Patents Assigned to Tegic Communication, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8201087
    Abstract: An adaptation of standard edit distance spell-check algorithms leverages probability-based regional auto-correction algorithms and data structures for ambiguous keypads and other predictive text input systems to provide enhanced typing correction and spell-check features. Strategies for optimization and for ordering results of different types are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: David Kay, Erland Unruh, Gaurav Tandon
  • Patent number: 8106742
    Abstract: According to one general aspect, a method according to the present application includes remotely controlling wirelessly networked devices via a mobile unit. The method includes receiving, at a mobile unit and from a user, an input, analyzing the input to identify a networked device associated with the input, determining whether the networked device is presently accessible via a wireless network; determining whether to establish a connection with the networked device based on whether the networked device is determined to be presently accessible via the wireless network. The method also includes establishing a connection with the networked device if it is determined that the networked device is accessible via the wireless network and enabling the user to interact with the networked device through the mobile unit to remotely control the networked device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Marshall, Michael R. Longe, John Lefevre
  • Patent number: 8103499
    Abstract: To enter Chinese text, a user enters the corresponding phonetic spelling via telephone style keypad. Some or all keys represent multiple phonetic letters. In disambiguating entered key presses to yield a valid phonetic spelling, a computer divides the key presses into segments, while still preserving key press order. Each segment must correspond to an entry in a dictionary of Chinese characters, character phrases, and/or character components such as radicals or other predetermined stroke groupings. Upon arrival of a new key press that cannot form a valid entry when appended to the current segment, key presses are incrementally reallocated from the previous segment. As for already-resolved segments occurring prior to the previous and current segments, these are left intact. After each shifting attempt, the computer reinterprets key presses of the last two segments, and accepts the new segmentation if the segments form valid dictionary entries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Jenny Huang-Yu Lai, Jianchao Wu
  • Patent number: 8095364
    Abstract: The present invention provides a speech recognition system combined with one or more alternate input modalities to ensure efficient and accurate text input. The speech recognition system achieves less than perfect accuracy due to limited processing power, environmental noise, and/or natural variations in speaking style. The alternate input modalities use disambiguation or recognition engines to compensate for reduced keyboards, sloppy input, and/or natural variations in writing style. The ambiguity remaining in the speech recognition process is mostly orthogonal to the ambiguity inherent in the alternate input modality, such that the combination of the two modalities resolves the recognition errors efficiently and accurately. The invention is especially well suited for mobile devices with limited space for keyboards or touch-screen input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Longé, Richard Eyraud, Keith C. Hullfish
  • Patent number: 7966003
    Abstract: In one general sense, information may be presented to a user by receiving one or more ambiguous characters that may be resolved to one of at least two disambiguated characters, exchanging at least one of the ambiguous characters with a host, receiving, from the host, results that reflect disambiguated terms related to the ambiguous characters exchanged with the host, rendering the results in a manner enabling the user to perceive which of the disambiguated terms will be used upon user selection of an aspect of the results, and enabling the user to select an aspect of the results to effect use of a corresponding one of the disambiguated terms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Longe, Ethan R. Bradford, David J. Kay, Pim Van Meurs
  • Patent number: 7920132
    Abstract: There is disclosed an enhanced text entry system which determines one or more alternate textual interpretations of each sequence of inputs detected within a designated auto-correcting keyboard region. The actual contact locations for the keystrokes may occur outside the boundaries of the specific keyboard key regions associated with the actual characters of the word interpretations proposed or offered for selection, where the distance from each contact location to each corresponding intended character may in general increase with the expected frequency of the intended word in the language or in a particular context.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Longe, Pim Van Meurs
  • Patent number: 7881936
    Abstract: The present invention provides a speech recognition system combined with one or more alternate input modalities to ensure efficient and accurate text input. The speech recognition system achieves less than perfect accuracy due to limited processing power, environmental noise, and/or natural variations in speaking style. The alternate input modalities use disambiguation or recognition engines to compensate for reduced keyboards, sloppy input, and/or natural variations in writing style. The ambiguity remaining in the speech recognition process is mostly orthogonal to the ambiguity inherent in the alternate input modality, such that the combination of the two modalities resolves the recognition errors efficiently and accurately. The invention is especially well suited for mobile devices with limited space for keyboards or touch-screen input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Longé, Richard Eyraud, Keith C. Hullfish
