Patent ID: 8386958

Claim:
A method for character input, comprising: activating a first rotating character ribbon on a display associated with a portable electronic device, wherein the rotating character ribbon comprises a first plurality of characters for selection, and wherein the first rotating character ribbon is activated when a message is received on the portable electronic device; activating a second rotating character ribbon on the display, wherein the second rotating character ribbon is activated by selecting the second rotating character ribbon using a positioning device on the portable electronic device, wherein the second rotating character ribbon comprises a second plurality of characters, wherein upon activation, the first and second rotating character ribbons automatically rotate on the display, and wherein the first rotating character ribbon rotates automatically at a first speed of rotation and the second rotating character ribbon rotates automatically at a second speed of rotation distinct from the first speed of rotation; selecting at least one first character from the first rotating character ribbon and at least one second character from the second rotating character ribbon, wherein the at least one first and second character are selected using the positioning device on the portable electronic device; and storing the at least one first and the at least one second selected characters as part of a text sequence on the portable electronic device.