Soft input panel system and method
First Claim
1. In a computing environment, a computer-implemented method comprising:
- displaying an actuatable icon representative of an input method list that includes one or more selectable input methods for one or more computer programs, wherein each input method is a computer-executable software component distinct from the computer programs;
in response to actuation of the actuatable icon, displaying the input method list;
receiving a selection of an input method from the input method list;
installing an input method component that corresponds to the selected input method, the input method component causing an interactive input panel to be displayed;
receiving input via the interactive input panel; and
providing the input to a computer program of the one or more computer programs as if the information was received via user input received from a hardware input device.
1 Assignment
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for receiving user input data into a computer system having a graphical windowing environment. A touch-sensitive display screen for displaying images and detecting user activity is provided. A management component connects to the graphical windowing environment to create an input panel window for display on the screen. An input method which may be a COM object is selected from multiple input methods available, and installed such that the input method can call functions of the management component. Each input method includes a corresponding input panel, such as a keyboard, which it draws in the input panel window. When the user taps the screen at the input panel, the input method calls a function of the management component to pass corresponding input information appropriate information such as a keystroke or character to the management component. In response, the management component communicates the user data to the graphical windowing environment as a message, whereby an application program receives the message as if the message was generated on a hardware input device.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. In a computing environment, a computer-implemented method comprising:
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displaying an actuatable icon representative of an input method list that includes one or more selectable input methods for one or more computer programs, wherein each input method is a computer-executable software component distinct from the computer programs; in response to actuation of the actuatable icon, displaying the input method list; receiving a selection of an input method from the input method list; installing an input method component that corresponds to the selected input method, the input method component causing an interactive input panel to be displayed; receiving input via the interactive input panel; and providing the input to a computer program of the one or more computer programs as if the information was received via user input received from a hardware input device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. At least one computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a computer system perform steps, comprising:
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selecting one of a plurality of executable input methods for supplying user input to the computer system, wherein each executable input method is an interchangeable software component distinct from one or more application programs, each executable input method having a defined interface set such that the executable input method is connectable to the application programs; opening an input window on a display of the computer system independent of a window of an active application program; and displaying an interactive input panel in the input window, the interactive input panel corresponding to the selected executable input method such that information corresponding to user input received by the selected executable input method via the interactive input panel is provided to the active application program as if the information was received via user input at a hardware input device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. At least one computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed perform steps, comprising:
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presenting icons corresponding to a plurality of input methods available for a computer application, wherein each input method is a computer-executable software component distinct from the computer application; invoking a selected input method in response to a user selecting an icon corresponding to the selected input method, including presenting an input panel window; and accepting user data entered in the input panel window for the computer application, wherein the user data is provided to the computer application as if the user data was received from a hardware input device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. In a computing environment, a system comprising,
a manager component stored on one or more computer-readable media and configured: -
to manage selection of a selected input method from one or more available stored input methods, wherein each input method is a computer-executable software component distinct from one or more computer programs, and to send input data corresponding to a user input received at the selected input method to a graphical windowing environment; and the graphical windowing environment to receive the input data and to send the input data to a computer program of the one or more computer programs, wherein the input data is sent to the computer program as if the input data was received via user input received from a hardware input device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification