Patent ID: 7414615

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for receiving input characters, the method comprising: obtaining mappings, wherein each of the mappings associates at least one directional input with at least one character; associating a directional input with the mappings based on a ranking of the mapping and a ranking of the directional inputs, wherein associating the directional input with the mappings includes at least one member of a group comprising: associating the directional input that is second easiest to select with a mapping that includes common consonants, associating the directional input that is third easiest to select with a mapping that includes semi-common consonants, associating the directional input that is second easiest to select with a mapping that includes less common consonants, and associating the directional input that is second easiest to select with the mapping that includes least common consonants; actuating a base state, wherein the base state is configured to display a mapping on the display upon a directional input associated with the mapping; and actuating a mapping state when the mapping is displayed, wherein at least one of the characters is associate with a directional input, wherein the mapping state is configured to select one of the characters upon a directional input associated with the character.