Patent ID: 7461355

Claim:
A method in a computing system for inputting text and control information, the method comprising: displaying a display pattern having an application ring, a petals display portion, and a central portion, the application ring having application tabs, the petals display portion having an operation ring, a function ring, and a character pattern, the application ring surrounding the operation ring, the operation ring surrounding the function ring, the function ring surrounding the character pattern, the character pattern surrounding the central portion; upon selection of an application tab, displaying in the operation ring operations available for the application represented by the selected application tab, one of the displayed operations being designated as being active; and displaying in the function ring functions available for the active operation; upon selection of an operation within the operation ring, by rotating the operation ring, designating the selected operation as being active; and displaying in the function ring functions available for the operation newly designated as being active; receiving a stroke drawn across the display pattern; when the stroke starts at a point associated with a function of the function ring and ends at a point within the central portion, performing the function associated with the point at which the stroke starts; and when the stroke starts and ends at a point associated with the central portion and includes a point associated with the character pattern, inputting a character corresponding to the point associated with the character pattern.