Predictive Keyboard

• US 20090149204A1
• Filed: 05/19/2008
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Friedman, Jonathan D., Riley, Raymond W.
• Application Number:
  US12/123,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20090149204A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A predictive keyboard is described. In an implementation, a keyboard comprises a plurality of indications of letters arranged, one to another, according to a QWERTY layout. Two rows of keys are arranged such that at least one of the keys includes at least two of the indications from at least two of the rows of the QWERTY layout.

Claims

1. A mobile communications device comprising:

a keyboard having indications of letters arranged according to a QWERTY layout across two rows of keys such that at least one said key includes at least two said indications of letters from different rows of the QWERTY layout; and

one or more modules to predict a desired word from one or more inputs received via one or more said keys of the keyboard.

2. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, wherein the keys in a first said row are staggered in relation to the keys in a second said row.

3. A mobile communications device as described in claim 2, wherein:

the keys in the first said row of the keyboard include indications of the letters “

q”

, “

w”

, “

e”

, “

r”

, “

t”

, “

y”

, “

u”

, “

i”

, “

o” and

“

p”

; and

the keys in the second said row of the keyboard include indications of the letters “

z”

, “

x”

, “

c”

, “

v”

, “

b”

, “

n” and

“

m”

.

4. A mobile communications device as described in claim 2, wherein:

a first said key in the first said row of the keyboard includes particular said indications that include “

q”

, “

w” and

“

a”

;

a second said key in the first said row of the keyboard includes particular said indications that include “

e”

, “

r” and

“

d”

;

a third said key in the first said row of the keyboard includes particular said indications that include “

t”

, “

y” and

“

g”

;

a fourth said key in the first said row of the keyboard includes particular said indications that include “

u”

, “

i” and

“

j”

;

a fifth said key in the first said row of the keyboard includes particular said indications that include “

o”

, “

p” and

“

l”

;

a first said key in the second said row of the keyboard includes particular said indications that include “

s”

, “

z” and

“

x”

;

a second said key in the second said row of the keyboard includes particular said indications that include “

f”

, “

c” and

“

v”

;

a third said key in the second said row of the keyboard includes particular said indications that include “

h”

, “

b” and

“

n”

; and

a fourth said key in the second said row of the keyboard includes particular said indications that include “

k” and

“

m”

.

5. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one said key includes at least two said indications of letters taken from a first said row of the QWERTY layout and another said indication of a letter is taken from a second said row of the QWERTY layout.

6. A mobile communications device as described in claim 5, wherein another said key includes at least two said indications of letters taken from a third said row of the QWERTY layout and yet another said indication of a letter taken from the second said row of the QWERTY layout.

7. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one said key includes at least two said indications of letters taken from a first said row of the QWERTY layout and another said indication of a letter is taken from a second said row of the QWERTY layout.

8. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, wherein the one or more modules are further configured to provide text messaging functionality.

9. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, wherein the one or more modules are further configured to provide email functionality.

10. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, wherein the one or more modules are further configured to provide telephonic functionality.

11. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one said key also includes an indication of a corresponding number.

12. A mobile communications device as described in claim 1, wherein selection of punctuation via the keyboard causes the one or more modules to stop the prediction of the desired word.

13. A keyboard comprising:

a plurality of indications of letters arranged, one to another, according to a QWERTY layout; and

two rows of keys arranged such that at least one said key includes at least two of the indications from at least two rows of the QWERTY layout.

14. A keyboard as described in claim 13, wherein:

a first said row of said indications includes letters “

q”

, “

w”

, “

e”

, “

r”

, “

t” and

“

y”

;

a second said row of said indications includes letters “

a”

, “

s”

, “

d”

, “

f” and

“

g”

; and

a third said row of said indications includes letters “

z”

, “

x”

, “

c”

, “

v” and

“

b”

.

15. A keyboard as described in claim 13, wherein the keys in a first said row are staggered in relation to the keys in a second said row.

16. A keyboard as described in claim 15, wherein:

a first said key in the first said row includes particular said indications that include “

q”

, “

w” and

“

a”

;

a second said key in the first said row includes particular said indications that include “

e”

, “

r” and

“

d”

;

a third said key in the first said row includes particular said indications that include “

t”

, “

y” and

“

g”

;

a fourth said key in the first said row includes particular said indications that include “

u”

, “

i” and

“

j”

;

a fifth said key in the first said row includes particular said indications that include “

o”

, “

p” and

“

l”

;

a first said key in the second said row includes particular said indications that include “

s”

, “

z” and

“

x”

;

a second said key in the second said row includes particular said indications that include “

f”

, “

c” and

“

v”

;

a third said key in the second said row includes particular said indications that include “

h”

, “

b” and

“

n”

; and

a fourth said key in the second said row includes particular said indications that include “

k” and

“

m”

.

17. A method comprising:

receiving one or more inputs from a keyboard having indications of letters arranged according to a QWERTY layout across two rows of keys such that at least one said key includes at least two said indications of letters from different rows of the QWERTY layout; and

predicting a word based on the one or more inputs.

18. A method as described in claim 17, wherein the predicting is performed for a plurality of said words to form a phrase.

19. A method as described in claim 17, outputting the predicted word.

20. A method as described in claim 19, wherein the outputting is performed such that the predicted word is verifiable as being intended by a user that provided the one or more inputs.