Method for dynamic key size prediction with touch displays and an electronic device using the method

• US 20050071778A1
• Filed: 09/26/2003
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Tokkonen, Timo
• Application Number:
  US10/672,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20050071778A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/822
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1673 Arrangements for projecting a virtual keyboard
• 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: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for inputting user commands into an electronic device (1), which uses dynamic I/O input arrangement. After each input command the most potential next input command is emphasized by enlarging the size of a key of the command (23, 24, and 25). The invention also relates to a cellular terminal or PDA utilizing the method and software means to carry out the invention.

Claims

1. A method for using an electronic device in which method

a user controls said electronic device by inputting a separate information unit by using input elements of a dynamic I/O arrangement belonging to a user interface of the electronic device

after each input the information unit is identified and it is verified if it is possible to predict which will be a next information unit to be input,

if the prediction of the information unit is successful at least one of input elements in the user interface of the electronic device is emphasized.

2. The method according to claim 1, whereby the input of the information unit is fulfilled by a press of a separate key belonging to the user interface.

3. The method according to claim 1, where the dynamic I/O arrangement comprises a touch display or a projection keyboard.

4. The method according to claim 3, where a size of an input element on the touch display is enlarged if the input element is predicted to be used next.

5. The method according to claim 4, where the size of a separate input element is determined by the predicted probability of the use of the input element.

6. An electronic device comprising

a means for processing and saving information

a means for inputting an information unit in the electronic device by an input element of a dynamic I/O arrangement

a means for assessing, whether it is possible after the input of the information unit to predict which is the next information unit to be input and

a means for emphasizing the predicted input element in the dynamic I/O arrangement.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, where the input element is defined by an area on a touch display or a projection keyboard.

8. The electronic device according to claim 7, where the input element on the touch display or projection keyboard is enlarged, if the input element is predicted to be used next.

9. The electronic device according to claim 8, where a size of a separate input element is defined on the basis how probable it is to be used next.

10. The electronic device according to claim 9, which is a cellular terminal or PDA.

11. A computer program saved in an electronic device for controlling the electronic device, which software means comprises

a phase where an information unit, which is input into the electronic device via an input element, is identified

a phase where is predicted the most probable information unit to be input next

a phase where is decided if a size of the input element of the predicted information unit is emphasized or not, and

a phase where the input element of the predicted information unit is emphasized after the positive decision.

12. The computer program according to claim 11, where said input of the information unit in the electronic device is fulfilled by a separate key press in a user interface.

13. The computer program according to claim 11, where the emphasizing of the input element is fulfilled by enlarging the size of the input element.

14. The computer program according to claim 11 saved on an information carrier.