SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR SELECTABLE INPUT WITH A TOUCH SCREEN

• US 20110037718A1
• Filed: 10/22/2010
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerence Operating Company (Cerence Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Christina James, Ethan R. Bradford, James Stephanick, Michael R. Longe
• Inventors: STEPHANICK, James, James, Christina, Bradford, Ethan R., Longe, Michael R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,237,682 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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

A selective input system and associated method is provided which tracks the motion of a pointing device over a region or area. The pointing device can be a touchpad, a mouse, a pen, or any device capable of providing two or three-dimensional location. The region or area is preferably augmented with a printed or actual keyboard/pad. Alternatively, a representation of the location of the pointing device over a virtual keyboard/pad can be dynamically shown on an associated display. The system identifies selections of items or characters by detecting parameters of motion of the pointing device, such as length of motion, a change in direction, a change in velocity, and or a lack of motion at locations that correspond to features on the keyboard/pad. The input system is preferably coupled to a text disambiguation system such as a T9® or Sloppytype™ system, to improve the accuracy and usability of the input system.

Claims

1. A process for selectable input based on motion associated with user interaction with a touch screen having a plurality of selectable regions therein, the process comprising the steps of:

tracking the motion in relation to the touch screen;

determining a path, comprising a plurality of positions and corresponding times, based upon the tracked motion;

for subsequent positions and corresponding times, comparing to path data;

detecting positions that meet at least one threshold of a selected position along the determined path, wherein the determined path comprises at least two selected positions,

wherein the threshold of a selected position in relation to the touch screen comprises any of starting the path, looping the path, changing direction of the path, changing velocity of the path, pausing motion in the path, and ending the path,

wherein the threshold of changing direction comprises any of a curve having an estimated radius that is less than a threshold geometry, a comparison of the path direction before and after a curve, a sharp cusp edge in the path, and a comparison of path direction before and after a cusp;

determining which of the detected selected positions along the determined path correspond to a selectable region; and

entering each of the detected selected positions that correspond to one of the selectable regions.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the motion associated with the user interaction comprises motion of any of a stylus, an input device, or at least a portion of the body of the user.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein the portion of the body of the user comprises one or more fingers.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the selectable regions are associated with any of characters, numbers, tasks, actions, functions, decisions, priorities, outcomes, or points.

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

dynamically showing a representation of the location of the path on a display.

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

disambiguating at least one subsequent position that does not clearly indicate a selectable region within the touch screen.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen is associated with any of a portable digital assistant, a portable telephone, a mobile telephone, a portable computer, and a portable game device.

8. The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

disambiguating of at least one determined position that corresponds to an alternate selection.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein the disambiguation step comprises the steps of:

displaying the alternate selection; and

entering a choice selected by the user between the determined position and the alternate selection.

10. The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

disambiguating at least one subsequent position based upon a contextual comparison between the subsequent position and stored information.

11. A process for selectable input for a device, comprising the steps of:

tracking motion that corresponds to interaction of a user with a touch screen having a plurality of selectable regions therein, wherein the tracked motion defines a path comprising at least two selected positions;

determining which of the selected positions along the path correspond to at least one of the selectable regions; and

detecting a characteristic motion, the characteristic motion corresponding to at least one of the selected positions along the path that correspond to at least one of the selectable regions.

12. The process of claim 11, wherein the motion corresponding to interaction of the user comprises motion of any of a stylus, an input device, or at least a portion of the body of the user.

13. The process of claim 12, wherein the portion of the body of the user comprises one or more fingers.

14. The process of claim 11, wherein the selectable regions are associated with any of characters, numbers, tasks, actions, functions, decisions, priorities, outcomes, or points.

15. The process of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

dynamically showing a representation of the path on a display.

16. The process of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

disambiguating of at least one subsequent position that does not clearly indicate a selectable region within the touch screen.

17. The process of claim 11, wherein the characteristic motion comprises any of starting the path, looping the path, changing direction of the path, changing velocity of the path, pausing motion in the path, and ending the path.

18. The process of claim 17, wherein the characteristic motion of changing direction comprises any of a curve having an estimated radius that is less than a threshold geometry, a comparison of the path direction before and after a curve, a sharp cusp edge in the path, and a comparison of path direction before and after a cusp.

19. The process of claim 11, wherein the touch screen is associated with any of a portable digital assistant, a portable telephone, a mobile telephone, a portable computer, and a portable game device.

20. The process of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

disambiguating of at least one determined position that corresponds to an alternate selection.

21. The process of claim 20, wherein the disambiguation step comprises the steps of:

displaying the alternate selection; and

entering a choice selected by the user between the determined position and the alternate selection.

22. The process of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

disambiguating at least one subsequent position based upon a contextual comparison between the subsequent position and stored information.

23. A system for selectable input based on motion corresponding to user interaction in relation to a touch screen having a plurality of selectable regions therein, the system comprising:

a mechanism for tracking the motion in relation to the touch screen, wherein the tracked motion defines a path comprising at least two selected positions; and

at least one processor programmed for

determining which of the selected positions along the path correspond to at least one of the selectable regions, and

detecting a characteristic motion that corresponds to at least one of the selected positions along the path that corresponds to at least one of the selectable regions.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the motion corresponding to user interaction comprises motion of any of a stylus, an input device, or at least a portion of the body of the user.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the portion of the body of the user comprises one or more fingers.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the selectable regions are associated with any of characters, numbers, tasks, actions, functions, decisions, priorities, outcomes, or points.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to disambiguate of at least one subsequent position which does not clearly indicate a selectable region within the touch screen.

28. The system of claim 23, further wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to disambiguate at least one determined position which corresponds to an alternate selectable region.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the characteristic motion comprises any of starting the path, looping the path, changing direction of the path, changing velocity of the path, pausing motion in the path, and ending the path.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the characteristic motion of changing direction comprises any of a curve having an estimated radius that is less than a threshold geometry, a comparison of the path direction before and after a curve, a sharp cusp edge in the path, and a comparison of path direction before and after a cusp.