Character recognition for overlapping textual user input
First Claim
1. A method for recognizing characters, comprising:
- receiving touch-based input relating to a sequence of strokes at a touch-based interface of a computing device, wherein a first subset of the sequence of strokes corresponds to a first area of the touch-based interface and a second subset of the sequence of strokes corresponds to a second area of the touch-based interface that at least partially overlaps the first area;
displaying a graphical representation of the first subset of the sequence of strokes on an output device coupled to the computing device;
determining a confidence level that a first character approximately matches the first subset of the sequence of strokes, wherein the confidence level is of at least a first confidence threshold, further comprising;
checking a combination of the first character and a determined character against a language reference;
ranking the first character based at least in part on approximate matches of the combination of the first character and one or more previously determined characters found in the language reference, wherein the ranking is related to the confidence level; and
selecting the first character when the ranking is above a selected threshold level;
altering the display of the graphical representation of the first subset of the sequence of strokes based on the confidence level; and
providing the first character for processing by an application executing on the computing device when the confidence level is of at least a second confidence threshold, wherein the application is designed to process characters from touch-based input.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques described herein may recognize handwritten characters that are written at least partially over the top of one another that are input to a computing device. The handwritten characters may be formed of one or more strokes. A user may write characters or parts of words over approximately the same area of graphical user interface (i.e., on top of each other) without having to wait for a timeout between character input and without having to select a button or provide another input indicating the character is complete before entering input for another character. Once a character is at least partially recognized, a graphical indication corresponding to the user input displayed on a screen may be altered. Such alterations may include fading or changing size or location of the graphical indication.
27 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for recognizing characters, comprising:
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receiving touch-based input relating to a sequence of strokes at a touch-based interface of a computing device, wherein a first subset of the sequence of strokes corresponds to a first area of the touch-based interface and a second subset of the sequence of strokes corresponds to a second area of the touch-based interface that at least partially overlaps the first area; displaying a graphical representation of the first subset of the sequence of strokes on an output device coupled to the computing device; determining a confidence level that a first character approximately matches the first subset of the sequence of strokes, wherein the confidence level is of at least a first confidence threshold, further comprising; checking a combination of the first character and a determined character against a language reference; ranking the first character based at least in part on approximate matches of the combination of the first character and one or more previously determined characters found in the language reference, wherein the ranking is related to the confidence level; and selecting the first character when the ranking is above a selected threshold level; altering the display of the graphical representation of the first subset of the sequence of strokes based on the confidence level; and providing the first character for processing by an application executing on the computing device when the confidence level is of at least a second confidence threshold, wherein the application is designed to process characters from touch-based input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions for causing a programmable processor to perform operations comprising:
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receiving touch-based input relating to a sequence of strokes at a touch-based interface of a computing device, wherein a first subset of the sequence of strokes corresponds to a first graphical area of the touch-based interface and a second subset of the sequence of strokes corresponds to a second graphical area of the touch-based interface that at least partially overlaps the first graphical area; displaying a graphical representation of the first subset of the sequence of strokes on an output device coupled to the computing device; determining that the first subset of the sequence of strokes corresponds to a first character by at least a first confidence threshold, further comprising; checking a combination of the first character and a determined character against a language reference; ranking the first character based at least in part on approximate matches of the combination of the first character and previously determined characters found in the language reference, wherein the ranking is related to the confidence level; and selecting the first character when the ranking is above a selected threshold level; altering the graphical representation of the first subset of the sequence of strokes based on the determination that the first subset of the sequence of strokes corresponds to the first character; and providing the first character for processing by an application executing on the computing device, wherein the application is designed to process characters from touch-based input.
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18. A computing device, comprising:
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one or more processors; an input device to receive touch-based user input of a sequence of strokes related to textual information, wherein the sequence of strokes comprises a first subset of strokes corresponding to a first area of the input device and a second subset of strokes corresponding to a second area of the input device at least partially overlapping the first subset of strokes; means for determining which strokes of the series of stroke fall into the first subset of the sequence of strokes and for determining that the first subset of the sequence of strokes corresponds to a first character, further comprising; means for checking a combination of the first character and a determined character against a language reference; means for ranking the first character based at least in part on approximate matches of the combination of the first character and previously determined characters found in the language reference, wherein the ranking is related to the confidence level; and means for selecting the first character when the ranking is above a selected threshold level; an output device to display a graphical representation of the first subset of the sequence of strokes, wherein the output device alters the graphical representation based on the determination that the first subset of the sequence of strokes corresponds to the first character; wherein the output device further output the first character.
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Specification