Device, method, and graphical user interface for a predictive keyboard

• US 10,255,267 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2014
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran A., Karunamuni, Chanaka G., Jon, Tiffany S., Beaver, Jason C., Shaffer, Joshua H., Willmore, Christopher P., Jong, Nicholas K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weber, Joy M
• Application Number:
  US14/503,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20150347379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,652 Days
• Field of Search: 715773
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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 40/232 Orthographic correction, e.g. spell checking or vowelisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs

Abstract

A method includes displaying a set of one or more suggestions including one or more character strings that are suggested replacements for a first set of one or more entered characters. The method further includes: while displaying the set of suggestions, receiving one or more additional entered characters; and after receiving the additional entered characters, updating the set of suggestions based on an updated set of entered characters that includes the first set of entered characters and the additional entered characters. The updating comprises changing a first suggestion in the set of suggestions from a first character string that is a suggested replacement for the first set of entered characters to a second character string that is a suggested replacement for the updated set of entered characters.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

at a computer system with a display and one or more input devices;

displaying, on the display, a set of one or more suggestions including one or more character strings that are suggested replacements for a first set of one or more entered characters;

while displaying the set of suggestions, receiving, via the one or more input devices, one or more additional entered characters; and

in response to receiving the one or more additional entered characters, automatically updating the set of suggestions based on an updated set of entered characters that includes the first set of entered characters and the one or more additional entered characters, wherein the updating comprises;

changing a first suggestion in the set of suggestions from a first character string that is a suggested replacement for the first set of entered characters to a second character string that is a suggested replacement for the updated set of entered characters based on an analysis of the one or more additional characters by the computer system, comprising;

determining, by the computer system, a maintained portion of the first character string that is identical to a corresponding portion of the second character string;

determining, by the computer system, an inserted portion of the second character string that is inserted relative to the maintained portion of the first character string, the inserted portion having a sequence of characters that includes a first character followed by a second character; and

while displaying the maintained portion of the first character string, displaying, on the display, an animated transition of the first character string changing to the second character string, wherein the animated transition includes sequentially displaying the characters of the inserted portion of the second character string after the maintained portion of the first character string, wherein sequentially displaying the characters includes;

 

displaying, on the display, the first character of the inserted portion without displaying the second character of the inserted portion; and

 

subsequently, after displaying the first character of the inserted portion without displaying the second character of the inserted portion, concurrently displaying, on the display, the first character and the second character of the inserted portion.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, on the display, the one or more input devices, wherein the one or more input devices includes a keyboard;

receiving, via the one or more input devices, inputs of the first set of one or more entered characters; and

displaying, on the display, proximate to the one or more input devices, a suggestion region that includes the set of one or more suggestions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein sequentially displaying the characters further comprises:

displaying, on the display, an individual character using a height less than a height of characters within the maintained portion of the first character string; and

after displaying the individual character, increasing the individual character'"'"'s height.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein an anchor point that corresponds to a bottom of the individual character remains at a fixed location relative to the maintained portion of the first character string as the individual character'"'"'s height increases.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein sequentially displaying the characters further comprises:

displaying, on the display, an individual character using an opacity less than an opacity of the maintained portion of the first character string; and

after displaying the individual character, increasing the individual character'"'"'s opacity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the characters of the inserted portion of the second character string are displayed starting with a left-most character and ending with a right-most character of the inserted portion of the second character string.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the first suggestion from the first character string to the second character string further comprises:

determining, by the computer system, a deleted portion of the first character string that is deleted relative to the second character string, the deleted portion having a second sequence of characters; and

while displaying the maintained portion of the first character string, sequentially removing the characters of the deleted portion of the first character string.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein sequentially removing the characters comprises decreasing a height of an individual character.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein sequentially removing the characters comprises decreasing an opacity of an individual character until the individual character disappears.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the characters of the deleted portion are removed starting with a right-most character and ending with a left-most character of the deleted portion.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the first suggestion from the first character string to the second character string further comprises moving the maintained portion of the first character string to a location where the corresponding portion appears within the second character string when the second character string is displayed.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising while sequentially displaying the characters of the inserted portion of the second character string, moving the displayed maintained portion of the first character string.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the first suggestion from the first character string to the second character string further comprises:

