housing  4  upon which are disposed a processor unit that includes an input apparatus  6 , an output apparatus  8 , a processor  10 , a memory  12 , and a wireless transceiver  13 . The processor  10  may be, for instance, and without limitation, a microprocessor (μP) and is responsive to inputs from the input apparatus  6  and provides output signals to the output apparatus  8 . The processor  10  also interfaces with the memory  12  which, as will be discussed in greater detail below, contains one or more routines that are used to implement the disclosed and claimed concept. The processor  10  and the memory  12  together form a processor apparatus. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the input apparatus  6  includes a keypad  14  and a navigational input member  16 . The keypad  14  is in the exemplary form of a reduced QWERTY keyboard including a plurality of keys  18  that serve as input members. Many of the keys  18  each have a plurality of characters assigned thereto. Moreover, the keypad  14  also includes a subset  17  wherein each key  18  in the subset  17  is assigned a digit. The keypad  14  also includes an &lt;ALT&gt; key  20 , an &lt;ENTER&gt; key  22 , and a &lt;SPACE&gt; key  23 . It is noted, however, that the keypad  14  may be of other configurations, such as an AZERTY keyboard, a QWERTY keyboard, a QWERTZ keyboard or another keyboard arrangement, whether or not reduced, and whether presently known or unknown. 
         [0022]    The keys  18  are located on a front face  24  of the housing  4 , and the navigational input member  16 , which is in the exemplary form a trackball  36 , is disposed on the front face  24  of the housing  4  as well. The trackball  36  is rotatable in various directions thereby allowing for the navigation of the cursor  32 , which is displayed on the output apparatus  8 , in various directions including up, down, left, right, and any combination thereof. Moreover, the trackball  36  can also be depressed to provide a selection or other input based upon the current location of the cursor  32 . Accordingly, rotation of the trackball  36  can navigate the cursor  32  over a particular program icon  34 , while depression of the trackball  36  can launch the program. It should be noted that a trackwheel (not shown), which can be disposed on a side  26  of the housing  4 , can be used in lieu of the trackball  36 . Similar to the trackball, the trackwheel can serve as input member since the trackwheel is capable of being rotated in a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction as well as being depressed. Rotation of the trackwheel can provide a navigation or other input, while depression of the trackwheel can provide a selection or other input. For example, if a cursor  32  is located over a given program icon  34 , that program will be launched when the trackwheel is depressed. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the memory  12  can be any of a variety of types of internal and/or external storage media such as, without limitation, RAM, ROM, EPROM(s), EEPROM(s), and the like that provide a storage register for data storage such as in the fashion of an internal storage area of a computer, and can be volatile memory or nonvolatile memory. As can be seen from  FIG. 2 , the memory  12  is in electronic communication with the processor  10 . The memory  12  additionally can include one or more routines depicted generally with the numeral  38  for the processing of data. The routines  38  can be in any of a variety of forms such as, without limitation, software, firmware, and the like. 
         [0024]    As stated above, a shortcoming of a reduced QWERTY keypad is that a user would not be able to use the letters associated with the digit keys of the reduced QWERTY keypad to assist in entering information, such as a name or a password, into an automated telephone system since the letters associated with the digit keys on the reduced QWERTY keypad do not correspond to the letters that are typically found on the alphanumeric keys of a traditional touchtone telephone keypad. 
         [0025]    The handheld electronic device  2  overcomes this shortcoming by having a routine  38  that is adapted to display a representation of a traditional touchtone telephone keypad on the display  40  of the output apparatus  8  upon detecting a predetermined input. The routine  38  is also adapted to alter the character assignments of the digit keys in the subset  17  of the handheld electronic device  2  to correspond with the character assignments of the digit keys of the traditional touchtone telephone keypad which is being displayed on the output apparatus  8  of the handheld electronic device  2 . Moreover, the routine  38  is further advantageously adapted to disambiguate an ambiguous input, which is based on inputs derived from the digit keys with altered character assignments, in order to provide the user with a visual representation of the name or word that he/she dialed into the handheld electronic device  2 , thereby serving as visual confirmation that the correct name or word was dialed. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 4A , as stated above, the handheld electronic device  2  will output on the display  40  of the output apparatus  8  a representation of a traditional touchtone telephone keypad  42  (hereinafter, referred to as the representation) upon detecting a predetermined input. For example, the predetermined input can be an input, such as a number of input member actuations or a vocal command, which initiates a telephone routine. As can be seen from these figures, the representation  42  comprises twelve keys  44  of which ten are associated with a digit. Of the ten digit keys  44  in the representation  42 , eight keys  44  are also associated with letters. Each key  44  in the representation  42  has a spatial position that corresponds to a spatial position of a key  18  located in the subset  17 . For example, the key  48  in the representation  42  that is assigned the digit “1” corresponds to the key  50  in the subset  17  that is assigned the digit “1” while the key  52  in the representation  42  that is assigned the digit “2” corresponds to the key  54  in the subset  17  that is assigned the digit “2”. 
