METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENTERING DATA STRINGS INCLUDING HANGUL (KOREAN) AND ASCII CHARACTERS

Described are methods for entering and editing data strings that are inputted into cellular telephones having a screen. In one method, all basic Hangul consonants and some of the compound Hangul consonants are included in a candidate consonant list and all basic Hangul vowels and some of the compound vowels are included in a candidate vowel list. The candidate consonant and vowel lists are alternatively displayed on a component display region (906) located on the screen. For form a Korean character, a user can select consonant(s) and vowel from the candidate consonant and vowel lists. To form a compound Hangul component that is not included in either the candidate consonant list or the candidate vowel list, the user selects a basic Hangul component as a first part of the compound Hangul component from either the candidate consonant list or the candidate vowel list. The user then re-displays the candidate consonant list or the candidate vowel list and selects a basic Hangul component as a second part of the compound Hangul component. A compound Hangul component is formed by combing the two selected basic Hangul components and displayed in a data string display region (904) located on the screen. In another method, a data string can be formed using both Hangul and ASCII characters. In yet another method, a data string can include unusual characters that are invalid to the existing cellular telephone. In still another method, editing can be made at any position of a data string that is inputted to the cellular telephones.