Method and Apparatus for Inputting Character Through Pointing Device

• US 20080122806A1
• Filed: 01/05/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jaewoo Ahn
• Original Assignee: Jaewoo Ahn
• Inventors: Ahn, Jaewoo
• Application Number:
  US11/813,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20080122806A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for inputting characters through a pointing device such as a stylus or a mouse. The method includes: (a) dividing an input area of the pointing device into a plurality of input sub-areas and assigning a plurality of characters constituting a character set of a current character mode to each of the input sub-areas; (b) inputting an input pattern through the pointing device in a selected one of the input sub-areas; and (c) selectively outputting one of the characters assigned to the selected input sub-area according to whether the input pattern of the pointing device is a point, a line having more than a predetermined length, a line bent a predetermined number of times with more than a predetermined angle and having more than a predetermined length, or a round shape.

Claims

1. A method of inputting a character through a pointing device, the method comprising:

(a) dividing an input area of the pointing device into a plurality of input sub-areas and assigning a plurality of characters constituting a character set of a current character mode to each of the input sub-areas;

(b) inputting an input pattern through the pointing device in a selected one of the input sub-areas; and

(c) selectively outputting one of the characters assigned to the selected input sub-area according to whether the input pattern of the pointing device is a point, a line having more than a predetermined length, a line bent a predetermined number of times with more than a predetermined angle and having more than a predetermined length, or a round shape.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the step (a), the input area of the pointing device is divided into a plurality of input sub-areas arranged in 4-by-3 form and a plurality of characters constituting a character set of a current character mode is assigned to each of the input sub-areas.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the step (c), a first character is selected among the characters assigned to the selected input sub-area when a point is input through the pointing device, a second character is selected when a line having more than a predetermined length is input, a third character is selected when a line bent a predetermined number of times with more than a predetermined angle and having more than a predetermined length is input, or a predetermined character or command is selected when a round shape is input.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the step (c), when it is determined whether the input pattern is a point, a line having more than a predetermined length, a line bent a predetermined number of times with more than a predetermined angle and having more than a predetermined length, or a round shape, a line proceeding from the outside to the inside of an input area and a line proceeding from the inside to the outside of the input area are not considered as part of the input pattern.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the step (b), when the input pattern is input through the pointing device in an extended input sub-area that is extended by a predetermined size from each of the input sub-areas, the input pattern is considered to be input in the selected input sub-area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the step (b), when a starting point of the input pattern of the pointing device is located in the selected input sub-area and the input pattern is continuously input, the input pattern is considered to be input in the input sub-area even though the input pattern is temporarily deviated from the input sub-area, and, when the starting point of the input pattern is located in the selected input sub-area and the input pattern is not continuously input, an input operation performed in the input sub-area is completed.

13. A computer readable recording medium storing a program for executing in a computer the method of claim 1.

7. An apparatus for inputting a character through a pointing device, comprising:

an input unit allowing a user to input an input pattern through the pointing device in an input area of the pointing device, the input area being divided into a plurality of input sub-areas each being assigned a plurality of characters constituting a character set of a current character mode; and

a processing unit selectively outputting one of characters assigned to the selected input sub-area according to whether the input pattern of the pointing device is a point, a line having more than a predetermined length, a line bent a predetermined number of times with more than a predetermined angle and having more than a predetermined length, or a round shape.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the input unit allows a user to input an input pattern through the pointing device in an input area of the pointing device, the input area being divided into a plurality of input sub-areas arranged in 4-by-3 form each being assigned a plurality of characters constituting a character set of a current character mode.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processing unit is configured such that a first character is selected among the plurality of characters assigned to the selected input sub-area when the input pattern of the pointing device is a point, a second character is selected when the input pattern is a line having more than a predetermined length, a third character is selected when the input pattern is a line bent a predetermined number of times with more than a predetermined angle and having more than a predetermined length, or a predetermined character or command is selected when the input pattern is a round shape.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein, when it is determined by the processing unit whether the input pattern is a point, a line having more than a predetermined length, a line bent a predetermined number of times with more than a predetermined angle and having more than a predetermined length, or a round shape, a line proceeding from the outside to the inside of an input area and a line proceeding from the inside to the outside of the input area are not considered as part of the input pattern.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein, when the input pattern is input to the input unit through the pointing device in an extended input sub-area that is extended by a predetermined size from each of the input sub-areas, the input pattern is considered to be input in the selected input sub-area.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein, when a starting point of the input pattern of the pointing device is located in the selected input sub-area and the input pattern is continuously input to the input unit, the input pattern is considered to be input in the input sub-area even though the input pattern is temporarily deviated from the input sub-area, and, when the starting point of the input pattern is located in the selected input sub-area and the input pattern is not continuously input, an input operation performed in the input sub-area is completed.