Abstract:
A method of enabling input into a handheld electronic device having stored therein a number of language objects includes detecting a selection of a languages, making a determination that the language is a default language or a non-default language, detecting as an ambiguous input an actuation of one or more input members, outputting at least a portion of a number of the language objects that corresponds to the ambiguous input, and outputting an indication representative of the language.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     1. Field  
         [0002]     The disclosed and claimed concept relates generally to electronic devices and, more particularly, to a method for indicating a selected language on a handheld electronic device.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     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.  
         [0005]     Handheld electronic devices are used in a variety of language settings and users can often find themselves writing text in multiple languages. For example, a user might reply to one e-mail message in French and another in English. However, in order to utilize a handheld electronic device&#39;s advance features, such as disambiguation, the user might have to select the language that, for example, corresponds to the language of the original message to which he/she is replying. Switching among multiple languages can often confuse the user since the user might believe that the currently selected language on the handheld electronic device is one language, but in reality the currently selected language is another language. Therefore, incorrectly believing that the currently selected language is the desired language, the user might unwittingly be in to enter input which corresponds to the desired language, fully expecting the disambiguation function of the handheld electronic device to correctly disambiguate any ambiguous inputs that the user enters. However, since the currently selected language is the incorrect language, the handheld electronic device will disambiguate the ambiguous inputs based on the other language. Assuming that the user realizes that the currently selected language on the handheld electronic device is not the desired language prior to completing the data entry, the steps required to rectify the situation (e.g. select the correct language and correct any incorrect data) will consume time. It would be desirable to overcome this shortcoming in an efficient fashion that makes the device easier to use. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     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:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of an improved handheld electronic device in accordance with the disclosed and claimed concept;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a schematic depiction of the improved handheld electronic device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a depiction of an output that can be displayed on an output apparatus of the improved handheld electronic device;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart depicting an embodiment of an improved method in accordance with the disclosed and claimed concept; and  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart depicting another embodiment of an improved method in accordance with the disclosed and claimed concept. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     The accompanying figures and the description that follows set forth the disclosed and claimed concept in its preferred embodiments. It is, however, contemplated that persons generally familiar with handheld electronic devices will be able to apply the novel characteristics of the structures and methods illustrated and described herein in other contexts by modification of certain details. Accordingly, the figures and description are not to be taken as restrictive on the scope of the disclosed and claimed concept, but are to be understood as broad and general teachings.  
         [0013]     When referring to the term “language object” and variations thereof, such designations shall refer broadly to any type of object that may be constructed, identified, or otherwise obtained from one or more linguistic elements, that can be used alone or in combination to generate text, and that would include, for example and without limitation, words, shortcuts, symbols, ideograms, and the like.  
         [0014]     When referring to the term “linguistic element” and variations thereof, such designations shall refer broadly to any element that itself can be a language object or from which a language object can be constructed, identified, or otherwise obtained, and thus would include, but not be limited to, characters, letters, strokes, symbols, ideograms, phonemes, morphemes, digits (numbers), and the like.  
         [0015]     When referring to the term “letter” and variations thereof, such designations are meant to cover all letters of the Latin alphabet regardless of whether the letter is uppercase (Majuscule form) or lowercase (Minuscule form).  
         [0016]     When referring to the term “reduced” and variations thereof in the context of a keyboard, a keypad, or other arrangement of input members, such designations shall refer broadly to an arrangement in which at least one of the input members has assigned thereto a plurality of linguistic elements such as, for example, characters in the set Latin letters.  
         [0017]     When referring to the term “window” and variations thereof, such designations by way of example, and not limitation, shall refer to a visualized layer, tile, overlay or other similar variant thereof that is output on a display or screen.  
         [0018]     When referring to the phrase “default language” and variations thereof, such designations shall refer to the primary language of the handheld electronic device.  
         [0019]     For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, and derivatives thereof shall related to the disclosed and claimed concept as it is oriented in the figures.  
         [0020]     An improved handheld electronic device  2  is indicated generally in  FIG. 1  and is depicted schematically in  FIG. 2 . The exemplary handheld electronic device  2  includes a housing  4  upon which is disposed a processor unit that includes an input apparatus  6 , an output apparatus  8 , a processor  10 , and a memory  12 . 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 . The processor  10  and the memory  12  together form a processor apparatus.  
         [0021]     As can be understood from  FIG. 1 , the input apparatus  6  includes a keypad  14  and a trackwheel  16 . As will be described in greater detail below, the keypad  14  is in the exemplary form of a reduced QWERTY keyboard including a plurality of keys  18  that serve as input members. It is noted, however, that the keypad  14  may be of other configurations, such as an AZERTY keyboard, a QWERTZ keyboard, or other keyboard arrangement, whether presently known or unknown, and either reduced or not reduced.  