         [0027]    As stated above, upon detecting the predetermined input, the handheld electronic device  2  will not only output the representation of the traditional touchtone telephone keypad  42  on the display  40  of the output apparatus  8 , but the handheld electronic device  2  will also alter the character assignments of the digit keys in the subset  17  to correspond with their respective counterpart keys  44  in the representation  42 . For instance, the key  54  in the subset  17  that is assigned the digit “2” and the letters “T” and “Y” will have its character assignment altered such that the key  54  in the subset  17  will be temporarily assigned the letters “A”, “B”, and “C” (as opposed to the letters “T” and “Y”) which is the letter assignment of the key  52  in the representation  42  to which the key  54  in the subset  17  spatially corresponds. When the user actuates this key  54 , not only will the handheld electronic device  2  output the DTMF signal that is normally associated with the digit “2” on a traditional touch tone telephone keypad, but the handheld electronic device  2  will also detect an ambiguous input that can either be the letter “A”, “B”, or “C”. Additionally, the key  50  in the subset  17  that is assigned the digit “1” and the letters “Q” and “W” will have its character assignment altered such that the key  50  in the subset  17  will temporarily be assigned only the digit “1” since the corresponding key  48  in the representation  42  does not have any letters assigned thereto. 
         [0028]    Therefore, if the user of the handheld electronic device  2  needed to dial the key sequence that corresponds with the name “MIA” into an automated telephone system, the user would first enter the predetermined input which would initiate the telephone routine which would, in turn, would initiate the display of the representation of the traditional touchtone telephone keypad  42  on the output apparatus  8  of the handheld electronic device  2 . Once the representation  42  is output on the output apparatus  8 , the user could reference the representation  42  in order to dial the required key sequence, which is “642”, on the keypad  14  of the handheld electronic device  2  by actuating the keys  18  in the subset  17 . 
         [0029]    As stated above, however, the handheld electronic device  2  not only outputs the representation  42  on the output apparatus  8 , but it also alters the character assignments of the digit keys in the subset  17  to correspond with their respective spatial counterpart keys  44  in the representation  42 . The disambiguation routine will then employ the altered character assignments of the actuated keys  44  so that a visual output of the name or word in a dictionary on the handheld electronic device  2  that corresponds with the dialed input will appear on the output apparatus  8  as well. In other words, actuation of the key  56  in the subset  17  that is assigned the digit “6” does not result in an input that could either be the letter “J” or “K”, but rather the possible input could be the letter “M”, “N”, or “O” since the key  58  in the representation  42  to which the key  56  in the subset  17  spatially corresponds has these letters assigned thereto. Accordingly, the handheld electronic device  2  will use its disambiguation function to disambiguate the ambiguous inputs that result from the key sequence “642”, and the handheld electronic device  2  will output the name “MIA” in the text component  46  of the output apparatus  8  (see  FIG. 4A ). The user would, therefore, know that he/she dialed the correct key sequence into the handheld electronic device  2 . 
         [0030]    In another embodiment of the disclosed concept, the handheld electronic device  2  could not only output the name or word that was dialed by the user, but the handheld electronic device  2  would also output the digits that were dialed as well. For example, beneath the name “MIA” the handheld electronic device  2  could output the digits “642”. 
         [0031]    In yet another embodiment, the user can also output a digit in the text component  46  of the output apparatus  8  by actuating the &lt;ALT&gt; key  20  along with a digit key. For example, if the user wanted a visual confirmation of “1800ALLIE”, the user would first press-and-hold the &lt;ALT&gt; key  20  while actuating the keys  18  on the handheld electronic device that correspond to the digits “1800”. The user would then release the &lt;ALT&gt; key  20  and would enter the key sequence, “25543”, which corresponds to the name “ALLIE”. Accordingly, the handheld electronic device  2  would output “1800ALLIE” in the text component  46  of the output apparatus  8 . 
