Method and device for controlling and inputting data

• US 8,125,440 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2005
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tiki'Labs company
• Original Assignee: Tiki'Labs company
• Inventors: Guyot-Sionnest, Laurent, Mazzoni, Simone
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): Guertin, Aaron M
• Application Number:
  US11/791,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20080015115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,293 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0235 using chord techniques G06F3/0234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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

A method of entering combinatorial data on a data entry device (DED) including sensitive means which can be activated by an intermediary of at least one actuator allowing, according to a combination of sensitive means activated, an ad hoc computer program to designate and activate an object contained in a active correspondence table in memory, where the sensitive means are made up by at least three main detection zones Zi each made up of Fi (Fi=1, 2, 3 . . . ) distinct sensitive zones, comprising at least one step of designating/selecting an object from an active table; and a subsequent step of validation and production of the designated object, wherein for at least a first part of objects from the active table, the step of designation/selection of a single object can be achieved by designation of the object in successive combinatorial mode or by designation of the object in simultaneous combinatorial mode.

Claims

1. A method of entering data on a data entry device (DED) comprising a plurality of sensitive zones, the method comprising:

identifying, by a processor, a first activation of a first sensitive zone (SZ) of the plurality of sensitive zones by a user;

identifying, by the processor, a first activation of a second SZ of the plurality of sensitive zones after identifying the first activation of the first SZ;

identifying, by the processor, a first time delay between the first activation of the first SZ and the first activation of the second SZ;

invoking, by the processor and in response to the first time delay exceeding a first time delay threshold, a successive mode;

selecting, by the processor and from a first active table stored in a memory operatively connected to the processor, a first object in response to invoking the successive mode, the first selection of the first SZ, and the first selection of the second SZ;

identifying, by the processor, a validation of the first object after selecting the first object;

producing, by the processor, the first object in response to receiving the validation;

identifying, by the processor, a second activation of the first SZ;

identifying, by the processor, a second activation of the second SZ;

identifying, by the processor, a second time delay between the second activation of the first SZ and the second activation of the second SZ;

invoking, by the processor and in response to the second time delay being less than the first time delay threshold, a simultaneous mode; and

selecting, by the processor and from the first active table, a second object in response to invoking the simultaneous mode, the second selection of the first SZ, and the second selection of the second SZ.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying an activation of a third SZ of the plurality of sensitive zones after invoking the simultaneous mode; and

selecting, from the first active table, the first object in response to invoking the simultaneous mode, the second activation of the first SZ, the second activation of the second SZ, and the activation of the third SZ.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second activation of the second SZ is identified before the second activation of the first SZ.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one object in the first active table can only be selected in successive mode.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a strip comprising a plurality of boxes corresponding to a plurality of objects in the first active table and the means for activating each of the plurality of boxes.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

identifying an activation of a third SZ of the plurality of sensitive zones before identifying the first activation of the second SZ;

identifying, from the first active table, a third object in response to at least the activation of the third SZ and the first activation of the first SZ;

placing an emphasis on a box corresponding to the third object in response to identifying the third object;

identifying a release of the third SZ after displaying the label with;

deactivating the third SZ after a second time delay threshold following the release; and

removing the emphasis in response to deactivating the third SZ.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein placing the emphasis comprises highlighting the box.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein placing the emphasis comprises displaying a label describing a functionality of the third object.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

highlighting a portion of the grid corresponding to the first SZ in response to the first activation of the first SZ.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

selecting a second active table, wherein at least one of the plurality of boxes corresponds to the second active table.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising vibrating the first SZ in response to the first activation of the first SZ.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the validation comprises a release of the first SZ and a release of the second SZ within a second time delay threshold.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a first activation of a third sensitive zone (SZ) of the plurality of sensitive zones;

selecting, solely in response to the activation of the third sensitive zone, a third object; and

producing the third object.

14. A data entry device (DED) comprising:

a processor;

a plurality of sensitive zones operatively connected to the processor; and

a memory operatively connected to the processor and storing an active table comprising a plurality of objects and a plurality of instructions comprising functionality to;

identify a first activation of a first sensitive zone (SZ) of the plurality of sensitive zones by a user;

identify a first activation of a second SZ of the plurality of sensitive zones after identifying the first activation of the first SZ;

identify a first time delay between the first activation of the first SZ and the first activation of the second SZ;

invoke, in response to the first time delay exceeding a first time delay threshold, a successive mode;

select, from the active table, a first object in response to invoking the successive mode, the first selection of the first SZ, and the first selection of the second SZ;

produce the first object after identifying a validation of the first object;

identify a second activation of the first SZ;

identify a second activation of the second SZ;

identify a second time delay between the second activation of the first SZ and the second activation of the second SZ;

invoke, in response to the second time delay being less than the first time delay threshold, a simultaneous mode; and

select, from the first active table, a second object in response to invoking the simultaneous mode, the second selection of the first SZ, and the second selection of the second SZ.

