Systems and methods of using input events on electronic devices

• US 10,025,500 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2011
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Caine, Allan David, Jeyabalasingam, Sumanan, Elizarov, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Casillas, Roland J
• Application Number:
  US13/635,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20130167063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,454 Days
• Field of Search: 715764, 715771, 715773, 715748-749, 717134, 717138
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications

Abstract

A method and system are provided for using input events on an electronic device. The method includes detecting a first input event compatible with a first platform and determining a second input event representing the first input event, which is compatible with a second platform. The method may include determining a third input event representing the first input event, which is compatible with the second platform, and calling an input event handler compatible with the second platform to generate the second input event using the third input event.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a first operating system utilizing an open source framework;

an input interface receiving input from a user of the electronic device;

an input method software component loaded onto the electronic device, the input method software component converting an input event from a first format to a second input event in a second format, the input method software component partitioned into two layers;

a proprietary layer and a mediation layer;

wherein the proprietary layer is inaccessible to the first operating system, such that the proprietary components are hidden from the first operating system and not considered as part of the open-source framework, the proprietary layer having stored therein the following proprietary components;

input methods storage comprising one or more input methods, wherein an input method configures the electronic device to receive input from the user, wherein the one or more input methods stored in the proprietary layer are compatible with a second operating system different from the first operating system and are incompatible with the first operating system;

an input event handler called by the mediation layer and compatible with the second operating system, the input event handler determining probability information indicating a likelihood that the user input selected an intended key and adding the probability information to the second input event;

an apply input method module calling at least one input method of the one or more input methods stored in the proprietary layer, the at least one input method executing within a virtualized computing environment of the electronic device comprising the second operating system, the at least one input method using the probability information added to the second input event for generating an input method event based on the second input event, the input method event comprising one or more instructions to be performed by the electronic device according to the input method, wherein the at least one input method event and the one or more instructions are incompatible with the first operating system and compatible with the second operating system; and

wherein the mediation layer interfaces between the first operating system and the proprietary layer, the mediation layer forming a barrier separating components of the proprietary layer from the first operating system such that the first operating system is unable to access the input methods and the input event handlers in the proprietary layer, the mediation layer having stored therein the following components;

a convert input event module detecting the first input event of a format compatible with the first operating system and incompatible with a target application running on the first operating system, wherein an input event describes a user input in a predetermined format understandable by an input method, and determining that the first input event is to be handled by at least one input method of the one or more input methods stored in the proprietary layer;

a select input event module determining the second input event representing the first input event, the second input event generated from an input method not designed for the first operating system and not able to directly instruct the first operating system, the second input event being compatible with the input method and the second operating system, the second input event being determined using the mediation layer interfacing between the first operating system and the proprietary layer, and wherein the second input event is of a same input type as the first input event;

a mapping storage module storing mapping information to map data and actions of the input method event to instructions that are compatible with the first operating system and can be understood by the target application running on the first operating system; and

a translate input event module accessing the mapping storage module to translate the input method event into a set of instructions compatible with the first operating system, the set of instructions being executable by the target application running on the first operating system at the electronic device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the apply input method module calls the at least one input method by applying the second input event to a plurality of input methods in series.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the input interface comprises a touch-sensitive display.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 wherein the first input event is generated in response to a user touch.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 wherein the first input event is generated in response to the user touch on a virtual keyboard displayed on a touch-sensitive display.

6. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the first input event and the second input event represent user touch inputs on a given key of a touch-sensitive display.

7. The electronic device of claim of claim 4, wherein the probability information comprises a probability value associated with each key within a proximity of the given key to indicate a likelihood that another key was the intended key.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is a mobile two-way communication device.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is a kiosk and the input interface is a wall-mounted screen.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the input method software component is pre-installed on the electronic device.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the input method software component is installed on the electronic device after manufacture of the electronic device.