Touchscreen keyboard predictive display and generation of a set of characters

• US 9,032,322 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2012
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Griffin, Jason Tyler, Pasquero, Jerome
• Primary Examiner(s): TILLERY, RASHAWN N
• Application Number:
  US13/563,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20130125036A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 715/773, 715/780, 345/173
• US Class Current: 715/773
• 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

A method including receiving an input of a character from a virtual keyboard rendered on a display, generating a set of characters that includes the character, and displaying the generated set of characters at a location that is associated with the virtual keyboard and that is on the display. An electronic device including a display having a virtual keyboard rendered thereupon and a processor, the processor being configured to perform the method. Also disclosed is a keyboard, including a plurality of keys, each key corresponding to one or more different characters of a plurality of characters, wherein in response to receiving an input of a character, the keyboard is configured to generate a set of characters that includes the character, and the keyboard is further configured to cause display of the generated set of characters at a location that is associated with the virtual keyboard and that is on the display.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an input of one or more characters from a virtual keyboard, wherein the virtual keyboard comprises a plurality of character keys and at least some the keys are configured for displaying characters; and

displaying predicted words at respective select locations within the virtual keyboard, wherein each select location of each of the displayed predicted words is selected using a corresponding subsequent candidate input character determined based on the received input,

wherein each of the displayed predicted words is positioned adjacent a different key on the virtual keyboard configured to display the corresponding subsequent candidate input character and in a manner that does not overlap with any other key on the virtual keyboard and such that each key of the plurality of character keys is associated with no more than one displayed predicted word, and

wherein one of the displayed predicted words is selected for display in an input field by detecting a swipe at a key configured to display one of the corresponding subsequent candidate input characters.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predicted words are displayed in a form that enhances visibility the predicted words.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the predicted words is displayed on a space key of the keyboard.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the corresponding subsequent candidate input character is selected by detecting a typing input of the key configured to display the corresponding subsequent candidate input character.

5. An electronic device, comprising:

a processor;

a display coupled to the processor, configured to display an input field and a virtual keyboard having a plurality of keys configured for displaying characters;

wherein the processor is configured to;

receive an input of one or more characters from the virtual keyboard; and

display predicted words at respective select locations within the virtual keyboard, wherein each select location of each of the displayed predicted words is selected using a corresponding subsequent candidate input character determined based on the received input,

wherein each of the displayed predicted words is positioned adjacent a different key on the virtual keyboard configured to display the corresponding subsequent candidate input character and in a manner that does not overlap with any other key on the virtual keyboard and such that each key of the plurality of character keys is associated with no more than one displayed predicted word, and

wherein one of the displayed predicted words is selected for display in an input field by detecting a swipe at a key configured to display one of the corresponding subsequent candidate input characters.