ADAPTIVE INPUT LANGUAGE SWITCHING

• US 20130124187A1
• Filed: 11/14/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Qin, Lijuan
• Granted Patent: US 9,002,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/263 Language identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/58 including a multilanguage function
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation

Abstract

Techniques and solutions are provided for adaptive input language switching. Automatic switching of a current input language can be performed by receiving an indication of a first language of displayed content (where the current input language is set to a second language different from the first language), receiving a selection of a text input area, and based on the selection, automatically switching the current input language from the second language to the first language. Switching of the current input language can also be performed by providing convenient user interface elements for selection by a user to automatically switch the current input language.

Claims

1. A method, implemented at least in part by a computing device, for switching an input language of the computing device, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of a first language of text content displayed by the computing device, wherein a current input language of the computing device is set to a second language that is different from the first language;

receiving, from a user of the computing device, a selection of a text input area displayed by the computing device; and

upon receiving the selection of the text input area, automatically switching the current input language of the computing device from the second language to the first language;

wherein text received in the text input area after the automatically switching is received in the first language.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatically switching the current input language of the computing device comprises changing a keyboard configuration and language setting of the computing device to correspond with the first language, and wherein, after the automatically switching, characters received in the text input area from the user of the computing device will use the keyboard configuration and language setting corresponding with the first language.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting, by the computing device, that the text content displayed by the computing device is in the first language;

wherein the text content displayed by the computing device is displayed within one of a web browser application, a chat application, and an instant message application.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatically switching the current input language of the computing device from the second language to the first language comprises:

retrieving a configuration setting of the computing device indicating whether automatic switching is desired; and

determining that the configuration setting indicates that automatic switching is desired.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

checking one or more language options installed on the computing device; and

based on the checking, determining, by the computing device, that the computing device is configured to support text entry in the first language.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the text input area is associated with the text content displayed by the computing device.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an indication that the text input area is no longer selected; and

in response to the indication that the text input area is no longer selected, automatically switching the current input language back from the first language to the second language.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, from the user of the computing device, the text entered in the text input area in the first language.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing device is a mobile computing device, the method further comprising:

upon automatically switching the current input language, displaying, by the mobile computing device, a pop-up keyboard in the first language, wherein text received in the text input area in the first language is received via the pop-up keyboard.

10. A computing device for switching an input language of the computing device, the computing device comprising:

a display;

a memory; and

a processing unit;

wherein the computing device is configured for performing operations comprising;

receiving an indication of a first language of text content displayed by the computing device, wherein a current input language of the computing device is set to a second language that is different from the first language;

receiving an indication of a selection of a text input area displayed by the computing device; and

upon receiving the selection of the text input area, automatically switching the current input language of the computing device from the second language to the first language;

wherein text received in the text input area after the automatically switching is received in the first language.

11. The computing device of claim 10 wherein the automatically switching the current input language of the computing device comprises changing a keyboard configuration and language setting of the computing device to correspond with the first language, and wherein, after the automatically switching, characters entered by a user of the computing device will use the keyboard configuration and language setting corresponding with the first language.

12. The computing device of claim 10, the operations further comprising:

detecting that the text content displayed by the computing device is in the first language.

13. The computing device of claim 10 wherein the automatically switching the current input language of the computing device from the second language to the first language comprises:

retrieving a configuration setting of the computing device indicating whether automatic switching is desired; and

determining that the configuration setting indicates that automatic switching is desired.

14. A computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions for execution on a computing device to perform a method for switching an input language of the computing device, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of a first language of text content displayed by the computing device;

determining that a current input language of the computing device is set to a second language that is different from the first language;

receiving, from a user of the computing device, a selection of a text input area displayed by the computing device;

upon receiving the selection of the text input area, displaying a user interface element that is selectable by the user for switching the current input language of the computing device from the second language to the first language; and

upon receiving a selection of the user interface element, automatically switching the current input language of the computing device from the second language to the first language.

15. The computer-readable storage media of claim 14 wherein the user interface element is displayed in proximity to the text input area.

16. The computer-readable storage media of claim 14 wherein the user interface element is displayed within an on-screen keyboard.

17. The computer-readable storage media of claim 14 wherein the automatically switching the current input language of the computing device comprises changing a keyboard configuration and language setting of the computing device to correspond with the first language, and wherein, after the automatically switching, characters received in the text input area from the user of the computing device will use the keyboard configuration and language setting corresponding with the first language.

18. The computer-readable storage media of claim 14, the method further comprising:

checking one or more language options installed on the computing device; and

based on the checking, determining, by the computing device, that the computing device is configured to support text entry in the first language.

19. The computer-readable storage media of claim 14 wherein the text content displayed by the computing device is displayed within one of a web browser application, a chat application, and an instant message application.

20. The computer-readable storage media of claim 14 wherein the first language is Chinese and wherein the second language is English.