Providing visual keyboard guides according to a programmable set of keys
First Claim
1. A method, in a data processing device, for providing visual keyboard guides, comprising:
- receiving an input specifying one or more keys of a smart keyboard, less than a total number of keys of the smart keyboard, for which visual guides are to be provided in response to detecting a presence of a user'"'"'s instrument over the one or more keys; and
storing an identifier of the one or more keys in a data structure for use in determining if visual keyboard guides are to be provided for the at least one key of the smart keyboard;
receiving an input from the smart keyboard indicating at least one key of the smart keyboard with which a user'"'"'s instrument is in proximity, the smart keyboard having sensors for detecting a presence of the user'"'"'s instrument in proximity to the at least one key of the smart keyboard;
determining if visual keyboard guides are to be provided for the at least one key of the smart keyboard based on a comparison of the at least one key to identifiers of one or more keys in the data structure;
outputting a visual keyboard guide on a display of the data processing device if visual keyboard guides are to be provided for the at least one key of the smart keyboard, wherein a visual keyboard guide is not output for the at least one key if the at least one key does not match an identifier of one or more keys in the data structure; and
sending a control signal to the smart keyboard to turn on/off sensors of the smart keyboard based on the user input specifying the one or more keys, wherein the control signal causes sensors associated with the one or more keys specified in the user input to be turned on and sensors associated with keys that are not in the one or more keys specified by the user input to be turned off.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Mechanisms for providing visual keyboard guides according to a programmable set of keys are provided. With the mechanisms of the illustrative embodiments, a user may select for which keys of a keyboard the user wishes to receive visual guides on a display of a data processing device associated with the keyboard. Thereafter, when the user'"'"'s fingers are in proximity to keys of the keyboard, a comparison of the keys in proximity to the user'"'"'s instrument to the keys for which visual guides are to be provided is made. If the keys in proximity to the user'"'"'s instrument match keys for which visual guides are to be provided, a visual guide is displayed on the display of the data processing device. A graphical user interface may be provided to the user for setting which keys are to have associated visual guides.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method, in a data processing device, for providing visual keyboard guides, comprising:
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receiving an input specifying one or more keys of a smart keyboard, less than a total number of keys of the smart keyboard, for which visual guides are to be provided in response to detecting a presence of a user'"'"'s instrument over the one or more keys; and storing an identifier of the one or more keys in a data structure for use in determining if visual keyboard guides are to be provided for the at least one key of the smart keyboard; receiving an input from the smart keyboard indicating at least one key of the smart keyboard with which a user'"'"'s instrument is in proximity, the smart keyboard having sensors for detecting a presence of the user'"'"'s instrument in proximity to the at least one key of the smart keyboard; determining if visual keyboard guides are to be provided for the at least one key of the smart keyboard based on a comparison of the at least one key to identifiers of one or more keys in the data structure; outputting a visual keyboard guide on a display of the data processing device if visual keyboard guides are to be provided for the at least one key of the smart keyboard, wherein a visual keyboard guide is not output for the at least one key if the at least one key does not match an identifier of one or more keys in the data structure; and sending a control signal to the smart keyboard to turn on/off sensors of the smart keyboard based on the user input specifying the one or more keys, wherein the control signal causes sensors associated with the one or more keys specified in the user input to be turned on and sensors associated with keys that are not in the one or more keys specified by the user input to be turned off. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer program product comprising a computer useable storage medium having a computer readable program stored thereon, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a data processing device, causes the data processing device to:
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receive an input specifying one or more keys of a smart keyboard, less than a total number of keys of the smart keyboard, for which visual guides are to be provided in response to detecting a presence of a user'"'"'s instrument over the one or more keys; and store an identifier of the one or more keys in a data structure for use in determining if visual keyboard guides are to be provided for the at least one key of the smart keyboard; receive an input from the smart keyboard indicating at least one key of the smart keyboard with which a user'"'"'s instrument is in proximity, the smart keyboard having sensors for detecting a presence of the user'"'"'s instrument in proximity to the at least one key of the smart keyboard; determine if visual keyboard guides are to be provided for the at least one key of the smart keyboard based on a comparison of the at least one key to identifiers of one or more keys in the data structure; output a visual keyboard guide on a display of the data processing device if visual keyboard guides are to be provided for the at least one key of the smart keyboard, wherein a visual keyboard guide is not output for the at least one key if the at least one key does not match an identifier of one or more keys in the data structure; and send a control signal to the smart keyboard to turn on/off sensors of the smart keyboard based on the user input specifying the one or more keys, wherein the control signal causes sensors associated with the one or more keys specified in the user input to be turned on and sensors associated with keys that are not in the one or more keys specified by the user input to be turned off. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus, comprising:
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a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to; receive an input specifying one or more keys of a smart keyboard, less than a total number of keys of the smart keyboard, for which visual guides are to be provided in response to detecting a presence of a user'"'"'s instrument over the one or more keys; store an identifier of the one or more keys in a data structure for use in determining if visual keyboard guides are to be provided for the at least one key of the smart keyboard; receive an input from the smart keyboard indicating at least one key of the smart keyboard with which a user'"'"'s instrument is in proximity, the smart keyboard having sensors for detecting a presence of the user'"'"'s instrument in proximity to the at least one key of the smart keyboard; determine if visual keyboard guides are to be provided for the at least one key of the smart keyboard based on a comparison of the at least one key to identifiers of one or more keys in the data structure; output a visual keyboard guide on a display associated with the apparatus, if visual keyboard guides are to be provided for the at least one key of the smart keyboard, wherein a visual keyboard guide is not output for the at least one key if the at least one key does not match an identifier of one or more keys in the data structure; and send a control signal to the smart keyboard to turn on/off sensors of the smart keyboard based on the user input specifying the one or more keys, wherein the control signal causes sensors associated with the one or more keys specified in the user input to be turned on and sensors associated with keys that are not in the one or more keys specified by the user input to be turned off.
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Specification