         [0022]     The system architecture of the handheld electronic device  2  advantageously is organized to be operable independent of the specific layout of the keypad  14 . Accordingly, the system architecture of the handheld electronic device  2  can be employed in conjunction with virtually any keypad layout without requiring any meaningful change in the system architecture. It is further noted that certain features set forth herein are usable on either or both of a reduced keyboard and a non-reduced keyboard.  
         [0023]     The keys  18  are located on a front face  20  of the housing  4 , and the trackwheel  16  is located at a side  22  of the housing  4 . In addition to the keys  1   8 , the trackwheel  16  can serve as another input member since the trackwheel  16  is capable of being rotated, as indicated by arrow  24 , and depressed generally toward the housing  4 , as indicated by arrow  26 . Rotation of the trackwheel  16  provides certain inputs to the processor  10 , while depression of the trackwheel  16  provides other input to the processor  10 .  
         [0024]     The output apparatus  8  includes a display  28  upon which can be provided an output  30 . An exemplary output  30  on the display  28  is depicted in  FIG. 1 . The output  30  includes a text component  32  and a window (variant component)  34 . As can be seen from  FIG. 1 , the window  34  extends substantially horizontally across the display  28 . This, however, is not meant to be limiting since the window  34  can also extend across the display  28  substantially vertically or in other fashions. Preferably, the window  34  is located generally in the vicinity of the text component  32 . The window  34  includes a number of outputs  36  from which the user can select. The window  34  also includes a selection box  36  that appears in a default position  39 . As described in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/931,281 entitled “Handheld Electronic device with Text Disambiguation,” the outputs  36  are proposed by the text disambiguation function as being the most likely disambiguated interpretation of the ambiguous input provided by the user. The selection box  38  is capable of being moved (i.e. shifted) from the default position  39  to a number of different positions  40  by depressing or actuating a &lt;NEXT&gt; key  42  or by rotating the trackwheel  16 . The display  28  also includes a caret (cursor)  44  that depicts generally where the next output will be displayed.  
         [0025]     The memory  12  is depicted schematically in  FIG. 2 . 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 .  
         [0026]     The memory  12  additionally can include one or more routines depicted generally with the numeral  46  for the processing of data. The routines  46  can be in any of a variety of forms such as, without limitation, software, firmware, and the like. As will be explained in greater detail below, the routines  46  include a routine that can be executed to perform a method in accordance with the disclosed and claimed concept as well as other routines that are utilized by the handheld electronic device  2 . Additionally, the memory  12  can also store a variety of data sources  48  such as, without limitation, one or more input method languages (i.e. “language” or “languages”)  50  having language objects associated therewith. The input method languages  50  may also have corresponding linguistic sources  52  such as a generic word list or a language rule set.  FIG. 2  depicts the memory  12  as containing three input method languages  50 . The first input method language  54  can be English, the second input method language  56  can be French, and the third input method language  58  can be Spanish. It is noted, however, that despite  FIG. 2  depicting only three input method languages  54 ,  56 ,  58  being stored on memory  12 , the total number of input method languages  50  that can be stored in the memory  12  is limited only by the memory&#39;s  12  capacity. Once a user selects an input method language  50 , the selected input method language becomes the preferred data source for the handheld electronic device  2 . The preferred data source is utilized by the handheld electronic device  2  to disambiguate any ambiguous inputs that are entered into the handheld electronic device  2 .  
         [0027]     In order to facilitate the entry of text into a handheld electronic device  2  and to prevent user confusion regarding the currently selected language on the handheld electronic device  2 , the disclosed and claimed concept provides for an indicator that enables the user to quickly identify what language is currently selected on the handheld electronic device  2 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  depicts one exemplary embodiment of an output in accordance with the disclosed and claimed concept. As can be seen from this figure, a visual indicator  60  is provided in the window  34 . In this particular embodiment, the visual indicator  60  is positioned substantially adjacent to a right end  62  of the window  34 . It is noted, however, that the visual indicator  60  can also be positioned substantially adjacent to a left end  64  of the window  34  or in other positions, such as within the caret  44  or on another part of the display  28 . The visual indicator  60  indicates the preferred data source that is currently selected on the handheld electronic device  2 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , the visual indicator  60  includes a first linguistic element  66  and a second linguistic element  68  which are surrounded by a box  70  that highlights the first and second linguistic elements  66 ,  68 . Furthermore, the visual indicator  60  is not only offset from the outputs  36  to prevent a user from mistakenly identifying the visual indicator  60  as an output  36 , but the box  70  that surrounds the first and second linguistic elements  66 ,  68  of the visual indicator  60  is shaped differently from the selection box  38 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3 , the visual indicator  60  includes the letters “F” and “R” which is an abbreviation of “French.” Accordingly, the visual indicator  60  alerts the user that French is the currently selected language on the handheld electronic device  2 .  
