Single-handed keyboard having keys with multiple characters and character ambiguity resolution logic

• US 5,847,697 A
• Filed: 01/31/1995
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Sugimoto, Masakatsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Matthew M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): dela Torre, Crescelle N.
• Application Number:
  US08/382,781
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/171, 364/709.11, 364/709.12, 364/709.15, 400/489, 400/485-486, 400/477, 400/472, 341/22, 341/23
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 5/10 Arrangements of keyboards , e.g. key button disposition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques

Abstract

A character generator for a keyboard where the keyboard has keys for entry of characters. Each key is assigned a character and each of at least some of the keys are multiple-character keys assigned multiple characters. The character generator includes a generator for generating one of the characters assigned to each of a sequence of character keys that are entered on the keyboard, there being an ambiguity as to the correct character to be generated when any multiple-character key is entered in the sequence of keys. An ambiguity resolver operates in response to the sequence of character keys that have been entered for resolving the correct character for any of the multiple-character keys in the sequence of keys that are entered.

Claims

1. A keyboard for operation by fingers of a single hand of a person and comprising character keys, each of which when operated enables generation of an assigned character, the keyboard comprising:

a first bank of the keys comprising at least one said key assigned the characters n and p and at least one said key assigned the characters t and g disposed for operation by the index finger, at least one said key assigned the characters r and c disposed for operation by the middle finger, at least one said key assigned the characters k and z disposed for operation by the ring finger, and at least one said key assigned the characters j and w disposed for operation by the little finger of the single hand;

a second bank of the keys comprising at least one said key assigned the characters d and u and at least one said key assigned the characters f and x disposed for operation by the index finger, at least one said key assigned the characters m and y disposed for operation by the middle finger, at least one said key assigned the characters l and v disposed for operation by the ring finger, and at least one said key assigned the characters b and q disposed for operation by the little finger of the single hand; and

a middle bank of the keys between the first and second banks comprising at least one said key assigned the character a and at least one said key assigned the character e disposed for operation by the index finger, at least one said key assigned the characters i and h disposed for operation by the middle finger, at least one said key assigned the characters o and s disposed for operation by the ring finger of the single hand.

2. A keyboard as in claim 1 wherein the keyboard further comprises keyboard function keys disposed for operation by a finger of the single hand, the first bank further comprising at least one keyboard function key operable in the keyboard for control of capitalization of the character being generated and disposed for operation by said little finger.

3. A keyboard as in claim 1 wherein the keyboard further comprises keyboard function keys disposed for operation by a finger and said middle bank further comprises at least one keyboard function key disposed for operation by said little finger for causing resolution of the ambiguity between the generated characters when, during operation of a plurality of the keys, one of the character keys is operated that is assigned at least two characters.

4. A keyboard as in claim 1 wherein the second bank comprises at least one keyboard function key for entry of a space character between said characters being generated, said at least one keyboard function key being disposed for operation by said little finger.

5. A keyboard as in claim 1 comprising a secondary bank of keys disposed for operation by a thumb of the single hand for control of the keyboard.

6. A keyboard as in claim 1 wherein the keys are arranged in substantially parallel rows and diagonal columns, the diagonal columns comprising:

a first diagonal column comprising the keys assigned the characters n, p, a, d and u;

a second diagonal column comprising the keys assigned the characters t, g, e, f and x;

a third diagonal column comprising the keys assigned the characters r, c, i, h, m and y;

a fourth diagonal column comprising the keys assigned the characters k, z, o, s, l and v; and

a fifth diagonal column comprising the keys assigned the characters j, w, b and q.

7. A keyboard as in claim 6 comprising a sixth diagonal row which comprises at least one function key disposed for operation by said little finger for causing resolution of the ambiguity between the characters to be generated when one of the character keys is operated that is assigned at least two characters.

8. A keyboard for entering, with the fingers of a single hand, the letters of the alphabet, the keyboard having first, second and middle rows of letter entry keys, the middle row being located between the first and second rows, the keyboard comprising:

the letter entry keys of the middle row comprising a key assigned character "a", a key assigned character "e", a key assigned characters "i" and "h", and a key assigned characters "o" and "s";

the letter entry keys of the first row comprising a key assigned characters "n" and "p", a key assigned characters "g" and "t", a key assigned characters "c" and "r", a key assigned characters "z" and "k", and a key assigned characters "w" and "j"; and

the letter entry keys of the second row comprising a key assigned characters "d" and "u", a key assigned characters "f" and "x", a key assigned characters "m" and "y", a key assigned characters "l" and "v", and a key assigned characters "b" and "q".

