Keyboard layout for mouse or rocker switch text entry

• US 7,186,041 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2005
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP Singapore Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Harley, Jonah A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HA, NGUYEN Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ha, N.
• Application Number:
  US11/101,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20060228149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 400486-489
• US Class Current: 400/486
• 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 soft keyboard includes at least three rows of keys wherein a middle row is located near the center of the keyboard. The middle row includes vowel keys, and an upper row and a lower row include consonant keys. The consonant keys and the vowels keys are arranged in alphabetical order. At least one of the three rows of keys further includes at least one of the space key, the enter key, and the delete key.

Another soft keyboard includes a first ring of keys around a central key, and a second ring of keys around the first ring of keys. The central key may be the enter key. The first ring of keys includes vowel keys arranged in alphabetical order. The first ring of keys may include the space key and the delete key. The second ring of keys includes consonant keys arranged in alphabetical order.

Claims

1. A soft keyboard, comprising:

an upper row of keys,

a middle row of keys comprising vowel keys arranged in alphabetical order, the middle row being located approximately at the center of the soft keyboard; and

a lower row of keys, the upper and the lower rows comprising consonant keys arranged in alphabetical order;

wherein the vowel keys comprise multiple sizes depending on their usage frequencies, and the consonant keys comprise multiple sizes depending on their usage frequencies.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper, the middle, and the lower rows further comprises at least one special key.

3. The keyboard of claim 2, wherein the special key is selected from the group consisting of a delete key, a space bar key, and an enter key.

4. A method for generating a soft keyboard, comprising:

displaying an upper row of keys;

displaying a middle row of keys comprising vowel keys arranged in alphabetical order, the middle row being located approximately at the center of the soft keyboard; and

displaying a lower row at keys, the upper and the lower rows comprising consonant keys arranged in alphabetical order;

wherein the vowel keys comprise multiple sizes depending on their usage frequencies, and the consonant keys comprise multiple sizes depending on their usage frequencies.

5. The merited of claim 4, wherein at least one of the upper, the middle, and the lower rows further comprises at least one special key.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the special key is selected from the group consisting of a delete key, a space bar key, and an enter key.

7. A soft keyboard, comprising:

a first ring of keys comprising vowel keys, wherein all the vowel keys are arranged consecutively in alphabetical order; and

a second ring of keys arranged around the first ring, the second ring of keys comprising consonant keys arranged in alphabetical order, the consonant keys comprising all consonants in an alphabet;

wherein the keys in the first ring comprise multiple sizes depending on their usage frequencies, and the keys in the second ring comprise multiple sizes depending on their usage frequencies.

8. The keyboard of claim 7, further comprising at least one key located within the first ring.

9. The keyboard of claim 8, wherein the key within the first ring and at least one additional key in the first ring comprise special keys, the special keys are selected from the group consisting of a delete key, a space bar key, and an enter key.

10. A method for generating a soft keyboard, comprising:

displaying a first ring of keys comprising vowel keys, wherein all the vowel keys are arranged consecutively in alphabetical order; and

displaying a second ring of keys arranged around the first ring, the second ring of keys comprising consonant keys arranged in alphabetical order, the consonant keys comprising all consonants in an alphabet;

wherein the keys in the first ring comprise multiple sizes depending on their usage frequencies, and the keys in the second ring comprise multiple sizes depending on their usage frequencies.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying at least one key located within the first ring.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the key within the first ring and at least one additional key in the first ring comprise special keys, the special keys are selected from the group consisting of a delete key, a space bar key, and an enter key.