PROJECTED AND SECURED VIRTUAL KEYBOARD

• US 20110221681A1
• Filed: 08/27/2009
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Rouchouze, Bruno
• Granted Patent: US 8,624,842 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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

The invention relates to a method for inputting a text in a distributed system that comprises a secured device, or server, communicating with at least one electronic device, or terminal. The method makes it possible to prepare an image by associating certain values to areas defining said image. The image is projected to the user who can touch the areas of the images that he wants to select as he would do with the keys of keyboard. The finger movements are analysed and the position of the virtual keys selected by the user is transmitted to the server that establishes a correlation between these positions and the previously associated values.

Claims

1. A method for inputting text in a distributed system that comprises at least a secured device or server communicating with at least one electronic device or terminal, wherein the method includes

a step of pre-calculation wherein at least a look-up table is created between an image, at least an area in said image, and at least a value,

a step of transmission of said image from said server to said terminal,

a step of projection by said terminal of said image to the user,

a step of identification of the positions in space of the user'"'"'s fingers in relation with said projection of said image,

a step of restitution of said positions in space to said server,

a step of interpretation by the server of the received positions in relation with said at least one look-up table in order to obtain values of the so called candidate values.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said projection is executed against a surface which is used as a screen.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said image shows several geometrically distinct areas.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said image defines a set of keys.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said look-up table makes it possible to apply said positions to a second image.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said look-up table makes it possible to apply shifts to said positions in order to obtain corrected positions.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said image is selected from among a list of images saved in a memory which can be accessed by said server.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said image is generated in a step preceding said pre-calculation step.

9. A terminal for inputting text in relation with at least one secured device or server, wherein the terminal includes means for

receiving, from said server, an image

projecting said image onto a medium for receiving by a user

identifying the positions in space of the user'"'"'s fingers in relation with such projection of said image

restituting said positions in space to said server.

10. A terminal for inputting text according to claim 9, wherein said means for identifying the positions in space of the user'"'"'s fingers are video capture means.

11. A terminal for inputting text according to claim 9, wherein said means for identifying the positions in space of the user'"'"'s fingers are pressure sensors positioned in said projection medium.

12. A terminal for inputting text according to claim 9, wherein said means for identifying the positions in space of the user'"'"'s fingers are radar emitters and receivers.