Systems and methods for using entered text to access and process contextual information
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- at a touchscreen of a device,displaying a keyboard configured to receive text input for an active application;
receiving user contact including a continuous path traced on the displayed keyboard;
generating a signal based on the user contact; and
sending the generated signal to a processor; and
at a processor of the device,determining whether the received user contact comprises a command,wherein the user contact could be interpreted as text input or as a command, such that the determining includes resolving ambiguity without additional user input;
when the received user contact is determined not to comprise a command, then;
accepting the received user contact as text input for the active application; and
when the received user contact is determined to comprise a command, then;
not accepting the received user contact as text input for the active application;
identifying at least one of an implicit seed or an explicit seed;
executing a function associated with the command that includes sending the at least one seed to another application in response to the generated signal; and
outputting results of the executed function to the touchscreen.
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Abstract
A contextual keyboard allows users to bring in information not normally found on a keyboard, as though that information had been typed in afresh. It also allows users to take information entered on the keyboard, or simply available on the screen, or implicit in information on the screen, and perform actions on it, such as calling a phone number, entering contact or calendar information into a local database on the device, or using the information as search terms in an online query. The central novelty of this invention is moving the functionality into the keyboard layer, so as to be universally accessible on the device.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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at a touchscreen of a device, displaying a keyboard configured to receive text input for an active application; receiving user contact including a continuous path traced on the displayed keyboard; generating a signal based on the user contact; and sending the generated signal to a processor; and at a processor of the device, determining whether the received user contact comprises a command, wherein the user contact could be interpreted as text input or as a command, such that the determining includes resolving ambiguity without additional user input; when the received user contact is determined not to comprise a command, then; accepting the received user contact as text input for the active application; and when the received user contact is determined to comprise a command, then; not accepting the received user contact as text input for the active application; identifying at least one of an implicit seed or an explicit seed; executing a function associated with the command that includes sending the at least one seed to another application in response to the generated signal; and outputting results of the executed function to the touchscreen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 21, 22)
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12. A device comprising:
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a touchscreen configured to, display a keyboard configured to receive text input for an active application; receive user contact including a continuous path traced on the displayed keyboard; generate a signal based on a user contact; and send the generated signal to a processor; and a processor configured to, determine whether the received user contact comprises a command, wherein the user contact could be interpreted as text input for the active application or as a command, such that the determining includes resolving ambiguity without additional user input; when the received user contact is determined not to comprise a command, then; accept the received user contact as text input for the active application; and when the received user contact is determined to comprise a command, then; not accept the received user contact as text input for the active application; identify at least one of an implicit seed or an explicit seed; execute a function associated with the command that includes sending the at least one seed to another application in response to the generated signal; and output results of the executed function to the touchscreen. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification