Interchangeable input modules associated with varying languages

• US 8,593,406 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerence Operating Company (Cerence Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Longe, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): ABDULSELAM, ABBAS I
• Application Number:
  US12/532,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20100188338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,442 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/169, 345/172, 345/173, 341/22, 341/23, 704/3, 704/7, 400/477, 434/159, 178/18.01
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224

Abstract

Interchangeable input modules, such as keypads, having user input devices configured to mate with base devices are described herein. The user input devices may include pluralities of inputs, such as input keys, associated with languages. The interchangeable input modules may further include storage components configured to store configuration data, linguistic structures, and/or predictive logic. Additionally, the interchangeable input modules may have interfaces configured to electrically couple the interchangeable input modules to the base devices after the interchangeable input modules are mated with the base devices.

Claims

1. An interchangeable input module configured to mate with a base device comprising:

a user input device having a plurality of inputs associated with language elements of a language;

a storage component configured to store configuration data associated with the language, the configuration data enabling the base device to recognize signals as corresponding to language elements of the language; and

an interface coupled to the user input device and the storage component, the interface being configured to

(1) electrically provide the configuration data to the base device after the interchangeable input module is mated with the base device, and

(2) electronically provide to the base device signals corresponding to selective user interaction with the user input device, after the interchangeable input module is mated with the base device.

2. The interchangeable input module of claim 1, wherein the language is a selected one of an alphanumeric language and a character-based language.

3. The interchangeable input module of claim 1, wherein the user input device has a touch sensitive display, the touch sensitive display capable of rendering a plurality of keys as elements of the touch sensitive display.

4. The interchangeable input module of claim 1, wherein the storage component is further configured to store a linguistic structure associated with the language, the structure having one or more of a plurality of character strings, at least some of which are words of the language, and/or menus and other components related to the language, and the interface is further configured to electrically provide the linguistic structure to the base device after the interchangeable input module is mated with the base device.

5. The interchangeable input module of claim 4, wherein the storage component is further configured to store predictive logic capable of predicting one or more of the character strings of the language structure based on one or more user actuations of at least one of the plurality of inputs, and the interface is further configured to electrically provide the predictive logic to the base device after the interchangeable input module is mated with the base device.

6. The interchangeable input module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of inputs are further associated with an input arrangement, and the input arrangement is a selected one of a QWERTY keyboard layout, a Dvorak keyboard layout, a QWERTZ keyboard layout, an AZERTY keyboard layout, a QZERTY keyboard layout, an a numeric keyboard layout.

7. The interchangeable input module of claim 1, wherein the base device has an additional plurality of inputs, and the plurality of inputs of the interchangeable input module at least partially supersede the additional plurality of inputs after the interchangeable input module is mated with the base device.

8. The interchangeable input module of claim 7, wherein the additional plurality of inputs of the base device is associated with another language that is different from the language associated with the plurality of inputs of the interchangeable input module.

9. The interchangeable input module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of inputs include one or more of a keyboard, a reduced keypad, and/or a joystick.

10. An interchangeable keypad configured to mate with a base device comprising:

a user input device having a plurality of input keys associated with language elements of a language;

a storage component coupled to the user input device, the storage component configured to store

(1) configuration data associated with the language,

(2) a linguistic structure associated with the language, the structure having one or more of a plurality of character strings, at least some of which are words of the language, and/or menus or components associated with the language, and/or

(3) predictive logic capable of predicting one or more of the character strings of the language structure based on one or more user actuations of at least one of the plurality of input keys, and

the storage component is further configured to translate signals received from the user input device responsive to selective user interaction with the user input device, into codes indicative of language elements of the language; and

an interface coupled to the user input device and the storage component, the interface being configured to

(1) electrically provide the configuration data, the linguistic structure, and/or the predictive logic to the base device after the interchangeable keypad is mated with the base device, and

(2) electronically provide the codes to the base device after the interchangeable keypad is mated with the base device.

