System and method for dynamic key assignment in enhanced user interface

• US 7,152,213 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2001
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: InfoGation Corporation
• Original Assignee: InfoGation Corporation
• Inventors: Pu, Kent Qing, Alkhatib, Akmad
• Primary Examiner(s): Sax, Steven P.
• Application Number:
  US09/971,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20030067495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,902 Days
• Field of Search: 345/789, 345/811, 345/745, 345841-843, 345/845, 715/789, 715765-767, 715811-812, 715/968, 715/864, 715/856, 715860-861, 715821-824, 715/702, 715/780, 715771-773, 715744-747, 715/805, 715/813, 715/816
• US Class Current: 715/812
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/20 of structured data, e.g. relational data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/26 Visual data mining; Browsing structured data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques

Abstract

An improved user interface for data input without the use of a standard keyboard is provided. Input is accepted through a data entry means such as a shuttle control system, a standard telephone keypad, or a speech recognition system. The data that is entered is selected from a predefined list that is presented to a user in an arrangement that statistically reduces the number of keystrokes required for data entry. This presentation is the result of determining the relative frequency of each valid selection in the predefined list and presenting those valid selections with the highest frequency items in a position that minimizes the number keystrokes required for data entry. In a speech recognition embodiment, the data entered is selected from an active list containing unique sounding entries. Alternatively, the data entered may be selected by speaking the numbers associated with the keys corresponding to the keystrokes required for data entry.

Claims

1. A system for accepting data input on an intelligent device having a display, the system comprising:

a data entry means having an interface configured to accept data entry actions, the data entry means including a plurality of keys, each of the keys assigned to one or more items for entry;

a display area having a plurality of positions, each position configured to present a previously entered item or a current item;

a selection list generated statistically based on historical uses from a predefined database, the selection list including;

one or more selectable items arranged in accordance with respective possibilities to immediately follow the previously entered item; and

a movable cursor configured to highlight one of the items that is most likely to follow the previously entered item,

wherein at least one of the keys is re-assigned to correspond to the most likely item so that the one of the keys, when activated, causes an entry of the most likely item, and

wherein the selection list is progressively reduced with continuous entries until a completion of a word, the selection list always presents next item that is likely to follow the entries so that the one of the keys is maintained to be activated without having to move to another key to select the next item for entry.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the selectable items are linearly arranged according to frequency of use with the most likely item at a first end and a least likely item at a second end, wherein a relative frequency of use between adjacent items is such that items closer to the first end have an equal or higher frequency of use than items closer to the second end.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the selectable items are linearly arranged according to frequency of use with the most likely item in a center position and other items placed on opposing sides of the most likely item in order of decreasing frequency such that items closer to the center position have an equal or higher frequency of use than items further from the center position, and wherein the set of keys includes at least three keys in a line with a center key corresponding to the most likely item, and a left key and a right key corresponding respectively to two of the other items placed on the opposing sides of the most likely item.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the selectable items are arranged according to frequency of use with the most likely item in a center position and other items placed to the left, right, top, and bottom of the most likely item in order of decreasing frequency such that items closer to the center position have an equal or higher frequency of use than items further from the center position, and wherein the set of keys includes five keys with one of the keys corresponding to the most likely item, and other four keys corresponding respectively to four of the others items placed to the left, right, top, and bottom of the most likely item.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection list resides on a local storage medium.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection list resides on a remote storage medium.

7. A method for data input on an intelligent device having a user interface, a display screen, and one or more keys, each of the keys assigned to one or more items for entry, the method comprising:

identifying a predefined list including a plurality of valid input items generated statistically based on historical uses from a predefined database;

parsing the valid input items in the predefined list to extract a set of valid characters associated with a first letter of each of the valid input items;

determining a frequency associated with each of the valid characters;

displaying each of the valid characters according to its frequency, such that characters with higher frequencies are selectable with fewer keystrokes than characters with lower frequencies;

reassigning at least one of the keys to correspond to the displayed characters such that the one of the keys is maintained to be activated without having to move another key to enter a next likely one of the displayed characters based on said frequency;

accepting a selected character when one of the keys is activated; and

displaying the selected character in the data entry field.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the displaying of the each valid character further comprises linearly arranging the valid characters according to frequency of use with the highest frequency character at a first end and the lowest frequency character at a second end, wherein the relative frequency of use between adjacent characters is such that characters closer to the first end have an equal or higher frequency of use than characters closer to the second end.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the displaying of the each valid character further comprises linearly arranging the valid characters according to frequency of use with the highest frequency character in a center position and the remaining characters placed on opposing sides of the highest frequency character in order of decreasing frequency such that characters closer to the center position have an equal or higher frequency of use than characters further from the center position.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the displaying of the each valid character further comprises arranging the valid characters according to frequency of use with the highest frequency character in a center position and the other characters placed to the left, right, top, and bottom of the highest frequency item in order of decreasing frequency such that characters closer to the center position have an equal or higher frequency of use than characters further from the center position.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the predefined list resides on a local storage medium.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the predefined list resides on a remote storage medium.

13. A method for dynamic key assignment on an intelligent device having a touch screen display, the method comprising:

a) receiving an entry from the touch screen;

b) identifying a list of characters generated statistically based on historical uses from a predefined database wherein each of the characters is likely to follow the entry;

c) determining a frequency associated with each of the characters;

d) displaying each of the characters according to its corresponding frequency, such that the characters are presented on the touch screen display in an arrangement in which a next likely is displayed at the same location as the character just entered, so that a user chooses one of the characters without moving around the touch screen to activate the one of the characters, wherein characters with higher frequencies are more selectable than characters with lower frequencies;

e) accepting a selected character; and

f) repeating above steps b), c), and d) to provide another list of characters each of which is likely to follow the selected character following the previous entry.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the arrangement to display the list of characters is to place a limited number of the characters immediately around the entry, and the remaining of the characters further form the entry.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying whole words, whole phrases or sentences when the determining of the frequency shows there is a very limited number of characters each of which is likely to follow what has been entered from the touch screen.