	US 7,589,710 B2
	J-key input for computer systems
Eric G. Lang, Redmond, Wash. (US)
Assigned to Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash. (US)
Filed on Feb. 23, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/65,402.
Application 11/065402 is a continuation of application No. 09/652330, filed on Aug. 31, 2000, granted, now 6,972,748.
Prior Publication US 2005/0140650 A1, Jun. 30, 2005
Int. Cl. G06F 3/033 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 345—160 [345/161; 345/168; 341/22]

7 Claims

1. A method for interpreting a sequence of input strokes by a multiple axes input key to input an information element into a computing system, said method comprising:

drawing a display of the selectable information element set in a pattern illustrating multiple axes input key stroke directions for selecting subsets of the selectable information element set with the multiple axes input key;

storing the information elements as an information elements array, wherein the information elements array is a hierarchy with a level of hierarchy associated with each key stroke;

detecting a multi-axial key stroke direction from movement of the multiple axes input key;

storing the direction of each key stroke as a select array, wherein the direction of each key stroke is stored at a select level associated with each stroke;

combining information from the information elements array and the select array after each multi-axial key stroke to identify a subset of selected information elements that contains the desired information element;

displaying the subset of selected information after each detected key stroke to provide a guide in the selection of information elements or element by the next stroke; and

repeating the detecting action and identifying action for a predetermined number of strokes by the multiple axes input key so that the identifying step after the last stroke of the predetermined number of strokes identifies the desired information element to be loaded into the computing system.