IME TEXT ENTRY ASSISTANCE

• US 20120113011A1
• Filed: 03/20/2009
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Genqing Wu, Tai-Yi Huang, Xiaotao Duan
• Original Assignee: Genqing Wu, Tai-Yi Huang, Xiaotao Duan
• Inventors: Wu, Genqing, Duan, Xiaotao, Huang, Tai-Yi
• Application Number:
  US13/257,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20120113011A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/018 Input/output arrangements for oriental characters
• 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 3/04886 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 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

A computer-implemented user interface method is disclosed that includes displaying on a touch screen of a computing device a keyboard defined by a first character set; displaying on the touch screen an electronic canvas on which information corresponding to keys on the keyboard is displayed as a user selects the keys on the keyboard, the information appearing in a second character set that differs from the first character set; generating a candidate area over a front surface of the canvas; and automatically controlling a location of the candidate area as information is added to the canvas so as to move the candidate area away from being over a location on the canvas that is presently, or next to be, a location at which information is added to the canvas.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented user interface method, comprising:

displaying on a touch screen of a computing device a keyboard defined by a first character set;

displaying on the touch screen an electronic canvas on which information corresponding to keys on the keyboard is displayed as a user selects the keys on the keyboard, the information appearing in a second character set that differs from the first character set;

generating a candidate area over a front surface of the canvas; and

automatically controlling a location of the candidate area as information is added to the canvas so as to move the candidate area away from being over a location on the canvas that is presently, or next to be, a location at which information is added to the canvas.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a user input to dock the candidate area to the keyboard, and subsequently maintaining the candidate area docked to the keyboard until a subsequent user input to undock the candidate area from the keyboard.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first character set comprises a Roman-based character set and the second character set comprises a symbolic character set.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a user selection of a candidate in the candidate area, adding the selected candidate to the canvas, and moving the candidate area if the candidate area substantially obscures a next data entry area on the canvas.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing an aspect ratio of the candidate area and moving the candidate area laterally near a side of the display.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a lateral swiping input on the keyboard, and panning the keyboard in a direction of the lateral swiping input.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a lateral swiping motion in the candidate area, and panning a plurality of candidate entries in the candidate area in response to the lateral swiping motion.

8. An article comprising a computer-readable data storage medium storing program code operable to cause one or more machines to perform operations, the operations comprising:

displaying on a touch screen of a computing device a keyboard defined by a first character set;

displaying on the touch screen an electronic canvas on which information corresponding to keys on the keyboard is displayed as a user selects the keys on the keyboard, the information appearing in a second character set that differs from the first character set;

generating a candidate area over a front surface of the canvas; and

automatically controlling a location of the candidate area as information is added to the canvas so as to move the candidate area away from being over a location on the canvas that is presently or about to be a location at which information is added to the canvas.

9. The article of claim 8, wherein the program code is operable to perform operations including receiving a user input to dock the candidate area to the keyboard, and subsequently maintaining the candidate area docked to the keyboard until a subsequent user input to undock the candidate area from the keyboard.

10. The article of claim 8, wherein the first character set comprises a Roman-based character set and the second character set comprises a symbolic character set.

11. The article of claim 8, wherein the program code is operable to perform operations including receiving a user selection of a candidate in the candidate area, adding the selected candidate to the canvas, and moving the candidate area if the candidate area substantially obscures a next data entry area on the canvas.

12. The article of claim 8, wherein the program code is operable to perform operations including changing an aspect ratio of the candidate area and moving the candidate area laterally near a side of the display.

13. The article of claim 8, wherein the program code is operable to perform operations including receiving a lateral swiping input on the keyboard, and panning the keyboard in a direction of the lateral swiping input.

14. The article of claim 8, wherein the program code is operable to perform operations including receiving a lateral swiping motion in the candidate area, and panning a plurality of candidate entries in the candidate area in response to the lateral swiping motion.

15. A computer-implemented user interface system, comprising:

a graphical display system to present an input method editor and a text entry application having a canvas area for displaying user-entered information and a candidate area for presenting symbols to be added to the canvas area;

a touch screen user input mechanism to receive user selections in coordination with the display of the input method editor; and

an input method interface manager module that is operable with the input method editor to automatically control a location of the candidate area as information is added to the canvas so as to move the candidate area away from being over a location on the canvas that is presently, or next to be, a location at which information is added to the canvas.

16. The system of claim 15, image method editor is operable to receive input in a first character set and generate output in a second character set that is different than the first character set that does not correspond to keys on the touch screen user input mechanism.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the input method interface manager module is further operable to receive a user selection of a candidate in the candidate area, provide the selected candidate for addition to the canvas, and cause the candidate area to be moved if the candidate area substantially obscures a next data entry area on the canvas.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the input method interface manager module is further operable to automatically change an aspect ratio of the candidate area and move the candidate area laterally near a side of the display.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the touch screen user input mechanism is operable to receive a lateral swiping input on a keyboard displayed on the graphical display, and the graphical display system is operable to pan the keyboard in a direction of the lateral swiping input, in response to the lateral swiping input.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the touch screen user input mechanism is operable to receive a lateral swiping input on the candidate area, and the graphical display system is operable to pan a plurality of candidate entries in the candidate area in response to the lateral swiping motion.

21. A computer-implemented user interface system, comprising:

a graphical display to present an input method editor and a text entry application having a canvas area for displaying user-entered information;

a touch screen user input mechanism to receive user selections in coordination with the display of the input method editor; and

means for generating a floating candidate window over a portion of the canvas.