User-configurable soft input applications

• US 20040183834A1
• Filed: 03/20/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Chermesino, John C.
• Application Number:
  US10/393,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20040183834A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/773
• 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: G09G 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed

Abstract

One embodiment discloses a user-configurable soft input device for a computing device comprising graphical data for displaying visual attributes of the soft input device on a display of the computing device, position data for controlling a position of the soft input device on the display, wherein the position data is editable by a user during runtime, and sizing data for defining a size of the visual attributes of the soft input device, wherein the sizing data is editable by the user during runtime.

Claims

1. A user-configurable soft input device for a computing device comprising:

graphical data for displaying visual attributes of said soft input device on a display of said computing device;

position data for controlling a position of said soft input device on said display, wherein said position data is editable by a user during runtime; and

sizing data for defining a size of said visual attributes of said soft input device, wherein said sizing data is editable by said user during runtime.

2. The user-configurable soft input device of claim 1 further comprising:

configuration data for controlling a layout of said soft input device, wherein said configuration data is editable by said user during runtime.

3. The user-configurable soft input device of claim 2 wherein said layout includes at least one of:

a location of individual keys comprising said soft input device;

a function associated with said individual keys; and

an appearance of said individual keys.

4. The user-configurable soft input device of claim 3 wherein said appearance of said individual keys includes:

a color;

a shape; and

a sound.

5. The user-configurable soft input device of claim 2 further comprising:

a user menu operable by said user for editing one or more of;

said position data;

said size data; and

said configuration data.

6. The user-configurable soft input device of claim 1 further comprising:

rendering logic for automatically re-sizing said visual attributes of said soft input device responsive to edits made by said user, wherein said rendering logic changes said graphical data according to said edits.

7. The user-configurable soft input device of claim 1 further comprising:

a locking key operable by said user for temporarily locking said position of said soft input device.

8. The user-configurable soft input device of claim 7 wherein said locking key further temporarily locks said size of said soft input device.

9. The user-configurable soft input device of claim 8 wherein said user deactivates said locking key by depressing said locking key.

10. A method for displaying a user-configurable software keyboard comprising:

positioning said software keyboard on an electronic display at a position defined by a user during runtime; and

sizing said software keyboard on said electronic display according to a size defined by said user during runtime.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

configuring elements of said software keyboard on said electronic display according to a configuration defined by said user during runtime.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said configuring includes:

locating individual elements according to input from said user;

assigning functions to said individual elements according to said input from said user; and

designing an appearance of said individual elements according to input from said user.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

locking said software keyboard to prevent said user from performing one or more of;

said positioning;

said sizing; and

said configuring.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

unlocking said software keyboard to allow said user to perform one or more of;

said positioning;

said sizing; and

said configuring.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

displaying a menu to said user, wherein said menu presents options to said user for at least one of;

said positioning;

said sizing; and

said configuring.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein said sizing comprises proportional sizing.

17. A computer program product having a computer readable medium with computer program logic recorded thereon, said computer program product comprising:

code for positioning said software input device on a computer display using position data entered by a user during runtime; and

code for sizing said software input device on said computer display according to size data entered by said user during runtime.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 further comprising:

code for configuring objects of said software input device on said computer display according to configuration data entered by said user during runtime.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 wherein said configuring includes:

code for placing individual objects according to input from said user;

code for associating functions to said individual objects according to said input from said user; and

code for designing an appearance of said individual objects according to input from said user.

20. The computer program product of claim 18 further comprising:

code selectable by said user for temporarily deactivating execution of one or more of;

said code for positioning;

said code for sizing; and

said code for configuring.

21. The computer program product of claim 18 further comprising:

code for displaying a menu to said user, wherein said menu presents options for said user to enter data for executing at least one of;

said code for positioning;

said code for sizing; and

said code for configuring.