Data entry for personal computing devices

• US 7,681,124 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2005
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 602531 British Columbia Limited (WordLogic Corporation)
• Original Assignee: 602531 British Columbia Limited (WordLogic Corporation)
• Inventors: Gunn, Harold David, Chapman, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Hutton, Doug
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blackwell, James H
• Application Number:
  US11/134,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20050210020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,762 Days
• Field of Search: 715/530, 715/531, 715/534, 715/541, 715/255, 715/256, 715/261, 715/268, 715/760, 365/189.01, 345/156, 345/173, 345/179, 382/187
• US Class Current: 715/256
• 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
• 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

In one aspect, the user can rapidly enter and search for text using a data entry system through a combination of entering one or more characters on a digitally displayed keyboard with a pointing device and using a search list to obtain a list of completion candidates. The user can activate the search list to obtain a list of completion candidates at any time while entering a partial text entry with the data entry system. When the search list is active, a list of completion candidates is displayed on a graphical user interface for the user to select from and the user can perform one of several actions. When the user deactivates the search list, the user can continue adding to or modifying the current partial text entry being entered, and may re-invoke the search list to further search for completion candidates based on the modified partial text entry.

Claims

1. A method of supporting text entry on a personal computing device by allowing a user to automatically search for and select completion candidates displayed in a search list based on a partial text entry, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a user input signal;

(b) if the user input signal corresponds to declining all completion candidates displayed in the search list, terminating automated searching with the search list and displaying a digital keyboard while not displaying the search list with no consequence to the text entered into the personal computing device, and waiting for further user input from the digital keyboard;

(c) if the user input signal corresponds to accepting a completion candidate from the search list to replace the partial text entry and to terminate automated searching, terminating the automated searching with the search list, modifying the partial text entry to become the accepted completion candidate, displaying the digital keyboard while not displaying the search list, and waiting for further user input from the digital keyboard; and

(d) if the user input signal corresponds to selecting a completion candidate from the search list to initiate further searching, obtaining a new list of completion candidates based on the selected completion candidate and displaying the new list of completion candidates in the search list for further selection while not displaying the digital keyboard, and waiting for further user input from the search list.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a portion of each completion candidate listed in the new list of completion candidates, matches the selected completion candidate.

3. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for directing a processor unit to perform the method of claim 2.

4. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for directing a processor unit to perform the method of claim 1.

5. A method of processing an input string at least partially entered into a personal computing device with a pointing device, the method comprising:

(a) performing a search of a set of completion candidates to locate a plurality of possible completion candidates for completing the input string in response to either a prior located possible completion candidate or a character selectable by a user;

(b) displaying at least one of;

(i) the plurality of possible completion candidates; and

(ii) characters selectable by the user;

(c) selecting one of the plurality of possible completion candidates for use by an application in response to user input;

(d) displaying a digital keyboard on a user interface when a user is entering characters a keystroke at a time;

(e) monitoring for user input;

(f) if the user input corresponds to activating a search list, clearing the display of the digital keyboard, displaying the search list and waiting for further user input; and

(g) if the user input corresponds to terminating use of the search list once activated, clearing the display of the search list, displaying the digital keyboard and waiting for further user input.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein performing the search of the set of completion candidates in response to the prior located possible completion candidate, comprises performing the search of the set of completion candidates in response to the prior located possible completion candidate being selected by the user.

7. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for directing a processor unit to perform the method of claim 6.

8. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for directing a processor unit to perform the method of claim 5.

9. A method of processing text entered into a personal computing device, the method comprising:

(a) receiving and displaying a partial text entry, comprising receiving at least part of the partial text entry via a digital keyboard displayed in a graphical user interface of the personal computing device, the partial text entry comprising at least a first character;

(b) in response to receipt of the first character of the partial text entry, obtaining a first plurality of completion candidates from among a group of completion candidates, wherein each of the first plurality of completion candidates includes a portion matching the partial text entry;

(c) displaying the first plurality of completion candidates in a search list within a graphical user interface;

(d) detecting user input corresponding to selection of a particular completion candidate from among the first plurality of completion candidates displayed in the search list;

