User defined keyboard entry system

• US 5,936,614 A
• Filed: 03/07/1996
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Tannenbaum, Alan R., Lee, Peter A., Arbeitman, Gordon W., An, Yu Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHANH DUY
• Application Number:
  US08/612,480
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 340/706, 340/709, 340/710, 340/711, 340/712, 341/23, 341/21, 178/18, 178/19, 345/156, 345/168, 345/173, 345/119, 345/120, 345/113, 345/340, 345/342, 345/343, 345/348, 345/352
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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

A computer system enables a user to design touch activated keyboards for use on a display surface without writing code. The computer system enables the user to resize and move the keyboard image anywhere on the display to allow the concurrent display of other applications running in an integrated operating environment. Computer system actions can be assigned by the user to each key. An execution unit displays the selected keyboard, determines whether a key has been touched and executes the appropriate action for each key touch.

Claims

1. In a data processing system having display output coupled to a memory including a keyboard editor and having a touch sensing means with horizontal and vertical sensing electrodes coupled to said memory, a method for defining a touch activated keyboard using the keyboard editor to size, re-size, store and move the keyboard any where on the display, comprising the steps of:

defining a rectangular keyboard space on the display as an original touch activated keyboard, the keyboard space having a keyboard origin located at a horizontal position value X and a vertical position value Y with respect to an origin for the display and storing said X value and said Y value in a keyboard location register in said memory;

defining a horizontal scale value Sx for the horizontal size of said keyboard space and defining a vertical scale value Sy for the vertical size of said keyboard space and storing said Sx value and said Sy value in a keyboard scale register in said memory;

defining a first polygonal key space on the display, having a first key origin located at a first horizontal position value X+(m1*Sx) and a first vertical position value Y+(n1*Sy) with respect to said origin for the display and storing said X+(m1*Sx) value and said Y+(n1*Sy) value in a first key location register in said memory, where m1 is a column number and n1 is a row number on the display;

defining a first horizontal size value u1*Sx for the horizontal size of said first key space and defining a first vertical size value v1*Sy for the vertical size of said first key space and storing said u1*Sx value and said v1*Sy value in a first key size register in said memory, where u1 is a horizontal size number and v1 is a vertical size number for said first key space;

defining a first legend image for said first key space, identified by a first legend code and storing said first legend code in a first legend register in said memory;

forming a key definition window in the display;

defining a keyboard function for said first key space using the key definition window, the function identified by a first action code and storing said first action code in a first action register at a first address having a first address value in said memory;

calibrating a first relationship between horizontal sensing values of the touch sensing means and horizontal positions on the display and calibrating a second relationship between vertical sensing values of the touch sensing means and vertical positions on the display;

computing a first horizontal range of horizontal sensing values of the touch sensing means from said first relationship, using said first horizontal position value and said first horizontal size value, and

computing a first vertical range of vertical sensing values of the touch sensing means from said second relationship, using said first vertical position value and said first vertical size value, and

storing said first horizontal range, said first vertical range and said first address value in a range table in said memory;

storing the original touch activated keyboard in a library in the memory;

or

sensing a touch on the touch sensing means by receiving a first horizontal sensing value and a first vertical sensing value;

determining that said first horizontal sensing value is within said first horizontal range and determining that said first vertical sensing value is within said first vertical range;

accessing said first address value in said range table; and

p1 accessing said first action code using said first address value and performing said first action which provides an output from the system as a simple or complex combination of characters.

2. The method of claim 1, which further comprises:

changing the size of said keyboard space and changing the magnitude of said horizontal scale value Sx and said vertical scale value Sy;

computing a new first horizontal size value u1*Sx for the horizontal size of said first key space and computing a first vertical size value v1*Sy for the vertical size of said first key space;

displaying a new first key space having said new first horizontal size value and said new first vertical size value.

3. The method of claim 1, which further comprises:

changing the location of said keyboard space and changing the magnitude of said first horizontal position value X and said first vertical position value Y;

calculating a new first horizontal position value X+m1*Sx and a new first vertical position value Y+n1*Sy for the location of said first key space;

displaying a new first key space having said new first horizontal position value and said new first vertical position value.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said first key space record is stored on a permanent storage medium.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said first action is the outputting of an alphanumeric character.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said first action is the execution of a stored executable instructions.

