Cursor feedback text input method

• US 5,917,476 A
• Filed: 09/24/1996
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George V. Czerniecki
• Original Assignee: George V. Czerniecki
• Inventors: Czerniecki, George V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US08/718,892
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/175, 345/176, 345/177, 345/178, 345/156, 345/168, 345/172, 345/157, 382/13, 382/24, 382/57
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• 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: H01H 2217/032 Feedback about selected symbol, e.g. display

Abstract

A novel method of text input for pointing devices. In its preferred embodiment, the cursor feedback text input method forms the basis of a novel method of touch tablet typing, which enables a small touch tablet to function as an easy-to-use, general-purpose, computer input device. Text input, pointing, and drawing functions are all provided in a single convenient unit. This general-purpose input device is primarily intended for the newly emerging class of living room computers, for which no suitable input device appears to exist. The main objective of the cursor feedback text input method is to provide a human/computer hardware interface which transparently supports the addition of interactivity to the typical television viewing framework. A novel keyboard array is mapped onto, but not displayed on, the tablet active surface. The alphabet and number set are arranged in their normal order. Touching the tablet displays a preview character in place of the cursor. If this preview character is not the desired character, knowledge of alphabetical and numerical order guides the finger to the target. Lifting the finger inputs the character to the computer as if from a physical keyboard. Punctuation, and functions including shift, caps lock, tab, return, and backspace/delete, are efficiently handled by other means. Text can be input comfortably while resting the eyes on the text output at the cursor position, without any need for visual reference to an input device or to another part of the screen. This text input method can be learned in seconds, has a zero error rate, and requires only a trivial amount of computer memory.

Claims

1. A method of selection of individual elements of a data set having a known order, comprising the steps of:

a. actuating an input device, and

b. observing an element of said data set, shown on a discrete display at an output location of an output device, by a software program controlled by said input device, and

c. evaluating whether said element is or is not a target element, and

d. directing, if required, said input device toward said target element, guided by subsequent sequential feedback, from said discrete display, of one or more said individual elements in said known order, and

e. repeating steps b. to d. until said target element is shown on said discrete display,

whereby selection of said target element requires reference only to said discrete display, without need for reference to said input device or elsewhere.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said data set having a known order is an alphabetical or a numerical text character set.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said input device is a pointing device.

4. The pointing device of claim 3 wherein said pointing device is a touch tablet.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said output device is a visual display.

6. The method of claim 1 further including subsequent processing means for said selected target element, which may, if required, be activated by activating means appropriate lo said input device.

7. The subsequent processing means of claim 6 wherein said processing means include input means directed to a computer.

8. The input means directed to a computer of claim 7 wherein said input means includes input means directed to a text processing software program in said computer.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said output location is at a text insertion point or cursor position provided by said text processing program.