determining, by the computer system, a replaced portion of the first character string that is replaced by a replacement portion of the second character string, the replaced portion having a second sequence of characters and the replacement portion having a third sequence of characters; and

while displaying the maintained portion of the first character string, sequentially replacing characters of the replaced portion with characters of the replacement portion.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the first suggestion from the first character string to the second character string further comprises:

determining, by the computer system, a second maintained portion of the first character string and a second corresponding portion of the second character string that match;

determining, by the computer system, a replaced portion of the first character string that is between the maintained portion of the first character string and the second maintained portion of the first character string, the replaced portion having a second sequence of characters;

determining, by the computer system, a replacement portion of the second character string that is between the corresponding portion of the second character string and the second corresponding portion of the second character string, the replacement portion having a third sequence of characters; and

while displaying the maintained portion of the first character string and the second maintained portion of the first character string, sequentially replacing characters of the replaced portion with characters of the replacement portion.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the replacement portion is longer than the replaced portion, and wherein sequentially replacing characters of the replaced portion with characters of the replacement portion comprises:

determining, by the computer system, a first portion of the replacement portion that is equal in length to the replaced portion;

determining, by the computer system, a remainder portion of the replacement portion that follows the first portion of the replacement portion;

replacing the replaced portion with the first portion of the replacement portion without moving the first maintained portion of the first character string relative to the second maintained portion of the first character string;

moving the first maintained portion of the first character string relative to the second maintained portion of the first character string by one character width; and

displaying, on the display, a first character of the remainder portion after the first portion of the replacement portion and before the second corresponding portion of the second character string.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first character of the remainder portion is a left-most character of the remainder portion.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the replacement portion is shorter than the replaced portion, and wherein sequentially replacing characters of the replaced portion with characters of the replacement portion comprises:

determining, by the computer system, a first portion of the replaced portion that is equal in length to the replacement portion;

determining, by the computer system, a remainder portion of the replaced portion that follows the first portion of the replaced portion;

removing, from the first character string, a first character of the remainder portion; and

moving the second corresponding portion of the second character string towards the first portion of the replaced portion by one character width.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first character of the remainder portion is a right-most character of the remainder portion.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the updating further comprises:

changing a second suggestion in the set of suggestions from a third character string that is a suggested replacement for the first set of entered characters to a fourth character string that is a suggested replacement for the updated set of entered characters based on an analysis of the one or more additional characters by the computer system, comprising;

determining, by the computer system, a maintained portion of the third character string that is identical to a corresponding portion of the fourth character string;

determining, by the computer system, an inserted portion of the fourth character string that is inserted relative to the maintained portion of the third character string, the inserted portion having a second sequence of characters; and

while displaying the maintained portion of the third character string, displaying, on the display, an animated transition of the third character string changing to the fourth character string, wherein the animated transition includes sequentially displaying the characters of the inserted portion of the fourth character string after the maintained portion of the third character string.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first suggestion and the second suggestion are changed concurrently.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the maintained portion of the first character string is the first set of entered characters.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of a computer system with a display and one or more input devices, the one or more programs including instructions to:

display, on the display, a set of one or more suggestions including one or more character strings that are suggested replacements for a first set of one or more entered characters;

while displaying the set of suggestions, receive, via the one or more input devices, one or more additional entered characters; and

in response to receiving the one or more additional entered characters, automatically update the set of suggestions based on an updated set of entered characters that includes the first set of entered characters and the one or more additional entered characters, wherein the updating comprises;

changing a first suggestion in the set of suggestions from a first character string that is a suggested replacement for the first set of entered characters to a second character string that is a suggested replacement for the updated set of entered characters based on an analysis of the one or more additional characters by the computer system, comprising;

determining, by the computer system, a maintained portion of the first character string that is identical to a corresponding portion of the second character string;

determining, by the computer system, an inserted portion of the second character string that is inserted relative to the maintained portion of the first character string, the inserted portion having a sequence of characters that includes a first character followed by a second character; and

while displaying the maintained portion of the first character string, displaying, on the display, an animated transition of the first character string changing to the second character string, wherein the animated transition includes sequentially displaying the characters of the inserted portion of the second character string after the maintained portion of the first character string, wherein sequentially displaying the characters includes;