7. The method of claim 1, which further comprises:

defining a second polygonal key space on the display, having a second key origin located at a second horizontal position value X+(m2*Sx) and a second vertical position value Y+(n2*Sy) with respect to said origin for the display and storing said X+(m2*Sx) value and said Y+(n2*Sy) value in a second key location register in said memory;

defining a second horizontal size value u2*Sx for the horizontal size of said second key space and defining a second vertical size value v2*Sy for the vertical size of said second key space and storing said u2*sx value and said v2*Sy value in a second key size register in said memory;

defining a second legend image for said second key space, identified by a second legend code and storing said second legend code in a second legend register in said memory;

defining a second action said second key space, identified by a second action code and storing said second action code in a second action register at a second address having a second address value in said memory;

computing a second horizontal range of horizontal sensing values of the touch sensing means from said first relationship, using said second horizontal position value and said second horizontal size value;

computing a second vertical range of vertical sensing values of the touch sensing means from said second relationship, using said second vertical position value and said second vertical size value;

storing said second horizontal range, said second vertical range and said second address value in a range table in said memory;

sensing a touch on the touch sensing means by receiving a second horizontal sensing value and a second vertical sensing value;

determining that said second horizontal sensing value is within said second horizontal range and determining that

said second vertical sensing value is within said second vertical range;

accessing said second address value in said range table; and

accessing said second action code using said second address value and performing said second action.

8. The method of claim 7, which further comprises:

aligning said first key space with said second key space.

9. The method of claim 1, which further comprises:

changing the location of said first key space with respect to said keyboard space and changing the magnitude of said m1 and n1 values;

calculating a new first horizontal position value X+m1*Sx and a new first vertical position value Y+n1*Sy for the new location of said first key space;

computing a new first horizontal range of horizontal sensing values of the touch sensing means from said first relationship, using said new first horizontal position value and said first horizontal size value, and

computing a new first vertical range of vertical sensing values of the touch sensing means from said second relationship, using said new first vertical position value and said first vertical size value, and

storing said new first horizontal range, said new first vertical range and said first address value in said range table in said memory.

10. The method of claim 1, which further comprises:

changing the location of said keyboard space and changing the magnitude of said first horizontal position value X and said first vertical position value Y;

calculating a new first horizontal position value X+m1*Sx and a new first vertical position value Y+n1*Sy for the location of said first key space;

computing a new first horizontal range of horizontal sensing values of the touch sensing means from said first relationship, using said new first horizontal position value and said first horizontal size value, and

computing a new first vertical range of vertical sensing values of the touch sensing means from said second relationship, using said new first vertical position value and said first vertical size value, and

storing said new first horizontal range, said new first vertical range and said first address value in said range table in said memory.

11. In a data processing system having display output coupled to a memory including a keyboard editor and having a touch sensing means with horizontal and vertical sensing electrodes coupled to said memory, a system for defining a touch activated keyboard using the keyboard editor to size, re-size, store and move the keyboard any where on the display, comprising:

means for defining a rectangular keyboard space on the display as an original touch activated keyboard, the keyboard space having a keyboard origin located at a horizontal position value X and a vertical position value Y with respect to an origin for the display and storing said X value and said Y value in a keyboard location register in said memory;

means for defining a horizontal scale value Sx for the horizontal size of said keyboard space and defining a vertical scale value Sy for the vertical size of said keyboard space and storing said Sx value and said Sy value in a keyboard scale register in said memory;

means for defining a first polygonal key space on the display, having a first key origin located at a first horizontal position value X+(m1*Sx) and a first vertical position value Y+(n1*Sy) with respect to said origin for the display and storing said X+(m1*Sx) value and said Y+(n1*Sy) value in a first key location register in said memory, where m1 is a column number and n1 is a row number on the display;

means for defining a first horizontal size value u1*Sx for the horizontal size of said first key space and defining a first vertical size value v1*Sy for the vertical size of said first key space and storing said u1*Sx value and said v1*Sy value in a first key size register in said memory, where u1 is a horizontal size number and v1 is a vertical size number for said first key space;

