Set-top box assistant for text input method and device

• US 9,733,829 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2016
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cloud Network Technology Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Chih-Yao
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): NEWLIN, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US15/141,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20160370993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42212 Specific keyboard arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739

Abstract

A text input method applied in a set-top box assistant comprises displaying a virtual keyboard on a TV display device, receiving a first input instruction, from a remote controller, decoding the first input instruction and inputting a first character, and performing a text searching operation in a text library according to the first character. Automatically selected and confirmable candidate characters are displayed on the virtual keyboard according to the search result. Movement of the remote controller is tracked, movement speed V₁ of a focus point of the remote controller on the virtual keyboard is calculated and whether movement speed is greater than a preset speed affects the recognition of commands by the assistant. Movement speed of the focus point can auto-move the focus point to a second character and the second character can be confirmed as input. A text input device is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A text input method operable to be executed in a set-top box communicating with a remote controller, the method comprising:

displaying a virtual keyboard on a display device connecting to the set-top box;

receiving a first input instruction from the remote controller;

decoding the first input instruction and inputting a first character via a first virtual key of the virtual keyboard on the display device according to the first input instruction;

performing a text searching operation to a text library according to the first character;

displaying candidate characters on the virtual keyboard according to the search result;

detecting a movement track of the remote controller;

calculating a movement speed V₁ of a focus point of the remote controller on the virtual keyboard;

determining whether the movement speed V₁ is greater than a preset speed V;

when the movement speed V₁ is greater than the preset speed V, moving the focus point from the first virtual key corresponding to the first character to a second virtual key corresponding to a second character from the candidate characters, wherein a distance between the first virtual key and the second virtual key is not greater than a preset distance d; and

inputting the second character on which the focus point is located via the second virtual key.

2. The text input method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the searching step further comprises:

generating separate candidate characters associated with the first character by searching the text library according to use frequency of texts.

3. The text input method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the virtual keyboard on a display device further comprises:

pressing a button to trigger an enlargement function to enlarge a predefined area with M*N grids where the first character is located and releasing the button to input the first character.

4. The text input method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the preset speed V=((P₂−

P₁)*C₂*s/r)/t, the preset distance d=C₁*s/r, P₁ is a starting point of the focus point with respect to the movement track of the remote controller, P₂ is an ending point of the focus point with respect to the movement track of the remote controller, C₁ and C₂ are constants, s stands for a size of the display device, r denotes a resolution ratio set by the set-top box, and t denotes a period that the focus point moves from the point P₁ to the point P₂.

5. A text input device, comprising:

at least one processor;

a non-transitory storage system coupled to the at least one processor and configured to store one or more programs configured to be executed by the at least one processor, the one or more programs comprise instructions for;

displaying a virtual keyboard on a display device connecting to a set-top box;

receiving a first input instruction from a remote controller;

decoding the first input instruction and inputting a first character via a first virtual key of the virtual keyboard on the display device according to the first input instruction;

performing a text searching operation to a text library according to the first character;

displaying candidate characters on the virtual keyboard according to the search result;

detecting a movement track of the remote controller;

calculating a movement speed V₁ of a focus point of the remote controller on the virtual keyboard;

determining whether the movement speed V₁ of the focus point is greater than a preset speed V;

when the movement speed V₁ is greater than the preset speed V, moving the focus point from the first virtual key corresponding to the first character to a second virtual key corresponding to a second character from the candidate characters wherein a distance between the first virtual key and the second virtual key is not greater than a preset distance d; and

inputting the second character on which the focus point is located via the second virtual key.

6. The text input device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for:

generating separate candidate characters associated with the first character by searching the text library according to use frequency of texts.

7. The text input device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for:

pressing a button to trigger an enlargement function to enlarge a predefine area with M*N grids where the first character is located and releasing the button to input the first character.

8. The text input device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the preset speed V=((P₂−

P₁)*C₂*s/r)/t, and the preset distance d=C₁*s/r, P₁ is a starting point of the focus point with respect to the movement track the remote controller, P₂ is an ending point of the focus point with respect to the movement track of the remote controller, C₁ and C₂ are constants, s stands for a size of the display device, r denotes a resolution radio set by the set-top box, and t denotes a period that the focus point moves from the point P₁ to the point P₂.