Text flow sensitive backspace key for bi-directional content

• US 9,335,837 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2011
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Li, Rui
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang-Hurst, Kathy
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON, DOUGLAS M
• Application Number:
  US13/316,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20130147707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/581, 382/309, 704/4, 715/256, 715/262, 715/264, 715/273, 715/809, 715/857, 717/117
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer program products for providing a text sensitive backspace key for bi-directional content are disclosed. Such systems, methods and computer program products provide a multi-stage text flow identification approach that combines desirable aspects of tracking a chronological position of typed characters as well as a cursor within bi-directional content. A directional orientation of a backspace key is thereafter manipulated on a keyboard that is both reliable and intuitive for users of a computing system. Thus, when a last-typed character, chronologically positioned immediately before the cursor, is a left-to-right (LTR) character (e.g., English language text), the backspace key is displayed in a first direction. When the last-typed character is a right-to-left (RTL) character (e.g., Hebrew language text), the backspace key is displayed in a second direction. Advantageously, the user visually learns which character will be deleted when the backspace key is pressed on the keyboard.

Claims

1. A method for providing a text flow sensitive backspace key for bi-directional content, the method executing on at least one processor of a computing device, comprising the steps of:

detecting placement of a cursor at an edge of bi-directional content between a left-to-right (LTR) character and a right-to-left (LTR) character displayed on a screen of an application executing on a computing device;

identifying which of the LTR and RTL characters is a last-typed character;

based on the identification, automatically orienting a visual indicia indicating a direction in which operation of a backspace key comprised in a keyboard deletes a character in the bi-directional content;

wherein said keyboard is one of;

a hardware keyboard coupled to the computing device; and

a software keyboard displayed on the screen of the application executing on the computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual indicia indicating a direction of operation of the backspace key points in a left direction on said keyboard if the identified last-typed character is a LTR character and points in a right direction on said keyboard if the identified last-typed character is a RTL character.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said RTL character and said LTR character are displayed in different languages.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said backspace key comprises an arrow label displayed thereon, and said arrow label points to the left when said last-typed character is a LTR character, and points to the right when said last-typed character is a RTL character.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a direction indicated by the indicia is automatically toggled between opposite directions when said cursor is moved between positions in the bi-directional content at which a last-typed character adjacent the cursor is a LTR character and a position in the bi-directional content at which a last-typed character adjacent the cursor is a RTL character.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a mobile telephone comprising:

an edit control; and

a memory communicatively coupled to said edit control;

wherein a character order of said bi-directional content is stored in said memory and managed by said edit control such that said identifying step (b) is performed by said edit control.

7. A computer having control logic stored therein for causing the computer to provide a text flow sensitive backspace key for bi-directional content, said control logic comprising:

first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to detect placement of a cursor at an edge of bi-directional content between a left-to-right (LTR) character and a right-to-left (LTR) character displayed on a screen of an application executing on the computer;

second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to identify which of the LTR and RTL characters is a last-typed character;

third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to, when said last-typed character is a LTR character, orient said backspace key in a first direction on a keyboard; and

fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to, when said last-typed character is a RTL character, orient said backspace key in a second direction on said keyboard.

8. The computer of claim 7, wherein said first direction points to a left direction on said keyboard and said second direction points to a right direction on said keyboard.

9. The computer of claim 7, wherein said first is axially opposed to said second direction on said keyboard.

10. The computer of claim 7, wherein said RTL character and said LTR character are displayed in different languages.

11. The computer of claim 7, wherein said backspace key comprises an arrow label displayed thereon, said arrow label being toggled between said first direction when said last-typed character is a LTR character, and said second direction when said last-typed character is a RTL character.

12. The computer of claim 7, wherein an orientation of said backspace key is automatically toggled between opposite directions when said cursor is moved between positions in the bi-directional content at which a last-typed character adjacent the cursor is a LTR character and a position in the bi-directional content at which a last-typed character adjacent the cursor is a RTL character.

13. The computer of claim 7, wherein the computer is a mobile telephone comprising:

an edit control; and

a memory communicatively coupled to said edit control;

wherein a character order of said bi-directional content is stored in said memory and managed by said edit control such that said second computer readable program code means is performed by said edit control.

14. A computer system for providing a text sensitive backspace key for bi-directional content, comprising:

means for detecting placement of a cursor at an edge of bi-directional content between a left-to-right (LTR) character and a right-to-left (LTR) character displayed on a screen of an application executing on the computing device;

means for identifying which of the LTR and RTL characters is a last-typed character;

means for orienting said backspace key in a first direction on a keyboard, when said last-typed character is a LTR character; and

means for orienting said backspace key in a second direction on said keyboard, when said last-typed character is a RTL character.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein said first direction points to a left direction on said keyboard, and said second direction points to a right direction on said keyboard.

16. The computer system of claim 14, wherein said first direction is axially opposed to said second direction on said keyboard.

17. The computer system of claim 14, wherein said backspace key comprises an arrow label displayed thereon, said arrow label being toggled between said first direction when said last-typed character is a LTR character, and said second direction when said last-typed character is a RTL character.

18. The computer system of claim 14, wherein said orientation of said backspace key is automatically toggled between opposite directions when the last-typed character adjacent said cursor position changes from one to the other of a LTR character and a RTL character.

19. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the computing device is a mobile telephone comprising:

an edit control; and

a memory communicatively coupled to said edit control;

wherein a character order of said bi-directional content is stored in said memory and managed by said edit control such that said means for identifying is performed by said edit control.