means for defining a first legend image for said first key space, identified by a first legend code and storing said first legend code in a first legend register in said memory;

forming a key definition window in the display;

defining a keyboard function for said first key space using the key definition window, the function identified by a first action code and storing said first action code in a first action register at a first address having a first address value in said memory;

means for calibrating a first relationship between horizontal sensing values of the touch sensing means and horizontal positions on the display and calibrating a second relationship between vertical sensing values of the touch sensing means and vertical positions on the display;

means for computing a first horizontal range of horizontal sensing values of the touch sensing means from said first relationship, using said first horizontal position value and said first horizontal size value, and computing a first vertical range of vertical sensing values of the touch sensing means from said second relationship, using said first vertical position value and said first vertical size value, and

means for storing said first horizontal range, said first vertical range and said first address value in a range table in said memory;

means for forming a first key space record in said memory which includes the contents of the first key location register, said first key size register, said first legend register and said first action register;

means for transferring said first key space record for use in a second keyboard space;

storing the original touch activated keyboard in a library in the memory;

or

means for sensing a touch on the touch sensing means by receiving a first horizontal sensing value and a first vertical sensing value;

means for determining that said first horizontal sensing value is within said first horizontal range and determining that said first vertical sensing value is within said vertical range;

means for accessing said first address value n said range table; and

means for accessing said first action code using said first address value and performing said first action which provides an output from the system as a simple or complex combination of characters.

12. The system of claim 11, which further comprises:

means for changing the size of said keyboard space and changing the magnitude of said horizontal scale value Sx and said vertical scale value Sy;

means for computing a new first horizontal size value u1*Sx for the horizontal size of said first key space and computing a first vertical size value v1*Sy for the vertical size of said first key space;

means for displaying a new first key space having said new first horizontal size value and said new first vertical size value.

13. The system of claim 11, which further comprises:

means for changing the location of said keyboard space and changing the magnitude of said first horizontal position value X and said first vertical position value Y;

means for calculating a new first horizontal position value X+m1*Sx and a new first vertical position value Y+n1*Sy for the location of said first key space;

means for displaying a new first key space having said new first horizontal position value and said new first vertical position value.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein said first key space record is stored on a permanent storage medium.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said first action is the outputting of an alphanumeric character.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein said first action is the execution of a stored executable instructions.

17. The system of claim 11, which further comprises:

means for defining a second polygonal key space on the display, having a second key origin located at a second horizontal position value X+(m2*Sx) and a second vertical position value Y+(n2*Sy) with respect to said origin for the display and storing said X+(m2*Sx) value and said Y+(n2*Sy) value in a second key location register in said memory, where m2 is a column number and n2 is a row number on the display;

means for defining a second horizontal size value u2*Sx for the horizontal size of said second key space and defining a second vertical size value v2*Sy for the vertical size of said second key space and storing said u2*Sx value and said v2*Sy value in a second key size register in said memory, where u2 is a horizontal size number and v2 is a vertical size number for said second key space;

means for defining a second legend image for said second key space, identified by a second legend code and storing said second legend code in a second legend register in said memory;

means for defining a second action said second key space, identified by a second action code and storing said second action code in a second action register at a second address having a second address value in said memory;

means for computing a second horizontal range of horizontal sensing values of the touch sensing means from said first relationship, using said second horizontal position value and said second horizontal size value;

computing a second vertical range of vertical sensing values of the touch sensing means from said second relationship, using said second vertical position value and said second vertical size value;

storing said second horizontal range, said second vertical range and said second address value in a range table in said memory;

means for sensing a touch on the touch sensing means by receiving a second horizontal sensing value and a second vertical sensing value;

means for determining that said second horizontal sensing value is within said second horizontal range and determining that said second vertical sensing value is within said second vertical range;

means for accessing said second address value in said range table; and

means for accessing said second action code using said second address value and performing said second action.

18. The system of claim 17, which further comprises:

means for aligning said first key space with said second key space.

