Keyboard based graphical user interface navigation
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of navigating a graphical user interface (GUI), the method comprising:
- responsive to a user input initiating a navigation mode, overlaying, atop of the GUI located within a first layer, a virtual keyboard within a second layer, wherein the virtual keyboard comprises a plurality of virtual keys;
for each virtual key, associating the virtual key with a region of the first layer comprising an area of the GUI beneath the virtual key;
mapping each virtual key with a physical key of a physical keyboard communicatively linked with a computer rendering the GUI;
responsive to a user input selecting a physical key of the physical keyboard, selecting a region corresponding to the selected physical key and increasing a level of magnification for the selected region within the first layer while keeping the virtual keyboard sizing constant, and assigning one of a plurality of programmatic actions to each physical key of the physical keyboard;
determining that a virtual key is above an icon within the first layer and, in response, changing an appearance of the virtual key to indicate that a selection of a physical key mapped to the virtual key initiates a programmatic action upon the icon; and
responsive to a user input selecting the physical key mapped to the virtual key above the icon, initiating the assigned programmatic action on the icon.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-implemented method of navigating a GUI can include, responsive to a user input initiating a navigation mode, overlaying, atop of the GUI located within a first layer, a virtual keyboard within a second layer, wherein the virtual keyboard includes a plurality of virtual keys. The method can include, for each virtual key, associating the virtual key with a region of the first layer including an area of the GUI beneath the virtual key. The method can include mapping each virtual key with a physical key of a physical keyboard communicatively linked with a computer rendering the GUI and, responsive to a user input selecting a physical key of the physical keyboard, selecting a region corresponding to the selected physical key. A level of magnification for the selected region can be increased within the first layer while keeping the virtual keyboard sizing constant.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of navigating a graphical user interface (GUI), the method comprising:
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responsive to a user input initiating a navigation mode, overlaying, atop of the GUI located within a first layer, a virtual keyboard within a second layer, wherein the virtual keyboard comprises a plurality of virtual keys; for each virtual key, associating the virtual key with a region of the first layer comprising an area of the GUI beneath the virtual key; mapping each virtual key with a physical key of a physical keyboard communicatively linked with a computer rendering the GUI; responsive to a user input selecting a physical key of the physical keyboard, selecting a region corresponding to the selected physical key and increasing a level of magnification for the selected region within the first layer while keeping the virtual keyboard sizing constant, and assigning one of a plurality of programmatic actions to each physical key of the physical keyboard; determining that a virtual key is above an icon within the first layer and, in response, changing an appearance of the virtual key to indicate that a selection of a physical key mapped to the virtual key initiates a programmatic action upon the icon; and responsive to a user input selecting the physical key mapped to the virtual key above the icon, initiating the assigned programmatic action on the icon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer-implemented method of performing programmatic actions through a graphical user interface (GUI), the method comprising:
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responsive to a user input initiating a navigation mode, overlaying, atop of the GUI located within a first layer, a virtual keyboard within a second layer, wherein the virtual keyboard comprises a plurality of virtual keys; for each virtual key, associating the virtual key with a region of the first layer comprising an area of the GUI beneath the virtual key; mapping each virtual key with a physical key of a physical keyboard communicatively linked with a computer rendering the GUI; responsive to a user input selecting a physical key of the physical keyboard, selecting a region corresponding to the selected physical key and increasing a level of magnification for the selected region within the first layer while keeping the virtual keyboard sizing constant, and assigning one of a plurality of programmatic actions to each physical key of the physical keyboard; determining that a virtual key is above an icon within the first layer and, in response, changing an appearance of the virtual key to indicate the virtual key is above a graphic representation of an object within the first layer; and responsive to a user input selecting the physical key mapped to the virtual key above the icon, initiating the assigned programmatic action on the icon. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A computer program product comprising:
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a computer-usable storage device having stored thereon computer-usable program code that navigates a graphical user interface (GUI) responsive to inputs from a physical keyboard, the computer-usable program code comprising; computer-usable program code that, responsive to a user input initiating a navigation mode, overlays, atop of the GUI located within a first layer, a virtual keyboard within a second layer, wherein the virtual keyboard comprises a plurality of virtual keys; computer-usable program code that, for each virtual key, associates the virtual key with a region of the first layer comprising an area of the GUI beneath the virtual key; computer-usable program code that maps each virtual key with a physical key of the physical keyboard communicatively linked with a computer rendering the GUI; and computer-usable program code that, responsive to a user input selecting a physical key of the physical keyboard, selects a region corresponding to the selected physical key and increases a level of magnification for the selected region within the first layer while keeping the virtual keyboard sizing constant, and assigns one of a plurality of programmatic actions to each physical key of the physical keyboard; computer-usable program code that determines a virtual key is above an icon within the first layer and, in response, changes an appearance of the virtual key to indicate that a selection of a physical key mapped to the virtual key initiates a programmatic action upon the icon; and computer-usable program code that, responsive to a user input selecting the physical key mapped to the virtual key above the icon, initiates the assigned programmatic action on the icon. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification