STATE CHANGES FOR AN ADAPTIVE DEVICE

• US 20100265183A1
• Filed: 06/16/2010
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Chung, Yuan-Chou, Mail, Scott M., Sangster, Daniel M., Ball, Vincent, Strande, Hakon
• Application Number:
  US12/817,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20100265183A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting

Abstract

Various embodiments of systems and method to implement a state change for an adaptive device are provided. In one example, a method is disclosed that includes receiving a system state input indicating a change in a system state of a computing device, changing adaptive device data in response to the system state input to form changed adaptive device data, the adaptive device data and the changed adaptive device data each including one or more of image data and adaptive device mapping data, and adjusting an adaptive device display state using the changed adaptive device data, wherein adjusting the adaptive device display state includes one or more of displaying the image data on the keyboard display and adjusting an adaptive device mapping state according to the adaptive device mapping data.

Claims

1. In an adaptive input device configured to display changeable images on an adaptive input device display disposed on one or more of a body and one or more input actuators of the adaptive input device, a method of adapting one or more of an adaptive input device mapping and an image displayed on the adaptive input device display in response to a system state change in a computing device in communication with the adaptive input device, the method comprising:

receiving a system state input indicating a change in a system state of the computing device;

changing adaptive input device data in response to the system state input to form changed adaptive input device data, the adaptive input device data and the changed adaptive input device data each including one or more of image data and adaptive input device input mapping data; and

adjusting an adaptive input device display state using the changed adaptive input device data, wherein adjusting the adaptive input device display state includes one or more of displaying the image data on the adaptive input device display and adjusting an adaptive input device mapping state according to the adaptive input device input mapping data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the system state input comprises receiving a user logon request, and wherein adjusting the adaptive input device display state comprises displaying user log-on information on the keyboard display.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the system state input comprises receiving a selection of a language in which to display keyboard characters, wherein adjusting the adaptive input device display state comprises adjusting the keyboard display to show key legends in the language selected, and wherein the method further comprises updating firmware on the adaptive input device to store in the firmware the legends in the language selected.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the system state change comprises receiving information regarding a change in power state of the computing device, and wherein adjusting the adaptive input device display state comprises displaying a power state change presentation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the system state change comprises receiving information regarding a change of change of display device appearance and personalization schemas displayed on a display device, and wherein adjusting the adaptive input device display state comprises adjusting a background color of one or more of keys, a space around one or more keys, a space behind the adaptive input device, a space under the adaptive input device, and a space around the adaptive input device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the system state change comprises receiving an indication that an application running on the computing device is not responding, and wherein adjusting the adaptive input device display state comprises displaying on the adaptive input device display an indication that the application is not responding.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the system state change comprises receiving a user request to lock the computing device, and wherein adjusting the adaptive input device display state comprises ceasing displaying user-specified content while the computing device is locked.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the state change comprises receiving a request to switch users of the computing device via an interactive display of recognized users on the keyboard display, and wherein adjusting the adaptive input device display state includes receiving an input selecting another recognized user via the interactive display of recognized users on the keyboard display.

9. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable by a computing device to adapt an image displayed on a display of an adaptive keyboard in response to a change of state of a computer-executable application, the instructions being executable to:

receive an application state input indicating a change in an application state;

change adaptive keyboard data in response to the application state input to form changed adaptive keyboard data, the changed adaptive keyboard data including one or more of image data and adaptive keyboard mapping data; and

adjust an adaptive keyboard display state using the changed adaptive keyboard data, wherein adjusting the adaptive keyboard display state includes one or more of displaying the image data on the adaptive keyboard display and adjusting an adaptive keyboard mapping state according to the adaptive keyboard mapping data.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions are executable to receive the application state input by receiving a request to use an input method editor, and to adjust the adaptive keyboard display by displaying available symbols to build language characters.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions are executable to receive the application state input by receiving an indication of an activation state of an application functionality, and to adjust the adaptive keyboard display state by displaying a representation of the activation state on the adaptive keyboard by showing key legends as modified by the activation state.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions are executable to receive the application state input by receiving user input assigning a group of keys a single functionality, and to adjust the adaptive keyboard display state by modifying a display of the group of keys to illustrate the single functionality by displaying a representation of the single functionality across the group of keys.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions are executable to receive the application state input by receiving a mapping of a subset of keys of the adaptive keyboard based upon a functionality specific to the state of the application after the state change, and to adjust an adaptive keyboard display state by visually emphasizing the subset of keys compared to other keys.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions are executable to receive the application state input by receiving a user input selecting an animated icon, text, or graphical gadget, and to adjust the adaptive keyboard display state by displaying the user selected animated icon, text, or graphical gadget on a selected region of the display of the adaptive keyboard.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions are executable to receive the application state input by receiving a user input comprising a request to toggle between a mnemonic key mapping and a semantic key mapping.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions are executable to receive the application state input by receiving a user input comprising a specified nested shortcut key mapping for a plurality of shortcut keys, and to adjust the adaptive keyboard display state by visually distinguishing a subset of keys mapped to functionalities in a next-lowest hierarchical level from other keys not mapped to functionalities in the next-lowest hierarchical level when a user selects a shortcut key within a hierarchical level.

17. An adaptive keyboard, comprising:

a plurality of keys each configured to display an individually controllable image; and

a controller in communication with the plurality of keys and including an adaptive keyboard program, the adaptive keyboard program configured to receive a keyboard device state input indicating an occurrence of a change of keyboard device state, and to change adaptive keyboard data in response to the keyboard device state input to form changed adaptive keyboard data, the adaptive keyboard data and changed adaptive keyboard data each including one or more of image data and keyboard mapping data, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the keyboard display using the image data and further configured to adjust a keyboard mapping state according to the keyboard mapping data.

18. The adaptive keyboard of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to receive the keyboard device state input by receiving an input of a modifier key on the keyboard, and to adjust the keyboard display by visually emphasizing keys configured to be used in conjunction with the modifier key compared to keys not configured to be used with the modifier key.

19. The adaptive keyboard of claim 18, wherein the modifier key is a dead key, and wherein, in response to selection of the dead key, the controller adjusts the keyboard display to display only keys that can be augmented with a symbol of the dead key.

20. The adaptive keyboard of claim 18, wherein the modifier key is a toggle key, and wherein, in response to selection of the toggle key, the controller adjusts the keyboard display such that an alternate form of an affected key is displayed.