19. The system of claim 11, which further comprises:

means for changing the location of said first key space with respect to said keyboard space and changing the magnitude of said m1 and n1 values;

means for calculating a new first horizontal position value X+m1*Sx and a new first vertical position value Y+n1*Sy for the new location of said first key space;

means for computing a new first horizontal range of horizontal sensing values of the touch sensing means from said first relationship, using said new first horizontal position value and said first horizontal size value, and

computing a new first vertical range of vertical sensing values of the touch sensing means from said second relationship, using said new first vertical position value and said first vertical size value, and

storing said new first horizontal range, said new first vertical range and said first address value in said range table in said memory.

20. The system of claim 11,which further comprises:

means for changing the location of said keyboard space and changing the magnitude of said first horizontal position value X and said first vertical position value Y;

means for calculating a new first horizontal position value X+m1*Sx and a new first vertical position value Y+n1*Sy for the location of said first key space;

means for computing a new first horizontal range of horizontal sensing values of the touch sensing means from said first relationship, using said new first horizontal position value and said first horizontal size value, and

computing a new first vertical range of vertical sensing values of the touch sensing means from said second relationship, using said new first vertical position value and said first vertical size value, and

storing said new first horizontal range, said new first vertical range and said first address value in said range table in said memory.

21. In a data processing system having display output coupled to a memory including a keyboard editor and having a touch sensing means with horizontal and vertical sensing electrodes coupled to said memory, a method for defining a touch activated keyboard using the keyboard editor to size, re-size, store and move the keyboard any where on the display, comprising the steps of:

defining a rectangular keyboard space on the display as an original touch activated keyboard, the keyboard space having a keyboard origin located at a horizontal position value X and a vertical position value Y with respect to an origin for the display and storing said X value and said Y value in a keyboard location register in said memory;

defining a horizontal scale value Sx for the horizontal size of said keyboard space and storing said Sx value in a keyboard scale register in said memory;

defining a first polygonal key space on the display, having a first key origin located at a first horizontal position value X+(m1*Sx) and a first vertical position value Y+n1 with respect to said origin for the display and storing said X+(m1*Sx) value and said Y+n1 value in a first key location register in said memory, where m1 is a column number and n1 is a row number on the display;

defining a first horizontal size value u1*Sx for the horizontal size of said first key space and defining a first vertical size value v1 for the vertical size of said first key space and storing said u1*Sx value and said v1 value in a first key size register in said memory, where u1 is a horizontal size number and v1 is a vertical size number for said first key space;

defining a first legend image for said first key space, identified by a first legend code and storing said first legend code in a first legend register in said memory;

forming a key definition window in the display;

defining a keyboard function for said first key space using the key definition window, the function identified by a first action code and storing said first action code in a first action register at a first address having a first address value in said memory;

calibrating a first relationship between horizontal sensing values of the touch sensing means and horizontal positions on the display and calibrating a second relationship between vertical sensing values of the touch sensing means and vertical positions on the display;

computing a first horizontal range of horizontal sensing values of the touch sensing means from said first relationship, using said first horizontal position value and said first horizontal size value and

computing a first vertical range of vertical sensing values of the touch sensing means from said second relationship, using said first vertical position value and said first vertical size value, and storing said first horizontal range, said first vertical range and said first address value in a range table in said memory;

forming a first key space in said memory which includes the contents of said first key location register, said first key size register, said first legend register and said first action register;

transferring said first key space record for use in a second keyboard space;

storing the original touch activated keyboard in a library in the memory;

or

sensing a touch on the touch sensing means by receiving a first horizontal sensing value and a first vertical sensing value;

determining that said first horizontal sensing value is within said first horizontal range and determining that said first vertical sensing value is within said first vertical range;

accessing said first address value in said range table; and

accessing said first action code using said first address value and performing said first action which provides an output from the system as a simple or complex combination of characters.

22. The method of claim 21, which further comprises:

changing the horizontal size of said keyboard space and changing the magnitude of said horizontal scale value Sx;

computing a new first horizontal size value u1*Sx for the horizontal size of said first key space;

displaying a new first key space having said new first horizontal size value.

