Text-entry for a computing device

• US 9,292,082 B1
• Filed: 11/08/2011
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Patel, Nirmal, Starner, Thad Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Polo, Gustavo
• Application Number:
  US13/291,636
• Time in Patent Office: 1,596 Days
• Field of Search: 345/8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04802 3D-info-object: information is displayed on the internal or external surface of a three dimensional manipulable object, e.g. on the faces of a cube that can be rotated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Example method and systems for text-entry are disclosed. A method may involve displaying a user interface comprising a character line, the character line comprising a plurality of characters in a substantially linear arrangement. The method may then involve receiving a first input via a touch-sensitive input device, wherein the first input comprises a detected movement on a first portion of the touch-sensitive input device. Further, the method may involve, in response to receiving the first input, displaying an indication of a selected character. The method may then involve receiving a second input via the touch-sensitive input device, wherein the second input comprises a detected movement from the first portion to a second portion of the touch-sensitive input device and back to the first portion. The method may then involve displaying the selected character in a text-entry area of the user interface that is separate from the character line.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

displaying a user interface comprising a character line, the character line comprising a plurality of characters in a substantially linear arrangement;

receiving a first input via a touch-sensitive input device, wherein the first input comprises a detected movement on a first portion of the touch-sensitive input device;

in response to receiving the first input, displaying an indication of a selected character in the character line;

receiving a second input via the touch-sensitive input device, wherein the second input comprises a detected movement from the first portion to a second portion of the touch-sensitive input device and back to the first portion; and

in response to receiving the second input, displaying the selected character in a text-entry area of the user interface that is separate from the character line.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive input device is substantially rectangular, wherein the first and second portions are substantially rectangular, and wherein the first portion is located above the second portion.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first portion corresponds to a top half of the touch-sensitive input device, and wherein the second portion corresponds to a bottom half of the touch-sensitive input device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive input device further comprises a third portion, wherein the third portion is located between the first portion and the second portion, the method further comprising:

detecting movement on the third portion; and

responsive to detecting movement on the third portion, displaying an indication that the selected character is about to be displayed in the text-entry area.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein displaying the indication that the selected character is about to be displayed in the text-entry area comprises displaying the selected character as being depressed below other characters in the character line.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the touch-sensitive input device is substantially rectangular, wherein the first portion is located in a top half of the touch-sensitive input device, and wherein the second and third portions are located in a bottom half of the touch-sensitive input device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to detecting movement in the second portion, displaying in the user interface a word-completion suggestion;

receiving a third input via the touch-sensitive input device, wherein the third input comprises a detected movement in a defined direction on the second portion of the touch-sensitive input device; and

displaying the selected character along with the word-completion suggestion in the text-entry area.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive input device is a touch-screen device that displays the user interface.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive input device is disposed on a side of a wearable heads-up display.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the user interface is displayed on a display in the wearable heads-up display.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the wearable heads-up display is configured as eyeglasses, and the touch-sensitive input device is disposed on a side of a stem of the eyeglasses.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying an indication of the selected character comprises at least one of highlighting the selected character and displaying the selected character as raised above other characters in the character line.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

instructions for displaying a user interface comprising a character line, the character line comprising a plurality of characters in a substantially linear arrangement;

instructions for receiving a first input via a touch-sensitive input device, wherein the first input comprises a detected movement on a first portion of the touch-sensitive input device;

instructions for, in response to receiving the first input, displaying an indication of a selected character in the character line;

instructions for receiving a second input via the touch-sensitive input device, wherein the second input comprises a detected movement from the first portion to a second portion of the touch-sensitive input device and back to the first portion; and

instructions for, in response to receiving the second input, displaying the selected character in a text-entry area of the user interface that is separate from the character line.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions for detecting movement on a third portion of the touch-sensitive input device, wherein the third portion is located between the first portion and the second portion; and

instructions for, responsive to detecting movement on the third portion, displaying an indication that the selected character is about to be displayed in the text-entry area.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the touch-sensitive input device is substantially rectangular, wherein the first portion is located in a top half of the touch-sensitive input device, and wherein the second and third portions are located in a bottom half of the touch-sensitive input device.

16. A wearable computing system comprising:

a head-mounted display, wherein the head-mounted display is configured to provide a view of a real-world environment of the wearable computing system, wherein providing the view of the real-world environment comprises displaying computer-generated information and allowing visual perception of the real-world environment;

a display system, wherein the display system is configured to display a user interface comprising a character line, the character line comprising a plurality of characters in a substantially linear arrangement;

a touch-sensitive input device, wherein the touch-sensitive input device is configured to receive a first input via the touch-sensitive input device, wherein the first input comprises a detected movement on a first portion of the touch-sensitive input device;

wherein the display system is further configured to, in response to receiving the first input, display an indication of a selected character in the character line;

wherein the touch-sensitive input device is further configured to receive a second input via the touch-sensitive input device, wherein the second input comprises a detected movement from the first portion to a second portion of the touch-sensitive input device and back to the first portion; and

wherein the display system is further configured to, in response to receiving the second input, display the selected character in a text-entry area of the user interface that is separate from the character line.

17. The wearable computing system of claim 16, wherein the touch-sensitive input device is substantially rectangular, wherein the first and second portions are substantially rectangular, and wherein the first portion is located above the second portion.

18. The wearable computing system of claim 16, wherein the touch-sensitive input device further comprises a third portion, wherein the third portion is located between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the touch-sensitive input device is further configured to detect movement on the third portion, and wherein the display system is further configured to, responsive to the touch-sensitive input device detecting movement on the third portion, display an indication that the selected character is about to be displayed in the text-entry area.

19. The wearable computing system of claim 18, the touch-sensitive input device is substantially rectangular, wherein the first portion is located in a top half of the touch-sensitive input device, and wherein the second and third portions are located in a bottom half of the touch-sensitive input device.

20. The wearable computing system of claim 16, wherein the touch-sensitive input device is disposed on a side of the head-mounted display.