Method, System and Computer Program Product for Receiving Information From a User

• US 20130091460A1
• Filed: 10/11/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Chapman, Trevor Thomas, Hill, Joe Dean, Khan, Sajjad Mahmood, Rea, Matthew Jason
• Granted Patent: US 8,959,452 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/803
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• 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 window is displayed on a display device. The window includes at least first and second portions thereof. In response to a user selecting the first portion of the window on the display device, a first set of keys are displayed on the display device. The first set of keys are operable by the user to specify a first type of information within the first portion of the window. In response to the user selecting the second portion of the window on the display device, a second set of keys are displayed on the display device. The second set of keys are operable by the user to specify a second type of information within the second portion of the window. The second type of information includes at least some information that is unsupported by operation of the first set of keys.

Claims

1. A method performed by at least one device for receiving information from a user, the method comprising:

displaying a window on a display device, wherein the window includes at least first and second portions thereof;

in response to a user selecting the first portion of the window on the display device, displaying a first set of keys on the display device, wherein the first set of keys are operable by the user to specify a first type of information within the first portion of the window; and

in response to the user selecting the second portion of the window on the display device, displaying a second set of keys on the display device, wherein the second set of keys are operable by the user to specify a second type of information within the second portion of the window, and wherein the second type of information includes at least some information that is unsupported by operation of the first set of keys.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first type of information includes alphanumeric text information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second type of information includes at least one of:

graphics information; and

equation information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second portion is nested within the first portion.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the second set of keys on the display device includes:

displaying the second set of keys instead of the first set of keys.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the window includes:

displaying the window on a touchscreen of the display device, wherein the first portion of the window is selectable by touching the first portion of the window on the touchscreen, wherein the second portion of the window is selectable by touching the second portion of the window on the touchscreen, wherein the first set of keys are operable by touching the first set of keys on the touchscreen, and wherein the second set of keys are operable by touching the second set of keys on the touchscreen.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the window includes:

simultaneously displaying the first and second portions of the window on the display device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the window includes:

displaying the window in response to a selection of the window by the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

among the first and second sets of keys, a subset of keys share a distinguishing characteristic for visually informing the user that the subset of keys are selectable by the user in a particular manner for causing the display device to display more keys.

10. The method of claim 9, and comprising:

in response to the user selecting a key in the subset of keys in the particular manner, displaying additional keys on the display device, wherein the additional keys are operable by the user to cause performance by the system of respective operations that are logically grouped and related to a respective operation of the selected key.

11. A system for receiving information from a user, the system comprising:

a display device; and

at least one device for;

displaying a window on the display device, wherein the window includes at least first and second portions thereof;

in response to a user selecting the first portion of the window on the display device, displaying a first set of keys on the display device, wherein the first set of keys are operable by the user to specify a first type of information within the first portion of the window; and

, in response to the user selecting the second portion of the window on the display device, displaying a second set of keys on the display device, wherein the second set of keys are operable by the user to specify a second type of information within the second portion of the window, and wherein the second type of information includes at least some information that is unsupported by operation of the first set of keys.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first type of information includes alphanumeric text information.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second type of information includes at least one of:

graphics information; and

equation information.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the second portion is nested within the first portion.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein displaying the second set of keys on the display device includes:

displaying the second set of keys instead of the first set of keys.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the display device includes a touchscreen, and wherein displaying the window includes:

displaying the window on the touchscreen, wherein the first portion of the window is selectable by touching the first portion of the window on the touchscreen, wherein the second portion of the window is selectable by touching the second portion of the window on the touchscreen, wherein the first set of keys are operable by touching the first set of keys on the touchscreen, and wherein the second set of keys are operable by touching the second set of keys on the touchscreen.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein displaying the window includes:

simultaneously displaying the first and second portions of the window on the display device.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein displaying the window includes:

displaying the window in response to a selection of the window by the user.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein:

among the first and second sets of keys, a subset of keys share a distinguishing characteristic for visually informing the user that the subset of keys are selectable by the user in a particular manner for causing the display device to display more keys.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the at least one device is for:

in response to the user selecting a key in the subset of keys in the particular manner, displaying additional keys on the display device, wherein the additional keys are operable by the user to cause performance by the system of respective operations that are logically grouped and related to a respective operation of the selected key.

21. A computer program product for receiving information from a user, the computer program product comprising:

a tangible computer-readable storage medium; and

a computer-readable program stored on the tangible computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable program is processable by an information handling system for causing the information handling system to perform operations including;

displaying a window on a display device, wherein the window includes at least first and second portions thereof;

in response to a user selecting the first portion of the window on the display device, displaying a first set of keys on the display device, wherein the first set of keys are operable by the user to specify a first type of information within the first portion of the window; and

, in response to the user selecting the second portion of the window on the display device, displaying a second set of keys on the display device, wherein the second set of keys are operable by the user to specify a second type of information within the second portion of the window, and wherein the second type of information includes at least some information that is unsupported by operation of the first set of keys.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the first type of information includes alphanumeric text information.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the second type of information includes at least one of:

graphics information; and

equation information.

24. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the second portion is nested within the first portion.

25. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein displaying the second set of keys on the display device includes:

displaying the second set of keys instead of the first set of keys.

26. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein displaying the window includes:

displaying the window on a touchscreen of the display device, wherein the first portion of the window is selectable by touching the first portion of the window on the touchscreen, wherein the second portion of the window is selectable by touching the second portion of the window on the touchscreen, wherein the first set of keys are operable by touching the first set of keys on the touchscreen, and wherein the second set of keys are operable by touching the second set of keys on the touchscreen.

27. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein displaying the window includes:

simultaneously displaying the first and second portions of the window on the display device.

28. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein displaying the window includes:

displaying the window in response to a selection of the window by the user.

29. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein:

among the first and second sets of keys, a subset of keys share a distinguishing characteristic for visually informing the user that the subset of keys are selectable by the user in a particular manner for causing the display device to display more keys.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the operations include:

in response to the user selecting a key in the subset of keys in the particular manner, displaying additional keys on the display device, wherein the additional keys are operable by the user to cause performance by the system of respective operations that are logically grouped and related to a respective operation of the selected key.