Adaptive virtual keyboard for handheld device

• US 9,013,423 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2009
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Ferren, Bran
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jr., Kenneth B
• Application Number:
  US13/376,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20120075194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,937 Days
• Field of Search: 345168-173
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/0065 having a beam-folding prism or mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/009 having zoom function
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 3/00 Focusing arrangements of general interest for cameras, projectors or printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1011 Aiming
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10811 Focalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/16 Human faces, e.g. facial parts, sketches or expressions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/165 : using facial parts and geometric relationships
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 : Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/20 : Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition recognition of facial expressions G06V40/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/45 : Detection of the body part being alive
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 : using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 : with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 : including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 : using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 : using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 : for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 : Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

In various embodiments, the size, shape, and arrangement of keys on a virtual keyboard may be determined based on touchscreen contacts made by the user. Further, the actual contact patch made by the user may be analyzed to interpret which point of contact was intended, and other factors such as spelling and context may also be considered. These factors may be determined based on a calibration session and/or on continuing inputs during operation of the keyboard, and applied to future operational interpretations of the touchscreen contacts.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a handheld electronic device having a touchscreen with a virtual keyboard, wherein the virtual keyboard has first and second arc-shaped tiered rows of keys;

wherein the device is to perform a keyboard calibration procedure for the virtual keyboard, the calibration procedure including;

prompting a user to draw a first calibration arc on the touchscreen with the user'"'"'s thumb;

detecting the first calibration arc drawn on a touchscreen; and

generating the first row of keys for the virtual keyboard along the first calibration arc drawn by the user'"'"'s thumb.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the virtual keyboard has two portions, the first portion having at least the first and second rows of keys arranged for operation by one of a user'"'"'s thumbs, and the second portion having at least a third arc-shaped row of keys arranged for operation by the user'"'"'s other thumb, when the user is gripping the device with both right and left hands.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one item selected from the following list is programmable by user action:

a) a distance between the first and second rows;

b) a distance between adjacent keys in a row; and

c) which character is assigned to each key.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a display of a key on the touchscreen is to be shifted to a position visible to a user when the key is activated by a touch.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the calibration procedure further comprises generating the second row of keys in relation to the first row of keys.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

detecting the first calibration arc includes determining a width of a thumbprint in multiple locations on the first calibration arc; and

the keyboard calibration procedure for the virtual keyboard further includes setting a width between keys of the virtual keyboard based on the determined width of the thumbprint.

6. A method, comprising:

entering a calibration mode for a virtual keyboard of a handheld electronic device, the calibration mode including;

prompting a user to draw a first calibration arc on a touchscreen of the device with the user'"'"'s thumb;

detecting the first calibration arc drawn on a touchscreen; and

generating a first row of soft keys for the virtual keyboard along the first calibration arc.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising generating a second row of soft keys having a tiered relation with the first row of soft keys.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

detecting a second calibration arc drawn on the touchscreen; and

generating a second row of soft keys for the virtual keyboard along the second calibration arc.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second calibration arcs are tiered with respect to each other.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the first and second calibration arcs are drawn by the user using different thumbs; and

the first and second calibration arcs are not tiered with respect to each other.

17. The method of claim 6, wherein:

detecting the first calibration arc includes determining a width of a thumbprint in multiple locations on the first calibration arc; and

the calibration mode for the virtual keyboard further includes setting a width between keys of the virtual keyboard based on the determined width of the thumbprint.

11. An article comprising

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that contains instructions, which when executed by one or more processors result in performing operations comprising:

entering a calibration mode for a virtual keyboard of a handheld electronic device, the calibration mode including;

prompting a user to draw a first calibration arc on a touchscreen of the device with the user'"'"'s thumb;

detecting the first calibration arc drawn on a touchscreen; and

generating a first row of soft keys for the virtual keyboard along the first calibration arc.

12. The article of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise generating a second row of soft keys having a tiered relation with the first row of soft keys.

13. The article of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting a second calibration arc drawn on the touchscreen; and

generating a second row of soft keys for the virtual keyboard along the second calibration arc.

14. The article of claim 13, wherein the first and second calibration arcs are tiered with respect to each other.

15. The article of claim 13, wherein:

the first and second calibration arcs are drawn by the user using different thumbs; and

the first and second calibration arcs are not tiered with respect to each other.

18. The article of claim 11, wherein:

detecting the first calibration arc includes determining a width of a thumbprint in multiple locations on the first calibration arc; and

the calibration mode for the virtual keyboard further includes setting a width between keys of the virtual keyboard based on the determined width of the thumbprint.