23. The method of claim 21, which further comprises:

changing the horizontal location of said keyboard space and changing the magnitude of said first horizontal position value X;

calculating a new first horizontal position value X+m1*Sx for the location of said first key space;

displaying a new first key space having said new first horizontal position value.

24. In a data processing system having display output coupled to a memory and having a touch sensing means with horizontal and vertical sensing electrodes coupled to said memory, a method for defining a touch activated keyboard to be displayed on the display, comprising the steps of:

defining a rectangular keyboard space on the display as an original touch activated keyboard, the keyboard space having a keyboard origin located at a horizontal position value X and a vertical position value Y with respect to an origin for the display and storing said X value and said Y value in a keyboard location register in said memory;

defining a vertical scale value Sy for the vertical size of said keyboard space and storing said Sy value in a keyboard scale register in said memory;

defining a first polygonal key space on the display, having a first key origin located at a first horizontal position value X+m1 and a first vertical position value Y+(n1*Sy) with respect to said origin for the display and storing said X+m1 value and said Y+(n1*Sy) value in a first key location register in said memory where m1 is a column number and n1 is a row number on the display;

defining a first horizontal size value u1 for the horizontal size of said first key space and defining a first vertical size value v1*Sy for the vertical size of said first key space and storing said u1 value and said v1*Sy value in a first key size register in said memory, where u1 is a horizontal size number and v1 is a vertical size number for said first key space;

defining a first legend image for said first key space, identified by a first legend code and storing said first legend code in a first legend register in said memory;

forming a key definition window in the display;

defining a keyboard function for said first key space using the key definition window, the function identified by a first action code and storing said first action code in a first action register at a first address having a first address value in said memory;

calibrating a first relationship between horizontal sensing values of the touch sensing means and horizontal positions on the display and calibrating a second relationship between vertical sensing values of the touch sensing means and vertical positions on the display;

computing a first horizontal range of horizontal sensing values of the touch sensing means from said first relationship, using said first horizontal position value and said first horizontal size value, and

computing a first vertical range of vertical sensing values of the touch sensing means from said second relationship, using said first vertical position value and said first vertical size value, and

storing said first horizontal range, said first vertical range and said first address value in a range table in said memory;

forming a first key space in sid memory which includes the contents of said first key location register, said first key size register, said first legend register and said first action register;

transferring said first key space record for use in a second keyboard space;

storing the original touch activated keyboard in a library in the memory;

sensing a touch on the touch sensing means by receiving a first horizontal sensing value and a first vertical sensing value;

determining that said first horizontal sensing value is within said first horizontal range and determining that said first vertical sensing value is within said first vertical range;

accessing said first address value in said range table;

accessing said first action code using said first address value and performing said first action.

25. The method of claim 24, which further comprises:

changing the vertical size of said keyboard space and changing the magnitude of said vertical scale value Sy;

computing a new first vertical size value v1*Sy for the vertical size of said first key space;

displaying a new first key space having said new first horizontal size value and said new first vertical size value.

26. The method of claim 24, which further comprises:

changing the vertical location of said keyboard space and changing the magnitude of said first vertical position value Y;

calculating a new first vertical position value Y+n1*Sy for the location of said first key space;

displaying a new first key space having said new first vertical position value.

27. In a data processing system having display output coupled to a memory including a keyboard editor and having a touch sensing means with horizontal and vertical sensing electrodes coupled to said memory, a system for defining a touch activated keyboard using the keyboard editor to size, re-size, store and move the keyboard any where on the display, comprising:

(a) means for defining a keyboard space on the display as an original touch activated keyboard;

(b) means for defining a first key space on the display;

(c) means for defining a first legend image for said first key space, identified by a first legend code and storing said first legend code in a first legend register in said memory;

(d) means for forming a key definition window in the display;

(e) means for defining a keyboard function for said first key space using the key definition window, the function identified by a first action code and storing said first action code in a first action register at a first address having a first address value in said memory;

(f) means for forming a first key space record in said memory which includes the contents of the first key location register, said first key size register, said first legend register and said first action register;

(g) means for transferring said first key space record for use in a second keyboard space;

(h) means for storing the original touch activated keyboard in a library in the memory; and

(i) means for accessing said first action code using said first address value and performing said first action which provides an output from the system as a simple or complex combination of characters.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the keyboard definition window comprises:

(i) means for defining a key legend;

(ii) means for defining normal and alternative actions for a key;

(iii) means for defining a state key; and

(iv) means for listing character and virtual keys in the original new keyboard.