  • Patent number: 7880730
    Abstract: There is disclosed an enhanced text entry system which determines one or more alternate textual interpretations of each sequence of inputs detected within a designated auto-correcting keyboard region. The actual contact locations for the keystrokes may occur outside the boundaries of the specific keyboard key regions associated with the actual characters of the word interpretations proposed or offered for selection, where the distance from each contact location to each corresponding intended character may in general increase with the expected frequency of the intended word in the language or in a particular context.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: B. Alex Robinson, Michael R. Longe, David Jon Kay, Gordon Robert Waddell
  • Publication number: 20110010174
    Abstract: The present invention provides a speech recognition system combined with one or more alternate input modalities to ensure efficient and accurate text input. The speech recognition system achieves less than perfect accuracy due to limited processing power, environmental noise, and/or natural variations in speaking style. The alternate input modalities use disambiguation or recognition engines to compensate for reduced keyboards, sloppy input, and/or natural variations in writing style. The ambiguity remaining in the speech recognition process is mostly orthogonal to the ambiguity inherent in the alternate input modality, such that the combination of the two modalities resolves the recognition errors efficiently and accurately. The invention is especially well suited for mobile devices with limited space for keyboards or touch-screen input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: TEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: MICHAEL LONGÉ, Richard Eyraud, Keith C. Hullfish
  • Patent number: 7840579
    Abstract: In one general aspect, information is presented to a user by receiving a first input from a user and structuring the first input as a first stem. A separator is received designating subsequently-received input as a second input. The second input is received and the second input is structured as a second stem. The first stem and the second stem are related to a library of candidates. One or more results are rendered in response to relating the first stem and the second stem to the library of candidates and the user is enabled to select from among the one or more results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Tegic Communications Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Samuelson, Pim Van Meurs, Michael R. Longe
  • Publication number: 20100277416
    Abstract: A system associated with a text entry application, such as email or instant messaging, comprises an optional onscreen representation of a circular keyboard, a list of potential linguistic object matches, and a message area where the selected words are entered. The circular keyboard is manipulated via a hardware joystick or game-pad with analog joystick or omni-directional rocker switch built therein. The user points the joystick in the general direction of the desired letter, and then continues pointing roughly to each letter in the desired word. Once all letters have been roughly selected, buttons are used to select a specific word from the list of potential matches and send the selected word to the message area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: TEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael R. LONGE, Brian PALMER, Keith Charles HULLFISH, Doug BRAMS
  • Patent number: 7821503
    Abstract: A selective input system and associated method is provided which tracks the motion of a pointing device over a region or area. The pointing device can be a touchpad, a mouse, a pen, or any device capable of providing two or three-dimensional location. The region or area is preferably augmented with a printed or actual keyboard/pad. Alternatively, a representation of the location of the pointing device over a virtual keyboard/pad can be dynamically shown on an associated display. The system identifies selections of items or characters by detecting parameters of motion of the pointing device, such as length of motion, a change in direction, a change in velocity, and or a lack of motion at locations that correspond to features on the keyboard/pad. The input system is preferably coupled to a text disambiguation system such as a T9® or Sloppytype™ system, to improve the accuracy and usability of the input system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: James Stephanick, Christina James, Ethan R. Bradford, Michael R. Longé
  • Patent number: 7778818
    Abstract: A system associated with a text entry application, such as email or instant messaging, comprises an optional onscreen representation of a circular keyboard, a list of potential linguistic object matches, and a message area where the selected words are entered. The circular keyboard is manipulated via a hardware joystick or game-pad with analog joystick or omni-directional rocker switch built therein. The user points the joystick in the general direction of the desired letter, and then continues pointing roughly to each letter in the desired word. Once all letters have been roughly selected, buttons are used to select a specific word from the list of potential matches and send the selected word to the message area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Longe, Brian Palmer, Keith Charles Hullfish, Doug Brams
  • Patent number: 7750891
