Displaying software keyboard images

• US 7,036,086 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2001
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Gupta, Nitin, Cobbley, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, THANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/754,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20020085038A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,937 Days
• Field of Search: 345/744, 345/866, 345/784, 345/173, 715/773, 715/784, 715/745, 715/746, 715/780
• US Class Current: 715/773
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

A keyboard image may be displayed on the display of a processor-based system to facilitate the entry of data. The keyboard image may include a plurality of key images which may be user selected to make data entries. The keyboard image may be positioned on the display and any data entry areas or other associated textual matter may be moved to facilitate the simultaneous display of data entry areas, associated text or graphics, and the keyboard image without substantial obstruction.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying a keyboard image on a user interface; and

moving a data entry area on said interface to display said keyboard image.

2. The method of claim 1 including moving a data entry area on said interface to enable an unobstructed view of said keyboard image and said data entry areas.

3. The method of claim 1 including searching for coding associated with data entry areas to identify the location of a data entry area.

4. The method of claim 3 including searching for characteristic coding of a web page.

5. The method of claim 1 including moving data from the location where a keyboard image is to be positioned and positioning said data at another location on said interface.

6. The method of claim 1 including scrolling the data entry area to prevent the data entry area from being obscured by the keyboard image.

7. An article comprising a medium storing instructions that enable a processor-based system to:

display a keyboard image on a user interface; and

move a data entry area on said interface to display said keyboard image.

8. The article of claim 7 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to move a data entry area on said interface to enable an unobstructed view of the keyboard image and the data entry area.

9. The article of claim 7 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to search for coding associated with data entry areas to identify the location of a data entry area.

10. The article of claim 9 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to search for characteristic coding of a web page.

11. The article of claim 7 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to move data from a location where a keyboard image is to be positioned and position the data at another location on the interface.

12. The article of claim 7 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to scroll the data entry area to prevent the data entry area from being obscured by the keyboard image.

13. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a storage coupled to the processor, the storage storing instructions that enable the processor to display a keyboard image on a user interface and move a data entry area on the interface to display the keyboard image.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the storage stores instructions to enable the processor to move a data entry area on the interface to enable an unobstructed view of the keyboard image and the data entry area.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the storage stores instructions to enable the processor to search for coding associated with data entry areas to identify the location of a data entry area.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the storage stores instructions that enable the processor to search for a characteristic coding of a web page to locate a data entry area.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the storage stores instructions that enable the processor to move data from a location where a keyboard image is to be positioned and to position the data at another location on the interface.

18. The system of claim 13 further including a touch screen coupled to the processor.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein said storage stores instructions to determine whether the image will obscure the data entry area and, if so, to move the data entry area.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said storage stores instructions to scroll the display to avoid the keyboard image from obscuring the data entry area.