Keyboard based graphical user interface navigation
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of navigating a graphical user interface (GUI), the method comprising:
- responsive to a user input initiating a navigation mode, overlaying, atop of the GUI located within a first layer, a virtual keyboard within a second layer, wherein the virtual keyboard comprises a plurality of virtual keys;
for each virtual key, associating the virtual key with a region of the first layer comprising an area of the GUI beneath the virtual key;
mapping each virtual key with a physical key of a physical keyboard communicatively linked with a computer rendering the GUI;
responsive to a user input selecting a physical key of the physical keyboard, selecting a region corresponding to the selected physical key and increasing a level of magnification for the selected region within the first layer while keeping the virtual keyboard sizing constant;
responsive to receiving a user input, assigning one of a plurality of programmatic actions to each physical key of the physical keyboard; and
responsive to a user input selecting a physical key mapped to a virtual key above an icon within the region of the first layer associated with the virtual key, initiating the assigned programmatic action on an object stored in memory that is represented by the icon.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-implemented method of navigating a GUI can include, responsive to a user input initiating a navigation mode, overlaying, atop of the GUI located within a first layer, a virtual keyboard within a second layer, wherein the virtual keyboard includes a plurality of virtual keys. The method can include, for each virtual key, associating the virtual key with a region of the first layer including an area of the GUI beneath the virtual key. The method can include mapping each virtual key with a physical key of a physical keyboard communicatively linked with a computer rendering the GUI and, responsive to a user input selecting a physical key of the physical keyboard, selecting a region corresponding to the selected physical key. A level of magnification for the selected region can be increased within the first layer while keeping the virtual keyboard sizing constant.
17 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of navigating a graphical user interface (GUI), the method comprising:
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responsive to a user input initiating a navigation mode, overlaying, atop of the GUI located within a first layer, a virtual keyboard within a second layer, wherein the virtual keyboard comprises a plurality of virtual keys; for each virtual key, associating the virtual key with a region of the first layer comprising an area of the GUI beneath the virtual key; mapping each virtual key with a physical key of a physical keyboard communicatively linked with a computer rendering the GUI; responsive to a user input selecting a physical key of the physical keyboard, selecting a region corresponding to the selected physical key and increasing a level of magnification for the selected region within the first layer while keeping the virtual keyboard sizing constant; responsive to receiving a user input, assigning one of a plurality of programmatic actions to each physical key of the physical keyboard; and responsive to a user input selecting a physical key mapped to a virtual key above an icon within the region of the first layer associated with the virtual key, initiating the assigned programmatic action on an object stored in memory that is represented by the icon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer program product comprising:
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a computer-usable storage device, wherein the computer-usable storage device is not a transitory, propagating signal per se, having stored thereon computer-usable program code that navigates a graphical user interface (GUI) responsive to inputs from a physical keyboard, the computer-usable program code comprising; computer-usable program code that, responsive to a user input initiating a navigation mode, overlays, atop of the GUI located within a first layer, a virtual keyboard within a second layer, wherein the virtual keyboard comprises a plurality of virtual keys; computer-usable program code that, for each virtual key, associates the virtual key with a region of the first layer comprising an area of the GUI beneath the virtual key; computer-usable program code that maps each virtual key with a physical key of the physical keyboard communicatively linked with a computer rendering the GUI; computer-usable program code that, responsive to a user input selecting a physical key of the physical keyboard, selects a region corresponding to the selected physical key and increases a level of magnification for the selected region within the first layer while keeping the virtual keyboard sizing constant; computer-usable program code that, responsive to receiving a user input, assigns one of a plurality of programmatic actions to each physical key of the physical keyboard; and computer-usable program code that, responsive to a user input selecting a physical key mapped to a virtual key above an icon within the region of the first layer associated with the virtual key, initiates a programmatic action on an object stored in memory that is represented by the icon. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification