Handwriting manipulation for conducting a search over multiple databases

• US 8,869,070 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Singh, Amanjot
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Matt
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAPANESE, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US12/346,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20100169841A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,121 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 715/863
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9032 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method and system is provided for allowing a user of a multifunctional device to search information without going through several menu/button manipulations. More specifically, a multifunctional device comprises a user screen area including a touch sensitive layer to receive user input in order to initiate a search over several local and/or remote databases. The user is allowed to input a free-style handwriting query on a screen of a device to look up information, such as contact information, available applications, wallpapers, ringtones, photos, call logs, etc. After conducting a search, the device presents the search results to the user in such a way that the user can start an intended operation by selecting a search result, such as making a call, starting an application, etc.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for a handwriting-initiated search wherein the computer implemented method is executed on a multifunctional device, the computer implemented method comprising:

receiving a user input on a touch sensitive input unit of the multifunctional device;

determining whether the received user input is a handwriting input on the touch sensitive input unit,

wherein the handwriting input is differentiated from a selection of a Graphic User Interface (GUI) object,

wherein the user input is received in an area of the touch sensitive input unit that does not exclusively receive handwriting inputs; and

wherein the user input is determined to be a handwriting input when more than one GUI objects that are unrelated to an input of handwriting are contacted as a result of the user input;

upon determination of the handwriting input;

processing the handwriting input to determine one or more matching characters;

conducting a search over two or more databases based on the one or more matching characters,

wherein the two or more databases include at least two different types of data;

obtaining search results from the conducted search; and

presenting the search results,

wherein the presented search results are selectable by the user for performing an action associated with a search result.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user input is determined to be a handwriting input when the user starts the user input in the area that does not exclusively receive handwriting input.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user input is determined to be a handwriting input when a percentage of the user input in the area that does not exclusively receive handwriting input is more than a threshold.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user input is determined to be a handwriting input if no GUI object is contacted as a result of the user input.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the action associated with the search result includes:

a) establishing a call connection to a contact relating to the search result,

b) executing an application associated with the search result,

c) presenting information relating to the search result, or

d) establishing a connection to a network relating to the search result.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein conducting a search over databases includes applying user specified search criteria.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein conducting a search over databases includes identifying database entries that include at least one keyword starting with a matching character.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a user selection of a search result, wherein in response to the user selection of a search result, an action associated with the search result is performed.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the databases searched include at least one from contact information, application information, wallpaper information, media information, call history information, text and voice message information, browsing history information, and ringtone information.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising, before presenting search results, suspending an application running on the multifunctional device.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 10, wherein a window displaying the suspended application runs in the background and the suspended application is resumed after a window displaying the search results is closed.

12. A computing device for performing a handwriting-initiated search, the computing device comprising:

a touch sensitive input unit for receiving a user input,

wherein the user input is received in an area of the touch sensitive input that does not exclusively receive handwriting inputs;

at least one memory unit for storing a plurality of databases;

a processor operable to;

determine whether the received user input is a handwriting input on the touch sensitive input unit,

wherein the handwriting input is differentiated from a selection of the GUI object, and

wherein the user input is determined to be a handwriting input when the user input contacts more than one GUI objects that are unrelated to an input of handwriting;

in response to the handwriting input, process the handwriting input to identify one or more matching characters;

conduct a search over two or more databases based on the one or more matching characters,

wherein the two or more databases include at least two different types of data;

obtain search results; and

formulate a graphical user interface displaying the search results; and

a display unit for displaying the formulated graphical user interface, wherein each displayed search result is selectable by the user for performing an action associated with the search result.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the processor is operable to

suspend an application running on the computing device, and

lock a first window of the computing device that displays the suspended application while the user handwriting input is received from the user.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the first window runs in the background and the suspended application is resumed after the formulated graphical user interface is closed.

15. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the user input is determined to be a handwriting input when the user input has been started from the area that does not exclusively receive handwriting inputs.

16. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the processor is operable to receive the user input for a predetermined time when the user input has been started from the area that does not exclusively receive handwriting input.

17. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the processor is operable to apply user specified search criteria.

18. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the processor is operable to find database entries that include at least one keyword starting with the one or more matching characters.

19. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the processor is operable to receive user selection of a search result, wherein, in response to the user selection of a search result, an action associated with the search result is performed.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions encoded thereon to conduct a search based on a handwritten search query, wherein the instructions, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to:

receive a user input through a first window displayed on a touch sensitive screen of the computing device,

wherein a selectable menu object is selectable within the first window;

determine whether the received user input is a handwritten search query or selection of the selectable menu object,

wherein the user input is determined to be a handwritten search query when the user input contacts more than one Graphical User Interface (GUI) objects displayed on the first window that are unrelated to the input of handwriting;

in response to receipt of the handwritten search query;

conduct a search over two or more databases based on the handwritten search query,

wherein the two or more databases include at least two different types of data; and

present a second window displaying search results obtained from the search over the first window,

wherein the displayed search results are selectable by the user for performing an action associated with a search result.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the two or more databases include at least one of contact information, application information, wallpaper information, media information, call history information, text and voice message information, browsing history information, and ringtone information.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the user input is determined to be a handwritten search query when the received user input has started from an area displayed in the first window that does not exclusively receive handwriting inputs.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the area has no selectable menu object displayed.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the selectable menu object is a GUI object, an icon, a menu option, a hypertext link, or a command button that is selectable by the user input through the touch sensitive screen.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the user input is determined to be a handwritten search query when the received user input covers a threshold percentage of the first window.