OHAI technology user interface

• US 6,552,717 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2001
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Spike Technologies Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Spike Technologies Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mailman, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Henry N.
• Application Number:
  US09/764,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20010028340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/161, 345/168, 345/171, 345/173, 345/8, 345/902, 200/5.R, 341/3, 341/20, 341/28, 341/31
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/018 Input/output arrangements for oriental characters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0235 using chord techniques G06F3/0234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/902 Menu display

Abstract

A variety of methods and systems for presenting and delivering user application input choices. One-handed or vocal user input provides chords or syllables. The invention includes systems and methods for presenting user application input choices, chord or syllable based apparatus and sub-systems for generating user application input choices in response to input signals associated with chords or syllables. One embodiment of input device resembles a joystick and includes a base and a key carrier extending from the base. A single key is provided along the top of the carrier, and four keys extend widthwise along a side surface. A system presents and delivers user application input choices. An input device receives chords and syllables. A processor associated with the input device receives chords or syllables and generates input signals, a second processor for receiving and evaluating the input signals and for sending a user application signal to the user application processor of the computer.

Claims

1. A system for presenting and delivering user application input choices comprising memory associating chord-sequences or syllable-sequences with complex user application input choices, an optional display associating chords or syllables with complex user application input choices, an input device for inputting chords or syllables, a first processor associated with the input device for generating input signals from chords or syllables, a second processor, connected to the first processor, for receiving sequences of input signals from the first processor, for evaluating the input signal sequences, connected to the optional display for modifying the display according to the evaluated input signal sequences, and connected to the user application for sending user application input choices to the user application wherein the input device comprises a keypad having key ergonomically sized and positioned such that a key is assigned to and contactable by a digit of a hand having plural digits, such that one, all or any combination of any of the keys may be actuated by the digits at any time, and is integral with a computer and at least one set of depressible buttons or keys are provided on a housing of the computer, and wherein plural sets of ergonomically placed buttons are provided, having at least one set positioned on a keyboard housing and at least one set on a monitor housing.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the display displays associations of user application input choices with chord or syllable sequences by displaying a grid comprising an arrangement of blocks comprising a grid name block and plural chord.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein a chord block comprises a row of coded finger cells and a selection cell positioned near the row of finger cells for identifying a combination of keys for pressing and releasing.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the coded finger cells are highlighted finger cells for indicating keys for pressing and releasing.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein at least one of the blocks in a grid contains a selection cell for calling up a successor grid.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein selection cells, software and firmware are available for inputting Chinese or other complex characters.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein display grids for inputting Chinese characters comprise grids for selection of a pinyin initial, grids for selecting vowel clusters, grids for selecting final/tone combinations and grids for hanzi selection.

8. A method for presenting and delivering user application input choices comprising the steps of relating complex user application input choices to sequences of chords or syllables in memory, optionally displaying associations of chords or syllables within sequences of chords or syllables associated with complex user application input choices, receiving user generated chords or syllables, using an input device, generating input signals from the input chords or syllables, evaluating input signal sequences, modifying the optional display according to the evaluated input signal sequences to prompt for chords or syllables within chord or syllable sequences associated with complex user application input choices, and sending associated complex user application input choices to user applications, further comprising presenting a display and modifying the display according to the evaluated input signal sequences and further comprising providing a grid on the display for relating chords to user application inputs and wherein the grid on the display comprises displaying an arrangement of blocks including a grid name block and at least one chord block having a row of finger cells and a large selection cell positioned below the row of finger cells, cooing the finger cells for identifying the combination of switches for pressing and releasing.