Patent US 7,414,616

A character input system using a keyboard having a plurality of keys, at least some of the keys each being assigned at least one Brahmi-derived (e.g., Hindi) script character. At least one key may be assigned a halant. The key assignments may be spatially grouped on the keyboard according to vowels, consonants and the phonetic characteristics of the characters. Hindi script communications may be inputted quickly and efficiently as a result of the arrangement of Hindi character keys and a simplified Hindi character set provided through use of the halant character.