Method for data input on a touch-sensitive screen

• US 5,574,482 A
• Filed: 10/31/1995
• Issued: 11/12/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles J. Niemeier
• Original Assignee: Charles J. Niemeier
• Inventors: Niemeier, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Kee Mei
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOW, DOON Y
• Application Number:
  US08/550,569
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/175, 345/156, 345/168, 345/169, 345/171, 345/172, 341/22, 341/23, 341/31, 341/33, 178/18, 178/19
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 method of input programmed to operate on a representation of a keyboard appearing on a touch-sensitive screen in which letters are made temporarily available to the user based on studies of frequency of occurrence and sequence in the language that may then be selected for input by a sliding motion of an input device. The user slides an input device from the initially selected letter into the area representing any of the temporarily available keys, inputting any of the letters represented thereon. The process of selecting by touch and slide may be repeated as desired by the user. A method of capitalization is provided by touching the screen with an input device on the background area of the keyboard outside of the area representing the key or a letter and then sliding the input device into the area representing the key of the letter. A method of spacing is provided by a sliding movement of an input device from within the area representing the key of the last character before the desired space into the background area of the keyboard outside of the area of the key and then lifting the input device from the surface of the screen.

Claims

1. A method for data input on a touch-sensitive display, comprising the steps of:

a. displaying a keyboard arrangement on said display including at least one key individual to each of the letters comprising the standard letters of the alphabet,

b. presenting on said keyboard arrangement, upon the touch of any key area corresponding to said standard letters of the alphabet, a plurality of additional temporary keys including at least one key individual to each of selected ones of letters of the same alphabet in close proximity to said key area so as to allow sliding from the touched key area into any of said temporary keys, and

c. responding to the touching of any of the key areas of the keyboard arrangement and any of the said additional temporary key areas by inputting the character assigned to the touched key.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said temporary keys include at least one key individual to each of a predetermined selection of letters that are frequently used in sequence.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said temporary keys include at least one key individual to each of letters presented during input on a changing basis depending on letter sequences found in a word list known as a dictionary.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said keyboard is arranged in the qwerty arrangement.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said keyboard is arranged in alphabetic order.

6. A method for capitalization of letters during input, comprising the steps of:

a. displaying a keyboard arrangement on a touch-sensitive display including at least one key individual to each of the letters comprising the standard letters of the alphabet,

b. initiating a touch on said display in an area outside of said keyboard arrangement known as the background of said keyboard arrangement with an input device of a user,

c. sliding said device on the display into the area of said key, and

d. responding to the touch of the key by inputting said letter in capitalized form.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said keyboard is arranged in the qwerty arrangement.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said keyboard is arranged in alphabetic order.

9. A method for inserting a space after the inputting of a letter during input, comprising the steps of:

a. displaying a keyboard arrangement on a touch-sensitive display including at least one key individual to each of the letters comprising the standard letters of the alphabet,

b. inputting a letter by touching the area of said key with an input device of a user,

c. sliding said input device on said display from the key to the area just outside of the key known as the background of said keyboard arrangement,

d. lifting the input device from the surface of said display, and

e. responding to the lifting of the device from the display by inputting a space.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said keyboard is arranged in the qwerty arrangement.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said keyboard is arranged in alphabetic order.