Predictive sensitized keypad

• US 9,122,393 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Causey, Mark Edward, Howard, Jeffrey Norbert, Smoak, Andrew Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Bibbins, Latanya
• Application Number:
  US12/571,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20110074704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,162 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/169, 345/173, 715/773, 715/816
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• 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

Abstract

Devices and methods are disclosed which relate to improving the efficiency of text input by generating a dynamic virtual keyboard. Disclosed examples display a soft keyboard on a touchscreen of a text-entry device. The touchscreen works with the soft keyboard as a form of text input. Keyboard logic on the text-entry device is programmed to change the sensitivity of the footprint of keys surrounding a predicted key or keys, based upon the prior entry. The keyboard logic assigns a prediction value to each key based on a statistical probability that the key will be entered next. The touchscreen displays a dynamic virtual keyboard based on these prediction values. Enhancements include reducing the sensitivity of the footprint of keys relative to their prediction value. For instance, if a key is very unlikely to be the next intended key pressed, the footprint of the key will only respond to a key press of greater force than a key which is likely to be entered next.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing a keyboard logic that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising;

displaying a questionnaire having a first visible key and a second visible key, the first visible key associated with a first footprint and the second visible key associated with a second footprint, the first footprint associated with a first sensitivity and the second footprint associated with a second sensitivity, wherein the first sensitivity and the second sensitivity are substantially similar prior to receiving a selection of the first visible key, the first visible key associated with a first question and the second visible key associated with a second question,

receiving the selection of the first visible key, wherein the selection of the first visible key affirms the first question,

assigning, in response to receiving the selection of the first visible key, a prediction value to the second visible key based on a probability that the second question associated with the second visible key will be affirmed via selection of the second visible key after selection of the first visible key affirming the first question associated with the first visible key, and

desensitizing the second sensitivity of the second footprint associated with the second visible key based on the prediction value, wherein desensitizing the second sensitivity of the second footprint associated with the second visible key comprises altering a force required to select the second visible key.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the transceiver uses cellular RF or WiFi.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first question is associated with an age of a user and the second question is associated with a medical condition, and wherein desensitizing the second sensitivity of the second footprint associated with the second visible key indicates that the probability that the user has the medical condition, based on affirmation of the first question associated with the age of the user, is low.

5. A method comprising:

displaying, by a device comprising a processor, a questionnaire having a first visible key and a second visible key, the first visible key associated with a first footprint and the second visible key associated with a second footprint, the first footprint associated with a first sensitivity and the second footprint associated with a second sensitivity, wherein the first sensitivity and the second sensitivity are substantially similar prior to receiving a selection of the first visible key, the first visible key associated with a first question and the second visible key associated with a second question;

receiving, by the device, the selection of the first visible key, wherein the selection of the first visible key affirms the first question;

assigning, by the device in response to receiving the selection of the first visible key, a prediction value to the second visible key based on a probability that the second question associated with the second visible key will be affirmed via selection of the second visible key after selection of the first visible key affirming the first question associated with the first visible key; and

desensitizing, by the device, the second sensitivity of the second footprint associated with the second visible key based on the prediction value, wherein desensitizing the second sensitivity of the second footprint associated with the second visible key comprises altering a force required to select the second visible key.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising resetting the second sensitivity of the second footprint associated with the second visible key to be substantially similar to the first sensitivity of the first footprint associated with the first visible key.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first question is associated with an age of a user and the second question is associated with a medical condition, and wherein desensitizing the second sensitivity of the second footprint associated with the second visible key indicates that the probability that the user has the medical condition, based on affirmation of the first question associated with the age of the user, is low.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

displaying a questionnaire having a first visible key and a second visible key, the first visible key associated with a first footprint and the second visible key associated with a second footprint, the first footprint associated with a first sensitivity and the second footprint associated with a second sensitivity, wherein the first sensitivity and the second sensitivity are substantially similar prior to receiving a selection of the first visible key, the first visible key associated with a first question and the second visible key associated with a second question;

receiving the selection of the first visible key, wherein the selection of the first visible key affirms the first question;

assigning, in response to receiving the selection of the first visible key, a prediction value to the second visible key based on a probability that the second question associated with the second visible key will be affirmed via selection of the second visible key after selection of the first visible key affirming the first question associated with the first visible key; and

desensitizing the second sensitivity of the second footprint associated with the second visible key based on the prediction value, wherein desensitizing the second sensitivity of the second footprint associated with the second visible key comprises altering a force required to select the second visible key.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise resetting the second sensitivity of the second footprint associated with the second visible key to be substantially similar to the first sensitivity of the first footprint associated with the second visible key.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first question is associated with an age of a user and the second question is associated with a medical condition, and wherein desensitizing the second sensitivity of the second footprint associated with the second visible key indicates that the probability that the user has the medical condition, based on affirmation of the first question associated with the age of the user, is low.