Touch-screen input device

• US 6,271,835 B1
• Filed: 09/03/1998
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Hoeksma, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, DUC Q
• Application Number:
  US09/146,232
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/169, 345/171, 345/172, 345/179
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• 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 touch screen input device for improving the input of alphanumeric data in an area of limited space. The input device employs a multi-touch method of input which is intuitive to a first time user. The device maps a plurality of characters to each of its input keys and upon selection of a key subsequently re-labels the input keys with the characters displayed on the selected key. The device is intuitive to a first time user since the input keys are re-labeled in manner which corresponds to their relative position within the selected input key. In comparison to single stroke input devices this device reduces the number of keys required for data input. Alternatively a user could select a single character without employing the multi-touch method by selecting a pre-defined element of a particular input key.

Claims

1. A method for operating a touch-screen input device including a touch sensitive screen comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of input keys on said touch sensitive screen;

mapping a plurality of characters to each input key;

receiving a user input;

determining whether said user input designates a single character;

determining whether said user input designates a re-map command;

selecting said single character responsive to said input designating said single character; and

re-mapping said keys responsive to said input designating a re-map command;

wherein the step of selecting said single character includes;

inserting an alphanumeric character or symbol into the text stream;

or

performing the function represented by the selected character representing said function;

wherein said input keys are divided into a plurality of elements; and

wherein said mapping step includes initially mapping single characters to particular elements; and

wherein said re-map command includes receiving an input of a plurality of elements when single characters are mapped to individual elements; and

wherein said re-mapping step includes mapping single characters to input keys; and

wherein said input designating a single character includes an input of a particular element when a single character is mapped to said particular element, or an input of any number of elements from the same input key when a single character is mapped to said input key.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the number of elements per input key is limited to the total number of input keys and wherein said re-map step includes re-mapping said input keys with the characters which are mapped to said selected input key, wherein each particular input key is re-mapped with the character whose position within said selected input key corresponds to the position of said input keys.

3. A method for operating a touch-screen input device including a touch sensitive screen comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of character keys and a plurality of assignment keys on said touch sensitive screen;

mapping a plurality of characters to each character key;

receiving a user input;

determining whether said user input designates a single character;

determining whether said user input designates a re-map command; and

selecting said single character responsive to said input designating said single character; and

re-mapping said keys responsive to said input designating a re-map command;

wherein the step of selecting said single character includes;

inserting an alphanumeric character or symbol into the text stream;

or

performing the function represented by the selected character representing said function;

wherein said character keys are further divided into a plurality of elements; and

wherein said mapping step includes initially mapping single characters to particular elements of said character keys; and

wherein said re-map command includes receiving an input of an assignment key or an input of a plurality of elements when single characters are mapped to particular elements; and

wherein said re-mapping step includes mapping single character to character keys, and mapping different characters to said elements; and

wherein said input designating a single character includes an input of a particular element when single characters are mapped to particular elements or an input of any number of elements from the same character key when a single character is mapped to said character key.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the number of elements per character key is limited to the total number of character keys and wherein said re-map step responsive to an input of a plurality of elements includes re-mapping said input keys with the characters which are mapped to said selected input key, wherein each particular input key is re-mapped with the character whose position within said selected input key corresponds to the position of said input keys.

5. A touch-screen device comprising:

a touch-screen;

means for displaying on said touch-screen a plurality of input keys;

means for mapping a plurality of characters to each input key;

means for determining whether said input designates a single character or a re-map command;

means for selecting a single character responsive to an input designating a particular character; and

means for re-mapping said input keys responsive to a re-map command input;

wherein said means for selecting a character responsive to an input designating a particular character includes;

means for inserting an alphanumeric character or symbol into the text steam; and

means for performing the function represented by the selected character representing said function;

wherein said input keys are divided into a plurality of elements and wherein said means for mapping includes means for initially mapping single characters to particular elements;

wherein said means for determining comprises means for determining whether individual or multiple elements are input;

wherein said means for selecting a character further includes means for selecting a character responsive to an input of a particular element when a single character is mapped to said particular element and means for a character responsive to an input of any number of elements on the same input key when a single character is mapped to particular input key; and

wherein said means for re-mapping further includes means for mapping single characters to input keys responsive to an input of a plurality of elements when single characters are mapped to particular elements.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the number of elements per input key is limited to the total number of input keys and wherein said re-map command further includes means for re-mapping said input keys with the characters which are mapped to a selected input key, wherein each particular input key is re-mapped with the character whose position within said selected input key corresponds to the position of said input keys.

