Patent ID: 8264460

Claim:
A method for inputting a character string using a computer mouse comprising: selecting a mapping from a plurality of mappings uniquely associating different directional movements with different character symbols; responsive to detecting a holding down of a button of the mouse, calculating an amount of movement of a component of the mouse in each of at least three directions from a start of movement of the component in a first direction to a start of movement of the component in a second direction to a start of movement of the component in each subsequent direction until the mouse button is released; after the mouse button is released, selecting a single character symbol corresponding to the calculated amount of movement in each of the at least three directions during the holding down of the mouse button based on the selected mapping, the selected single character symbol varying for different calculated amounts of movement in the at least three directions and different mappings; and providing the selected single character symbol as part of the character string.