    Abstract: A selective input system and associated method is provided which tracks the motion of a pointing device over a region or area. The pointing device can be a touchpad, a mouse, a pen, or any device capable of providing two or three-dimensional location. The region or area is preferably augmented with a printed or actual keyboard/pad. Alternatively, a representation of the location of the pointing device over a virtual keyboard/pad can be dynamically shown on an associated display. The system identifies selections of items or characters by detecting parameters of motion of the pointing device, such as length of motion, a change in direction, a change in velocity, and or a lack of motion at locations that correspond to features on the keyboard/pad. The input system is preferably coupled to a text disambiguation system such as a T9® or Sloppytype™ system, to improve the accuracy and usability of the input system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: James Stephanick, Christina James, Ethan R. Bradford, Michael R. Longé
  • Patent number: 7720682
    Abstract: From a text entry tool, a digital data processing device receives inherently ambiguous user input. Independent of any other user input, the device interprets the received user input against a vocabulary to yield candidates such as words (of which the user input forms the entire word or part such as a root, stem, syllable, affix), or phrases having the user input as one word. The device displays the candidates and applies speech recognition to spoken user input. If the recognized speech comprises one of the candidates, that candidate is selected. If the recognized speech forms an extension of a candidate, the extended candidate is selected. If the recognized speech comprises other input, various other actions are taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: James Stephanick, Richard Eyraud, David Jon Kay, Pim Van Meurs, Ethan Bradford, Michael R. Longe
  • Publication number: 20100122164
    Abstract: The invention concerns user entry of information into a system with an input device. A scheme is provided in which an entire word that a user wants to enter is predicted after the user enters a specific symbol, such as a space character. If the user presses an ambiguous key thereafter, rather than accept the prediction, the selection list is reordered. For example, a user enters the phrase “Lets run to school. Better yet, lets drive to “.””” After the user presses the space, after first entering the second occurrence of the word “to,” the system predicts that the user is going to enter the word “school” based on the context in which the user has entered that word in the past. Should the user enter an ambiguous key after the space, then a word list which contains the word “school” is reordered and other options are made available to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: TEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David Jon Kay, Ethan R. Bradford, Pim van Meurs, Peter C. Peddie
  • Patent number: 7712053
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for explicit filtering in ambiguous text entry. The invention provides embodiments including various explicit text entry methodologies, such as 2-key and long pressing. The invention also provides means for matching words in a database using build around methodology, stem locking methodology, word completion methodology, and n-gram searches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Robert Bradford, Keith Charles Hullfish, David J. Kay, Pim Van Meurs, Michael R. Longe
  • Patent number: 7679534
    Abstract: The invention concerns user entry of information into a system with an input device. A scheme is provided in which an entire word that a user wants to enter is predicted after the user enters a specific symbol, such as a space character. If the user presses an ambiguous key thereafter, rather than accept the prediction, the selection list is reordered. For example, a user enters the phrase “Lets run to school. Better yet, lets drive to “.””” After the user presses the space, after first entering the second occurrence of the word “to,” the system predicts that the user is going to enter the word “school” based on the context in which the user has entered that word in the past. Should the user enter an ambiguous key after the space, then a word list which contains the word “school” is reordered and other options are made available to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: David Jon Kay, Ethan R. Bradford, Pim van Meurs, Peter C. Peddie
  • Patent number: 7636083
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating text input for network applications, such as, for example, wireless applications, are described. Multiple input signals are received from a user, each input signal corresponding to a key within a user input interface and further representing Latin, e.g. English, language phonetic equivalents of at least one language character including a language character intended by the user to form a word construct in a language. Each input signal is further used to generate at least one proposed language character. At least one proposed word construct is further formed in the language using the at least one proposed language character. Finally, the at least one proposed word construct is displayed for the user on a display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Ann Naomi Aoki, Pim Van Meurs, Christina James
  • Publication number: 20090284471
    Abstract: There is disclosed an enhanced text entry system which uses word-level analysis to correct inaccuracies automatically in user keystroke entries on reduced-size or virtual keyboards. A method and system are defined which determine one or more alternate textual interpretations of each sequence of inputs detected within a designated auto-correcting region. The actual interaction locations for the keystrokes may occur outside the boundaries of the specific keyboard key regions associated with the actual characters of the word interpretations proposed or offered for selection, where the distance from each interaction location to each corresponding intended character may in general increase with the expected frequency of the intended word in the language or in a particular context. Likewise, in a virtual keyboard system, the keys actuated may differ from the keys actually associated with the letters of the word interpretations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: Tegic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Longe, Pim Van Meurs