29. The system of claim 28 further including means to transfer a key in a stored keyboard to second keyboard displayed in the display.

30. The system of claims 29 further comprising:

(i) means for storing a plurality of keyboards in the memory;

(ii) means for selecting and displaying a stored keyboard in the display;

(iii) means for constructing an original keyboard in the display using the selected keyboard as a template; and

(iv) means for transferring keys and assigned key functions from the template keyboard to the original keyboard.

31. In a data processing system having display output coupled to a memory including a keyboard editor and having a touch sensing means with horizontal and vertical sensing electrodes coupled to said memory, a method for defining a touch activated keyboard using the keyboard editor to size, re-size, store and move the keyboard any where on the display, comprising the steps of:

(a) defining a keyboard space on the display as an original touch activated keyboard;

(b) defining a first key space on the display;

(c) defining a first legend image for said first key space, identified by a first legend code and storing said first legend code in a first legend register in said memory;

(d) forming a key definition window in the display;

(e) defining a keyboard function for said first key space using the key definition window, the function identified by a first action code and storing said first action code in a first action register at a first address having a first address value in said memory;

(f) forming a first key space in said memory which includes the contents of said first key location register, said first key size register, said first legend register and said first action register;

(g) transferring said first key space record for use in a second keyboard space;

(h) storing the original touch activated keyboard in a library in the memory; and

(i) accessing said first action code using said first address value and performing said first action which provides an output from the system as a simple or complex combination of characters.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising the steps of

(i) storing a plurality of keyboards in the memory;

(ii) selecting and displaying a stored keyboard in the display;

(iii) forming an original keyboard in the display using the selected keyboard as a template; and

(iv) transferring keys and assigned functions from the template keyboard to the original keyboard.

33. The method of claim 31 using the key definition window further comprising the steps of:

(i) defining a key legend;

(ii) defining normal and alternative actions for a key;

(iii) defining a state key; and

(iv) listing character and virtual keys in the original new keyboard.

34. The method of claim 31 further comprising the step of:

(i) aligning the keys in the original keyboard using an alignment pull down window displayed in the display.

35. A computer readable medium of instruction comprising:

(a) means for defining a keyboard space on the display as an original touch activated keyboard;

(b) means for defining a first key space on the display;

(c) means for defining a first legend image for said first key space, identified by a first legend code and storing said first legend code in a first legend register in said memory;

(d) means for forming a key definition window in the display;

(e) means for defining a keyboard function for said first key space using the key definition window, the function identified by a first action code and storing said first action code in a first action register at a first address having a first address value in said memory;

(f) means for forming a first key space record in said memory which includes the contents of the first key location register, said first key size register, said first legend register and said first action register;

(g) means for transferring said first key space record for use in a second keyboard space;

(h) means for storing the original touch activated keyboard in a library in the memory; and

(i) means for accessing said first action code using said first address value and performing said first action which provides an output from the system as a simple or complex combination of characters.

36. The computer readable medium of instruction of claim 35 wherein the means for forming a keyboard definition window further comprises:

(i) means for defining a key legend;

(ii) means for defining normal and alternative actions for a key;

(iii) means for defining a state key; and

(iv) means for listing character and virtual keys in the original new keyboard.

37. The computer readable medium of instruction of claim 35 further comprises:

(i) means for aligning the keys in the original keyboard using an alignment pull down window in the display.

38. The computer readable medium of instruction of claim 35 further comprising:

(i) means for storing a plurality of keyboards in the memory;

(ii) means for selecting and displaying a stored keyboard in the display;

(iii) means for constructing an original keyboard in the display using the selected keyboard as a template; and

(iv) means for transferring keys and assigned key functions from the template keyboard to the original keyboard.