METHOD OF INPUTTING CHARACTER IN MOBILE TERMINAL

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method of inputting characters in a mobile terminal, and more particularly to a method of inputting characters in a mobile terminal, in which multiple characters assigned to one key are divided into two groups based on the number of key presses so that a user may input characters in a group of larger number of key presses by pressing corresponding key for a long time.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

As well-known in the art, portable terminals (for example, mobile phone, PDA) have been widely used for writing out messages.

For example, the user can press a key, a prescribed number of times, to which a character to be input out of multiple characters in each key is assigned so as to write out messages, in a case of the mobile phone.

More specifically, when using the mobile phone in which ^N a, b, c, A, B, and C are assigned to a prescribed number key, the user has to press the number key 6 times for inputting a character ¹ C. There was a problem that it would take much time to input the characters, if the user desires to input specific characters (i.e., ^V A' , ¹ B', and ¹ C in the above example)

out of characters assigned to the number key, which need large number of key presses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method of inputting characters in a mobile terminal which is capable of significantly reducing time necessary to input characters by dividing multiple characters assigned to one key into characters that need lower number of key presses and characters that need larger number of key presses, thereby inputting the characters that need lower number of key presses by pressing corresponding key a prescribed number of times and inputting the characters that need larger number of key presses by pressing corresponding key for a long time.

In order to achieve above-mentioned objects, a method of inputting characters in a mobile phone with keyboard in which multiple characters are assigned to each key according to the present invention comprises inputting characters of less than a prescribed number of key presses by pressing a corresponding key consecutively, the multiple characters are divided into two groups of less than the prescribed number of key presses and greater than or equal to the prescribed number of key presses; inputting a first character of the characters of greater than or equal to the prescribed number of key presses by pressing the

corresponding key for a long time and inputting characters after the first character by pressing the corresponding key for a long time and then pressing it shortly; and inputting the first character consecutively by pressing the corresponding key for a long time repetitively.

Further, a method of inputting characters in a mobile phone with English keyboard in which small letters and capital letters are assigned to each key according to the present invention comprises inputting characters of less than a prescribed number of key presses by pressing a corresponding key consecutively, the multiple characters are divided into two groups of less than the prescribed number of key presses and greater than or equal to the prescribed number of key presses; inputting a first character of the characters of greater than or equal to the prescribed number of key presses by pressing the corresponding key for a long time and inputting characters after the first character by pressing the corresponding key for a long time and then pressing it shortly. Preferably, the characters of less than the prescribed number of key presses are small letters, and the characters of greater than or equal to the prescribed number of key presses are capital letters.

Further, a method of inputting characters in a mobile phone with Hindi keyboard in which multiple characters are assigned to each number key according to the present invention comprises inputting characters of less than a prescribed number of key presses by pressing a corresponding key consecutively, the multiple characters

are divided into two groups of less than the prescribed number of key presses and greater than or equal to the prescribed number of key presses; inputting a first character of the characters of greater than or equal to the prescribed number of key presses by pressing the corresponding key for a long time and inputting characters after the first character by pressing the corresponding key for a long time and then pressing it shortly.

Preferably, the characters of less than the prescribed number of key presses and the characters of greater than or equal to the prescribed number of key presses are characters of similar pattern.

Further, a method of inputting characters in a mobile phone with Tai keyboard in which multiple characters are assigned to each number key according to the present invention comprises inputting characters of less than a prescribed number of key presses by pressing a corresponding key consecutively, the multiple characters are divided into two groups of less than the prescribed number of key presses and greater than or equal to the prescribed number of key presses; inputting a first character of the characters of greater than or equal to the prescribed number of key presses by pressing the corresponding key for a long time and inputting characters after the first character by pressing the corresponding key for a long time and then pressing it shortly.

Preferably, the characters of less than the prescribed number of key presses and the characters of greater than or

equal to the prescribed number of key presses are characters of similar pattern.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating an English keyboard according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an English inputting method using the English keyboard of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a Hindi keyboard according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a Hindi inputting method using the Hindi keyboard of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a Tai keyboard according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a Tai inputting method using the Tai keyboard of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description and drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components.

FIG. 1 shows an example illustrating an English keyboard according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an English inputting method using the English keyboard. FIG. 3 is an example illustrating a Hindi keyboard according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a Hindi inputting method using the Hindi keyboard of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is an example illustrating a

Tai keyboard according to a third embodiment of the present invention. And FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a Tai inputting method using the Tai keyboard of FIG. 5.

[First Embodiment]

As shown in FIG. 1, a, b, c, A, B, and C are assigned to a number key ^X 2' , d, e, f, D, E, and F are assigned to a number key ^V 3', g, h, I, G, H, and I are assigned to a number key M', j, k, 1, J, K, and L are assigned to a number key '5', m, n, o, M, N, and 0 are assigned to a number key ^V 6', p, q, r, s, P, Q, R, and S are assigned to a number key ¹ V , t, u, v, T, U, and V are assigned to a number key '8', and w, x, y, z, W, X, Y, and Z are assigned to a number key ^V 9', according to an English keyboard of the present invention.

The method of inputting characters using the keyboard according to the present invention will be described hereinafter.

In regard with the number key ^V 2' to which the characters 'a, b, c, A, B, and C' are assigned, the character ^v a' is inputted upon pressing the corresponding number key one time, the character ^v b' is inputted upon

pressing the key two times, and the character 'c' is inputted upon pressing the key three times.

Further, the character ^V A' is inputted upon pressing the number key ^V 2' for a long time, the character 'B' is inputted upon pressing the number key for a long time and then pressing it shortly one time, and the character ^V C is inputted upon pressing the number key for a long time and then pressing it shortly two times.

As such, the characters are divided into two groups based on whether it is a capital letter or a small letter in accordance with this embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, characters a, b, and c that need lower number of key presses can be inputted by pressing the corresponding key a prescribed number of times consecutively, and characters A, B, and C that need larger number of key presses can be inputted by pressing the corresponding key for a long time or by pressing it for a long time and then pressing it shortly.

Of course, although it was described that the characters are divided into two groups based on whether it is the capital letter or the small letter to facilitate discriminating between them, it should be noted that they are actually divided based on a prescribed number of key presses. That is, the characters can be divided into greater than or equal to 4 times of key presses and less than 4 times of key presses as a standard of 4 times of key presses required to input the character ^χ A' .

To implement such manner, a control unit (not shown) in the mobile terminal can be configured such that the user

can input from, for example, a 4th character if he presses corresponding key for a long time, as a standard of a prescribed number of key presses.

Next, the method of inputting characters according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of the English inputting method using the English keyboard.

As shown in FIG. 2, a first assigned character of multiple characters assigned to the corresponding key is inputted (S22) if the user presses the corresponding key one time ("Y" in S20) without pressing it for a long time ("N" in SlO), a second assigned character is inputted (S32) if the user presses the corresponding key two times ("Y" in S30) , and a third assigned character is inputted (S42) if the user presses the corresponding key three times ("Y" in S40) .

On the other hand, if the user presses the corresponding key for a long time so as to facilitate inputting the character that needs larger number of key presses ("Y" in SlO), a fourth assigned character of multiple characters assigned to the corresponding key is inputted (S52) .

Further, if the user presses the corresponding key for a long time and then presses it shortly ("Y" in S50) , a fifth assigned character is inputted (S62) .

Lastly, if the user presses the corresponding key for a long time and then presses it shortly two times ("Y" in S60) , a sixth assigned character is inputted (S70) .

Although it has been described that the characters are

divided based on the prescribed number of key presses according to the method of inputting characters of the present invention shown in FIG. 2, it should be noted that the user may press the key for a long time after pressing it one time, two times, or three times when substantially inputting characters.

The method in such manner will be now described more specifically.

In a case of inputting the characters ¹ CC according to prior art, because the user must input the character ^λ C by pressing the number key ^λ 2' 6 times, and then input the character ¹ C by pressing the number key ^% 2' 6 times again after he finishes inputting one ^V C, total number of key presses required to input the characters ¹ CC is 12 times. Meanwhile, the present invention requires total only six times of key presses to input the characters ¹ CC, by pressing the number key '2' for a long time and then pressing it shortly two times to input the character ^λ C, and repeating them again. Subsequently, it is possible to significantly reduce the number of key presses and efficiently reduce time necessary to input characters . [Second Embodiment]

As such, the characters are divided into two groups based on the number of key presses in accordance with this embodiment of the present invention. More specifically,

characters ( ^- ," , ') that need lower number of key presses can be inputted by pressing the corresponding key a prescribed number of times consecutively, and characters

( "^ , ^ ) that need larger number of key presses can be inputted by pressing the corresponding key for a long time or by pressing it for a long time and then pressing it shortly.

Of course, the characters assigned to one key are divided into two groups based on a prescribed number of key presses. That is, they can be divided into greater than or equal to 4 times of key presses and less than 4 times of key presses as a standard of 4 times of key presses

required to input the character '"'.

To implement such manner, a control unit (not shown) in the mobile terminal can be configured such that the user can input from, for example, a 4th character if he presses corresponding key for a long time, as a standard of a prescribed number of key presses.

Next, the method of inputting characters according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of the English inputting method using the Hindi keyboard of

FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, a first assigned character of

multiple characters assigned to the corresponding key is inputted (S22) if the user presses the corresponding key one time ("Y" in S20) without pressing it for a long time ("N" in SlO), a second assigned character is inputted (S32) if the user presses the corresponding key two times ("Y" in S30), and a third assigned character is inputted (S42) if the user presses the corresponding key three times ("Y" in S40) .

On the other hand, if the user presses the corresponding key for a long time so as to facilitate inputting the character that needs larger number of key presses ("Y" in SlO), a fourth assigned character of multiple characters assigned to the corresponding key is inputted (S52) . Lastly, if the user presses the corresponding key for long time and then presses it shortly ("Y" in S50) , a fifth assigned character is inputted (S62) .