15. The DED of claim 14, the plurality of instructions further comprising functionality to:

identify an activation of a third SZ of the plurality of sensitive zones after the simultaneous mode is invoked; and

select, from the active table, the first object in response to the simultaneous mode being invoked, the second activation of the first SZ, the second activation of the second SZ, and the activation of the third SZ.

16. The DED of claim 14, further comprising:

a display device displaying a strip comprising a plurality of boxes corresponding to a plurality of objects;

a first main zone comprising the first SZ; and

a second main zone comprising the second SZ.

17. The DED of claim 14, wherein the first object corresponds to a computer program, and wherein producing the first object comprises executing the computer program.

18. The DED of claim 14, wherein the first SZ corresponds to a first letter, wherein the second SZ corresponds to a second letter, and wherein the first object comprises a suggested word comprising the first letter and the second letter.

19. The DED of claim 14, wherein at least one selected from the first object and the second object is an image.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a plurality of instructions for entering data on a data entry device (DED) comprising a plurality of sensitive zones, the plurality of instructions comprising functionality to:

identify a first activation of a first sensitive zone (SZ) of the plurality of sensitive zones;

identify a first activation of a second SZ of the plurality of sensitive zones after identifying the first activation of the first SZ;

identify a first time delay between the first activation of the first SZ and the first activation of the second SZ;

invoke, in response to the first time delay exceeding a first time delay threshold, a successive mode;

select, from the active table, a first object in response to invoking the successive mode, the first selection of the first SZ, and the first selection of the second SZ;

identify a validation of the first object after the first object is selected;

produce the first object in response to the validation;

identify a second activation of the first SZ;

identify a second activation of the second SZ;

identify a second time delay between the second activation of the first SZ and the second activation of the second SZ;

invoke, in response to the second time delay being less than the time delay threshold, a simultaneous mode; and

select, from the active table, a second object in response to invoking the simultaneous mode, the second selection of the first SZ, and the second selection of the second SZ.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, the plurality of instructions further comprising functionality to:

identify an activation of a third SZ of the plurality of sensitive zones after the simultaneous mode is invoked; and

select, from the active table, the first object in response to the simultaneous mode being invoked, the second activation of the first SZ, the second activation of the second SZ, and the activation of the third SZ.

22. A method of entering data on a data entry device (DED) comprising a plurality of sensitive zones, comprising:

identifying, by a processor, a first activation of a first sensitive zone (SZ) of the plurality of sensitive zones by a user;

identifying, by the processor, a first activation of a second SZ of the plurality of sensitive zones after identifying the first activation of the first SZ;

identifying, by the processor, a first time delay between the first activation of the first SZ and the first activation of the second SZ;

invoking, by the processor and in response to the first time delay exceeding a time delay threshold, a successive mode;

selecting, by the processor and from an active table stored in a memory operatively connected to the processor, a first object in response to invoking the successive mode, the first selection of the first SZ, and the first selection of the second SZ after the first selection of the first SZ;

identifying, by the processor, a validation of the first object after selecting the first object;

producing, by the processor, the first object in response to receiving the validation of the first object;

identifying, by the processor, a second activation of the second SZ;

identifying, by the processor, a second activation of the first SZ after identifying the second activation of the second SZ;

identifying, by the processor, a second time delay between the second activation of the second SZ and the second activation of the first SZ;

invoking, by the processor and in response to the second time delay exceeding the time delay threshold, the successive mode;

selecting, by the processor and from an active table, a second object in response to invoking the successive mode, the second selection of the second SZ, and the second selection of the first SZ after the second selection of the first SZ;

identifying, by the processor, a validation of the second object after selecting the second object;

producing, by the processor, the second object in response to receiving the validation of the second object;

identifying, by the processor, a third activation of the first SZ;

identifying, by the processor, a third activation of the second SZ;

identifying, by the processor, a third time delay between the third activation of the first SZ and the third activation of the second SZ;

invoking, by the processor and in response to the third time delay being less than the time delay threshold, a simultaneous mode; and

selecting, by the processor and from the active table, an object selected from a group consisting of the first object and the second object, in response to invoking the simultaneous mode, the third selection of the first SZ, the third selection of the second SZ, and a disambiguation scheme.