Reduced keyboard system that emulates QWERTY-type mapping and typing

• US 7,202,853 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2003
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xrgomics Pte Limited
• Original Assignee: Xrgomics Pte Limited
• Inventors: Ng, Edwin, Tan, Ken Chin Foo, Oh, Julian Joo Seng
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang; Regina
• Application Number:
  US10/379,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20030193478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,498 Days
• Field of Search: 345168-172, 708131-146, 341 22- 34, 340/407.1, 340/407.2, 710/67, 400472-489, 455/186.2, 379/368, 379/433.07
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1664 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques

Abstract

A reduced keyboard system (100), with a reduced number of keys (13, 15, 23, 25, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112), but retaining the typing map of the conventional QWERTY or QWERTY-type keyboard by employing an intuitive and learning database engine. A plurality of letters, numerals, symbols and functions are assigned to a set of data keys, buttons or data inputs (multi-character keys). The arrangement of the multi-character keys together with the character assignments to the individual multi-character keys allows a user to use the same typing map, as when typing on a conventional QWERTY or QWERTY-type keyboard, be it visual mapping (i.e. physical location of keys) or finger mapping (i.e. touch typing for typist). This enhances the typing experience on the reduced keyboard system to have the same feeling, typing rhythm and speed as typing on a conventional QWERTY or QWERTY-type keyboard.

Claims

1. A reduced keyboard system for inputting information comprising:

a plurality of keys, each key having at least one feature wherein the feature is a data value, a function or a data symbol representative of a keystroke on a QWERTY-type keyboard wherein the key is assigned a keystroke of a QWERTY-type keyboard based on a mapping arrangement of a section comprised of adjacent keys of a QWERTY-type keyboard compatible with the memory mapping used by a user on a QWERTY-type keyboard;

a database for storing data wherein the data is a data character or a data symbol associated with an input keystroke sequence of the keys; and

a display for displaying the information;

wherein the allocation of numerals is based on a half-decimal system, each numeral assigned a key representing two numerals with one numeral being a base from 1 to 5 and the other numeral being the base plus 5, with 10 being rounded to 0.

2. A reduced keyboard system of claim 1, wherein the data stored is indexed by keystroke sequences, and for each keystroke sequence the data is stored in an order of a most recently selected data to a least recently selected data.

3. A reduced keyboard system of claim 1, wherein the data stored is stored in an order of a most recently selected data to a least recently selected data.

4. A reduced keyboard system of claim 3, wherein the database has a predetermined limit of entries to store the stored data, wherein where a selected new data is to be stored and when the predetermined limit of entries is met the selected new data replaces the least recently selected data stored In the database.

5. A reduced keyboard system for inputting information comprising:

a plurality of single entry keys, each key having at least two features wherein each feature is a data value, a function or a data symbol representative of a keystroke on a QWERTY-type keyboard assigned based on a mapping arrangement of a section comprised of adjacent keys of the QWERTY-type keyboard, whereby the number of said keys is reduced compared with the QWERTY-type keyboard, and upon depressing each single entry key, first data corresponding to said at least two features is identified;

a database for storing second data wherein the second data is a data character or a data symbol associated with an input keystroke sequence of the keys;

a display for displaying the information based on the input keystroke sequence and the associated stored second data;

a first set of keys within the plurality of keys wherein a feature of each key of the first set of keys is a data value representative of a key-character of a QWERTY-type keyboard; and

a second set of keys within the plurality of keys wherein a feature of each key in the second set of keys is a function based on auxiliary functions;

wherein the mapping arrangement is based on a visual-mapping arrangement of the QWERTY-type keyboard, the first set having less than seven keys and the second set having at least two keys;

wherein the keys of the first set represent corresponding sections of the QWERTY-type keyboard, wherein the sections on the QWERTY-type keyboard are arranged in less than three columns and at least three rows;

wherein each column is arranged to be accessible by at least one of the fingers of each hand of a user for two hand typing, the first set having;

a first key arranged to be accessible by a first finger of the left hand of a user, the first key having features representing at least the alphabetic characters Q, W, E, R, and T;

