Method and system for selecting a displayed character using an input device

1. A method for selecting a character with a user input device comprising a plurality of buttons, the method comprising:

(a) displaying a first plurality of characters on a display device, the displayed first plurality of characters being arranged in a pattern corresponding to a pattern of a plurality of buttons of a user input device; and

(b) selecting a character from the first plurality of characters in response to actuation of one of the plurality of buttons of the user input device;

wherein a number of characters displayed on the display device for selection by the user input device is less than or equal to a number of buttons in the plurality of buttons, whereby any of the characters displayed on the display device for selection by the user input device can be selected by actuation of a single one of the plurality of buttons.

2. The invention of claim 1 further comprising:

(c) after the character is selected in (b), displaying a second plurality of characters on the display device, the displayed second plurality of characters being arranged in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the plurality of buttons of the user input device; and

(d) selecting a character from the second plurality of characters in response to actuation of one of the plurality of buttons of the user input device.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein at least one character in the second plurality of characters is determined at least in part by the character selected in (b).

4. The invention of claim 2, wherein the second plurality of characters is a subset of a larger character set, and wherein at least one character in the second plurality of characters is chosen from the larger character set by predicting which character is likely to be selected after the character selected in (b).

5. The invention of claim 2, wherein the character selected in (b) is a character in a predetermined word, and wherein a character in the second plurality of characters is a character that follows the character selected in (b) in the predetermined word.

6. The invention of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of characters is displayed in response to actuation of one of the plurality of buttons.

7. The invention of claim 1, wherein the user input device comprises an additional button, and wherein the first plurality of characters is displayed in response to actuation of the additional button.

8. The invention of claim 1, wherein the display device and the user input device are separate devices.

9. The invention of claim 1, wherein the user input device comprises a controller of a game system.

10. The invention of claim 1, wherein the user input device comprises a controller of an interactive television set-top box.

11. The invention of claim 1, wherein the user input device comprises a controller of a multimedia player.

12. A system for selecting a character with a user input device comprising a plurality of buttons, the system comprising:

a display device;

a user input device comprising a plurality of buttons arranged in a pattern; and

a processor coupled with the display device and the user input device, the processor being operative to display a first plurality of characters on the display device in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the plurality of buttons and being further operative to select a character from the first plurality of characters in response to actuation of one of the plurality of buttons;

wherein a number of characters displayed on the display device for selection by the user input device is less than or equal to a number of buttons in the plurality of buttons, whereby any of the characters displayed on the display device for selection by the user input device can be selected by actuation of a single one of the plurality of buttons.

13. The invention of claim 12, wherein the processor is further operative to display a second plurality of characters on the display device in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the plurality of buttons of the user input device.

14. The invention of claim 13, wherein at least one character in the second plurality of characters is determined at least in part by the selected character.

15. The invention of claim 13, wherein the second plurality of characters is a subset of a larger character set, and wherein at least one character in the second plurality of characters is chosen from the larger character set by predicting which character is likely to be selected.

16. The invention of claim 13, wherein the selected character is a character in a predetermined word, and wherein a character in the second plurality of characters is a character that follows the selected character in the predetermined word.

17. The invention of claim 12, wherein the processor is further operative to display the first plurality of characters in response to actuation of one of the plurality of buttons.

18. The invention of claim 12, wherein the user input device comprises an additional button, and wherein the processor is further operative to display the first plurality of characters in response to actuation of the additional button.

19. The invention of claim 12, wherein the display device and the user input device are separate devices.

20. The invention of claim 12, wherein the user input device comprises a controller of a game system.

21. The invention of claim 12, wherein the user input device comprises a controller of an interactive television set-top box.

22. The invention of claim 12, wherein the user input device comprises a controller of a multimedia player.