Systems and methods for word identification that use button press type error analysis

• US 10,452,264 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2016
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael William Murphy
• Original Assignee: Michael William Murphy
• Inventors: Murphy, Michael William
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao H
• Application Number:
  US15/139,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20160321236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 715773, 715763-765
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/232 Orthographic correction, e.g. spell checking or vowelisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods are disclosed for error correction in text input systems that use time-dependent button presses. A frequent error type in time-based text input is errors due to inaccurately timed button presses. The result of mistimed button presses is errant button press types within a button press type sequence. An error correction algorithm identifies possible alternative button press type sequences based on the number of button presses in the sequence. The algorithm converts the alternative button press type sequences to alternative character sequences using the received button press value sequence. The algorithm compares the alternative character sequences and the presumed word with a library of known words to determine the word most likely intended by a user.

Claims

1. A computer processor-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by at least one computer processor, input resulting from actuation of a plurality of buttons;

interpreting, by at least one computer processor, a sequence of button press values and a sequence of button press types from the received input, wherein the button press types of the interpreted sequence of button press types are short, long and pair presses;

based on the received input, identifying, by at least one computer processor, one or more alternative sequences of button press types that each has a same number of button actuations as the received input; and

converting, by at least one computer processor, the one or more alternative sequences of button press types to corresponding one or more alternative sequences of characters according to the interpreted sequence of button press values.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying, by at least one computer processor, a presumed word from the interpreted sequence of button press values and the interpreted sequence of button press types; and

comparing the presumed word with at least one of the one or more corresponding alternative sequences of characters.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising comparing the presumed word and at least one of the one or more corresponding alternative sequences of characters with a library of known words.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising accepting, by at least one computer processor, one of the corresponding alternative character sequences as input in place of the presumed word.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising separating the one or more identified alternative sequences of button press types into at least two categories based on the likelihood of occurrence according to a chosen criteria and the received input.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the comparing the presumed word with at least one of the one or more corresponding alternative sequences of characters occurs only for the one or more alternative sequences of characters that correspond to alternative sequences of button press types categorized as likely.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising ranking the one or more identified alternative sequences of button press types based on the likelihood of occurrence according to a chosen criteria and the received input.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the comparing the presumed word with at least one of the one or more corresponding alternative sequences of characters occurs in the order that the one or more identified alternative sequences of button presses to which each of the one or more alternative sequences of characters correspond are ranked.

9. A system comprising:

at least one computer processor; and

at least one memory coupled to the at least one computer processor, the at least one memory having computer executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to perform;

interpreting a sequence of button press values and a sequence of button press types from the received input, wherein the button press types of the interpreted sequence of button press types are short, long and pair presses;

based on the received input, identifying one or more alternative sequences of button press types that each has a same number of button actuations as the received input; and

converting the one or more alternative sequences of button press types to corresponding one or more alternative sequences of characters according to the interpreted sequence of button press values.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to perform:

identifying a presumed word from the interpreted sequence of button press values and the interpreted sequence of button press types; and

comparing the presumed word with at least one of the one or more corresponding alternative sequences of characters.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to perform:

comparing the presumed word and at least one of the one or more corresponding alternative sequences of characters with a library of known words.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to perform:

accepting one of the corresponding alternative character sequences as input in place of the presumed word.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to perform:

separating the one or more identified alternative sequences of button press types into at least two categories based on the likelihood of occurrence according to a chosen criteria and the received input.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the comparing the presumed word with at least one of the one or more corresponding alternative sequences of characters occurs only for the one or more alternative sequences of characters that correspond to alternative sequences of button press types categorized as likely.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform:

interpreting a sequence of button press values and a sequence of button press types from the received input, wherein the button press types of the interpreted sequence of button press types are short, long and pair presses;

based on the received input, identifying one or more alternative sequences of button press types that each has a same number of button actuations as the received input; and

converting the one or more alternative sequences of button press types to corresponding one or more alternative sequences of characters according to the interpreted sequence of button press values.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to perform:

identifying a presumed word from the interpreted sequence of button press values and the interpreted sequence of button press types; and

comparing the presumed word with at least one of the one or more corresponding alternative sequences of characters.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to perform:

comparing the presumed word and at least one of the one or more corresponding alternative sequences of characters with a library of known words.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to perform:

accepting one of the corresponding alternative character sequences as input in place of the presumed word.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to perform:

separating the one or more identified alternative sequences of button press types into at least two categories based on the likelihood of occurrence according to a chosen criteria and the received input.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the comparing the presumed word with at least one of the one or more corresponding alternative sequences of characters occurs only for the one or more alternative sequences of characters that correspond to alternative sequences of button press types categorized as likely.