9. A keyboard as in claim 8 comprising a representation of each of the letters displayed in association with the corresponding key.

10. A keyboard as in claim 9 wherein each said representation of each letter is on the corresponding key.

11. A keyboard as in claim 8 comprising a bank of keys disposed for operation by a thumb of the single hand for control of the keyboard.

12. A keyboard as in claim 8 wherein the keys are arranged in substantially parallel rows and diagonal columns, the diagonal columns comprising:

a first said diagonal column comprising the n, p, a, d and u keys;

a second said diagonal column comprising the t, g, e, f and x keys;

a third said diagonal column comprising the r, c, i, h, m and y keys;

a fourth said diagonal column comprising the k, z, o, s, l and v keys; and

a fifth diagonal column comprising the j, w, b and q keys.

13. A keyboard as in claim 12 wherein the keyboard also comprises keyboard control keys and wherein the fifth diagonal column and the middle row comprises a function key and a representation "Ar" displayed in association with said control key.

14. A keyboard character entry system comprising:

a plurality of keys, the keys comprising a plurality of single character keys, each single character key representing one character, and a plurality of multiple character keys, each multiple character key representing at least two characters;

means for generating, upon entry of a sequence of keys, a sequence of characters assigned to the sequence of entered keys, wherein an ambiguity exists among the multiple characters assigned to multiple character keys entered as to correct assigned characters that are to be included in the sequence of characters

means for resolving the ambiguity by matching the sequence of characters to either a word or a predefined mnemonic, said predefined mnemonic being linked to a character string of at least one character;

wherein the sequence of characters has a beginning and an end, with a first character at the beginning of the sequence of characters and a last character at the end of the sequence of characters, the first character and the last character each forming a terminus of the sequence of characters, and the means for resolving the ambiguity further comprises;

means operative if the sequence of characters is not matched to either said word or said predefined mnemonic for comparing a subsequence of characters of the sequence of characters, the subsequence of characters including at least one terminus of the sequence of characters, with at least one predefined set of characters, each at least one predefined set of characters comprising at least one character;

means operative if the sequence of characters is not matched to either said word or said predefined mnemonic for creating a root sequence of characters by deleting the subsequence of characters from the sequence of characters if the subsequence of characters matches one of the at least one predefined set of characters; and

means for further resolving the ambiguity by matching the root sequence of characters to either said word or said predefined mnemonic.

15. A keyboard character entry system as in claim 14 wherein the generating means comprises a processor.

16. A keyboard character entry system as in claim 15 wherein the processor comprises a programmed computer.

17. A keyboard character entry system as in claim 14 further comprising a display for displaying to a user the sequence of characters assigned to the entered keys.

18. A keyboard character entry system as in claim 17 further comprising a buffer for storing the sequence of characters for the display.

19. The keyboard character entry system of claim 14 wherein said predefined mnemonic is linked to a punctuation character.

20. The keyboard character entry system of claim 14 wherein said word or said predefined mnemonic comprises an index word linked to at least one other word, and further comprising means for displaying to the user the index word and the at least one other word.

21. The keyboard character entry system of claim 20 wherein the at least one other word is a verb tense variation of the index word.

22. The keyboard character entry system of claim 20 wherein the at least one other word is a user defined character string.

23. A method for generating character sequences using a keyboard character entry system having keys and a character generator,

wherein the keys are each assigned at least one character, and at least one of the keys is a multiple character key assigned multiple characters, the method comprising the steps of:

generating upon entry of a sequence of keys, a sequence of characters comprising a character assigned to each key in the sequence of keys, there being an ambiguity among the multiple characters assigned to a multiple character key that is entered as to a correct assigned character that is to be included in the sequence of characters;

resolving the ambiguity by matching the sequence of characters to either a word or a predefined mnemonic, said predefined mnemonic being linked to a character string of at least one character;

wherein the sequence of characters has a beginning and an end, with a first character at the beginning of the sequence of characters and a last character at the end of the sequence of characters, the first character and the last character each forming a terminus of the sequence of characters, and the step of resolving the ambiguity further comprises;

