METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TEXT ENTRY

• US 20100171700A1
• Filed: 07/10/2009
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerence Operating Company (Cerence Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Keisense, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Kessler, Gordon, Sharan, Santosh, Sigel, Greg, Gavish, Amnon
• Granted Patent: US 8,669,941 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks

Abstract

A method and apparatus for text input is provided. The method includes the steps of dividing the letters of a keyboard into a plurality of zones each zone including one or more letters and designating a jumper key associated with each of the plurality of zones from the letters in each zone. A user indication of a selected jumper key is received and all of the keys in the zone associated with the selected jumper key are then selected.

Claims

1. A method for data input, comprising the steps of:

dividing an input selection device into a plurality of zones, each zone including one or more individual input selection indicators;

receiving a user indication of a selected zone; and

considering all of the individual input selection indicators associated with the selected zone to have been selected.

2. A method for text input, comprising the steps of:

dividing the letters of a keyboard into a plurality of zones, each zone including one or more letters;

designating a jumper key associated with each of the plurality of zones from the letters in each zone;

receiving a user indication of a selected jumper key; and

selecting all of the keys in the zone associated with the selected jumper key.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the selected keys are entered into a parsing algorithm.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the parsing algorithm determines an intended user word input in accordance with a sequence of selected keys.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein each jumper key is associated with a particular indicator on a remote device.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein each jumper key may be selected by a user by touching a touch sensitive representation of a keyboard.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein each jumper key may be selected by pointing at the jumper key with a pointing device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a haptic response is provided to a user when moving from one jumper key to another jumper key.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein each jumper key may be selected by movement from one jumper key to another in accordance with the manipulation of a directional input indicator.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the directional input indicator is a joystick.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the directional input indicator comprises a group of directional keys.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the keyboard is a QWERTY keyboard.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the keyboard is presented in a predefined format.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the predefined format is defined in accordance with one or more user text input characteristics.

15. A method for text input, comprising the steps of:

receiving a user indication of a selected input key on a keyboard by the use of a pointing device;

designating a group of keys surrounding the selected input key; and

considering the group of keys to be the input keys.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

determining one or more errors in selection of the selected input key by a user; and

modifying the group of keys surrounding the selected input key in accordance with the determined one or more errors.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the group of keys associated with each possible input key is predetermined.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one key is part of more than one group of keys associated with each possible input key.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein movement from one input key to another input key is presented with a haptic response.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein such a haptic response is indicative of the selected input key.

21. A method for text input, comprising the steps of.

providing a plurality of layout definitions, each layout definition dividing the letters of a keyboard into a plurality of zones, each zone including one or more letters, each zone comprising a jumper key associated therewith selected from the letters in each zone;

receiving a user indication of a selected selected layout definition, thereby defining a plurality of zones to be applied for text entry.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a user indication of a selected jumper key; and

selecting all of the keys in the zone associated with the selected jumper key.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one of plurality of zone layouts is predefined.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of zone layouts is user defined.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the at least one of the plurality of zone layouts is defined by the user in accordance with the steps of:

indicating a zone;

receiving a user indication of a key on an input device to be associated therewith; and

repeating the indicating and receiving steps until all zones have been associated with a key.