System and Method for Configuring a Computer Keyboard

• US 20080136783A1
• Filed: 11/25/2007
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pedrazzoli, Fernando Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,978,179 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/172
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes

Abstract

A computer keyboard is set up a with full-scale programmable hotkeys for users. The user easily defines words/word sequences he/she frequently uses for word processing. By depressing a dedicated key, the corresponding predefined word/word sequence is immediately displayed to the user.

Claims

1. A method for a computer keyboard, comprising the steps of:

generating a key qualifier signal for a user selected key on a keyboard responsive to a user depressing the user selected key;

transmitting the key qualifier signal to a word-key pair assignment process;

receiving the key qualifier by a function key preference configuration subprocess of the word-key pair assignment process

comparing, by the function key preference configuration subprocess, the received key qualifier and keys available for assigning;

selecting between sending a hit signal and sending a miss signal by the function key preference configuration subprocess responsive to the comparing, wherein the hit signal initiates steps in an acquisition process and the miss signal initiates steps in a restitution process, wherein the steps in the acquisition process include;

assigning the user selected key to a unique word or expression entered by the user, thereby creating a key-word pair, wherein the assigning includes;

sending an update key status signal to a key interface process by the word-key pair assignment process responsive to the key qualifier signal; and

outputting data signals responsive to the update key status signal by the key interface process, including data signals indicating to update a first stored list of available keys and a second stored list of user defined words or expressions;

and wherein the steps in the restitution process include;

prompting the user to select between i) accepting a word or expression in the second list that is currently assigned to the user selected key and ii) modifying the currently assigned word or expression; and

updating the second list responsive to the user selecting to modify the currently assigned word or expression.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

displaying, by a control panel process, a nickname for the word or expression assigned to the user selected key

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

capturing the word or expression entered by the user during a time frame capture, wherein the capturing includes initiating a start acquisition phase and a stop acquisition phase and time interval between the starting and the stopping depends on length of the word or expression to be entered by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

checking syntax of the word sequence entered by the user to detect nonpermitted characters, misspelling and word incoherence.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

storing the word or expression entered by the user into a temporary buffer to allow multiple word key acquisition processes to be successively performed.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

allocating more than one word or expression entered by the user to the same user selected key by combining the user selected key with another user selected key.

7. A computer program product, stored on a computer readable medium, for use with a computer keyboard, the computer program product having instructions for execution by a computer, wherein the instructions, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to implement a method comprising the steps of:

generating a key qualifier signal for a user selected key on a keyboard responsive to a user depressing the user selected key;

transmitting the key qualifier signal to a word-key pair assignment process;

receiving the key qualifier by a function key preference configuration subprocess of the word-key pair assignment process

comparing, by the function key preference configuration subprocess, the received key qualifier and keys available for assigning;

selecting between sending a hit signal and sending a miss signal by the function key preference configuration subprocess responsive to the comparing, wherein the hit signal initiates steps in an acquisition process and the miss signal initiates steps in a restitution process, wherein the steps in the acquisition process include;

assigning the user selected key to a unique word or expression entered by the user, thereby creating a key-word pair, wherein the assigning includes;

sending an update key status signal to a key interface process by the word-key pair assignment process responsive to the key qualifier signal; and

outputting data signals responsive to the update key status signal by the key interface process, including data signals indicating to update a first stored list of available keys and a second stored list of user defined words or expressions;

and wherein the steps in the restitution process include;

prompting the user to select between i) accepting a word or expression in the second list that is currently assigned to the user selected key and ii) modifying the currently assigned word or expression; and

updating the second list responsive to the user selecting to modify the currently assigned word or expression.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the method implemented by the computer executing the instructions of the computer program product further comprises:

displaying, by a control panel process, a nickname for the word or expression assigned to the user selected key

9. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the method implemented by the computer executing the instructions of the computer program product further comprises:

capturing the word or expression entered by the user during a time frame capture, wherein the capturing includes initiating a start acquisition phase and a stop acquisition phase and time interval between the starting and the stopping depends on length of the word or expression to be entered by the user.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the method implemented by the computer executing the instructions of the computer program product further comprises:

checking syntax of the word sequence entered by the user to detect nonpermitted characters, misspelling and word incoherence.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the method implemented by the computer executing the instructions of the computer program product further comprises:

storing the word or expression entered by the user into a temporary buffer to allow multiple word key acquisition processes to be successively performed.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the method implemented by the computer executing the instructions of the computer program product further comprises:

allocating more than one word or expression entered by the user to the same user selected key by combining the user selected key with another user selected key.

13. A computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device connected to the processor, wherein the storage device has stored thereon a keyboard-user program for controlling the processor, and wherein the processor is operative with the program to execute the program for performing the steps of;

generating a key qualifier signal for a user selected key on a keyboard responsive to a user depressing the user selected key;

transmitting the key qualifier signal to a word-key pair assignment process;

receiving the key qualifier by a function key preference configuration subprocess of the word-key pair assignment process

comparing, by the function key preference configuration subprocess, the received key qualifier and keys available for assigning;

selecting between sending a hit signal and sending a miss signal by the function key preference configuration subprocess responsive to the comparing, wherein the hit signal initiates steps in an acquisition process and the miss signal initiates steps in a restitution process, wherein the steps in the acquisition process include;

assigning the user selected key to a unique word or expression entered by the user, thereby creating a key-word pair, wherein the assigning includes;

sending an update key status signal to a key interface process by the word-key pair assignment process responsive to the key qualifier signal; and

outputting data signals responsive to the update key status signal by the key interface process, including data signals indicating to update a first stored list of available keys and a second stored list of user defined words or expressions;

and wherein the steps in the restitution process include;

prompting the user to select between i) accepting a word or expression in the second list that is currently assigned to the user selected key and ii) modifying the currently assigned word or expression; and

updating the second list responsive to the user selecting to modify the currently assigned word or expression.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the method implemented by the computer executing the instructions of the program comprises:

displaying, by a control panel process, a nickname for the word or expression assigned to the user selected key

15. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the method implemented by the computer executing the instructions of the program comprises:

capturing the word or expression entered by the user during a time frame capture, wherein the capturing includes initiating a start acquisition phase and a stop acquisition phase and time interval between the starting and the stopping depends on length of the word or expression to be entered by the user.

16. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the method implemented by the computer executing the instructions of the program comprises:

checking syntax of the word sequence entered by the user to detect nonpermitted characters, misspelling and word incoherence.

17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the method implemented by the computer executing the instructions of the program comprises:

storing the word or expression entered by the user into a temporary buffer to allow multiple word key acquisition processes to be successively performed.

18. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the method implemented by the computer executing the instructions of the program comprises:

allocating more than one word or expression entered by the user to the same user selected key by combining the user selected key with another user selected key.

19. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the user selected key on the keyboard is a key dedicated to word configuring.