Single page soft input panels for larger character sets

摘要

Embodiments of a soft input panel (SIP) for an electronic device are disclosed. The SIP can be configured for entering text in a non-English language that uses a more numerous character set than does English. The characters used in the language that are available to be entered using the SIP can be available to be entered using keys on a single page of keys without switching to a different page of keys or using function keys. At least one of the keys of the SIP is a base key that is configured to open a picker window when activated. The picker window comprises plural picker keys that allow a user to select from plural different characters associated with the base key.

主权项

1. A soft input panel (SIP) for an electronic device, wherein the SIP is configured for entering text in a non-English language, wherein the vowels, consonants, and diacritics used in the non-English language that are available to be entered using the SIP are available to be entered using keys on a main page of keys without switching to a different page of keys or using function keys, and wherein at least one of the keys of the SIP is a diacritic base key that is configured to open a diacritic picker window when activated, the diacritic picker window comprising plural diacritic picker keys, the plural diacritic picker keys representing different diacritics used in the non-English language;
wherein a plurality of the keys are vowel base keys configured to open a vowel picker window when activated, the vowel picker window comprising a short form vowel key and a long form vowel key; wherein joining vowels of the non-English language are grouped together in a first group of keys and independent vowels of the non-English language are grouped together in a second group of keys adjacent to the first group of keys; and wherein consonants of the non-English language are grouped together in a third group of keys, at least one key of the third group of keys comprising a consonant base key configured to open a consonant picker window when activated, the consonant picker window comprising a plurality of consonant picker keys each associated with a different consonant of the non-English language.