displaying, on the display, the first character of the inserted portion without displaying the second character of the inserted portion; and

subsequently, after displaying the first character of the inserted portion without displaying the second character of the inserted portion, concurrently displaying, on the display, the first character and the second character of the inserted portion.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, the one or more programs further including instructions to:

display, on the display, the one or more input devices, wherein the one or more input devices includes a keyboard;

receive, via the one or more input devices, inputs of the first set of one or more entered characters; and

display, on the display, proximate to the one or more input devices, a suggestion region that includes the set of one or more suggestions.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein sequentially displaying the characters further comprises:

displaying, on the display, an individual character using a height less than a height of characters within the maintained portion of the first character string; and

after displaying the individual character, increasing the individual character'"'"'s height.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein an anchor point that corresponds to a bottom of the individual character remains at a fixed location relative to the maintained portion of the first character string as the individual character'"'"'s height increases.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein sequentially displaying the characters further comprises:

displaying, on the display, an individual character using an opacity less than an opacity of the maintained portion of the first character string; and

after displaying the individual character, increasing the individual character'"'"'s opacity.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the characters of the inserted portion of the second character string are displayed starting with a left- most character and ending with a right-most character of the inserted portion of the second character string.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein changing the first suggestion from the first character string to the second character string further comprises:

determining, by the computer system, a deleted portion of the first character string that is deleted relative to the second character string, the deleted portion having a second sequence of characters; and

while displaying the maintained portion of the first character string, sequentially removing the characters of the deleted portion of the first character string.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein sequentially removing the characters comprises decreasing a height of an individual character.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein sequentially removing the characters comprises decreasing an opacity of an individual character until the individual character disappears.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the characters of the deleted portion are removed starting with a right-most character and ending with a left-most character of the deleted portion.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein changing the first suggestion from the first character string to the second character string further comprises moving the maintained portion of the first character string to a location where the corresponding portion appears within the second character string when the second character string is displayed.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, the one or more programs further including instructions to:

while sequentially displaying the characters of the inserted portion of the second character string, move the displayed maintained portion of the first character string.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein changing the first suggestion from the first character string to the second character string further comprises:

determining, by the computer system, a replaced portion of the first character string that is replaced by a replacement portion of the second character string, the replaced portion having a second sequence of characters and the replacement portion having a third sequence of characters; and

while displaying the maintained portion of the first character string, sequentially replacing characters of the replaced portion with characters of the replacement portion.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein changing the first suggestion from the first character string to the second character string further comprises:

determining, by the computer system, a second maintained portion of the first character string and a second corresponding portion of the second character string that match;

determining, by the computer system, a replaced portion of the first character string that is between the maintained portion of the first character string and the second maintained portion of the first character string, the replaced portion having a second sequence of characters;

determining, by the computer system, a replacement portion of the second character string that is between the corresponding portion of the second character string and the second corresponding portion of the second character string, the replacement portion having a third sequence of characters; and

while displaying the maintained portion of the first character string and the second maintained portion of the first character string, sequentially replacing characters of the replaced portion with characters of the replacement portion.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 36, wherein the replacement portion is longer than the replaced portion, and wherein sequentially replacing characters of the replaced portion with characters of the replacement portion comprises:

determining, by the computer system, a first portion of the replacement portion that is equal in length to the replaced portion;

determining, by the computer system, a remainder portion of the replacement portion that follows the first portion of the replacement portion;

replacing the replaced portion with the first portion of the replacement portion without moving the first maintained portion of the first character string relative to the second maintained portion of the first character string;

moving the first maintained portion of the first character string relative to the second maintained portion of the first character string by one character width; and

displaying, on the display, a first character of the remainder portion after the first portion of the replacement portion and before the second corresponding portion of the second character string.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the first character of the remainder portion is a left-most character of the remainder portion.

