Character and text unit input correction system

• US 20040217944A1
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kong, Yuan
• Granted Patent: US 7,119,794 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/232 Orthographic correction, e.g. spell checking or vowelisation

Abstract

An input device is disclosed that includes a sensor for editing characters and text units. The sensor has an elongate configuration and is laterally-oriented with respect to sides of the input device. The input device also includes a plurality of keys for entering individual characters or multiple characters that form the text units. By contacting the sensor, an incorrectly-entered text unit may be selected and replaced with an intended text unit. In order to select the incorrectly-entered text unit, the sensor may be contacted in a position that corresponds with a position of the text unit with respect to a display screen.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

an alphanumeric region having a plurality of keys for entering characters; and

an elongated, laterally-oriented, text unit editing sensor positioned adjacent the alphanumeric region.

2. The input device recited in claim 1, wherein the text unit editing sensor is a touch sensitive strip.

3. The input device recited in claim 1, wherein the text unit editing sensor has a length and a width, and wherein a ratio of the length of the text unit editing sensor to the width of the text unit editing sensor is at least 4:

1.

4. The input device recited in claim 3, wherein a ratio of the length of the text unit editing sensor to the width of the text unit editing sensor is at least 10:

1.

5. The input device recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one text unit sensor supporting input element to assist in editing the characters.

6. The input device recited in claim 5, wherein the at least one text unit sensor supporting input element to assist in editing the characters includes three discrete keys.

7. The input device recited in claim 5, wherein the at least one text unit sensor supporting input element to assist in editing the characters includes a toggle key.

8. The input device recited in claim 7, wherein the toggle key is a three-way toggle key.

9. The input device recited in claim 1, wherein the text unit editing sensor is positioned directly behind the alphanumeric region.

10. The input device recited in claim 1, wherein the input device is a keyboard.

11. A keyboard comprising:

a plurality of keys, each key being associated with at least one character; and

a text unit editing system, the text unit editing system including an elongated touch sensitive editing sensor and a supporting input element usable in conjunction with the touch sensitive editing sensor.

12. The keyboard recited in claim 11, wherein the supporting input element is positioned adjacent the text unit editing sensor to assist in editing the characters.

13. The keyboard recited in claim 11, further comprising three discrete keys usable in conjunction with the touch sensitive editing sensor.

14. The keyboard recited in claim 11, wherein the supporting input element is a toggle key.

15. The keyboard recited in claim 14, further comprising an alphanumeric section and a function key section, wherein the text unit editing sensor is disposed between the alphanumeric section and the function key section.

16. A method of correcting a first text unit on a line on a display screen with a second text unit, the method comprising the steps of:

contacting a sensor on the input device in a position that corresponds with the relative position of the first text unit with respect to the line; and

replacing the first text unit with a second text unit.

17. The method recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of displaying a list of potential text unit candidates on the display in a direction parallel with the line.

18. The method recited in claim 17, further comprising the step of selecting the second text unit by contacting the sensor in a position that corresponds with the relative position of the second text unit with respect to the list of candidates.

19. The method recited in claim 17, further comprising actuating a toggle to provide a different set of displayed potential text unit candidates.

20. The method recited in claim 16, wherein the said replacing step includes replacing a first character with a second character.

21. The method recited in claim 16, wherein the said replacing step includes replacing a first word with a second word.

22. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display and a touch sensitive user interface selection device, a method of replacing a first text unit on a line of the display with a second text unit, comprising:

detecting an input signal from the touch sensitive interface selection device corresponding to a contacted location on the touch sensitive interface selection device relative to a length of the touch sensitive interface selection device; and

displaying a list of potential text unit candidates corresponding to alternatives to the first text unit based on the detected input signal.

23. The method recited in claim 22, further comprising replacing the first text unit with a second text unit.

24. The method recited in claim 22, wherein the displaying step includes displaying the list of potential text unit candidates on the display in a direction parallel with the line.

25. The method recited in claim 24, detecting a second input signal from the touch sensitive interface selection device corresponding to a contacted location on the touch sensitive interface selection device relative to a length of the touch sensitive interface selection device;

and replacing the first text unit with a second text unit based on the second input signal.

26. The method recited in claim 22, further comprising graphically accentuating the first text unit on the display in response to the input signal receiving step.

27. The method recited in claim 23, further comprising maintaining the graphical display of a cursor during the detecting, displaying, and replacing steps.

28. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of claim 22.