7. A touch-screen device comprising:

a touch-screen;

means for displaying on said touch-screen a plurality of character keys and a plurality of assignment keys;

means for mapping a plurality of characters to each character key;

means for determining whether said input designates a single character or a re-map command;

means for selecting a character responsive to an input designating a particular character; and

means for re-mapping said input keys responsive to a re-map command input;

wherein said means for selecting a character responsive to an input designating a particular character includes;

means for inserting an alphanumeric character or symbol into the text stream; and

means for performing the function represented by the selected character representing said function;

wherein said character keys are further divided into plurality of elements wherein said means for mapping includes means for initially mapping single character to particular elements;

wherein said means for determining comprises means for determining whether individual or multiple elements are input;

wherein said means for re-mapping further includes means for mapping single character to character keys responsive to an input of a plurality of elements when single characters are mapped to particular elements; and

wherein said means for selecting a character further includes means for selecting a character responsive to an input of a particular element when a single character is mapped to said particular element and means for selecting a character responsive to an input of any number of elements on the same input key when a single character is mapped to a particular input key.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the number of elements per character key is limited to the total number of character keys and wherein said re-map command further includes means for re-mapping said character keys with the characters which are mapped to a selected character key, wherein each character key is re-mapped with the character whose position within said selected character key corresponds to the position of said character keys.

9. A method for operating a touch-screen input device including a touch sensitive screen comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of input keys on said touch sensitive screen;

mapping a plurality of characters to each input key;

receiving a user input;

determining whether said user input designates a single character;

determining whether said user input designates a re-map command;

selecting said single character responsive to said input designating said single character; and

re-mapping said keys responsive to said input designating a re-map command;

wherein the step of selecting said single character includes;

inserting an alphanumeric character or symbol into the text stream;

or

performing the function represented by the selected character representing said function;

wherein said input keys are divided into a plurality of elements wherein said mapping step includes initially mapping single characters or character sub-arrays to particular elements; and

wherein said re-map command includes receiving an input of a plurality of elements when single characters or character arrays are mapped to individual elements; and

wherein an input designating a single character includes an input of a particular element when a single character is mapped to said particular element or an input of any number of elements on the same input key when a single character is mapped to said particular input key.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said re-map command further includes:

re-mapping said input keys with single characters responsive to an input of a plurality of elements on the same input key when first order character sub-arrays are mapped to particular input keys;

re-mapping said input keys with a single character, responsive to an input of a single element when second order character sub-arrays are mapped to particular input keys;

re-mapping said input keys with character sub-arrays of one order less responsive to an input of a plurality of elements on the same input key when character sub-arrays of second order or greater are mapped to particular input keys; and

re-mapping said input keys with character sub-arrays of two orders less responsive to an input of a single element when character sub-arrays of third order or greater are mapped to particular input keys.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the number of elements per input key is limited to the total number of input keys and wherein said re-map step includes re-mapping said input keys with the characters which are mapped to said selected input key, wherein each particular input key is re-mapped with the character whose position within said selected input key corresponds to the position of said input keys.

12. A method for operating a touch-screen input device including a much sensitive screen comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of character keys and a plurality of assignment keys on said touch sensitive screen;

mapping a plurality of characters to each character key;

receiving a user input;

determining whether said user input designates a single character;

determining whether said user input designates a re-map command; and

selecting said single character responsive to said input designating said single character; and

re-mapping said keys responsive to said input designating a re-map command;

wherein the step of selecting said single character includes;

inserting an alphanumeric character or symbol into the text stream;

or

performing the function represented by the selected character representing said function;

wherein said character keys are further divided into a plurality of elements wherein said mapping step includes initially mapping single characters or character sub-arrays to particular elements; and

wherein said re-map command includes receiving an input of a plurality of elements when single characters or character arrays are mapped to individual elements, or receiving an input of a particular element when character sub-arrays are mapped to individual elements; and

wherein an input designating a single character includes an input of a particular element when a single character is mapped to said particular elements or an input of any number of elements on the same character key when a single character is mapped to said particular character key.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said re-map command includes:

re-mapping said character keys with single characters responsive to an input of a plurality of elements on the same character key when first order character sub-arrays are mapped to particular character keys;

re-mapping said input keys with a single character, responsive to an input of a single element when second order character sub-arrays are mapped to particular character keys;

re-mapping said character keys with character sub-arrays of one order less responsive to an input of a plurality of elements when character sub-arrays of second order or greater are mapped to particular character keys;

re-mapping said character keys with character sub-arrays of two orders less responsive to an input of a single element when character sub-arrays of third order or greater are mapped to particular character keys; and

re-mapping said character keys with character arrays responsive to an assignment key input.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the number of elements per character key is limited to the total number of character keys and wherein said re-map step includes re-mapping said character keys with the characters which are mapped to said selected character key, wherein each particular character key is re-mapped with the character whose position within said selected character key corresponds to the position of said character keys.