39. The non-transitory computer-readably:

storage medium of claim 36, wherein the replacement portion is shorter than the replaced portion, and wherein sequentially replacing characters of the replaced portion with characters of the replacement portion comprises;

determining, by the computer system, a first portion of the replaced portion that is equal in length to the replacement portion;

determining, by the computer system, a remainder portion of the replaced portion that follows the first portion of the replaced portion;

removing, from the first character string, a first character of the remainder portion; and

moving the second corresponding portion of the second character string towards the first portion of the replaced portion by one character width.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 39, wherein the first character of the remainder portion is a right-most character of the remainder portion.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the updating further comprises:

changing a second suggestion in the set of suggestions from a third character string that is a suggested replacement for the first set of entered characters to a fourth character string that is a suggested replacement for the updated set of entered characters based on an analysis of the one or more additional characters by the computer system, comprising;

determining, by the computer system, a maintained portion of the third character string that is identical to a corresponding portion of the fourth character string;

determining, by the computer system, an inserted portion of the fourth character string that is inserted relative to the maintained portion of the third character string, the inserted portion having a second sequence of characters; and

while displaying the maintained portion of the third character string, displaying, on the display, an animated transition of the third character string changing to the fourth character string, wherein the animated transition includes sequentially displaying the characters of the inserted portion of the fourth character string after the maintained portion of the third character string.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 41, wherein the first suggestion and the second suggestion are changed concurrently.

43. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the maintained portion of the first character string is the first set of entered characters.

55. The computer system of claim 29, wherein changing the first suggestion from the first character string to the second character string further comprises:

determining, by the computer system, a replaced portion of the first character string that is replaced by a replacement portion of the second character string, the replaced portion having a second sequence of characters and the replacement portion having a third sequence of characters; and

while displaying the maintained portion of the first character string, sequentially replacing characters of the replaced portion with characters of the replacement portion.

23. A computer system comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of an electronic device with a display and one or more input devices, the one or more programs including instructions to;

display, on the display, a set of one or more suggestions including one or more character strings that are suggested replacements for a first set of one or more entered characters;

while displaying the set of suggestions, receive, via the one or more input devices, one or more additional entered characters; and

in response to receiving the one or more additional entered characters, automatically update the set of suggestions based on an updated set of entered characters that includes the first set of entered characters and the one or more additional entered characters, wherein the updating comprises;

changing a first suggestion in the set of suggestions from a first character string that is a suggested replacement for the first set of entered characters to a second character string that is a suggested replacement for the updated set of entered characters based on an analysis of the one or more additional characters by the computer system, comprising;

determining, by the computer system, a maintained portion of the first character string that is identical to a corresponding portion of the second character string;

determining, by the computer system, an inserted portion of the second character string that is inserted relative to the maintained portion of the first character string, the inserted portion having a sequence of characters that includes a first character followed by a second character; and

while displaying the maintained portion of the first character string, displaying, on the display, an animated transition of the first character string changing to the second character string, wherein the animated transition includes sequentially displaying the characters of the inserted portion of the second character string after the maintained portion of the first character string, wherein sequentially displaying the characters includes;

 

displaying, on the display, the first character of the inserted portion without displaying the second character of the inserted portions; and

 

subsequently, after displaying the first character of the inserted portion without displaying the second character of the inserted portion, concurrently displaying, on the display, the first character and the second character of the inserted portion; and

a computer processor for executing the instructions.

44. The computer system of claim 23, the one or more programs further including instructions to:

display, on the display, the one or more input devices, wherein the one or more input devices includes a keyboard;

receive, via the one or more input devices, inputs of the first set of one or more entered characters; and

display, on the display, proximate to the one or more input devices, a suggestion region that includes the set of one or more suggestions.

45. The computer system of claim 23, wherein sequentially displaying the characters further comprises:

displaying, on the display, an individual character using a height less than a height of characters within the maintained portion of the first character string; and

after displaying the individual character, increasing the individual character'"'"'s height.

46. The computer system of claim 45, wherein an anchor point that corresponds to a bottom of the individual character remains at a fixed location relative to the maintained portion of the first character string as the individual character'"'"'s height increases.

47. The computer system of claim 23, wherein sequentially displaying the characters further comprises:

displaying, on the display, an individual character using an opacity less than an opacity of the maintained portion of the first character string; and

.

after displaying the individual character, increasing the individual character'"'"'s opacity.

48. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the characters of the inserted portion of the second character string are displayed starting with a left-most character and ending with a right-most character of the inserted portion of the second character string.

49. The computer system of claim 23, wherein changing the first suggestion from the first character string to the second character string further comprises:

determining, by the computer system, a deleted portion of the first character string that is deleted relative to the second character string, the deleted portion having a second sequence of characters; and

while displaying the maintained portion of the first character string, sequentially removing the characters of the deleted portion of the first character string.

50. The computer system of claim 49, wherein sequentially removing the characters comprises decreasing a height of an individual character.

51. The computer system of claim 49, wherein sequentially removing the characters comprises decreasing an opacity of an individual character until the individual character disappears.

52. The computer system of claim 49, wherein the characters of the deleted portion are removed starting with a right-most character and ending with a left-most character of the deleted portion.

53. The computer system of claim 23, wherein changing the first suggestion from the first character string to the second character string further comprises moving the maintained portion of the first character string to a location where the corresponding portion appears within the second character string when the second character string is displayed.

54. The computer system of claim 23, the one or more programs further including instructions to:

while sequentially displaying the characters of the inserted portion of the second character string, move the displayed maintained portion of the first character string.

56. The computer system of claim 23, wherein changing the first suggestion from the first character string to the second character string further comprises:

determining, by the computer system, a second maintained portion of the first character string and a second corresponding portion of the second character string that match;

determining, by the computer system, a replaced portion of the first character string that is between the maintained portion of the first character string and the second maintained portion of the first character string, the replaced portion having a second sequence of characters;

determining, by the computer system, a replacement portion of the second character string that is between the corresponding portion of the second character string and the second corresponding portion of the second character string, the replacement portion having a third sequence of characters; and

while displaying the maintained portion of the first character string and the second maintained portion of the first character string, sequentially replacing characters of the replaced portion with characters of the replacement portion.

57. The computer system of claim 56, wherein the replacement portion is longer than the replaced portion, and wherein sequentially replacing characters of the replaced portion with characters of the replacement portion comprises:

determining, by the computer system, a first portion of the replacement portion that is equal in length to the replaced portion;

determining, by the computer system, a remainder portion of the replacement portion that follows the first portion of the replacement portion;

replacing the replaced portion with the first portion of the replacement portion without moving the first maintained portion of the first character string relative to the second maintained portion of the first character string;

moving the first maintained portion of the first character string relative to the second maintained portion of the first character string by one character width; and

displaying, on the display, a first character of the remainder portion after the first portion of the replacement portion and before the second corresponding portion of the second character string.

58. The computer system of claim 57, wherein the first character of the remainder portion is a left-most character of the remainder portion.

59. The computer system of claim 56, wherein the replacement portion is shorter than the replaced portion, and wherein sequentially replacing characters of the replaced portion with characters of the replacement portion comprises:

determining, by the computer system, a first portion of the replaced portion that is equal in length to the replacement portion;

determining, by the computer system, a remainder portion of the replaced portion that follows the first portion of the replaced portion;

removing, from the first character string, a first character of the remainder portion; and

moving the second corresponding portion of the second character string towards the first portion of the replaced portion by one character width.

60. The computer system of claim 59, wherein the first character of the remainder portion is a right-most character of the remainder portion.

61. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the updating further comprises:

changing a second suggestion in the set of suggestions from a third character string that is a. suggested replacement for the first set of entered characters to a fourth character string that is a suggested replacement for the updated set of entered characters based on an analysis of the one or more additional characters by the computer system, comprising;

determining, by the computer system, a maintained portion of the third character string that is identical to a corresponding portion of the fourth character string;

determining, by the computer system, an inserted portion of the fourth character string that is inserted relative to the maintained portion of the third character string, the inserted portion having a second sequence of characters; and

while displaying the maintained portion of the third character string, displaying, on the display, an animated transition of the third character string changing to the fourth character string, wherein the animated transition includes sequentially displaying the characters of the inserted portion of the fourth character string after the maintained portion of the third character string.

62. The computer system of claim 61, wherein the first suggestion and the second suggestion are changed concurrently.

63. The computer system of claim 23, wherein thy:

maintained portion of the first character string is the first set of entered characters.