(e) modifying the display of the partial text entry to correspond to the particular completion candidate selected from among the first plurality of completion candidates;

(f) detecting modification of the partial text entry by the user via the digital keyboard;

(g) obtaining and displaying in the search list a modified plurality of completion candidates from among the group of completion candidates, each time the partial text entry is modified via the digital keyboard, wherein each of the modified plurality of completion candidates includes a portion matching the partial text entry; and

(h) in response to receiving a user input signal associated with initiating further searching with a completion candidate selected from the search list,

(i) obtaining a further plurality of completion candidates from among the group of completion candidates; and

(ii) displaying the further plurality of completion candidates in the search list while not displaying the digital keyboard in the graphical user interface.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein each individual completion candidate from either the first plurality of completion candidates or the modified plurality of completion candidates is displayed in the search list with the part of the individual completion candidate matching the partial text entry displayed in a manner different from the remaining part of the individual completion candidate.

11. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for directing a processor unit to perform the method of claim 10.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

(a) receiving at least the first character of the partial text entry via the digital keyboard; and

(b) displaying simultaneously the search list and the digital keyboard in the graphical user interface when the partial text entry comprises at least the first character.

13. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for directing a processor unit to perform the method of claim 12.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising displaying simultaneously the digital keyboard and the search list in the graphical user interface while the digital keyboard is in use.

15. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for directing a processor unit to perform the method of claim 14.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of completion candidates obtained from the group of completion candidates begins with the partial text entry;

and wherein each of the modified plurality of completion candidates obtained from the group of completion candidates begins with the partial text entry.

17. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for directing a processor unit to perform the method of claim 16.

18. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for directing a processor unit to perform the method of claim 9.

19. A computer-readable medium comprising codes for directing a processing unit to process text entered into a personal computing device, by:

(a) receiving and displaying a partial text entry, comprising receiving at least part of the partial text entry via a keyboard, the partial text entry comprising at least a first character;

(b) in response to receipt of the first character of the partial text entry, obtaining a plurality of completion candidates from among a group of completion candidates, wherein each of the plurality of completion candidates includes a portion matching the partial text entry;

(c) displaying the plurality of completion candidates in a search list within a graphical user interface;

(d) detecting user input corresponding to selection of a particular completion candidate from among the plurality of completion candidates displayed in the search list;

(e) modifying the display of the partial text entry to correspond to the particular completion candidate selected from among the plurality of completion candidates at least while the particular completion candidate remains selected;

(f) detecting modification of the partial text entry by the user via the keyboard;

(g) obtaining and displaying in the search list a modified plurality of completion candidates from among the group of completion candidates, if the partial text entry is modified via the keyboard, wherein each of the modified plurality of completion candidates includes a portion matching the partial text entry; and

(h) obtaining and displaying in the search list a further modified plurality of completion candidates from among the group of completion candidates, if a completion candidate is accepted via the search list from the modified plurality of completion candidates, wherein each of the further modified plurality of completion candidates includes a portion matching the accepted completion candidate.

20. A method of processing text via a personal computing device using a pointing device, the method comprising:

(a) receiving via the personal computing device a partial text entry entered into the personal computing device by a user with the pointing device, the partial text entry comprising at least a first character;

(b) in response to receipt of the first character of the partial text entry, retrieving a first plurality of completion candidates selected from among a group of completion candidates stored in a dictionary, wherein each of the first plurality of completion candidates includes a portion matching the partial text entry;

(c) displaying the first plurality of completion candidates in a search list within a graphical user interface;

(d) receiving a user input signal associated with the pointing device;

(e) if the user input signal corresponds to a first type of user selection with the pointing device associated with selecting one of the first plurality of completion candidates, modifying the partial text entry to become a completion candidate selected from among the first plurality of completion candidates displayed in the search list;

(f) if the user input signal corresponds to a second type of user selection with the pointing device associated with using a selected one of the first plurality of completion candidates to perform further searching, retrieving a second plurality of completion candidates selected from among the group of completion candidates stored in the dictionary, wherein each of the second plurality of completion candidates includes a portion matching the selected one of the first plurality of completion candidates.

21. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for directing a processor unit to perform the method of claim 20.

