Keyboardless text entry

• US 9,063,580 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2011
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IDHL Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hillcrest Laboratories Incorporated (CEVA Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hunleth, Frank A., Simpkins, Daniel, Wroblewski, Frank A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Linh K
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, TAM T
• Application Number:
  US13/079,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20120119995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 715/834, 715/835, 715/700, 715/841, 715/788, 715/780, 715856-858, 345/156, 345/168, 345/184
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• 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: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0122 the input and the output signals having different aspect ratios

Abstract

Keyboardless text entry methods and systems are described. Various display tools are used in conjunction with, for example, pointing, scrolling and/or clicking actions to enter text into an interface. One display tool is a pie widget shape, another display tool uses a box like shape containing other box like shapes which are scaled according to a proportionate chance of containing the desirable selection.

Claims

1. An interface input method comprising the steps of:

displaying an entirety of two rows of keys proximate an edge of a display screen, each key being associated with one character, wherein said two rows of keys comprises twenty-six alphabetical letters, a back button, a blank button, a backspace button, and an expand button;

selecting said one character by positioning a cursor over said key associated with said one character, wherein said cursor is a movable overlay, movable in any direction;

displaying said one character associated with said key in a text box on said display screen; and

displaying candidate items for selection in a display area beside said two rows of keys, wherein said candidate items for selection are chosen based on text displayed in said text box,

wherein said one character is automatically selected with an expiration of a timer by positioning said cursor over said key associated with said one character and waiting for said expiration of said timer,

further wherein a timer value of the timer is automatically adjustable based on user behavior,

further wherein selection of said expand button results in a display of one or more extra rows of additional characters in addition to said two rows of keys already displayed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said displayed candidate items are images associated with movies.

3. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing a program which, when executed, performs the steps of:

displaying an entirety of two rows of keys proximate an edge of a display screen, each key being associated with one character, wherein said two rows of keys comprises twenty-six alphabetical letters, a back button, a blank button, a backspace button, and an expand button;

selecting said one character by positioning a cursor over said key associated with said one character, wherein said cursor is a movable overlay, movable in any direction;

displaying said one character associated with said key in a text box on said display screen; and

displaying candidate items for selection in a display area beside said two rows of keys, wherein said candidate items for selection are chosen based on text displayed in said text box,

wherein said one character is automatically selected with an expiration of a timer by positioning said cursor over said key associated with said one character and waiting for said expiration of said timer,

further wherein a timer value of the timer is automatically adjustable based on user behavior,

further wherein selection of said expand button results in a display of one or more extra rows of additional characters in addition to said two rows of keys already displayed.

4. A system for keyboardless text entry comprising a memory device and a processor device, wherein said system is configured to:

display an entirety of two rows of keys proximate an edge of a display screen, each key being associated with one character, wherein said two rows of keys comprises twenty-six alphabetical letters, a back button, a blank button, a backspace button, and an expand button;

select said one character by positioning a cursor over said key associated with said one character, wherein said cursor is a movable overlay, movable in any direction;

display said one character associated with said key in a text box on said display screen; and

display candidate items for selection in a display area beside said two rows of keys, wherein said candidate items for selection are chosen based on text displayed in said text box,

wherein said one character is automatically selected with an expiration of a timer by positioning said cursor over said key associated with said one character and waiting for said expiration of said timer, further wherein a timer value of the timer is automatically adjustable based on user behavior,

further wherein selection of said expand button results in a display of one or more extra rows of additional characters in addition to said two rows of keys already displayed.