Multi-key macros to speed data input

• US 7,196,691 B1
• Filed: 11/15/2002
• Issued: 03/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bruce Martin Zweig
• Original Assignee: Bruce Martin Zweig
• Inventors: Zweig, Bruce Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala; Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dharia; Prabodh
• Application Number:
  US10/295,779
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 345/358, 345/156, 345/157, 345168-183, 455/564, 455/90, 704/256, 704/270, 364/419.15, 710/67, 715/534, 715/716, 235/470, 341/22
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0235 using chord techniques G06F3/0234 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems for initiating the execution of a macro by simultaneously depressing multiple keys and for reducing the misclassification of keyboard input by distinguishing between rollovers in normal typing and the simultaneous depression of two keys. Only keystrokes that follow a pause are considered candidates for macro initiation. Keystrokes not separated by a pause are dispatched to the operating system for normal processing. If a user types in a normal fashion, no macro is recognized, and the user experiences no unexpected behavior. A user dictionary of macro definitions is used to determine whether the first keystroke is part of a macro input pair.

Claims

1. A method for receiving data into a computer, the method comprising:

associating multiple alphanumeric keys on a keyboard with data;

detecting a pause during typing;

detecting the simultaneous pressing of the multiple alphanumeric keys after the pause by;

determining if a first of the multiple alphanumeric keys is part of a standard pair;

determining if a second of the multiple alphanumeric keys is part of a standard pair;

determine if the second of the multiple alphanumeric keys is depressed within a pre-determined period of time of the first of the multiple alphanumeric keys;

determine if the first and second alphanumeric keys are both depressed for a period of time which is dependent upon the period of time elapsed between the first and second keypresses; and

if the first and second alphanumeric keys have been depressed simultaneously then use the associated data instead of the multiple alphanumeric keys simultaneously pressed as input data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of detecting a pause comprises:

detecting a pause perceptible to a user before the simultaneous pressing of the multiple alphanumeric keys.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of detecting the simultaneous pressing of the multiple alphanumeric keys comprises:

detecting a pause after the simultaneous pressing of the multiple alphanumeric keys.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the first and second alphanumeric keys have been depressed sequentially if a third alphanumeric key has been depressed during the period of time during which the first and second alphanumeric keys have been depressed.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the first and second alphanumeric keys have been depressed simultaneously if the second alphanumeric key is lifted prior to the first alphanumeric key being lifted.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the first and second alphanumeric keys have been depressed simultaneously if a pause during typing occurs after the first and second alphanumeric keys have been depressed and lifted.

7. A method for receiving data into a computer, the method comprising:

associating multiple alphanumeric keys on a keyboard with data;

detecting the simultaneous pressing of the multiple alphanumeric keys by;

determining if a second of multiple alphanumeric keys is depressed before the previous key press of a first of multiple alphanumeric keys has been lifted;

determining if the second alphanumeric key is depressed within a pre-determined period of time of the first alphanumeric key;

determining if the first and second alphanumeric keys are both depressed for a period of time which is dependent upon the period of time elapsed between the first and second key presses; and

if the first and second alphanumeric keys have been depressed simultaneously,

determining if the first and second alphanumeric keys are a standard pair;

if they are a standard pair, using the associated data instead of the multiple alphanumeric keys simultaneously pressed as input data.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of detecting the simultaneous pressing of the multiple alphanumeric keys further comprises determining first if the first depressed of the multiple alphanumeric keys is part of a standard pair.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining if multiple alphanumeric keys are part of a standard pair as each key is depressed.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of detecting the simultaneous pressing of the multiple alphanumeric keys further comprises determining if a pair of multiple alphanumeric keys is part of a standard pair after the second key of the pair has been depressed.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of detecting the simultaneous pressing of the multiple alphanumeric keys further comprises detecting a pause before the simultaneous pressing of the multiple alphanumeric keys.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining that the first and second alphanumeric keys have been depressed sequentially if a third alphanumeric key has been depressed during the period of time during which the first and second alphanumeric keys have been depressed.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining that the first and second alphanumeric keys have been depressed simultaneously if the second alphanumeric key is lifted prior to the first alphanumeric key being lifted.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining that the first and second alphanumeric keys have been depressed simultaneously if a pause during typing occurs after the first and second alphanumeric keys have been depressed and lifted.

15. A method for receiving data into a computer, the method comprising:

associating multiple alphanumeric keys on a keyboard with data;

detecting a pause during typing;

detecting the simultaneous pressing of the multiple alphanumeric keys by;

determining if a second of multiple alphanumeric keys is depressed before the previous key press of a first of multiple alphanumeric keys has been lifted;

determining if the second alphanumeric key is depressed within a pre-determined period of time of the first alphanumeric key;

determining if the first and second alphanumeric keys are both depressed for a period of time which may be pre-determined or which may be dependent upon the period of time elapsed between the first and second key presses; and

if the first and second alphanumeric keys have been depressed simultaneously, determining if the first and second alphanumeric keys are a standard pair; and

if they are a standard pair, using the associated data instead of the multiple alphanumeric keys simultaneously pressed as input data.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of detecting the simultaneous pressing of the multiple alphanumeric keys further comprises determining first if the first depressed of the multiple alphanumeric keys is part of a standard pair.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining if multiple alphanumeric keys are part of a standard pair as each key is depressed.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of detecting the simultaneous pressing of the multiple alphanumeric keys further comprises determining if a pair of multiple alphanumeric keys is part of a standard pair after the second key of the pair has been depressed.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the pause is detected before the simultaneous pressing of the multiple alphanumeric keys.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining that the first and second alphanumeric keys have been depressed sequentially if a third alphanumeric key has been depressed during the period of time during which the first and second alphanumeric keys have been depressed.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining that the first and second alphanumeric keys have been depressed simultaneously if the second alphanumeric key is lifted prior to the first alphanumeric key being lifted.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining that the first and second alphanumeric keys have been depressed simultaneously if the first and second alphanumeric keys are both depressed for a period of time which is dependent upon the period of time elapsed between the first and second key presses.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining that the first and second alphanumeric keys have been depressed simultaneously if a pause during typing occurs after the first and second alphanumeric keys have been depressed and lifted.