Dynamic Context-Based Language Determination

• US 20140035823A1
• Filed: 05/03/2013
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Khoe, May-Li, van Os, Marcel
• Application Number:
  US13/886,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20140035823A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/171
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• 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 40/232 Orthographic correction, e.g. spell checking or vowelisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/263 Language identification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/005 Language recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• 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 methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237

Abstract

Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for facilitating message composition are presented. In some embodiments, an electronic computing device can receive user input and determine a set of contextual attributes based on the user input. The device can determine a language based on the set of contextual attributes to determine the language desired to be used for the message composition and switch a keyboard layout to one corresponding to the determined language. Further, the device can determine one or more languages that may be used in the message composition based on the set of contextual attributes and enable functionalities associated with those languages. Further, in some embodiments, the device can determine one or more languages from the user'"'"'s dictation based on the set of contextual attributes and generate a textual representation of the audio input.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by an electronic device, user input via a first keyboard corresponding to a first language;

determining, by the electronic device, a set of contextual attributes based upon the user input;

determining, by the electronic device, a second language based upon the set of contextual attributes, wherein the second language is different from the first language; and

in response to determining the second language, loading a second keyboard corresponding to the second language.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input comprises at least one of initiating a communication with a recipient or initiating a composition in an application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of contextual attributes is determined in response to receiving the user input via the first keyboard corresponding to the first language.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of contextual attributes includes at least one of a time at which the user input is received, a location of the electronic device, a recipient identified in the user input, content of the user input, prior usages in language by a user of the electronic device, or keyboards currently loaded on the electronic device corresponding to different languages.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

enabling functionality associated with a dictionary of the second language in response to determining the second language, wherein the functionality includes at least one of an auto-correct functionality or an auto-complete functionality.

6. A computer readable storage medium encoded with program instructions that, when executed, cause a processor in an electronic device to execute a method, the method comprising:

receiving user input via a first keyboard corresponding to a first language;

determining a set of contextual attributes based upon the user input;

determining a second language based upon the set of contextual attributes, wherein the second language is different from the first language; and

in response to determining the second language, loading a second keyboard corresponding to the second language.

7. The computer readable storage medium of claim 6 further comprising:

receiving a specification of an intended recipient for a message, wherein the set of contextual attributes includes a particular language frequently used between a user of the electronic device and the intended recipient, wherein the second language is determined to be the particular language.

8. The computer readable storage medium of claim 6 further comprising:

receiving an indication to activate an e-mail application, wherein the received user input includes a specification of an e-mail address of an intended recipient of an e-mail message.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 6 further comprising:

receiving an indication to activate a memo application, wherein the received user input includes identification of a category for a note for which the note is composed, wherein the set of contextual attributes includes the category and the second language includes a language in which most notes in the category are composed.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein loading the second keyboard includes animating a transition of a virtual keyboard display from being of the first language to being of the second language.

11. An electronic device comprising:

a processor; and

a display in communication with the processor, wherein the processor is configured to;

receive user input via a first keyboard corresponding to a first language;

determine a set of contextual attributes based upon the user input;

determine a second language based upon the set of contextual attributes, wherein the second language is different from the first language; and

in response to determining the second language, loading a second keyboard corresponding to the second language.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

convert the received user input in the first language to the second language in response to determining the second language.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

reload the first keyboard corresponding to the first language in response to receiving a user indication.

14. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the user input includes a specification of a plurality of recipients, wherein the set of contextual attributes includes languages spoken by each of the plurality of recipients, and wherein determining the second language includes determining a particular language commonly spoken by each of the plurality of recipients.

15. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the user input identifies an intended recipient, wherein the set of contextual attributes includes languages used to communicate between a user of the electronic device and the intended recipient in their communication history, and wherein determining the second language is based upon the most frequently used language between the user and the intended recipient.