BigPatents India

There is disclosed an apparatus (1000) for the entry of symbols comprising a plurality of keysfor inputting symbols, wherein a plurality of said symbols are assigned to a plurality of ordered groups, each of said ordered groups having a defined order, said apparatus (1000) comprising an order-defining mechanism, said order-defining mechanism selected from the group consisting of an iterator mechanism and a predictive mechanism, said order-defining mechanism effective to define said defined order on each of said ordered groups, wherein, each of a plurality of said keys is a multiple-ordered group key, to which at least tow of said ordered groups are co-assigned ordered groups, said apparatus (1000) having an iterator key, said iterator key engaged with at least one said multiple-ordered-group key to selelct said symbols from said co-assigned ordered groups for input consecutively in said defined order, wherein said defined order for any given said co-assigned ordered groups assigned to given said multiple-ordered-group key is independent of said defined order of any other said co-assigned ordered groups assigned to any other said multiple-ordered-group key, such that actuation of said iterator key to advance in said defined order of said given said co-assigned ordered group does not simultaneously advance in said defined order of said other said co-assigned ordered groups. (FIG. - 1)