On-screen keyboard

• US 20080303793A1
• Filed: 06/05/2007
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Carroll, Simon
• Application Number:
  US11/810,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20080303793A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques

Abstract

Embodiments of an on-screen keyboard are described. In embodiment(s), a display of an on-screen keyboard can include letters arranged for user selection based on a frequency of the letters that are used most often. The letters can be of an alphabet for a language where the letters are arranged in the on-screen keyboard based on the frequency of the letters that appear most often in words of the language. User inputs can be received via an input device to navigate the on-screen keyboard and position a focus to select the letters for on-screen text entry.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

displaying an on-screen keyboard of letters arranged for user selection based on a frequency of the letters that are used most often, the letters being arranged around a centered letter that is the most often used; and

receiving user inputs to navigate the on-screen keyboard and position a focus to select the letters for on-screen text entry.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the on-screen keyboard is displayed to include the letters of an alphabet for a language, the letters being arranged for user selection based on the frequency of the letters that appear most often in words of the language.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the on-screen keyboard is displayed to include the letters of words used in a profession, the letters being arranged for user selection based on the frequency of the letters that appear most often in the words of the profession.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the on-screen keyboard is further displayed to include numbers arranged for user selection based on a frequency of the numbers that are used most often.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the on-screen keyboard is further displayed to include user-selectable controls that facilitate the on-screen text entry.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the on-screen keyboard is further displayed to include letters that are not selectable based on one or more selected letters and known words.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising initiating a time delay between successive user inputs for at least one of selecting the same letter twice, selecting another letter, or repositioning the focus back to the most frequently used letter in the on-screen keyboard after a letter has been selected.

8. An on-screen keyboard system, comprising:

a keyboard module configured to generate an on-screen keyboard for display on a graphical user interface, the on-screen keyboard including letters arranged for selection based on a frequency of the letters that are used most often, where the letters are arranged around a centered letter that is the most often used; and

an input device configured to facilitate navigating the on-screen keyboard to position a focus to select the letters.

9. An on-screen keyboard system as recited in claim 8, wherein the keyboard module is further configured to generate the on-screen keyboard to include the letters of an alphabet for a language, and wherein the letters are arranged for selection based on the frequency of the letters that appear most often in words of the language.

10. An on-screen keyboard system as recited in claim 8, wherein the keyboard module is further configured to generate the on-screen keyboard to include the letters of words used in a profession, and wherein the letters are arranged for selection based on the frequency of the letters that appear most often in the words of the profession.

11. An on-screen keyboard system as recited in claim 8, wherein the keyboard module is further configured to generate the on-screen keyboard to include numbers arranged for selection based on a frequency of the numbers that are used most often.

12. An on-screen keyboard system as recited in claim 8, wherein the keyboard module is further configured to initiate a time delay between successive letter selections for at least one of selecting the same letter twice, moving the focus to another letter, or repositioning the focus back on the most frequently used letter in the on-screen keyboard.

13. An on-screen keyboard system as recited in claim 8, wherein the keyboard module is further configured to initiate repositioning the focus back to the most frequently used letter in the on-screen keyboard after a letter has been selected.

14. An on-screen keyboard system as recited in claim 8, wherein the keyboard module is further configured to initiate positioning the focus on a next most likely letter in the on-screen keyboard after a letter has been selected.

15. Computer-readable media encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, display a graphical user interface, comprising:

an on-screen keyboard that includes letters arranged for selection based on a frequency of the letters that are used most often, the letters being arranged around a centered letter that is the most often used; and

a selected inputs field that displays an on-screen text entry of selected letters.

16. Computer-readable media as recited in claim 15, further encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, displays the graphical user interface comprising the on-screen keyboard that includes the letters of an alphabet for a language, the letters being arranged for selection based on the frequency of the letters that appear most often in words of the language.

17. Computer-readable media as recited in claim 15, further encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, displays the graphical user interface comprising the on-screen keyboard that includes the letters of words used in a profession, the letters being arranged for selection based on the frequency of the letters that appear most often in the words of the profession.

18. Computer-readable media as recited in claim 15, further encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, displays the graphical user interface comprising the on-screen keyboard that includes numbers arranged for selection based on a frequency of the numbers that are used most often.

19. Computer-readable media as recited in claim 15, further encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, displays the graphical user interface comprising an on-screen focus that is repositioned back to the most frequently used letter in the on-screen keyboard after a letter has been selected.

20. Computer-readable media as recited in claim 15, further encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, displays the graphical user interface comprising an on-screen focus that is positioned on a next most likely letter in the on-screen keyboard after a letter has been selected.