Configurable Keyboard

• US 20090183098A1
• Filed: 01/14/2008
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Berry, Antonios T., Azor, Frank C., Casparian, Mark A., Cooper, Brian P., Rego, Reginald I.
• Application Number:
  US12/013,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20090183098A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/765
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• 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

An information handling system provides a graphical user interface for customization of a keyboard layout. Individual key sizes, shapes, icons, functions, and other characteristics can be created via the GUI. The customized layout can be stored at the information handling system in a file. The file can be accessed to create a keyboard at a touch-screen device based on the customized layout.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

displaying via a graphical user interface (GUI) a set of options for customization of a keyboard layout;

receiving via the GUI first information representing a first customized keyboard layout; and

storing the first information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving via the GUI second information representing a second customized keyboard layout; and

storing the second information.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

displaying a first keyboard based on the first information in response to an indication that a first application has been accessed; and

displaying a second keyboard based on the second information in response to an indication that a second application has been accessed.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a first keyboard based on the first information at a touch-screen device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving an indication that a first key of the first keyboard has been actuated;

determining an input value associated with the first key; and

providing an indication of the input value to an application.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the input value is representative of a sequence of functions associated with the application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the set of options comprises:

displaying a set of keys; and

providing a drag-and-drop interface configured to change a position of one of the set of keys relative to a second of the set of keys.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein providing the drag-and-drop interface comprises providing the drag-and-drop interface via a touch-screen device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the set of options comprises:

displaying a set of keys; and

providing an interface to change a size of one of the set of keys.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the set of options comprises:

displaying a set of keys; and

providing an interface to associate a name with one of the set of keys.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the set of options comprises:

displaying a set of keys; and

providing an interface to set a shape of one of the set of keys.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the set of options comprises:

displaying a set of keys; and

providing an interface to set an input value associated with one of the set of keys.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a keyboard at a touch-screen device based on the first information in response to determining a plurality of fingers are in contact with the touch-screen device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein displaying the keyboard comprises displaying the keyboard based on a position of the plurality of fingers.

15. A computer readable medium comprising a computer program including instructions to manipulate a processor, the instructions comprising instructions to:

display via a graphical user interface (GUI) a set of options for customization of a keyboard layout;

receive via the GUI first information representing a first customized keyboard layout; and

store the first information.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to:

display a first keyboard based on the first information in response to an indication that a first application has been accessed; and

display a second keyboard based on the second information in response to an indication that a second application has been accessed.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to:

receive an indication that a first key of the first keyboard has been actuated;

determine an input value associated with the first key; and

provide an indication of the input value to an application.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions to display the set of options comprise instructions to:

display a set of keys; and

provide a drag-and-drop interface configured to change a position of one of the set of keys relative to a second of the set of keys.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions to display the set of options comprise instructions to:

display a set of keys; and

provide an interface to change a size of one of the set of keys.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions to display the set of options comprise instructions to:

display a set of keys; and

provide an interface to associate a name with one of the set of keys.