Devices, Methods, and Graphical User Interfaces for Keyboard Interface Functionalities

• US 20170109039A1
• Filed: 09/20/2016
• Published: 04/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lemay, Stephen O., Coffman, Patrick L., Jon, Tiffany S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,379,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 40/242 Dictionaries

Abstract

The electronic device has a touch-sensitive display, one or more processors, and memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors. The one or more programs include instructions for displaying a first keyboard comprising a first set of keys corresponding to a set of characters associated with a first language and a first designated key displayed at a location and associated with a first function. In response to receiving a selection to display a second keyboard, the one or more programs include further instructions for displaying the second keyboard, comprising a second set of keys and a second designated key displayed at the location and associated with a second function different from the first. The second function toggles between keyboards. Selection of any of the second set of keys displays one or more characters corresponding to a second language different from the first.

Claims

1. A method of toggling between multiple keyboards, comprising:

at an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display;

displaying a first keyboard on the touch-sensitive display, the first keyboard comprising;

a first set of keys corresponding to a set of characters associated with a first language; and

a first designated key displayed at a location on the touch-sensitive display, the first designated key associated with a first function;

wherein the first keyboard is configured such that selection of any of the first set of keys displays, in a text region, one or more characters corresponding to the first language;

receiving a selection to display a second keyboard; and

in response to receiving the selection, displaying the second keyboard on the touch-sensitive display, the second keyboard comprising;

a second set of keys corresponding to the set of characters associated with the first language; and

a second designated key displayed at the location and associated with a second function different from the first function;

wherein the second function toggles between keyboards, including the second keyboard and a third keyboard, and wherein the second keyboard is configured such that selection of any of the second set of keys displays, in the text region, one or more characters corresponding to a second language different from the first language.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of the second designated key to display the third keyboard; and

in response to receiving the selection, displaying the third keyboard, the third keyboard comprising;

a third set of keys corresponding to the set of characters associated with the first language; and

a third designated key disposed at the location;

wherein the third designated key is the same as the second designated key, and wherein the third keyboard is configured such that selection of any of the third set of keys displays, in the text region, one or more characters corresponding to the first language.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a selection of the third designated key to display the second keyboard; and

in response to receiving the selection, displaying the second keyboard.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein any of the first, second, and third designated keys is any one of a Caps Lock, shift, or formatting function key of the selected respective keyboard.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the selection of any of the first, second, and third designated keys is enabled by a single tap selection on the touch-sensitive display.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second keyboard and the third keyboard are visually identical.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first keyboard is visually identical to both the second keyboard and third keyboard, but for the first designated key.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first language is associated with a first autocorrect dictionary, and the second language is associated with a second autocorrect dictionary.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second sets of keys utilize Roman script.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a selection to display a second keyboard further comprises:

receiving a selection of a dedicated keyboard switch key.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of any of the second set of keys displays, in the text region, pinyin characters corresponding to the second language of the second keyboard.

12. An electronic device for toggling between multiple keyboards, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a first keyboard on the touch-sensitive display, the first keyboard comprising;

a first set of keys corresponding to a set of characters associated with a first language; and

a first designated key displayed at a location on the touch-sensitive display, the first designated key associated with a first function;

wherein the first keyboard is configured such that selection of any of the first set of keys displays, in a text region, one or more characters corresponding to the first language;

receiving a selection to display a second keyboard; and

in response to receiving the selection, displaying the second keyboard on the touch-sensitive display, the second keyboard comprising;

a second set of keys corresponding to the set of characters associated with the first language; and

a second designated key displayed at the location and associated with a second function different from the first function;

wherein the second function toggles between keyboards, including the second keyboard and a third keyboard, and wherein the second keyboard is configured such that selection of any of the second set of keys displays, in the text region, one or more characters corresponding to a second language different from the first language.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

receiving a selection of the second designated key to display the third keyboard; and

in response to receiving the selection, displaying the third keyboard, the third keyboard comprising;

a third set of keys corresponding to the set of characters associated with the first language; and

a third designated key disposed at the location;

wherein the third designated key is the same as the second designated key, and wherein the third keyboard is configured such that selection of any of the third set of keys displays, in the text region, one or more characters corresponding to the first language.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

receiving a selection of the third designated key to display the second keyboard; and

in response to receiving the selection, displaying the second keyboard.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the selection of any of the first, second, and third designated keys is enabled by a single tap selection on the touch-sensitive display.

16. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the first language is associated with a first autocorrect dictionary, and the second language is associated with a second autocorrect dictionary.

17. A computer readable storage medium for toggling between multiple keyboards, the computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which, when executed by an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display, cause the device to:

display a first keyboard on the touch-sensitive display, the first keyboard comprising;

a first set of keys corresponding to a set of characters associated with a first language; and

a first designated key displayed at a location on the touch-sensitive display, the first designated key associated with a first function;

wherein the first keyboard is configured such that selection of any of the first set of keys displays, in a text region, one or more characters corresponding to the first language;

receive a selection to display a second keyboard; and

in response to receiving the selection, display the second keyboard on the touch-sensitive display, the second keyboard comprising;

a second set of keys corresponding to the set of characters associated with the first language; and

a second designated key displayed at the location and associated with a second function different from the first function;

wherein the second function toggles between keyboards, including the second keyboard and a third keyboard, and wherein the second keyboard is configured such that selection of any of the second set of keys displays, in the text region, one or more characters corresponding to a second language different from the first language.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions, which, when executed by the electronic device, cause the device to:

receive a selection of the second designated key to display the third keyboard; and

in response to receiving the selection, display the third keyboard, the third keyboard comprising;

a third set of keys corresponding to the set of characters associated with the first language; and

a third designated key disposed at the location;

wherein the third designated key is the same as the second designated key, and wherein the third keyboard is configured such that selection of any of the third set of keys displays, in the text region, one or more characters corresponding to the first language.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions, which, when executed by the electronic device, cause the device to:

receive a selection of the third designated key to display the second keyboard; and

in response to receiving the selection, display the second keyboard.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the first language is associated with a first autocorrect dictionary, and the second language is associated with a second autocorrect dictionary.