GESTURE-BASED REPETITION OF KEY ACTIVATIONS ON A VIRTUAL KEYBOARD

• US 20110122081A1
• Filed: 11/19/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerence Operating Company (Cerence Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Swype, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Kushler, Clifford A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,884,872 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• 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

Systems and methods for gesture repetition that is easy to repeat quickly. A user is able to quickly repeat any activation of a key, including any of the alternate, overloaded functions that are associated with the key. In addition, by appropriately defining the gesture, a large number of these repetitions can be quickly generated. These repeated activations can be generated much faster than a key can be repeatedly tapped with sufficient accuracy, and far faster than an alternative function can be repeatedly generated when each repetition would require again waiting past an initial time threshold. Furthermore, the number of repetitions can be easily and precisely controlled by the user. As the desired number of repetitions is approached, the user simply begins to repeat the gesture at a slower pace until precisely the desired number of repetitions is achieved.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an electronic device having one or more defined regions activated in association with a contact action to move a point of control within one or more of said regions, the method comprising:

detecting an activating contact action in one of said defined regions,

identifying a region activated by said contact action;

recognizing the subsequent movement of said point of control; and

generating one or more repetitions of the activation of said identified region, when the recognized subsequent movement comprises one or more occurrences of a defined repetition gesture.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recognizing a portion of the subsequent movement of said point of control as a defined initial component of said repetition gesture.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said defined initial component of said repetition gesture is not associated with a repetition of the activation of said identified region.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recognizing the subsequent movement of said point of control as comprising one or more occurrences of one or more defined alternate forms of a repetition gesture; and

generating a defined number repetitions of the activation of said identified region for each detected occurrence of one of said alternate forms of said repetition gesture.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic device comprises a displayed keyboard, said displayed keyboard includes a set of one or more regions comprising keys wherein each key is associated with one or more characters or functions.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recognizing one or more variations of said activating contact action in one or more of said defined regions,

associating one or more characters or functions with said one or more variations of said activating contact action in one or more of said defined regions;

identifying a region activated by said contact action;

identifying which of said one or more variations of said activating contact action is performed;

identifying which of said one or more characters or functions is associated with said identified contact action variation;

recognizing the subsequent movement of said point of control; and

generating one or more repetitions of said identified one or more characters or functions, when the recognized subsequent movement comprises one or more occurrences of a defined repetition gesture.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

recognizing a portion of the subsequent movement of said point of control as a defined initial component of said repetition gesture.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said defined initial component of said repetition gesture is not associated with a repetition of the activation of said identified one or more characters or functions.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

recognizing the subsequent movement of said point of control as comprising one or more occurrences of one or more defined alternate forms of a repetition gesture; and

generating a defined number repetitions of the activation of said identified one or more characters or functions for each detected occurrence of one of said alternate forms of said repetition gesture.

6. An electronic device having one or more defined regions activated in association with a contact action to move a point of control within one or more of said regions, the device comprising:

a means for detecting an activating contact action in one of said defined regions,

a means for identifying a region activated by said contact action;

a means for recognizing the subsequent movement of said point of control; and

a means for generating one or more repetitions of the activation of said identified region, when the recognized subsequent movement comprises one or more occurrences of a defined repetition gesture.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising:

a means for recognizing a portion of the subsequent movement of said point of control as a defined initial component of said repetition gesture.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said defined initial component of said repetition gesture is not associated with a repetition of the activation of said identified region.

9. The device of claim 6, further comprising:

a means for recognizing the subsequent movement of said point of control as comprising one or more occurrences of one or more defined alternate forms of a repetition gesture; and

a means for generating a defined number repetitions of the activation of said identified region for each detected occurrence of one of said alternate forms of said repetition gesture.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein said electronic device comprises a displayed keyboard, said displayed keyboard includes a set of one or more regions comprising keys wherein each key is associated with one or more characters or functions.