Graphical keyboard
First Claim
1. A user interface apparatus for a computing system, said apparatus comprising:
- a display device displaying a graphical keyboard image;
an input source comprising a designating device, said input source providing an input comprising key information and path information, said key information representing a key of said graphical keyboard image, said path information representing a series of points designated by said designating device, wherein said path information comprises a direction of displacement of said designating device;
an output generator, responsive to said key information and said path information provided by said input source, for producing a keycode data defing an output character by applying a modifier corresponding to said path information to an input character corresponding to said key information, with said modifier being determined according to said direction of displacement; and
a buffer, wherein said keycode data produced by said output generator is stored in said buffer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for a graphical keyboard that benefits from the expressive power and intuitive ease of use associated with pen strokes and gestures, yet does not require complex character-recognition software. The graphical keyboard responds differently to different kinds of pen strokes. For example, lowercase "a" is entered by tapping a stylus on the "a" key of the graphical keyboard. Uppercase "A" is entered by an upward stroke initiated over the "a" key. Likewise, by stroking in other directions, a user can express other modifiers to the basic character, such as "control", "alt", "command," etc. Also, strokes in distinct directions can be used to express space, backspace, delete, and return characters, for example. Multiple strokes can be applied in sequence to a single key to express multiple modifiers. Visual feedback of pen strokes can be provided in the form of marks made by the pen. Pop-up menus can be used to provide help with and to facilitate memorization of command strokes and stroke sequences. The graphical keyboard thus lets the expert user proceed by "feel," and prompts the novice user when and as necessary.
635 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A user interface apparatus for a computing system, said apparatus comprising:
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a display device displaying a graphical keyboard image; an input source comprising a designating device, said input source providing an input comprising key information and path information, said key information representing a key of said graphical keyboard image, said path information representing a series of points designated by said designating device, wherein said path information comprises a direction of displacement of said designating device; an output generator, responsive to said key information and said path information provided by said input source, for producing a keycode data defing an output character by applying a modifier corresponding to said path information to an input character corresponding to said key information, with said modifier being determined according to said direction of displacement; and a buffer, wherein said keycode data produced by said output generator is stored in said buffer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. In a computing system comprising a processor, a sensor, a display, and a buffer, a method for using a graphical keyboard to produce and store a keycode data, said method comprising the steps of:
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displaying on said display a graphical keyboard image; sensing with said sensor a motion of a pen device relative to said sensor, said pen device being maintained proximate to said sensor throughout a substantial portion of said motion; using said processor to generate said keycode data responsively to said motion by determinant an unmodified character according to an initial position of said pen device at a starting point of said motion, determining a modifier according to a path taken by said pen device during said motion, and applying said modifier to said unmodified character; and receiving and storing in said buffer said keycode data thus generated. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification