Ex Parte Kandogan et al - Page 2

                Appeal 2006-2955                                                                             
                Application 09/991,140                                                                       
                                                BACKGROUND                                                   
                      Appellants’ invention relates to entering letters on a phone keyboard                  
                by using two keys in a single row or column for specifying each letter.  An                  
                understanding of the invention can be derived from a reading of exemplary                    
                independent claim 1, which is reproduced as follows:                                         
                      1.  A method of electronically selecting language characters,                          
                         comprising:                                                                         
                            providing a keyboard that includes a plurality of keys, in which:                
                                   each of the numerals 0 through 9 inclusive is displayed                   
                            on a respective one of the keys, each of at least 8 of the                       
                            numeral-displaying keys further having language characters                       
                            displayed thereon;                                                               
                                   for each one of said 8 keys, a plurality of the characters                
                            displayed thereon have respective associated markings such that                  
                            any given character marking on that key is uniquely identified                   
                            with a single displayed character; and                                           
                                   a plurality of the keys display respective markings that                  
                            visually match the character markings;                                           
                                   selecting a first character displayed on a first one of said              
                            8 keys, wherein the first character has a first marking, by first                
                            selecting the first key with a user’s finger or stylus and then                  
                            selecting a key displaying the first marking with the user’s                     
                            finger or stylus; and                                                            
                                   selecting a second character displayed on the first one of                
                            said 8 keys, wherein the second character has a second marking,                  
                            by first selecting the first key and then selecting a key                        
                            displaying the second marking, in which the selected key                         
                            displaying the first marking and the selected key displaying the                 
                            second marking are different.                                                    
                            The Examiner relies on the following prior art references:                       
                      Smith   US 4,585,908      Apr.  29, 1986                                               
                      Stone   US 4,555,193   Nov. 26, 1985                                                   
                      Prame  US 4,988,997   Jan. 29, 1991                                                    
                      Novel   WO 94/154431   Jul.   7, 1994                                                  

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