Form factor and input method for language input

• US 20060170657A1
• Filed: 01/28/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, Jian, Lin, Zhouchen, Wang, Rongrong
• Granted Patent: US 7,508,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/171
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/018 Input/output arrangements for oriental characters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods

Abstract

An input method and apparatus is provided for use in various computer and mobile devices. The input device utilizes a rotating dial in which four arrows printed on the dial are rotated to select characters that are fixed along the circumference of a circle. The characters are divided into various zones. The zones are utilized to encode various letters and numbers. Additionally the zones may be utilized for editing and control functions. The dial may be freely rotated. Pressing any arrow inputs the character that the arrow points to on the dial. The input device and method may encode Asian language characters according to a set of encoding rules.

Claims

1. A method of inputting language characters into a computing device, the method comprising steps of:

encoding language characters based on a set of encoding rules; and

inputting the encoded language characters into the computing device using a turntable selection device.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the turntable selection device comprises character identifiers.

3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the turntable selection device comprises at least eight zones.

4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the inputted encoded language characters are stored in memory of the computing device.

5. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises a cellular telephone.

6. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the language characters comprise Chinese language characters.

7. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the set of encoding rules comprises an encoding format of C₁C₂C₃C₄C₅.

8. An input apparatus for inputting Chinese characters into a computing device, the input apparatus comprising:

a turntable user interface to enter the Chinese characters; and

a plurality of character identifiers associated with positions located on a turntable user interface.

9. The input apparatus recited in claim 8, wherein the Chinese characters are encoded using Pinyin and Stroke.

10. The input apparatus recited in claim 8, wherein the turntable user interface comprises at least eight zones.

11. The input apparatus recited in claim 8, wherein the computing device comprises a cellular telephone.

12. The input apparatus recited in claim 9, wherein the encoding comprises a format of C₁C₂C₃C₄C₅.

13. The input apparatus recited in claim 12, wherein C₁ comprises code for Shengmu, C₂ comprises the code for first letter of Yunmu and tone, C₃ comprises code for remaining letters of the Yunmu, C₄ comprises the code for first stroke, and C₅ comprises the code for last stroke.

14. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface selection device, a method of inputting characters encoded using Chinese Pinyin and Stroke, the method comprising:

encoding language characters based on a set of encoding rules; and

receiving encoded language characters into the computer system using a turntable apparatus.

15. The method recited in claim 14, wherein the turntable apparatus comprises at least eight zones.

16. The method recited in claim 14, wherein the inputted encoded language characters are stored in memory of the computer system.

17. The method recited in claim 14, wherein the computer system comprises a tablet personal computer.

18. The method recited in claim 14, wherein the language characters comprise Chinese language characters.

19. The method recited in claim 14, wherein the set of encoding rules comprises an encoding format of C₁C₂C₃C₄C₅.

20. The method recited in claim 19, wherein C₁ comprises code for Shengmu, C₂ comprises the code for first letter of Yunmu and tone, C₃ comprises code for remaining letters of the Yunmu, C₄ comprises the code for first stroke, and Cs comprises the code for last stroke.