Mobile client computer programmed to predict input

• US 7,043,700 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1998
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bertram, Randal Lee, Champion, David Frederick, Brittenham, Peter James
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US09/143,967
• Time in Patent Office: 2,808 Days
• Field of Search: 345/715, 345/745, 345/747, 345/789, 345/808, 345/809, 345/810, 345/811, 345/812, 345/813, 345/816, 345/817, 345/825, 345/822, 345/823, 715/505, 715/506, 715/507, 715/508, 715/811, 715/812, 715/813, 715/815, 715/816, 715/817, 715/822, 715/823, 715/825, 715/864
• US Class Current: 715/811
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/025 adapted to a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs

Abstract

A computer system preferably a mobile client computer, optimizes data handling and display through the use of predictive widgets. A predictive widget uses a predictive list of possible entries into a defined field of a form, as in a form filling application, to provide one or both of a predictive default entry for a field or a predictive fill once a user has started an entry into the field.

Claims

1. A mobile client computer comprising:

a housing sized to be held and manipulated by the hand of a user;

a processor mounted within the housing for processing digital data;

memory mounted within the housing for storing digital data and coupled to the processor;

a display mounted in the housing and coupled to the processor and the memory for displaying information derived from digital data processed by the processor;

an input digitizer mounted in the housing and overlaying the display, the digitizer being coupled to the processor for input of digital data by a user; and

a control program stored in the memory and accessible by the processor for directing the processing of digital data by the processor;

the control program and the processor cooperating, when the control program is executing on the processor, in

a) displaying a form defining data fields; and

b) exercising a predictive widget to supply a data entry for a defined data field;

wherein the control program and the processor cooperate, when the control program is executing on the processor, in storing a predictive list and selecting a data entry from the predictive list based on a predetermined algorithm;

wherein the control program and the processor cooperate, when the control program is executing on the processor, in selecting a data entry from the predictive list based upon a user selected weighted determination of the recency and frequency of use of listed data entries.

2. A mobile client computer comprising:

a housing sized to be held and manipulated by the hand of a user;

a processor mounted within the housing for processing digital data;

memory mounted within the housing for storing digital data and coupled to the processor;

a display mounted in the housing and coupled to the processor and the memory for displaying information derived from digital data processed by the processor;

an input digitizer mounted in the housing and overlaying the display, the digitizer being coupled to the processor for input of digital data by a user; and

a control program stored in the memory and accessible by the processor for directing the processing of digital data by the processor;

the control program and the processor cooperating, when the control program is executing on the processor, in

a) displaying a form defining data fields; and

b) exercising a predictive widget to supply a data entry for a defined data field;

wherein the control program and the processor cooperate, when the control program is executing on the processor, in storing a predictive list and selecting a data entry from the predictive list based on a predetermined algorithm;

wherein the control program and the processor cooperate, when the control program is executing on the processor, in storing the predictive list as a sequence of possible data entries and in ordering the sequence by positioning a leading portion of the sequence based on the recency of use of listed data entries and a trailing portion of the sequence based on the frequency of use of listed data entries.

3. A computer comprising:

a housing;

a processor mounted within the housing and processing digital data;

memory mounted within the housing for storing digital data and coupled to the processor;

a display coupled to the processor and the memory to display information derived from digital data processed by the processor; and

a control program stored in the memory and accessible by the processor to direct the processing of digital data by the processor;

the control program and the processor cooperating, when the control program is executing on the processor, in

a) displaying a form defining data fields; and

b) exercising a predictive widget to supply a data entry for a defined data field;

wherein the control program and the processor cooperate, when the control program is executing on the processor, in a storing predictive list and selecting a data entry from the predictive list based on a predetermined algorithm;

wherein the control program and the processor cooperate, when the control program is executing on the processor, in selecting a data entry from the predictive list based upon a user selected weighted determination of the recency and frequency of use of listed data entries.

4. A computer comprising:

a housing;

a processor mounted within the housing and processing digital data;

memory mounted within the housing for storing digital data and coupled to the processor;

a display coupled to the processor and the memory to display information derived from digital data processed by the processor; and

a control program stored in the memory and accessible by the processor to direct the processing of digital data by the processor;

the control program and the processor cooperating, when the control program is executing on the processor, in

a) displaying a form defining data fields; and

b) exercising a predictive widget to supply a data entry for a defined data field;

wherein the control program and the processor cooperate, when the control program is executing on the processor, in a storing predictive list and selecting a data entry from the predictive list based on a predetermined algorithm;

wherein the control program and the processor cooperate, when the control program is executing on the processor, in storing the predictive list as a sequence of possible data entries and in ordering the sequence by positioning a leading portion of the sequence based on the recency of use of listed data entries and a trailing portion of the sequence based on the frequency of use of listed data entries.

5. A display generating system comprising:

a housing;

a processor mounted within the housing and processing digital data;

memory mounted within the housing for storing digital data and coupled to the processor;

the processor and the memory cooperating in supplying digital data driving a display of visual images; and

a control program stored in the memory and accessible by the processor to direct the processing of digital data by the processor;

the control program and the processor cooperating, when the control program is executing on the processor, in

a) displaying a form defining data fields; and

b) exercising a predictive widget to supply a data entry for a defined data field;

wherein the control program and the processor cooperate, when the control program is executing on the processor, in storing a predictive list and selecting a data entry from the predictive list based on a predetermined algorithm;

wherein the control program and the processor cooperate, when the control program is executing on the processor, in selecting a data entry from the predictive list based upon a user selected weighted determination of the recency and frequency of use of listed data entries.

6. A display generating system comprising:

a housing;

a processor mounted within the housing and processing digital data;

memory mounted within the housing for storing digital data and coupled to the processor;

the processor and the memory cooperating in supplying digital data driving a display of visual images; and

a control program stored in the memory and accessible by the processor to direct the processing of digital data by the processor;

the control program and the processor cooperating, when the control program is executing on the processor, in

a) displaying a form defining data fields; and

b) exercising a predictive widget to supply a data entry for a defined data field;

wherein the control program and the processor cooperate, when the control program is executing on the processor, in storing a predictive list and selecting a data entry from the predictive list based on a predetermined algorithm;

wherein the control program and the processor cooperate, when the control program is executing on the processor, in storing the predictive list as a sequence of possible data entries and in ordering the sequence by positioning a leading portion of the sequence based on the recency of use of listed data entries and a trailing portion of the sequence based on the frequency of use of listed data entries.