comparing, when the sequence of characters is not matched to either said word or said predefined mnemonic, a subsequence of characters of the sequence of characters, the subsequence of characters including at least one terminus of the sequence of characters, with at least one predefined set of characters, each at least one predefined set of characters comprising at least one character; and

creating, when the sequence of characters is not matched to either said word or said predefined mnemonic, a root sequence of characters by deleting the subsequence of characters from the sequence of characters if the subsequence of characters matches one of the at least one predefined set of characters; and

further resolving the ambiguity by matching the root sequence of characters to either said word or said predefined mnemonic.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of resolving an ambiguity is performed using a processor.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of resolving an ambiguity is performed using a programmed computer.

26. The method of claim 23 further comprising storing the sequence of characters in a buffer.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

storing the sequence of characters in a buffer.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein said predefined mnemonic is linked to a punctuation character.

29. The method of claim 23 wherein said word or said predefined mnemonic comprises an index word linked to at least one other word, and further comprising the step of displaying to the user the index word and the at least one other word.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the at least one other word is a verb tense variation of the index word.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the at least one other word is a user defined character string.

32. A keyboard for resolving ambiguities in words entered in the keyboard comprising:

a plurality of keys, the keys being assigned at least one character and at least one key being assigned a plurality of characters;

a character buffer for storing a plurality of character keycodes;

logic for obtaining a character keycode from a selected one of the plurality of keys;

logic for returning a word corresponding to contents of the character buffer when the character keycode corresponds to a carriage return key;

logic for truncating the contents of the character buffer by one character when the character keycode corresponds to a backspace key;

logic for setting the contents of the character buffer to a null string when the character keycode corresponds to an escape key;

logic for performing ambiguity resolution on the contents of the character buffer when the character keycode corresponds to an ambiguity resolution key;

logic for storing the character keycode in the character buffer when the character keycode does not correspond to a carriage return key or a backspace key or an escape key or an ambiguity resolution key;

a random-access memory;

a dictionary stored in the random-access memory;

logic for performing ambiguity resolution comprising;

logic for matching contents of the character buffer to a word in the dictionary;

logic for processing word variations when no match is found;

logic for substituting the contents of the character buffer with a terminal symbol when a match is found and the word corresponds to a predetermined mnemonic character string of at least two characters;

logic for performing enhanced ambiguity resolution when no match is found or when a match is found but the word does not correspond to the predetermined mnemonic character string of at least two characters;

means for displaying the word matched in the dictionary when a match is found; and

logic for prompting the user to select the word.

33. A keyboard character entry system comprising:

a plurality of keys, the keys comprising a plurality of single character keys, each single character key representing one character, and a plurality of multiple character keys, each multiple character key representing at least two characters;

means for generating, upon entry of a sequence of keys, a sequence of characters assigned to the sequence of entered keys, wherein an ambiguity exists among the multiple characters assigned to multiple character keys entered as to correct assigned characters that are to be included in the sequence of characters;

means for resolving the ambiguity by matching the sequence of characters to either a word or a predefined mnemonic, said predefined mnemonic being linked to a character string of at least one character;

means for forming a list of character sequences comprising the sequence of characters with the first character in the sequence capitalized, the sequence of characters with all of the characters in the sequence capitalized, and the sequence of characters with none of the characters in the sequence capitalized; and

means for selecting one of the character sequences in the list.

34. A method for generating character sequences using a keyboard character entry system having keys and a character generator, wherein the keys are each assigned at least one character, and at least one of the keys is a multiple character key assigned multiple characters, the method comprising the steps of:

generating upon entry of a sequence of keys, a sequence of characters comprising a character assigned to each key in the sequence of keys, there being an ambiguity among the multiple characters assigned to a multiple character key that is entered as to a correct assigned character that is to be included in the sequence of characters;

resolving the ambiguity by matching the sequence of characters to either a word or a predefined mnemonic, said predefined mnemonic being linked to a character string of at least one character comprising;

forming a list of character sequences comprising the sequence of characters with the first character in the sequence capitalized, the sequence of characters with all of the characters in the sequence capitalized, and the sequence of characters with none of the characters in the sequence capitalized; and

selecting one of the character sequences in the list.