a second character key arranged to be accessible by a second finger of the left hand of a user, the second key having features representing at least the alphabetic characters A, S, D, F, and G;

a third character key arranged to be accessible by a third finger of the left hand of a user, the third key having features representing at least the alphabetic characters Z, X, C, and V;

a fourth character key arranged to be accessible by a first finger of the right hand of a user, the fourth key having features representing at least the alphabetic characters Y, U, I, O, and P;

a fifth character key arranged to be accessible by a second finger of the right hand of a user, the fifth key having features representing at least the alphabetic characters H, J, K, and L; and

a sixth character key arranged to be accessible by a third finger of the right hand of a user, the sixth key having features representing at least the alphabetic characters B, N, and M.

6. A reduced keyboard system of claim 5, wherein each column is arranged to be accessible by at least one thumb of a user for thumb typing.

7. A reduced keyboard system of claim 5, wherein the data stored is indexed by keystroke sequences, and for each keystroke sequence the data is stored in an order of a most recently selected data to a least recently selected data.

8. A reduced keyboard system of claim 5, wherein the data stored is stored in an order of a most recently selected data to a least recently selected data.

9. A reduced keyboard system of claim 8, wherein the database has a predetermined limit of entries to store the stored data, wherein where a selected new data is to be stored and when the predetermined limit of entries is met the selected new data replaces the least recently selected data stored in the database.

10. A reduced keyboard system for inputting information comprising:

a plurality of single entry keys, each key having at least two features wherein each feature is a data value, a function or a data symbol representative of a keystroke on a QWERTY-type keyboard assigned based on a mapping arrangement of a section comprised of adjacent keys of the QWERTY-type keyboard, whereby the number of said keys is reduced compared with the QWERTY-type keyboard, and upon depressing each single entry key, first data corresponding to said at least two features is identified;

a database for storing second data wherein the second data is a data character or a data symbol associated with an input keystroke sequence of the keys;

a display for displaying the information based on the input keystroke sequence and the associated stored second data;

a first set of keys within the plurality of keys wherein a feature of each key of the first set of keys is a data value representative of a key-character of a QWERTY-type keyboard; and

a second set of keys within the plurality of keys wherein a feature of each key in the second set of keys is a function based on auxiliary functions;

wherein the mapping arrangement is based on a visual-mapping arrangement of the QWERTY-type keyboard, the first set having less than seven keys and the second set having at least two keys;

wherein the keys of the first set represent corresponding sections of the QWERTY-type keyboard, wherein the sections on the QWERTY-type keyboard are arranged in less than three columns and at least three rows;

wherein each column is arranged to be accessible by at least one of the fingers of each hand of a user for two hand typing, the first set having;

a first key arranged to be accessible by a first finger of the left hand of a user, the first key having features representing at least the alphabetic characters Q, W, E, R, and T;

a second character key arranged to be accessible by a second finger of the left hand of a user, the second key having features representing at least the alphabetic characters A, S, D, F, and G;

a third character key arranged to be accessible by a third finger of the left hand of a user, the third key having features representing at least the alphabetic characters Z, X, C, V, and B;

a fourth character key arranged to be accessible by a first finger of the right hand of a user, the fourth key having features representing at least the alphabetic characters Y, U, I, O, and P;

a fifth character key arranged to be accessible by a second finger of the right hand of a user, the fifth key having features representing at least the alphabetic characters H, J, K, and L; and

a sixth character key arranged to be accessible by a third finger of the right hand of a user, the sixth key having features representing at least the alphabetic characters N and M.

11. A reduced keyboard system of claim 10, wherein each column is arranged to be accessible by at least one thumb of a user for thumb typing.

12. A reduced keyboard system of claim 10, wherein the data stored is indexed by keystroke sequences, and for each keystroke sequence the data is stored in an order of a most recently selected data to a least recently selected data.

13. A reduced keyboard system of claim 10, wherein the data stored is stored in an order of a most recently selected data to a least recently selected data.

14. A reduced keyboard system of claim 13, wherein the database has a predetermined limit of entries to store the stored data, wherein where a selected new data is to be stored and when the predetermined limit of entries is met, the selected new data replaces the least recently selected data stored in the database.