Keyboard layout for mouse or rocker switch text entry

• US 20060228149A1
• Filed: 04/08/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP Singapore Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Harley, Jonah A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,186,041 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/486
• 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

Abstract

A soft keyboard includes at least three rows of keys wherein a middle row is located near the center of the keyboard. The middle row includes vowel keys, and an upper row and a lower row include consonant keys. The consonant keys and the vowels keys are arranged in alphabetical order. At least one of the three rows of keys further includes at least one of the space key, the enter key, and the delete key. Another soft keyboard includes a first ring of keys around a central key, and a second ring of keys around the first ring of keys. The central key may be the enter key. The first ring of keys includes vowel keys arranged in alphabetical order. The first ring of keys may include the space key and the delete key. The second ring of keys includes consonant keys arranged in alphabetical order.

Claims

1. A soft keyboard, comprising:

an upper row of keys;

a middle row of keys comprising vowel keys arranged in alphabetical order, the middle row being located approximately at the center of the soft keyboard; and

a lower row of keys, the upper and the lower rows comprising consonant keys arranged in alphabetical order;

wherein each of the vowel and the consonant keys has one of multiple sizes depending on its usage frequency.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper, the middle, and the lower rows fisher comprises at least one special key.

3. The keyboard of claim 2, wherein the special key is selected from the group consisting of a delete key, a space bar key, and an enter key.

4. (canceled)

5. A method for generating a soft keyboard, comprising:

displaying an upper row of keys;

displaying a middle row of keys comprising vowel keys arranged in alphabetical order, the middle row being located approximately at the center of the soft keyboard; and

displaying a lower row of keys, the upper and the lower rows comprising consonant keys arranged in alphabetical order;

wherein each of the vowel and the consonant keys has one of multiple sizes depending on its usage frequency.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of the upper, the middle, and the lower rows further comprises at least one special key.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the special key is selected from the group consisting of a delete key, a space bar key, and an enter key.

8. (canceled)

9. A soft keyboard, comprising:

a first ring of keys, comprising vowel keys arranged consecutively in alphabetical order; and

a second ring of keys arranged around the first ring, the second ring of keys comprising consonant keys arranged in alphabetical order.

11. The keyboard of claim 9, further comprising at least one key located within the first ring.

12. The keyboard of claim 11, wherein the key within the first ring and at least one additional key in the first ring comprise special keys, the special keys are selected from the group consisting of a delete key, a space bar key, and an enter key.

13. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein each key in the first ring has one of multiple sizes depending on its usage frequency, and each key in the second ring has one of multiple sizes depending on its usage frequency.

10. (canceled)

14. A method for generating a soft keyboard, comprising:

displaying a first ring of keys comprising vowel keys arranged consecutively in alphabetical order; and

displaying a second ring of keys arranged around the first ring, the second ring of keys comprising consonant keys arranged in alphabetical order.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising displaying at least one key located within the first ring.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the key within the first ring and at least one additional key in the first ring comprise special keys, the special keys are selected from the group consisting of a delete key, a space bar key, and an enter key.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein each key in the first ring has one of multiple sizes depending on its usage frequency, and each key in the second ring has one of multiple sizes depending on its usage frequency.

15. (canceled)