System and method for dynamic key assignment in enhanced user interface

• US 20030067495A1
• Filed: 10/04/2001
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InfoGation Corporation
• Original Assignee: InfoGation Corporation
• Inventors: Pu, Kent Qing, Alkhatib, Akmad
• Granted Patent: US 7,152,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/811
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/20 of structured data, e.g. relational data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/26 Visual data mining; Browsing structured data
• 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

Abstract

An improved user interface for data input without the use of a standard keyboard is provided. Input is accepted through a data entry means such as a shuttle control system, a standard telephone keypad, or a speech recognition system. The data that is entered is selected from a predefined list that is presented to a user in an arrangement that statistically reduces the number of keystrokes required for data entry. This presentation is the result of determining the relative frequency of each valid selection in the predefined list and presenting those valid selections with the highest frequency items in a position that minimizes the number keystrokes required for data entry. In a speech recognition embodiment, the data entered is selected from an active list containing unique sounding entries. Alternatively, the data entered may be selected by speaking the numbers associated with the keys corresponding to the keystrokes required for data entry.

Claims

1. A system for accepting data input on an intelligent device having a display, comprising:

a data entry means having an interface configured to accept data entry actions;

a selection display area having a plurality of positions, each position configured to present a previous selection or a current item;

a selection list comprising;

one or more selectable items, each item having a frequency of use; and

a movable cursor configured to highlight the current item, wherein the data entry means is further configured to move the cursor through the items in the selection list and select items, the selection display area is configured to present the current item in a first position and a previous selection in a second position, and the selectable items in the selection list are arranged to statistically reduce data entry actions.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the selectable items are linearly arranged according to frequency of use with the highest frequency item at a first end and the lowest frequency item at a second end, wherein the relative frequency of use between adjacent items is such that items closer to the first end have an equal or higher frequency of use than items closer to the second end.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the selectable items are linearly arranged according to frequency of use with the highest frequency item in a center position and the other items placed on opposing sides of the highest frequency item in order of decreasing frequency such that items closer to the center position have an equal or higher frequency of use than items further from the center position.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the selectable items are arranged according to frequency of use with the highest frequency item in a center position and the other items placed to the left, right, top, and bottom of the highest frequency item in order of decreasing frequency such that items closer to the center position have an equal or higher frequency of use than items further from the center position.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection list resides on a local storage medium.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection list resides on a remote storage medium.

7. A method for data input on an intelligent device having a user interface, a display screen, and one or more keys, the user interface comprising a data entry field and a list of selectable characters displayed on the display screen, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a predefined list comprising a plurality of valid input items;

parsing the valid input items in the predefined list to extract a set of valid characters associated with the first letter of each valid input item;

determining a frequency associated with each valid character in the set of valid characters;

displaying each valid character according to its frequency, such that characters with higher frequencies are selectable with fewer keystrokes than characters with lower frequencies;

accepting a selected character; and

displaying the selected character in the data entry field.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the displaying each valid character step further comprises linearly arranging the valid characters according to frequency of use with the highest frequency character at a first end and the lowest frequency character at a second end, wherein the relative frequency of use between adjacent characters is such that characters closer to the first end have an equal or higher frequency of use than characters closer to the second end.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the displaying each valid character step further comprises linearly arranging the valid characters according to frequency of use with the highest frequency character in a center position and the remaining characters placed on opposing sides of the highest frequency character in order of decreasing frequency such that characters closer to the center position have an equal or higher frequency of use than characters further from the center position.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the displaying each valid character step further comprises arranging the valid characters according to frequency of use with the highest frequency character in a center position and the other characters placed to the left, right, top, and bottom of the highest frequency item in order of decreasing frequency such that characters closer to the center position have an equal or higher frequency of use than characters further from the center position.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the predefined list resides on a local storage medium.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the predefined list resides on a remote storage medium.

13. A system for dynamic key assignment in an intelligent device having a display, comprising:

a data entry keypad having a plurality of keys, the keypad configured to accept data entry actions;

a selection list comprising one or more selectable items, each item having a frequency of use, wherein each key on the data entry keypad is assigned a priority number and each selectable item is associated with a particular key such that items with a higher frequency of use are assigned to keys with a higher priority number.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the display is a touch screen display and the data entry keypad is presented on the touch screen display such that each selectable item is visually associated with a key.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the selectable items comprise alphabetic characters and the keypad is arranged as a standard telephone keypad.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the selection list resides on a local storage medium.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the selection list resides on a remote storage medium.

18. A method for dynamic key assignment on an intelligent device having a touch screen display screen and a user interface comprising a data entry field and a list of selectable characters, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a predefined list comprising a plurality of valid input items;

parsing the valid input items in the predefined list to extract a set of valid characters associated with the first letter of each valid input item;

determining a frequency associated with each valid character in the set of valid characters;

displaying each valid character according to its frequency, such that the characters are presented on the touch screen display in a standard telephone keypad arrangement wherein characters with higher frequencies are selectable with fewer keystrokes than characters with lower frequencies;

accepting a selected character; and

displaying the selected character in the data entry field.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the predefined list resides on a local storage medium.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the predefined list resides on a remote storage medium.

21. A method for dynamic key assignment on an intelligent device having a display screen, a standard telephone keypad, and a user interface comprising a data entry field and a list of selectable characters, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a predefined list comprising a plurality of valid input items;

parsing the valid input items in the predefined list to extract a set of valid characters associated with the first letter of each valid input item;

determining a frequency associated with each valid character in the set of valid characters;

displaying each valid character according to its frequency, such that the characters are presented on the display in a standard telephone keypad arrangement wherein characters with higher frequencies are selectable with fewer keystrokes than characters with lower frequencies;

accepting a selected character; and

displaying the selected character in the data entry field.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the predefined list resides on a local storage medium.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the predefined list resides on a remote storage medium.