METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WORD PREDICTION USING THE POSITION OF A NON-TYPING DIGIT

• US 20160266659A1
• Filed: 05/23/2016
• Published: 09/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Pasquero, Jerome, Mckenzie, Donald Somerset McCulloch
• Application Number:
  US15/162,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20160266659A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided for improving word prediction in an electronic device. User input of one or more characters is received via a capacitive physical keyboard having a plurality of input members. Concurrently, the device determines the location of a non-typing digit, such as the user'"'"'s finger or a stylus. Word prediction candidates are generated and weighted, and candidates that have subsequent characters associated with the input member proximal to the location of the non-typing digit are given more weight. The word prediction candidates are displayed, a second user input is then received comprising a selection of one of the candidates, and the device displays the selected word prediction candidate on the display.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A method for operating an electronic device having a display and a keyboard having a plurality of input members for receiving inputs, comprising:

receiving an input of one or more characters by a first typing digit;

detecting a first position of a non-typing digit while receiving the input by the first typing digit, wherein the non-typing digit is a digit other than the typing digit;

generating a motion vector for the non-typing digit based on the first position and a second position of the non-typing digit;

determining based on the motion vector and the second position a likely next input character; and

generating at least one word prediction candidate based on the input and the likely next input character.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a word prediction candidate; and

in response to the selection, displaying the selected candidate in an input field on the display.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

displaying visual indicia of a character within each displayed word prediction candidate corresponding to an input member proximal to the detected position of the non-typing digit.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising weighting the word prediction candidates based on a geographical location of a user.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising weighting word prediction candidates in which a next character corresponds to an input member located under the non-typing digit greater than word prediction candidates in which a character following the next character corresponds to the input member located under the non-typing digit.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein detecting the first position of the non-typing digit comprises:

detecting one or more X-Y coordinate pairs associated with the non-typing digit;

selecting one of the coordinate pairs; and

selecting an input member associated with the selected coordinate pair.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the position is sensed by capacitive sensors integrated with, situated above, or situated under the input members.

24. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving an input of one or more characters by a first typing digit;

detecting a first position of a non-typing digit while receiving the input by the first typing digit, wherein the non-typing digit is a digit other than the typing digit;

generating a motion vector for the non-typing digit based on the first position and a second position of the non-typing digit;

determining based on the motion vector and the second position a likely next input character; and

generating at least one word prediction candidate based on the input and the likely next input character.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a word prediction candidate; and

in response to the selection, displaying the selected candidate in an input field on the display.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 24, further comprising:

displaying visual indicia of a character within each displayed word prediction candidate corresponding to an input member proximal to the detected position of the non-typing digit.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 24, further comprising weighting the word prediction candidates based on a geographical location of a user.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 24, further comprising weighting word prediction candidates in which a next character corresponds to an input member located under the non-typing digit greater than word prediction candidates in which a character following the next character corresponds to the input member located under the non-typing digit.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein detecting the first position of the non-typing digit comprises:

detecting one or more X-Y coordinate pairs associated with the non-typing digit;

selecting one of the coordinate pairs; and

selecting an input member associated with the selected coordinate pair.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein the position is sensed by capacitive sensors integrated with, situated above, or situated under the input members.

31. An apparatus, comprising:

memory;

a keyboard having a plurality of input members for receiving inputs; and

one or more processors configured to;

receive an input of one or more characters by a first typing digit;

detect a first position of a non-typing digit while receiving the input by the first typing digit, wherein the non-typing digit is a digit other than the typing digit;

generate a motion vector for the non-typing digit based on the first position and a second position of the non-typing digit;

determine based on the motion vector and the second position a likely next input character; and

generate at least one word prediction candidate based on the input and the likely next input character.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, the one or more processors further configured to:

receive a selection of a word prediction candidate; and

in response to the selection, display the selected candidate in an input field on the display.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, the one or more processors further configured to:

display visual indicia of a character within each displayed word prediction candidate corresponding to an input member proximal to the detected position of the non-typing digit.

34. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising weighting the word prediction candidates based on a geographical location of a user.

35. The apparatus of claim 31, the one or more processors further configured to weight word prediction candidates in which a next character corresponds to an input member located under the non-typing digit greater than word prediction candidates in which a character following the next character corresponds to the input member located under the non-typing digit.

36. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein detecting the first position of the non-typing digit, the one or more processors further configured to:

detect one or more X-Y coordinate pairs associated with the non-typing digit;

select one of the coordinate pairs; and

select an input member associated with the selected coordinate pair.

37. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising capacitive sensors integrated with, situated above, or situated under the input members.