Method and apparatus for providing character input interface

• US 9,535,605 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2015
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Se Hwan, Park, Sung Wook, Kim, Ji Hoon, Lee, Ji Hoon
• Primary Examiner(s): Sternbane, Larry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Azari, Sepehr
• Application Number:
  US14/935,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20160062650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/018 Input/output arrangements for oriental characters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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

A method and an apparatus are provided for providing a character input interface in a terminal having a touchscreen. A single keyboard is displayed in a keyboard area of the touchscreen. A first keyboard and a second keyboard are simultaneously displayed in place of the single keyboard in the keyboard area, upon detecting selection of a key on the single keyboard. At least one of the first keyboard and the second keyboard includes a plurality of character-type selection keys, and at least one of the plurality of character-type selection keys includes a language selection key. A controlling unit of the terminal changes a type of characters displayed on one of the first keyboard and the second keyboard, upon detecting selection of one of the plurality of character-type selection keys on the one of the first keyboard and the second keyboard.

Claims

1. A method for providing a character input interface in an electronic device having a touchscreen, the method comprising:

displaying a character input area, a first keyboard, and a second keyboard on the touchscreen, wherein the first keyboard and the second keyboard are displayed in a keyboard area and comprise a first type of character keys and a second type of character keys, respectively, and wherein the first keyboard comprises a plurality of character-type selection keys comprising a language selection key for selecting a type of character keys for a spoken language;

replacing the first type of character keys of the first keyboard with a third type of character keys while maintaining the second type of character keys of the second keyboard, based on an input for one of the plurality of character-type selection keys in the first keyboard, wherein the first, second, and third types of character keys are different; and

displaying a plurality of characters in the character input area, wherein one of the plurality of characters is inputted with a character key of the second type of character keys and another of the plurality of characters is inputted with a character key of the third type of character keys.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of character-type selection keys are maintained after replacing the first type of character keys with the third type of character keys.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the spoken language, selected with the language selection key, is different from a spoken language for the second keyboard.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein an area for displaying the first type of character keys is different from an area for displaying the third type of character keys.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first keyboard and the second keyboard are disposed side-by-side and are oriented in a same direction.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying characters in the character input area,

wherein the characters are inputted with at least one character key of the first type of character keys and at least one character key of the second type of character keys.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing a location of at least one of the first keyboard and the second keyboard, based on another touch and move input detected in the keyboard area displayed on the touchscreen.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying, in the keyboard area, the first keyboard with a size changed based on a touch and move input in the keyboard area.

9. An electronic device for providing a character input interface, the electronic device comprising:

a memory storing instructions; and

a processor configured to execute the stored instructions to;

control to provide a first keyboard and a second keyboard on a touchscreen of the electronic device, wherein the first keyboard and the second keyboard are provided in a keyboard area and comprise a first type of character keys and a second type of character keys, respectively, and wherein the first keyboard comprises a plurality of character-type selection keys comprising a language selection key for selecting a type of character keys for a spoken language,

control to replace the first type of character keys of the first keyboard with a third type of character keys while maintaining the second type of character keys of the second keyboard, based on an input for one of the plurality of character-type selection keys in the first keyboard, wherein the first, second, and third types of character keys are different, and

control to provide a plurality of characters in a character input area provided on the touchscreen, wherein one of the plurality of characters is inputted with a character key of the second type of character keys and another of the plurality of characters is inputted with a character key of the third type of character keys.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to execute the stored instructions further to control to maintain the plurality of character-type selection keys after replacing the first type of character keys of the first keyboard with the third type of character keys.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the spoken language, selected with the language selection key, is different from a spoken language for the second keyboard.

12. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein an area for providing the first type of character keys is different from an area for providing the third type of character keys.

13. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first keyboard and the second keyboard are disposed side-by-side and are oriented in a same direction.

14. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to execute the stored instructions further to control to provide characters in the character input area displayed on the touchscreen, and wherein the characters are inputted with at least one character key of the first type of character keys and at least one character key of the second type of character keys.

15. The electronic device of claim 9, the processor is configured to execute the stored instructions further to control to change a location of at least one of the first keyboard and the second keyboard based on another touch and move input in the keyboard area displayed on the touchscreen.

16. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to control to provide, in the keyboard area, the first keyboard with a size changed based on a touch and move input in the keyboard area.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having recorded instructions executable by a processor of an electronic device to cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

controlling to provide a first keyboard and a second keyboard on a touchscreen of the electronic device, wherein the first keyboard and the second keyboard are provided in a keyboard area and comprise a first type of character keys and a second type of character keys, respectively, and wherein the first keyboard further comprises a plurality of character-type selection keys comprising a language selection key for selecting a type of character keys for a spoken language;

controlling to replace the first type of character keys of the first keyboard with a third type of character keys while maintaining the second type of character keys of the second keyboard, based on an input for one of the plurality of character-type selection keys in the first keyboard, wherein the first, second, and third types of character keys are different; and

controlling to provide a plurality of characters in a character input area provided on the touchscreen, wherein one of the plurality of characters is inputted with a character key of the second type of character keys and another of the plurality of characters is inputted with a character key of the third type of character keys.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the plurality of character-type selection keys are maintained after replacing the first type of character keys of the first keyboard with the third type of character keys.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the spoken language, selected with the language selection key, is different from a spoken language for the second keyboard.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein an area for providing the first type of character keys is different from an area for providing the third type of character keys.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the first keyboard and the second keyboard are disposed side-by-side and are oriented in a same direction.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises controlling to provide characters in the character input area, the characters inputted with at least one character key of the first type of character keys and at least one character key of the second type of character keys.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein a location of at least one of the first keyboard and the second keyboard is changed based on another touch and move input in the keyboard area displayed on the touchscreen.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising controlling to provide, in the keyboard area, the first keyboard with a size changed based on a touch and move input in the keyboard area.

25. A method for providing a character input interface performed by a processor of an electronic device, the method comprising:

controlling to provide a first keyboard and a second keyboard on a touchscreen of the electronic device, wherein the first keyboard and the second keyboard are provided in a keyboard area and comprise a first type of character keys and a second type of character keys, respectively, and wherein the first keyboard further comprises a plurality of character-type selection keys comprising a language selection key for selecting a type of character keys for a spoken language;

controlling to replace the first type of character keys of the first keyboard with a third type of character keys while maintaining the second type of character keys of the second keyboard, based on an input for one of the plurality of character-type selection keys in the first keyboard, wherein the first, second, and third types of character keys are different; and

controlling to provide a plurality of characters in a character input area provided on the touch screen, wherein one of the plurality of characters is inputted with a character key of the second type of character keys and another of the plurality of characters is inputted with a character key of the third type of character keys.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the character-type selection keys are maintained after replacing the first type of character keys of the first keyboard with the third type of character keys.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the spoken language selected with the language selection key is different from a spoken language for the second keyboard.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein an area for providing the first type of character keys is different from an area for providing the third type of character keys.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the first keyboard and the second keyboard are disposed side-by-side and are oriented in a same direction on the touchscreen.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising controlling to provide characters in the character input area, the characters inputted with at least one character key of the first type of character keys and at least one character key of the second type of character keys.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein a location of at least one of the first keyboard and the second keyboard is changed based on another touch and move input in the keyboard area displayed on the touchscreen.

32. The method of claim 25, further comprising controlling to provide, in the keyboard area, the first keyboard with a size changed based on a touch and move input in the keyboard area.