Touchscreen japanese character selection through sliding input

• US 8,816,966 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2011
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Yoshida, Taketoshi, Mori, Yasuhiko, Tanaka, Takeshi, Morimitsu, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): SIMPSON, LIXI CHOW
• Application Number:
  US13/238,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20120299835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• Field of Search: 345/171
• US Class Current: 345/171
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/018 Input/output arrangements for oriental characters
• 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

Systems, methods, and computer media for selecting characters through touchscreen input are provided. A user selection of a first character, such as a Japanese kana character, displayed on a touchscreen is received. A plurality of additional characters syllabically related to the first character are identified. A presentation order of the plurality of additional characters is identified. In response to receiving the user selection of the first character, at least a first and a second additional character from the plurality of syllabically related additional characters are displayed. The first additional character is displayed adjacent to the first character, and the second additional character is displayed adjacent to the first additional character. The displayed first and second additional characters are selectable by a user touch input.

Claims

1. A computer storage device having embodied thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method of selecting characters through touchscreen input, the method comprising:

receiving a user selection of a first character displayed on a touchscreen, wherein the received user selection of the first character is a sliding selection in a first direction away from the displayed first character, the sliding selection extending from the first character, beyond a first threshold point, and beyond a second threshold point;

identifying a plurality of additional characters syllabically related to the first character;

identifying a presentation order of the plurality of additional characters; and

in response to receiving the user selection of the first character, displaying at least a first and a second additional character from the plurality of syllabically related additional characters, the first additional character displayed adjacent to the first character and the second additional character displayed adjacent to the first additional character, the displayed first and second additional characters selectable by a user touch input, wherein the first additional character is displayed as the sliding selection extends beyond the first threshold point, and wherein the second additional character is displayed as the sliding selection extends beyond the second threshold point.

2. The computer storage device of claim 1, wherein the characters are Japanese kana characters.

3. The computer storage device of claim 1, wherein the presentation order corresponds to an accepted character teaching order.

4. The computer storage device of claim 1, wherein the first and second additional characters are displayed in a line.

5. The computer storage device of claim 1, wherein the first and second additional characters are displayed in one of the following manners:

(1) next to each other such that the entirety of both the first and second additional characters are visible or (2) overlappingly displayed such that the second additional character is fully displayed and the first additional character is partially displayed.

6. The computer storage device of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user selection of the displayed first or second additional characters; and

in response to receiving the user selection of the displayed first or second additional characters, displaying one or more syllabic character modifiers adjacent to the selected additional character, the displayed one or more syllabic character modifiers selectable by a user touch input.

7. The computer storage device of claim 6, wherein the syllabic character modifier is one of dakuten or handakuten.

8. The computer storage device of claim 1, further comprising:

while at least one of the first and second additional characters remain displayed, receiving a second sliding user selection in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the second direction being away from the at least one of the first and second additional characters that remain displayed; and

in response to receiving the second sliding user selection, displaying one or more syllabic character modifiers selectable by a user touch input.

9. A mobile device configured to present a user interface for selecting Japanese kana characters via a touchscreen, the mobile device comprising:

a processor;

a memory; and

a display engine that;

receives a user selection of a first kana character displayed on a soft key;

identifies a plurality of additional kana characters syllabically related to the first kana character;

identifies a presentation order of the plurality of additional characters;

in response to receiving the user selection of the first kana character, displays at least a first and a second additional kana character from the plurality of syllabically related additional kana characters, the first additional kana character displayed adjacent to the first kana character and the second additional kana character displayed adjacent to the first additional kana character, the displayed first and second additional kana characters selectable by a user touch input;

receives a user selection of the displayed first or second additional kana characters; and

in response to receiving the user selection of the displayed first or second additional kana characters, displays one or more syllabic character modifiers adjacent to the selected additional kana character, the displayed one or more syllabic kana character modifiers selectable by a user touch input.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the presentation order corresponds to an accepted character teaching order.

11. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the first and second additional characters are displayed in a line in one of the following manners:

(1) next to each other such that the entirety of both the first and second additional characters are visible or (2) overlappingly displayed such that the second additional character is fully displayed and the first additional character is partially displayed.

12. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the received user selection of the first kana character is a sliding selection in a first direction away from the displayed first kana character, the sliding selection extending from the first kana character, beyond a first threshold point, and beyond a second threshold point,

wherein the first additional kana character is displayed as the sliding selection extends beyond the first threshold point, and

wherein the second additional kana character is displayed as the sliding selection extends beyond the second threshold point.

13. A computer storage device having embodied thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method of selecting characters through touchscreen input, the method comprising:

receiving a first sliding user selection of a first kana character displayed on touchscreen keypad, the first sliding user selection extending away from the displayed first kana character, beyond a plurality of threshold points;

identifying;

a plurality of additional kana characters syllabically related to the first kana character,

one or more kana character modifiers that are used with the first kana character and the plurality of additional kana characters, and

a presentation order of the plurality of additional kana characters that reflects a typical kana character teaching order;

upon determining that the first sliding user selection extends in a first direction from the displayed first kana character, displaying one of the plurality of syllabically related additional kana characters that is next in the identified presentation order as the first sliding user selection extends beyond each of the plurality of threshold points in the first direction; and

upon determining that the first sliding user selection extends in a second direction from the displayed first kana character, as the first sliding user selection extends beyond a first threshold point in the second direction, displaying both the first kana character and one of the one or more identified kana character modifiers, and, as the first sliding user selection extends beyond each of the remaining plurality of threshold points in the second direction, displaying both (1) one of the plurality of syllabically related additional kana characters that is next in the identified presentation order and (2) one of the one or more identified kana character modifiers, wherein the second direction is different from the first direction.

14. The computer storage device of claim 13, wherein the first direction is one of left or right, and wherein the second direction is one of up or down.

15. The computer storage device of claim 13, further comprising:

upon determining that the first sliding user selection extends in a third direction from the displayed first kana character, the third direction being substantially opposite from the first direction, displaying one of the plurality of syllabically related additional kana characters as the first sliding user selection extends beyond each of the plurality of threshold points in the third direction, the displayed kana character being next in one of;

the identified presentation order or a reverse identified presentation order.

16. The computer storage device of claim 13, further comprising:

upon determining that the first sliding user selection extends in a fourth direction from the displayed first kana character, the fourth direction being substantially opposite from the second direction, as the first sliding user selection extends beyond each of the plurality of threshold points in the fourth direction, displaying on a new single, user-selectable soft key, both (1) one of the plurality of syllabically related additional kana characters that is next in the identified presentation order and (2) one of the one or more identified kana character modifiers.

17. The computer storage device of claim 13, further comprising:

after determining that the first sliding user selection extends in the first direction from the displayed first kana character and while at least one of the additional kana characters displayed as a result of the first sliding user selection remain displayed, receiving a second sliding user selection perpendicular to the first direction, the second sliding user selection beginning at one of the displayed additional kana characters; and

in response to receiving the second sliding user selection, displaying at least one of the one or more syllabic character modifiers,

wherein selection of one of the at least one displayed syllabic character modifiers results in selection of the displayed additional kana character from which the second sliding user selection began as well as the selected displayed syllabic character modifier.

18. The computer storage device of claim 13, wherein each displayed syllabically related additional kana character remains displayed while the first sliding user selection is being made and is displayed in the presentation order such that when the first sliding user selection extends to the end point, the plurality of additional kana characters is displayed in a line in the presentation order, the line extending from first in the presentation order to last in the presentation order in the same direction as the first sliding user selection, and

wherein the plurality of additional characters are displayed in one of the following manners:

(1) next to each other such that the entirety of each additional character is visible or (2) overlappingly displayed such that the last additional character displayed is fully displayed and the additional characters displayed prior to the last additional character are partially displayed.