Structure and method for combining deterministic and non-deterministic user interaction data input models

• US 20040264447A1
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chang, Lu, Balakrishnan, Sreeram, Guo, Jin, Kapadia, Sadik, Wu, Charles Yimin, Schusteritsch, Rudolf, McEvilly, Carlos
• Granted Patent: US 7,266,780 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

A structure and method for entering data into an electronic device (110). A deterministic data input element (130) coupled to the electronic device (110) is operable to accept a user-selected data input. Modulation of a motion of a non-deterministic data input element (140) coupled to the electronic device (11) is operable to select a varying precision of data input choices. A feedback element (120) coupled to one or more of the deterministic data input element (130) and the non-deterministic data input element (140) presents the data input choices to the user. The user enters data into electronic device (110) using one of the deterministic input element (130) and the non-deterministic input element (140) and the feedback element (120) displays a sequence of data choices to the user. The user then navigates a tree of possible data completions in order to select a particular data completion to be entered into the electronic device (110).

Claims

1. A structure for entering data into an electronic device, comprising:

a deterministic data input element coupled to the electronic device, said deterministic data input element operable to accept a user-selected data input;

a non-deterministic data input element coupled to the electronic device, wherein a modulation of a motion of the non-deterministic data input element is operable to select a varying precision of data input choices; and

a feedback element coupled to one or more of the deterministic data input element and the non-deterministic data input element, said feedback element operable to present the data input choices to the user.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is one of a telephone, pager, cellular phone, computer, PDA, MP3 players, wristwatch, data entry device, data storage device, signal processing device or other electronic device.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the data comprises one or more of one or more image files, one or more web pages, one or more descriptive metadata, one or more video files.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein the data input choices are displayed to the user in one or more of an audial, textual, and graphical manner.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein the feedback element comprises a display.

6. The structure of claim 1, wherein the non-deterministic data input element comprises one of a linear slider, rotary button, dial, thumbwheel or other motion sensing device.

7. The structure of claim 1, wherein non-deterministic data input element comprises a rotating button and the deterministic data input element comprises a keypad, said rotating button surrounding a center key of the keypad.

8. A structure for entering text into an electronic device, comprising:

a keypad coupled to the electronic device, said keypad operable to accept alphanumeric or non-Western character set input;

a display modulation element coupled to the keypad and coupled to the electronic device, wherein a modulation of a motion of the display modulation element is operable to select a varying precision of alphanumeric input choices; and

a feedback element coupled to the display modulation element, said feedback element operable to present the alphanumeric input choices to the user.

9. The structure of claim 8, wherein the electronic device is one of a telephone, pager, cellular phone, computer, PDA, MP3 players, wristwatch, data entry device, data storage device, signal processing device or other electronic device.

10. The structure of claim 8, wherein the alphanumeric or non-Western character set input choices are displayed to the user in one or more of an audial, textual, and graphical manner.

11. The structure of claim 8, wherein the feedback element comprises a display.

12. The structure of claim 8, wherein the display modulation element comprises one of a linear slider, rotary button, dial, thumbwheel, and motion sensing device.

13. The structure of claim 12, wherein the rotary button is coupled to a center key of the keypad.

14. The structure of claim 8, wherein the keypad has an organization substantially similar to an alphanumeric or non-Western character set keypad of a telephone.

15. The structure of claim 14, wherein the alphanumeric data are letters of the alphabet.

16. A method for the entering of data into an electronic device, comprising:

a user entering data into an electronic device using one of a deterministic input element and a non-deterministic input element wherein the deterministic input element and a non-deterministic input element are coupled to the electronic device;

a feedback element coupled to the electronic device displaying a sequence of data choices to the user;

the user navigating a tree of possible data completions in order to select a particular data completion to be entered into the electronic device, further comprising performing one of;

selecting a branch of the tree of possible data completions by selecting from one or more data entry choices via the deterministic input element;

increasing a rate of motion or extent of deflection of the non-deterministic input element causing a reduction in a precision of the data completions displayed to the user wherein the reduction in the precision corresponds to reducing a viewable depth of the tree; and

decreasing the rate of motion or extent of deflection of the non-deterministic input element causing an increase in the precision of the data completions displayed to the user wherein the increase in the precision corresponds to increasing a viewable depth of the tree.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the data is alphanumeric or non-Western character based.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the user stopping the motion or releasing the deflection of the non-deterministic input element in order to display a full precision of the data completions displayed to the user.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein data entry choices with a higher probability of occurrence are displayed for a longer time than data entry choices with a lower probability of occurrence.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the probability of occurrence of the data entry choices are determined by reference to a dictionary of possible data entry choices and the probability of said possible data entry choices are determined from a statistical measurement of a usage of said possible data entry choices.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein data entry choices with a higher probability of occurrence are displayed for a longer amount of motion or extent of deflection of the display modulation element than data entry choices with a lower probability of occurrence.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising the user combining the motion of the non-deterministic element with an action of the deterministic element to perform one or more of:

selecting one or more displayed items;

deselecting one or more displayed items;

transmitting the one or more displayed items to a second electronic device;

receiving the one or more displayed items from one or more remote electronic devices;

optionally performing any of the above automatically after a suitable timeout.

23. A method for the entering of alphanumeric or non-Western character set data into an electronic device, comprising:

a user entering alphanumeric data into an electronic device using one of a keypad and a display modulation element wherein the keypad and the display modulation element are coupled to the electronic device;

a feedback element coupled to the electronic device displaying a sequence of alphanumeric choices to the user;

the user performing one or more of;

entering alphanumeric data into the electronic device using the keypad;

manipulating the display modulation element coupled to the electronic device, comprising performing one or more of;

increasing a rate of motion or an extent of deflection of the display modulation element causing a reduction in a precision of the alphanumeric choices displayed to the user; and

decreasing the rate of motion or the extent of deflection of the display modulation element causing an increase in the precision of the alphanumeric choices displayed to the user.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein alphanumeric choices with a higher probability of occurrence are displayed for a longer time than alphanumeric choices with a lower probability of occurrence.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein alphanumeric choices with a higher probability of occurrence are displayed for a greater amount of motion or extent of deflection of the display modulation element than alphanumeric choices with a lower probability of occurrence.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the probability of occurrence of the alphanumeric choices are determined by reference to a dictionary of possible alphanumeric choices and the probability of said possible alphanumeric choices are determined from a statistical measurement of a usage of said possible alphanumeric choices.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising the user combining the motion of the display modulation element with an action of the keypad to perform one or more of:

selecting one or more displayed items;

deselecting one or more displayed items;

transmitting the one or more displayed items to a second electronic device;

receiving the one or more displayed items from one or more remote electronic devices;

optionally performing any of the above automatically after a suitable timeout.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising the user stopping the motion of the display modulation element and releasing a self-positioning modulation element to its neutral position, in order to display a full precision of the alphanumeric choices.