11. The interchangeable keypad of claim 10, wherein the language is a selected one of an alphanumeric language and a character-based language.

12. The interchangeable keypad of claim 10, wherein the user input device has a touch sensitive display, the touch sensitive display capable of rendering the plurality of keys as elements of the touch sensitive display.

13. The interchangeable keypad of claim 10, wherein the plurality of input keys are further associated with an input arrangement, and the input arrangement is a selected one of a QWERTY keyboard layout, a Dvorak keyboard layout, a QWERTZ keyboard layout, an AZERTY keyboard layout, a QZERTY keyboard layout, an a numeric keyboard layout.

14. The interchangeable keypad of claim 10, wherein the base device has an additional plurality of input keys, and the plurality of input keys of the interchangeable keypad at least partially supersede the additional plurality of input keys when the keypad is mated with the base device.

15. The interchangeable keypad of claim 14, wherein the additional plurality of input keys of the base device are associated with another language that is different from the language associated with the plurality of input keys of the interchangeable keypad.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a base device having an interface, the interface of the base portion capable of forming electrical connections with an interface of an interchangeable keypad when the keypad is mated with the base device; and

the interchangeable keypad, mated with the base device, including

a user input device configured to mate with the base device, the user input device having a plurality of input keys associated with language elements of a language,

a storage component coupled to the user input device, the storage component configured to store

(1) configuration data associated with the language,

(2) a linguistic structure associated with the language, the structure having one or more of a plurality of character strings, at least some of which are words of the language, and/or menus or components associated with the language, and/or

(3) predictive logic capable of predicting one or more of the character strings of the language structure based on one or more user actuations of at least one of the plurality of input keys, and

an interface coupled to the storage component, the interface being configured to

(1) electrically provide the configuration data, the linguistic structure, and/or the predictive logic to the base device after the interchangeable keypad is mated with the base device, and

(2) electronically provide signals corresponding to selective user interaction with the user input device, after the interchangeable keypad is mated with the base device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the language is a selected one of an alphanumeric language and a character-based language.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the user input device has a touch sensitive display, the touch sensitive display capable of rendering the plurality of keys as elements of the touch sensitive display.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the base device is one of a wireless mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a media player, a PC, a server, a set-top box or remote control, a game controller, an in-vehicle navigation console, medical equipment, a kiosk, or a copier.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a base device having an interface, the interface of the base portion capable of forming electrical connections with an interface of an interchangeable keypad when the keypad is mated with the base device; and

the interchangeable keypad, mated with the base device, including

a user input device having a plurality of input keys associated with language elements of a language,

a storage component coupled to the user input device, the storage component configured to store configuration data associated with the language and translate signals received from the user input device, responsive to selective user interaction with the user input device, into codes indicative of language elements of the language, and

an interface coupled to the user input device and the storage component, the interface being configured to

(1) electrically provide the configuration data to the base device after the interchangeable keypad is mated with the base device, and

(2) electronically provide the codes to the base device after the interchangeable keypad is mated with the base device.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the language is a selected one of an alphanumeric language and a character-based language.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the user input device has a touch sensitive display, the touch sensitive display capable of rendering the plurality of keys as elements of the touch sensitive display.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the storage component is further configured to store a linguistic structure associated with the language, the structure having a plurality of character strings, at least some of which are words of the language, and/or menus and other components related to the language, and the interface is further configured to electrically provide the linguistic structure to the base device after the interchangeable keypad is mated with the base device.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the storage component is further configured to store predictive logic capable of predicting one or more of the character strings of the language structure based on one or more user actuations of at least one of the plurality of input keys, and the interface is further configured to electrically provide the predictive logic to the base device after the interchangeable keypad is mated with the base device.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the base device is one of a wireless mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a media player, a PC, a server, a set-top box or remote control, a game controller, an in-vehicle navigation console, medical equipment, a kiosk, or a copier.