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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