Method and apparatus for selecting symbols using strokes on a user interface

• US 6,654,496 B1
• Filed: 07/06/1999
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox SPA (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Goldberg, David
• Primary Examiner(s): WALLERSON, MARK E
• Application Number:
  US09/347,461
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 382/181, 382/185-189, 382/202, 382/312-314, 382/315, 345/156, 345/173, 345/180, 345/182, 345/179, 345/195, 345/810, 358/424
• US Class Current: 382/187
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and system are provided for selecting a symbol using a user interface having at least one selectable button adjacent a surface actuated when contacted by a pointing device. Initially, the method and system receives stroke information based on a stroke on the surface adjacent at least one selectable button on the user interface, identifies a symbol based on the stroke information, provides the symbol for further processing.

Claims

1. A method, executed on a processor, for entering symbols into a user interface, comprising:

providing a surface that is actuated when contacted, wherein the surface is positioned to cover a plurality of selectable buttons, each depicting a unique symbol;

receiving information in response to pressure made by a pointing device on at least one of said plurality of selectable buttons;

outputting the symbol depicted on the button, provided the button is actuated; and

outputting a second symbol not depicted on any of said plurality of buttons, provided the button is not actuated and a stroke is detected on the surface of the button.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the surface further comprises positioning the surface adjacent to the at least one selectable button.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving information comprises:

establishing a starting position defining a location where the pointing device is placed onto the surface;

generating a series of intermediary positions defining locations of the pointing device as the pointing device is moved across the surface toward an ending position;

establishing the ending position as a location where the pointing device stops moving across the surface; and

defining the stroke by the starting position, the intermediary positions, and the ending position.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of defining includes determining that the stroke starting position, the intermediary positions, and the ending position define a linear relationship.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of defining includes determining that the stroke starting position, the intermediary positions, and the ending position define a non-linear relationship.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of defining includes determining that the stroke starting position and the ending position define a linear and non-linear relationship.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting a second symbol further comprises fitting the stroke to individual ones of a set of predetermined strokes until a match is found.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of fitting includes performing a complete least squares fitting method.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting a second symbol further comprises:

relating the stroke to at least one unique parameter;

comparing the at least one unique parameter with a set of parameters associated with a corresponding set of symbols; and

selecting a symbol from the corresponding set of symbols based on the comparison.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the parameters describe a linear relationship.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the parameters describe a non-linear relationship.

12. An apparatus for entering symbols into a user interface, comprising:

a processor;

a surface that is actuated when contacted, wherein the surface is positioned to cover a plurality of selectable buttons, each depicting a unique symbol; and

a memory containing instructions capable of executing on the processor that;

receives information in response to pressure made by a pointing device on at least one of said plurality of selectable buttons;

outputs the symbol depicted on the button provided the button is actuated; and

outputs a second symbol not depicted on any of said plurality of buttons, provided the button is not actuated and a stroke is detected on the surface of the button.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the surface is positioned adjacent to the at least one selectable button.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the instructions that receive the stroke information further comprise instructions that,

establish a starting position defining a location where the pointing device is placed onto the surface, generate a series of intermediary positions defining locations of the pointing device as the pointing device is moved across the surface toward an ending position, establish the ending position defining a location where the pointing device stops moving across the surface, and define the stroke by the starting position, the intermediary positions, and the ending position.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the instructions that define the stroke determine that the stroke starting position, the intermediary positions, and the ending position define a linear relationship.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the instructions that define the stroke determine that the stroke starting position, the intermediary positions, and the ending position define a non-linear relationship.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the instructions that define the stroke determine that the stroke starting position, the intermediary positions, and the ending position define a combination of a linear and non-linear relationship.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the instruction to output a second symbol further includes instructions that fit the stroke to one of a set of predetermined strokes until a match is found.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the instructions that fit the stroke information includes instructions that perform a complete least squares curve fitting method.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the instruction to output a second symbol further includes instructions that relate the stroke to at least one unique parameter, compare the at least one unique parameter with a set of parameters associated with a corresponding set of symbols, and select a symbol from the corresponding set of symbols based on the comparison.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the parameters describe a linear relationship.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the parameters describe a non-linear relationship.

23. An apparatus for entering symbols into a user interface, comprising:

a surface that is actuated when contacted, wherein the surface is positioned to cover a plurality of selectable buttons, each depicting a unique symbol;

means for receiving information in response to pressure made by a pointing device on at least one of said plurality of selectable buttons;

means for outputting the symbol depicted on the button provided the button is actuated; and

means for outputting a second symbol not depicted on any of said plurality of buttons, provided the button is not actuated and a stroke is detected on the surface of the button.