22. A method of processing a partial text entry with a personal computing device, the method comprising:

(a) receiving the first character of the partial text entry;

(b) in response to receipt of the first character of the partial text entry, obtaining a first plurality of completion candidates based on the first character of the partial text entry;

(c) displaying the first plurality of completion candidates in a search list within a graphical user interface for user selection;

(d) awaiting user input associated with either selection of one of the first plurality of completion candidates or modification of the partial text entry via a digital keyboard;

(e) in response to receiving user input identifying the second character of the partial text entry, obtaining a second plurality of completion candidates based on the first and second characters of the partial text entry;

(f) clearing the search list of the first plurality of completion candidates and displaying the second plurality of completion candidates in the search list within the graphical user interface for user selection;

(g) awaiting further user input associated with either selection of one of the second plurality of completion candidates or modification of the partial text entry via the digital keyboard;

(h) in response to receiving user input identifying the third character of the partial text entry, obtaining a third plurality of completion candidates based on the first, second and third characters of the partial text entry;

(i) clearing the search list of the second plurality of completion candidates and displaying the third plurality of completion candidates in the search list within the graphical user interface for user selection and deactivating the digital keyboard for user input; and

(j) awaiting user input associated with selection of one of the third plurality of completion candidates.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising displaying a plurality of particular completion candidates in the search list with the part of each particular completion candidate matching the partial text entry displayed in a manner different from the remaining part of each of the particular completion candidates displayed in the search list.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising highlighting the part of each particular completion candidate displayed in the search list that makes up the partial text entry.

25. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for directing a processor unit to perform the method of claim 24.

26. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for directing a processor unit to perform the method of claim 23.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein when any of the first plurality, second plurality and third plurality of completion candidates are displayed in the search list, displaying the part of each particular completion candidate matching the partial text entry in a manner different from the remaining part of the particular completion candidate displayed in the search list.

28. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for directing a processor unit to perform the method of claim 27.

29. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

(a) receiving user input corresponding to deletion of the second character from the partial text entry when the partial text entry consists of the first and second characters;

(b) in response to receiving the user input corresponding to deletion of the second character from the partial text entry,

(i) deleting the second character from the partial text entry;

(ii) obtaining the first plurality of completion candidates;

(iii) clearing the search list of the second plurality of completion candidates; and

(iv) displaying the first plurality of completion candidates in the search list within the graphical user interface for user selection.

30. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for directing a processor unit to perform the method of claim 29.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein no particular completion candidate is displayed in the search list unless the particular completion candidate has at least a predetermined minimum number of characters.

32. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for directing a processor unit to perform the method of claim 31.

33. The method of claim 22, wherein whenever a particular completion candidate is displayed in the search list, displaying the particular completion candidate in substantially the same position in the search list.

34. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for directing a processor unit to perform the method of claim 33.

35. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for directing a processor unit to perform the method of claim 22.

36. A method of processing an input string at least partially entered into a personal computing device with a pointing device, the method comprising:

(a) activating a digital keyboard for user input on a graphical user interface of the personal computing device;

(b) monitoring for user input;

(c) in response to user input corresponding to activating a search, deactivating the digital keyboard for user input and displaying a first plurality of possible completion candidates for the partially entered input string on the graphical user interface, each possible completion candidate comprising the partially entered input string, and awaiting further user input;

(d) in response to user input corresponding to selecting one of the first plurality of possible completion candidates, updating the input string with the selected completion candidate for use by an application; and

(e) in response to the user input corresponding to terminating the search once activated, clearing the first plurality of completion candidates from the user interface and activating the digital keyboard for further user input without causing the input string to be updated, and awaiting further user input via the digital keyboard.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein updating the input string with the selected completion candidate further comprises displaying a second plurality of possible completion candidates on the graphical user interface, each comprising the updated input string, and awaiting further user input.

38. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for directing a processor unit to perform the method of claim 37.

39. The method of claim 36 wherein each of the first plurality of possible completion candidates is of at least a predetermined minimum length set by the user.

40. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for directing a processor unit to perform the method of claim 39.

41. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for directing a processor unit to perform the method of claim 36.