Method and apparatus for word prediction selection

• US 9,189,157 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Pasquero, Jerome, McKenzie, Donald Somerset McCulloch, Griffin, Jason Tyler
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, TING ZHOU
• Application Number:
  US13/834,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20140282201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 715/773, 715/812, 715/816
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04897 Special input arrangements or commands for improving display capability
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided for improving word prediction candidate selection in an electronic device. Input of one or more characters is received via a capacitive physical keyboard. A word prediction process generates a set of word prediction candidates, determines a unique character in each word prediction candidate, and displays the word prediction candidates along with visual indicia to indicate the unique character. A second input is then received comprising a tap input of a single character on the keyboard. The electronic device determines whether the second input corresponds to a unique character associated with any of the word prediction candidates, and if so, displays the selected word in an input field on the display.

Claims

1. A method for operating an electronic device having a display and a keyboard for receiving inputs comprising:

receiving a first input of one or more characters in an input field, the first input comprising a key press input representing engagement of a physical or electronic dome switch associated with the key;

generating a set of word prediction candidates associated with the first input;

displaying the set of word prediction candidates on the display;

determining at least one unique character in each word prediction candidate, the at least one unique character enabling discrete selection of the word prediction candidate from the set of word prediction candidates;

displaying, for each displayed word prediction candidate, a visual indicia identifying the unique character included within the displayed word prediction candidate;

receiving a second input of a single character, the second input comprising a tap input received by the keyboard at a key corresponding to the single character, the tap input comprising a touch event associated with the key which does not engage a physical or electronic dome switch associated with the key;

determining that the single character of the second input corresponds to at least one determined unique character associated with a particular word prediction candidate; and

in response to the determination, automatically displaying the particular word prediction candidate in the input field.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying visual indicia comprises displaying the unique character underlined.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying visual indicia comprises displaying the unique character in a different color.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying visual indicia comprises displaying a diagram of a keyboard layout with each word prediction candidate from the generated set of word prediction candidates displayed on a key of the keyboard layout diagram associated with the determined unique character in each respective word prediction candidate.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the diagram additionally displays a location of one or more digits detected on the keyboard by capacitive sensors integrated within, situated above, or situated below the keys of said keyboard.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a particular word prediction candidate from among the generated set of word prediction candidates based on the second input comprises:

comparing the input character to a first unique character of each word prediction candidate; and

determining whether the input character matches the first unique character of a particular one of the word prediction candidates.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the single character associated with the second input does not correspond with any of the displayed word prediction candidates;

generating additional word prediction candidates based on the first and second inputs received from the keyboard;

displaying the additional word prediction candidates on the display; and

providing an indication of a unique character in each additional displayed word prediction candidate to facilitate candidate selection.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to detection of an input reflecting selection of the displayed particular word prediction candidate, displaying the selected candidate in the input field on the display.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an input indicating that the displayed particular word prediction candidate is rejected for selection;

determining a different particular word prediction candidate from among the generated set of word prediction candidates based on the second input; and

displaying the different particular word prediction candidate on the display for selection.

10. An electronic device having a display and a keyboard for receiving input, comprising:

a memory containing instructions; and

one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to;

receive a first input of one or more characters in an input field, the first input comprising a key press input representing engagement of a physical or electronic dome switch associated with the key;

generate a set of word prediction candidates associated with the first input;

display the set of word predictions on the display;

determine at least one unique character in each word prediction candidate, the at least one unique character enabling discrete selection of the word prediction candidate from the set of word prediction candidates;

display, for each displayed word prediction candidate, a visual indicia identifying the unique character included the displayed word prediction candidate;

receive a second input of a single character, the second input comprising a tap input received by the keyboard at a key corresponding to the single character, the tap input comprising a touch event associated with the key which does not engage a physical or electronic dome switch associated with the key;

determine that the single character of the second input corresponds to at least one determined unique character associated with a particular word prediction candidate; and

in response to the determination, automatically display the particular word prediction candidate in the input field.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein displaying visual indicia comprises displaying the unique character underlined.

12. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein displaying visual indicia comprises displaying the unique character in a different color.

13. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein displaying visual indicia comprises displaying a diagram of a keyboard layout with each word prediction candidate from the generated set of word prediction candidates displayed on a key of the keyboard layout diagram associated with the determined unique character in each respective word prediction candidate.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the diagram additionally displays a location of one or more digits detected on the keyboard by capacitive sensors integrated within, situated above, or situated below the keys of said keyboard.

15. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein determining a particular word prediction candidate from among the generated set of word prediction candidates based on the second input comprises:

comparing the input character to a first unique character of each word prediction candidate; and

determining whether the input character matches the first unique character of a particular one of the word prediction candidates.

16. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine that the single character associated with the second input does not correspond with any of the displayed word prediction candidates;

generate additional word prediction candidates based on the first and second inputs received from the keyboard;

display the additional word prediction candidates on the display; and

provide an indication of a unique character in each additional displayed word prediction candidate to facilitate candidate selection.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, when executed by a computing device, that cause the device to:

receive a first input of one or more characters in an input field, the first input comprising a key press input representing engagement of a physical or electronic dome switch associated with the key;

generate a set of word prediction candidates associated with the input;

display the set of word predictions on the display;

determine at least one unique character in each word prediction candidate, the at least one unique character enabling discrete selection of the word prediction candidate from the set of word prediction candidates;

display, for each displayed word prediction candidate, a visual indicia identifying the unique character included within the displayed word prediction candidate;

receive a second input of a single character, the second input comprising a tap input received by the keyboard at a key corresponding to the single character, the tap input comprising a touch event associated with the key which does not engage a physical or electronic dome switch associated with the key;

determine that the single character of the second input corresponds to at least one determined unique character associated with a particular word prediction candidate; and

in response to the determination, automatically display the particular word prediction candidate in the input field.