Data entry for personal computing devices

• US 20050223308A1
• Filed: 05/19/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 602531 British Columbia Limited (WordLogic Corporation)
• Original Assignee: 602531 British Columbia Limited (WordLogic Corporation)
• Inventors: Gunn, Harold David, Chapman, John
• Application Number:
  US11/134,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20050223308A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/261
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• 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

In one aspect of the present invention the user can rapidly enter and search for text using a data entry system through a combination of entering one or more characters on a digitally displayed keyboard with a pointing device and using a search list to obtain a list of completion candidates. The user can activate the search list to obtain a list of completion candidates at any time while entering a partial text entry with the data entry system. When the search list is active, a list of completion candidates is displayed on a graphical user interface for the user to select from and the user can perform one of several actions. The user can deactivate the search list and return to modifying the current partial text entry and other text. The user can select one of the completion candidates in the search list and use the selected completion candidate to replace the partial text entry which the user is currently entering. When the user deactivates the interactive search list, the user can immediately continue adding to or modifying the current partial text entry being entered, and may re-invoke the search list to further search for completion candidates based on the modified partial text entry. In the second case, the selected completion candidate is used to replace the partial text entry that the user is currently entering, and the data entry system begins monitoring for a new partial text entry from the user.

Claims

1-85. -85. (canceled)

86. A method of rapidly entering text into a personal computing device with a pointing device, the method comprising:

(a) generating a partial text entry containing one or more characters selected from a digital keyboard with a pointing device;

(b) activating an interactive search list containing a list of all possible completion candidates found in a dictionary according to a predefined metric and based on the partial text entry;

(c) if a completion candidate appears in the interactive search list matching a desired complete entry for the partial text entry, selecting by gesture the completion candidate and indicating completion of the partial text entry in the text; and

(d) if a partially successful completion candidate appears in the interactive search list, selecting by gesture the partially successful completion candidate from the interactive search list and initiating a further automated search to obtain and display a refined list of completion candidates in the interactive search list for selection or further searching.

118. The method of claim 86, wherein selecting by gesture the partially successful completion candidate from the interactive search list and initiating a further automated search to obtain and display a refined list of completion candidates in the interactive search list for selection or further searching, further comprises obtaining the refined list of completion candidates when the partially successful completion candidate remains selected for a predetermined time limit.

119. The method of claim 118, further comprising:

(a) displaying simultaneously the digital keyboard and the interactive search list in a graphical user interface while the digital keyboard is in use; and

(b) displaying the interactive search list while not displaying the digital keyboard within the graphical user interface in response to obtaining the refined list of completion candidates.

87-92. -92. (canceled)

93. A method of processing text entered into a personal computing device, the method comprising:

(a) in response to receiving a partial text entry, obtaining a set of completion candidates based on the partial text entry and displaying the set of completion candidates in a search list;

(b) obtaining a modified set of completion candidates for display in the search list in response to and based on either (i) selection of a completion candidate from the search list or (ii) modification of the partial text entry via a digital keyboard, wherein a selected completion candidate from the search list is used to obtain the modified set of completion candidates when the selected completion candidate remains selected for a predetermined time limit; and

(c) displaying the modified set of completion candidates in the search list for user selection.

94. The method of claim 93, further comprising completing the partial text entry based on selection of a completion candidate displayed in the search list.

95. The method of claim 93, further comprising displaying in a graphical user interface a graphical indication when at least one additional completion candidate beginning with the partial text entry is available in addition to the completion candidates displayed in the search list.

96. The method of claim 93, further comprising displaying completion candidates in the search list with the part of each completion candidate matching the partial text entry displayed in a manner different from the remaining part of each of the completion candidates displayed in the search list.

97. The method of claim 93, further comprising displaying an individual completion candidate in substantially the same position in the search list each time the individual completion candidate is displayed in the search list.

98. The method of claim 93, further comprising displaying simultaneously both the digital keyboard and the search list.

99. The method of claim 93, further comprising displaying simultaneously the search list and the digital keyboard in a user interface while the digital keyboard is in use.

100. The method of claim 99, further comprising replacing the digital keyboard with the search list in response to receiving a user input signal associated with activating the search list.

101. The method of claim 100, further comprising replacing the search list with the digital keyboard in response to receiving a user input signal associated with terminating use of the search list once activated.

103. A computer-readable medium having stored instructions for use in the execution of the method of claim 93.

104. A system for processing text entered into a personal computing device, the system comprising:

(a) means for obtaining a set of completion candidates, based on a partial text entry, in response to receiving the partial text entry;

(b) means for displaying the set of completion candidates in a search list;

(c) means for obtaining a modified set of completion candidates for display in the search list in response to and based on either (i) selection of a completion candidate from the search list or (ii) modification of the partial text entry via a digital keyboard, comprising means for obtaining the modified set of completion candidates when a selected completion candidate in the search list remains selected for a predetermined time limit; and

(d) means for displaying the modified set of completion candidates in the search list for user selection.

105. The system of claim 104, further comprising means for displaying completion candidates in the search list with the part of each completion candidate matching the partial text entry displayed in a manner different from the remaining part of each of the completion candidates displayed in the search list.

106. The system of claim 104, further comprising means for displaying simultaneously both the digital keyboard and the search list.

107. The system of claim 104, further comprising means for displaying simultaneously the search list and the digital keyboard in a user interface while the digital keyboard is in use.

108. The system of claim 107, further comprising means for replacing the digital keyboard with the search list in response to receiving a user input signal associated with activating the search list.

109. The system of claim 108, further comprising means for replacing the search list with the digital keyboard in response to receiving a user input signal associated with terminating use of the search list once activated.

110. The system of claim 104, further comprising:

(a) means for displaying simultaneously the digital keyboard and the search list in a graphical user interface while the digital keyboard is in use; and

(b) means for displaying the search list while not displaying the digital keyboard in the graphical user interface in response to obtaining the modified set of completion candidates for display in the search list based on the selected completion candidate.

111. A method of processing an input string at least partially entered into a personal computing device with a pointing device, the method comprising:

(a) performing a search of a set of completion candidates to locate a plurality of possible completion candidates for completing the input string in response to either a prior located possible completion candidate or a character selectable by a user; and

(b) displaying at least one of;

(i) the plurality of possible completion candidates in a search list; and

(ii) characters selectable by the user; and

(c) when the search list is displayed, obtaining a modified plurality of possible completion candidates for display in the search list when a completion candidate in the search list remains selected for a predetermined time limit.

112. The method of claim 111, further comprising selecting one of the plurality of possible completion candidates for use by an application in response to user input.

113. The method of claim 111, further comprising:

(a) displaying a digital keyboard in a user interface when a user is entering characters a keystroke at a time;

(b) monitoring the user input;

(c) if the user input corresponds to activating the search list, replacing the digital keyboard with the search list and waiting for further user input; and

(d) if the user input corresponds to terminating use of the search list once activated, replacing the search list with the digital keyboard and waiting for further user input.

114. The method of claim 111, further comprising:

(a) receiving at least the first character of the input string via a digital keyboard displayed within a graphical user interface; and

(b) displaying the search list in the graphical user interface simultaneously with the digital keyboard when the input string comprises at least the first character.

115. The method of claim 114, further comprising displaying the search list while not displaying the digital keyboard within the graphical user interface in response to receiving the modified plurality of possible completion candidates.

116. The method of claim 115, further comprising displaying a completion candidate in substantially the same position in the search list each time the completion candidate is displayed in the search list.

117. A computer-readable medium having stored instructions for use in the execution of the method of claim 111.