         [0029]     In other embodiments of the disclosed concept, the visual indicator  60  can be the full name of the language, as opposed to an abbreviation, or it can be an image, such as a flag, that represents the selected language. In another embodiment of the disclosed concept, the color of the window  60  can be associated with a particular language  50  thereby allowing the user to quickly determine what language is currently selected on the handheld electronic device  2 .  
         [0030]     It is noted that in addition to the visual indicators described above, the indicator can also be audible, mechanical (e.g. vibration) or a combination thereof (audible and mechanical). For instance, in one embodiment the handheld electronic device  2  can emit an audible signal that corresponds to a particular language. In yet another embodiment, the handheld electronic device  2  can have a specific type of vibration pattern that corresponds to a particular data source.  
         [0031]     To implement the method, the handheld electronic device  2  includes one or more routines  46 , stored in memory  12  and executable by processor  10 , for providing the indicator on the handheld electronic device  2 . A flowchart depicting one embodiment of the routine is depicted in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0032]     As can be understood from  FIG. 4 , the routine begins at step  100 , where the handheld electronic device  2  detects a selection of a language. Once a selected language has been detected at step  100 , the handheld electronic device  2  will then determine, as at step  102 , whether the selected language is a default language or a non-default language of the handheld electronic device  2 . If the handheld electronic device  2  determines that the selected language is not the default language of the handheld electronic device  2  at step  102 , then the handheld electronic device  2  will detect, as at step  104 , an actuation of an input member and generate, as at step  106 , a windown  34  having a visual indicator  60  indicating the selected language. If the handheld electronic device  2  determines, however, that the selected language is a default language of the handheld electronic device  2  at step  102 , then the handheld electronic device  2  will detect, as at step  108 , an actuation of an input member and generate, as at step  110 , a window  34  not having a visual indicator  60 . A handheld electronic device  2  having a window  34  lacking the visual indicator  60  because the currently selected language on the handheld electronic device  2  is the default language of the handheld electronic device  2  is depicted in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 5  depicts the general operation of another embodiment of an improved method in accordance with the disclosed and claimed concept.  
         [0034]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the routine begins at step  200 , where the handheld electronic device  2  detects an actuation of one or more of the input members. In response to the detection of the actuation of the input members at step  200 , the handheld electronic device  2  generates, as at step  202 , a window  34 . Unlike the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 4 , in this particular embodiment the handheld electronic device  2  will detect, as at step  204 , a selection of a language after the handheld electronic device  2  has detected an actuation of an input member at step  200 . The handheld electronic device  2  will then determine, as at step  206 , whether the language selected is a default language of the handheld electronic device  2  at step  204 . If it is determined that the selected language is not a default language of the handheld electronic device  2 , then the handheld electronic device  2  will display, as at step  208 , the visual indicator  60  within the window  34 . If it is determined that the selected language is a default language of the handheld electronic device  2 , then the handheld electronic device  2  will not display, as at step  210 , the visual indicator  60  within the window  34 .  
         [0035]     On advantage to the disclosed concept is that the user s attention is directed towards the process of inputting text into the handheld electronic device  2 . For instance, as disclosed elsewhere herein, when a user enters an ambiguous input into the handheld electronic device  2  the device  2  will display a window  34  containing one or more disambiguous outputs  36  from which the user can select. Therefore, the user s visual focus is directed mainly on the window  34  and the text component  32  of the output apparatus  8 . By positioning the visual indicator  60  within the window  34 , the user can continue to focus on one area of the output apparatus  8  thereby increasing the user&#39;s ability to input data into the handheld electronic device  2  since the user does not have to search the output apparatus  8  for the visual indicator  60 .  
         [0036]     Another advantage to the disclosed and claimed concept is that the indicator(s) can also act as a warning system that alerts the user to the fact that a non-default language is currently selected. For instance, if the user incorrectly assumes that English, which is the default language of the device  2 , is selected, the user will receive an immediate and clear alert that French is the currently selected language because the visual indicator  60  for French would be displayed within the window  34 .  
         [0037]     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.