         [0032]    In yet another embodiment, the user could also dial the required key sequence by merely reciting (i.e., speaking), the numbers “642” into the handheld electronic device  2 . When the handheld electronic device  2  detects the user reciting a particular digit, such as the digit “6”, the handheld electronic device  2  will not only output the DTMF signal that is associated with the recited digit, but the handheld electronic device  2  will also disambiguate an ambiguous input that comprises the letters that correspond to the recited digit. For example, if the user recites the digit “6” when the representation  42  is being displayed on the output apparatus  8 , the handheld electronic device  2  will output the DTMF signal that corresponds with the digit “6”, as well as disambiguate a possible input that can either be the letter “M”, “N”, or “O”. As stated above, the handheld electronic device  2  will then generate a visual output of the name or word that was recited. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart depicting one embodiment of the disclosed concept. As can be seen from this figure, the handheld electronic device  2  will detect an input at step  100 . The handheld electronic device  2  will then determine whether the detected input was a predetermined input at step  102 . If the handheld electronic device  2  does determine that the detected input was a predetermined input, then the handheld electronic device  2  will determine whether a representation of the traditional touchtone telephone keypad  42  is currently being displayed on the output apparatus  8  at step  104 . If the handheld electronic device  2  determines that a representation  42  is not currently being displayed, then the handheld electronic device  2  will display a representation of a traditional touch tone telephone keypad  42  on the output apparatus  8  of the handheld electronic device  2  at step  106 . Additionally, the handheld electronic device  2  will, at step  108 , alter the character assignment (first character assignment) of at least some of the keys  18  in the subset  17  to correspond with the character assignment (second character assignment) of the keys  44  in the representation  42  which have the same spatial position. For example, as stated above, the key  54  in the subset  17  that is assigned the digit “2” and the letters “T” and “Y” will have its character assignment altered such that it will be temporarily have assigned thereto the letters “A”, “B”, and “C” (as opposed to the letters “T” and “Y”) which is the letter assignment of the key  52  in the representation  42  to which the key  54  in the subset  17  spatially corresponds. After the character assignment of the keys  18  in the subset  17  have been altered, the handheld electronic device will return to step  100 . 
         [0034]    The handheld electronic device  2  will then detect another input at step  100 . The handheld electronic device  2  will determine whether the detected input was a predetermined input at step  102 . If the handheld electronic device  2  determines that the detected input was not a predetermined input, then the handheld electronic device  2  will determine whether the detected input was an actuation of a key  18  disposed in the subset  17  at step  114 . If the handheld electronic device  2  does determine that the detected input was an actuation of a key  18  disposed in the subset  17 , then the handheld electronic device  2  will employ its disambiguation function to generate a linguistic interpretation of the ambiguous inputs that are assigned to the actuated key  18  at step  116 . In this regard, it is understood that if the current actuation of a key  18  is one of a series of key actuations, the disambiguation routine will seek a disambiguated interpretation of the entire series of key actuations. Moreover, the handheld electronic device  2  may be configured such that the disambiguated interpretation of a series of key actuations is limited to being a complete word, i.e., no disambiguated interpretation would be output unless it corresponds lengthwise to a complete word, as opposed to an initial portion of a word or a character string that does not constitute a word. 
         [0035]    The handheld electronic device  2  will then output the linguistic interpretation on the output apparatus  8  at step  118 . After the linguistic interpretation has been output, the handheld electronic device  2  will return to step  100 . 
         [0036]    Alternatively, if the handheld electronic device  2  determines, at step  114 , that the detected input was not an actuation of a key  18  disposed in the subset  17 , then the handheld electronic device  2  will determine whether the detected input was a vocal command at step  120 . For example, the handheld electronic device  2  will determine whether the detected input was the user reciting the digit “6” into the handheld electronic device  2 . If the handheld electronic device  2  does determine that the detected input was a vocal command, then the handheld electronic device  2  will employ its disambiguation function, at step  116 , to generate a linguistic interpretation of the ambiguous inputs that are assigned to the digit that was recited, and will output the linguistic interpretation at step  118 . The handheld electronic device  2  will then return to step  100  after the linguistic interpretation has been output. 
         [0037]    If the handheld electronic device  2  determines that the detected input was not a vocal command, at step  120 , then the handheld electronic device  2  will take some other actuation such as, without limitation, determining whether the detected input was a selection input at step  122  prior to returning to step  100 . 
         [0038]    If the handheld electronic device detects yet another input at step  100 , the handheld electronic device  2  will determine whether the detected input was a predetermined input at step  102 . If the handheld electronic device  2  does determine that the detected input was a predetermined input, then the handheld electronic device  2  will determine whether the representation of the traditional touchtone telephone keypad  42  is currently being displayed on the output apparatus  8 . If the handheld electronic device  2  does determine that the representation  42  is currently being displayed, then the handheld electronic device  2  will terminate the representation  42  at step  110 , and will alter the character assignment of the keys  18  in the subset  17  to correspond with their original character assignment at step  112 . For example, the key  54  in the subset  17  that is assigned the digit “2” and temporarily assigned the letters “A”, “B”, and “C” will have its character assignment altered such that the key  54  will once again be assigned the letters “T” and “Y”, which is the original character assignment for the key  54 . Additionally, the key  50  in the subset  17  that is assigned the digit “1” and temporarily which had no letters assigned thereto will once again be assigned and the letters “Q” and “W”. 
         [0039]    While specific embodiments of the disclosed and claimed concept have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the disclosed and claimed concept which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.