Polyphonic/chordic annotation method

• US 20030011495A1
• Filed: 07/12/2001
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anders Trell Trust
• Original Assignee: Anders Trell Trust
• Inventors: Trell, Anders Edvard
• Granted Patent: US 6,909,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0235 using chord techniques G06F3/0234 takes precedence

Abstract

A programmatic organization method, or concept, for augmented use of a standardized keyboard, capable of detecting depression/touching of single keys as well as simultaneously depressed/touched combinations of keys. According to the invention, simultaneous depression/touching of two or more adjacently or non-adjacently located keys of said keyboard is decoded as a predetermined character, symbol, note, action etc., whereby the input capability of the keyboard is considerably enhanced. Advantageously are predetermined functions, e.g. a “shift (“CAP”) or num lock function by predetermined single keys or predetermined key combinations, i.e. the input capability can thus be enhanced even further, each such function resulting in a new and independent input capability The keyboard may advantageously be a conventional numerical 3×4 keyboard.

Claims

1. A programmatic organisation method for augmented use of a standardized keyboard arranged capable of detecting depression/touching of single keys as well as simultaneously depressed/touched combinations of keys, wherein simultaneous depression/touching of two or more adjacently or non-adjacently located keys of said keyboard is decoded as a predetermined character, symbol, note, action, etc., whereby the input capability of the keyboard is considerably enhanced.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein predetermined functions, e.g. a “

shift”

(“

CAP”

) or num lock function, is obtained by predetermined key combinations.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein predetermined functions, e.g. a “

shift”

(“

CAP”

) or num lock function, is obtained by predetermined single keys.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keyboard is a conventional numerical 3×

4 keyboard, covering “

0”

through “

9” and

including up to two additional keys.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the keyboard includes at least one further key.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keyboard forms a part of a telephone, preferably a mobile telephone.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the telephone is capable of inducing/outputting more than one DTMF-digit simultaneously at the time.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keyboard forms a part of an input system utilized for user verification.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein data input is shown on a display unit.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein data input is made audible to a user, e.g. by music or speech synthesizing circuits.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein resulting characters, symbols etc. from various key combinations are shown adjacent to each key of the keyboard.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein resulting characters, symbols etc. from various key combinations are disclosed shown in a preferably detachable keyboard overlay.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a joystick function is participating in the inputting of data.

14. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein various keyboard layout, e.g. numerical, alphanumerical, symbols, musical notes etc., are user selectable from a menu.

15. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein various keyboard layout, e.g. numerical, alphanumerical, symbols, musical notes etc., are user selectable by depression of one or more predetermined keys.

16. A telephone instrument capable of generating and outputting more than one DTMF-digit simultaneously at a time.

17. A handheld computer having a standard numerical keyboard as an attached or integrated member, single key and simultaneous multikey user input being decoded as numerals, characters, symbols etc. according to predetermined keyboard layouts.