Although it has been described that the characters are divided based on the prescribed number of key presses according to the method of inputting characters of the present invention, in FIG. 4, it should be noted that the user may press the key for a long time after pressing it one time, two times, or three times when substantially inputting the characters. The method in such manner will be now described more specifically.

In a case of inputting the characters ¹ ^ ^' according to prior art, because the user must input the character

¹ ^ ' by pressing the corresponding number key ¹ I' 5 times,

and then input the character ' ^ ' by pressing the number

key ¹ I' 5 times again after he finishes inputting one ¹ ^', total number of key presses required to input the

characters ' ^ ^ ' is 10 times.

Meanwhile, the present invention requires total only

four times of key presses to input the characters '^ ^ ', by pressing the number key '2' for a long time and then

pressing it shortly two times to input the character ' ^ and repeating them again.

Subsequently, it is possible to significantly reduce the number of key presses and efficiently reduce time necessary to input characters . [Third Embodiment]

are assigned to a number key ^v 0', 3,9,U,11,11,IaP are assigned f Rf o f

•) 1) to a function key '*', and > ' are assigned to a function key '#' . Herein, the similar characters are arranged to be assigned to each key so that the user may know them easily.

The method of inputting characters using the Tai keyboard according to the present invention will be described hereinafter.

In regard with the number key ^λ l' to which characters

. . • v.cJ.oJ _are assigned, the character ' ' is inputted upon pressing the corresponding number key one time, the

character ' ' is inputted upon pressing the key two times,

and the character ' ' is inputted upon pressing the key three times.

Further, the character ' ^ ' is inputted upon pressing

the number key ^% 1' for a long time, the character ' ⁰ ^ ' is inputted upon pressing the number key for a long time and

then pressing it shortly one time, and the character '«* ^• •' is inputted upon pressing the number key for a long time and then pressing it shortly two times.

As such, the characters are divided into two groups based on a prescribed number of key presses in accordance with this embodiment of the present invention. More

specifically, characters ( , , ) that need lower number of

key presses can be inputted by pressing the corresponding key a prescribed number of times consecutively, and

characters ( <w _; cd ^. _; eJ) that need larger number of key presses can be inputted by pressing the corresponding key for a long time or by pressing it for a long time and then pressing it shortly.

Of course, the characters assigned to one key are divided into two groups based on a prescribed number of key presses. That is, they can be divided into greater than or equal to 4 times of key presses and less than 4 times of key presses as a standard of 4 times of key presses

required to input the character ¹ ^'.

To implement such manner, a control unit (not shown) in the mobile terminal can be configured such that the user can input from, for example, a 4th character if he presses corresponding key for a long time, as a standard of a prescribed number of key presses .

Next, the method of inputting characters according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of the Tai inputting method using the Tai keyboard of FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 6, a first assigned character of multiple characters assigned to the corresponding key is inputted (S22) if the user presses the corresponding key one time ("Y" in S20) without pressing it for a long time

("N" in SlO), a second assigned character is inputted (S32) if the user presses the corresponding key two times ("Y" in

S30) , and a third assigned character is inputted (S42) if the user presses the corresponding key three times ("Y" in S40) .

On the other hand, if the user presses the corresponding key for a long time so as to facilitate inputting the character that needs larger number of key presses ("Y" in SlO), a fourth assigned character of multiple characters assigned to the corresponding key is inputted (S52) . Further, if the user presses the corresponding key for a long time and then presses it shortly ("Y" in S50) , a fifth assigned character is inputted (S62) .

Lastly, if the user presses the corresponding key for a long time and then presses it shortly two times ("Y" in S60) , a sixth assigned character is inputted (S70) .

Although it was described that the characters are divided based on the prescribed number of key presses according to the method of inputting characters of the present invention shown in FIG. 6, it should be noted that the user may press the key for a long time after pressing it one time, two times, or three times when substantially inputting the characters.

The method in such manner will be now described more specifically.

In a case of inputting the characters ' ^« * ^J «*J ' according

to prior art, because the user must input the character ' ⁵ ^' by pressing the corresponding number key ^λ l' 6 times, and

then input the character '«"' by pressing the number key ¹ I'

6 times again after he finishes inputting one ' ¹ ^', total number of key presses required to input the characters

'•dd' is 10 times. Meanwhile, the present invention requires total only

six times of key presses to input the characters '«"«"', by pressing the number key '1' for a long time and then

pressing it shortly two times to input the character ' «*•• ' and repeating them again. Subsequently, it is possible to significantly reduce the number of key presses and efficiently reduce time necessary to input characters .

Industrial Applicability As described above, the method according to the present invention is allowed to reduce the number of key presses and therefore time necessary to input characters, by pressing the corresponding key for a long time when inputting the characters that need larger number of key presses.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention has been described for English, Hindi, and Tai languages for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be applied to every languages of mobile phones in which multiple

characters are assigned to one key and various modifications, additions and substitutions thereof are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.