Soft input panel system and method
First Claim
1. In a computing device having a graphical windowing environment for running application programs, a method, comprising:
- selecting an executable input method from a plurality of available executable input methods, each executable input method being an executable software component distinct from the application programs and separately interchangeable with respect to each of the application programs, and further including a defined interface set including at least one interface therein to make the executable input method pluggable into other executable code that is capable of interfacing with the defined interface set;
installing the selected executable input method by plugging the selected executable input method via the defined interface set into a management component;
receiving user input at the computing device, the user input directed to the executable input method;
communicating information representative of the user input data to the management component via the defined interface set; and
passing the information from the management component to the graphical windowing environment.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for receiving user input data into a computer system having a graphical windowing environment. A touch-sensitive display screen for displaying images and detecting user activity is provided. A management component connects to the graphical windowing environment to create an input panel window for display on the screen. An input method which may be a COM object is selected from multiple input methods available, and installed such that the input method can call functions of the management component. Each input method includes a corresponding input panel, such as a keyboard, which it draws in the input panel window. When the user taps the screen at the input panel, the input method calls a function of the management component to pass corresponding input information appropriate information such as a keystroke or character to the management component. In response, the management component communicates the user data to the graphical windowing environment as a message, whereby an application program receives the message as if the message was generated on a hardware input device.
98 Citations
47 Claims
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1. In a computing device having a graphical windowing environment for running application programs, a method, comprising:
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selecting an executable input method from a plurality of available executable input methods, each executable input method being an executable software component distinct from the application programs and separately interchangeable with respect to each of the application programs, and further including a defined interface set including at least one interface therein to make the executable input method pluggable into other executable code that is capable of interfacing with the defined interface set;
installing the selected executable input method by plugging the selected executable input method via the defined interface set into a management component;
receiving user input at the computing device, the user input directed to the executable input method;
communicating information representative of the user input data to the management component via the defined interface set; and
passing the information from the management component to the graphical windowing environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for receiving user data input into at least one of a plurality of applications of a computer system, comprising:
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a management component;
a plurality of executable input methods, each executable input method being interchangeable with respect to the applications and configured to receive user data when active, and having a defined user interface set comprising at least one interface that makes the executable input method selectively connectable to the management component; and
an active one of the plurality of executable input methods, the active executable input method operatively connected to the management component via its respective defined user interface set, and configured to pass user data received at the computer system to the management component, the management component passing the data to at least one of the applications. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for receiving user data input into a computer system having a plurality of application programs, comprising:
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a plurality of executable input methods, each executable input method being distinct from the application programs and other executable input methods and configured to accept the user data input from an input device associated with the computer system, each executable input method further including a defined interface set including at least one interface therein to make the executable input method pluggable into other executable code that is capable of interfacing with the defined interface set;
an input panel window on a touch-sensitive display screen that is distinct from a window of the application, and wherein the executable input method includes executable code that draws an input panel in the input panel window; and
a management component that is capable of interfacing with the defined interface set, the management component being distinct from the application programs and configured to;
1) identify one of the executable input methods as a selected excutable input method, 2) activate the selected executable input method, 3) communicate with the selected executable input method via he defined interface set, 4) identify information about user data received by the selected executable input method, and 5) pass the information about the received user data to an activ application program of the plurality of application programs. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A system for receiving user input data into a computer system having a graphical windowing environment, comprising:
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an input-output mechanism including a display screen that outputs images and a touch sensitive input device that detects user interaction therewith;
a management component operatively connected to the graphical windowing environment and configured to create an input panel window for display thereof by the graphical windowing environment on the screen, the management component further configured to receive user data and communicate the user data to the graphical windowing environment;
a plurality of executable input methods, each executable input method including a defined interface set comprising at least one interface for calling functions of the management component, and further including an input panel corresponding thereto; and
a selected executable input method of the plurality that;
1) draws its corresponding input panel by calling a function of the management component via the defined interface set, 2) receives user data input via the input panel, and 3) calls a function of the management component via the defined interface set to pass the user data thereto; and
an executable program distinct from the selected executable input method, the graphical windowing environment communicating the user data to the executable program. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. A method of inputting user data into a computing device to be used by at least one active application program of a plurality of application programs available to the device, comprising:
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selecting a selected executable input method from a plurality of executable input methods installed on the computing device, each executable input method comprising an executable software component that is interchangeable with respect to each active application program to accept the user data input from an input device associated with the computer system, and having a defined interface set comprising at least one interface that makes the executable input method pluggable into other executable software code;
invoking the selected executable input method, including plugging the selected executable input method into other executable code for communication therewith via the defined interface; and
accepting user data entered in an input panel window corresponding to the selected executable input method; and
supplying information corresponding to the entered user data to an active one of the application programs. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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41. In a computer system, a method comprising:
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selecting one of a plurality of executable input methods for supplying user input to the computer system, each executable input method comprising an interchangeable software component and having a defined interface set such that the executable input method is connectable to other executable software;
opening an input window on a display of the computer system independent of a window of an active application program; and
displaying an input panel in the input window, the input panel corresponding to the selected executable input method such that user input may be received via the executable input method panel and information corresponding thereto provided to the active application program. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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45. A system for receiving user input into a computer system for use with at least one executable application program of a plurality of application programs executable on the computer system, comprising:
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a plurality of executable input methods, each executable input method comprising an executable and interchangeable software component configured to accept input from a user of the computer system and having a defined interface set comprising at least one interface;
at least one application program executing on the computer system;
a computer operating system configured to supply data to the at least one executing application program; and
an interface manager interfaced with at least one of the plurality of executable input methods via the defined interface set, the interface manager receiving user input via the at least one executable input method and operably interfaced with the computer operating system to provide data corresponding to the user input to the at least one application program having focus through the operating system such that the at least one executable input method is independent of the at least one application program having focus. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
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Specification