Virtual Input Device (e.g., Virtual Keyboard) Patents (Class 715/773)
  • Patent number: 9665246
    Abstract: In one example, a method includes outputting, by a computing device and for display, a graphical user interface including a plurality of text suggestion regions. The method further includes receiving, by the computing device, an indication of gesture input detected at a presence-sensitive input device, and selecting, based at least in part on the indication of the gesture input, a candidate character string from a plurality of candidate character strings. The method further includes determining that the candidate character string was previously selected while being displayed within a particular text suggestion region from the plurality of text suggestion regions, and outputting, for display and based at least in part on determining that the candidate character string was previously selected while being displayed within the particular text suggestion region, the candidate character string within the particular text suggestion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Shumin Zhai, Philip Quinn
  • Patent number: 9652076
    Abstract: Various implementations related to gesture fingerprinting are described. In one such implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving input from a user entered via an input device; determining a gesture and one or more attributes associated with the gesture based on the input; matching the gesture to a gesture model for the user using the one or more attributes; and optimizing the gesture model based on subsequent input received from the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Famous Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Newcomb, Mark H. Lu
  • Patent number: 9613156
    Abstract: This invention discloses a cookie information sharing method that comprises the following steps: reading cookie information in a parent browser, said parent browser being a browser which stores the cookie information; importing the cookie information read from the parent browser into a child browser, said child browser being a browser which needs to acquiring the cookie information from the parent browser. This application also provides a cookie information sharing system for realizing the proceeding method. The cookie information sharing method and system of this application are able to reduce occupancy of system resources by user's information records, and also to realize sharing of the user's information records.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: BEIJING QIHOO TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Xiaoyong Zhao, Juyuan Zhang, Wenping Zuo, Huan Ren
  • Patent number: 9588620
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and device for displaying a character on a touchscreen. The method comprises: when it is detected that a time period during which the user touches an area, where a character is displayed, on the touchscreen exceeds a preset time threshold, a shaded area formed when the user touches the touchscreen is determined; at least one shaded character in the shaded area is acquired, and independently displayed and enlarged on a preset enlargement area excluding the shaded area on the touchscreen; and the touch of the user on the preset enlargement area is detected, and locating and selecting is performed on the at least one character in the shaded area according to the detected touch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: ZTE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Minggang Gao, Qingyu Ni, Zhuo Wang
  • Patent number: 9569099
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus thereof display a key pad and solve the trouble and difficulty of a user in selecting the key pad displayed in a terminal having a touch screen. The method detects a touch gesture with respect to the touch screen; determines whether the detects touch gesture is zoom-out; displays thumbnails representing key pads, respectively, when the detected touch gesture is the zoom-out; and displays a key pad of a selected thumbnail when one of the displayed thumbnails is selected by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ilgeun Bok, Chulwoo Kim, Seungah Oh
  • Patent number: 9565334
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image capturing device for use in photo surveys, wherein said image capturing device comprises: a camera unit for capturing images; a processing unit for controlling said camera unit; a first shutter release button for activating said camera unit to capture an image of a motive; and a second shutter release button for activating said camera unit to capture an image of a motive. The processing unit, when either said first shutter release button or said second shutter release button is activated, is configured to control said camera unit to capture an image of a motive, and generate an opinion variable associated with said captured image, wherein said opinion variable is for indicating the opinion of a user towards said motive, and wherein said opinion variable is generated dependent on the used shutter release button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Aspekt R&D A/S
    Inventor: Tue Freltoft
  • Patent number: 9552156
    Abstract: A method for operating a soft keyboard of a touch device is disclosed, the touch device including a touch screen and a processor, the touch screen being coupled to the processor, and the method including: the processor determining a touch signal generated from a single touch point applied onto a trigger region for the soft keyboard; the processor determining a drag signal generated through move of the single touch point from inside of the trigger region to outside of the trigger region; the processor determining a starting point and an end point of the drag signal, to generate a soft keyboard display signal; and displaying the soft keyboard on the touch screen according to the soft keyboard display signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Chia-Hao Chin, Yen-Kuan Lin
  • Patent number: 9513784
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling information input for text boxes are disclosed. The method includes: at a device having one or more processors, memory, and a display: detecting selection of a text input box in a user interface; in response to detecting the selection of the text input box and prior to receiving input text for the text input box, obtaining a regular expression for acceptable input corresponding to text input box; for each character in the regular expression, determining whether the character belongs to a respective validation filter character set for a predetermined data type; and in response to a determination that all characters in the regular expression belongs to the respective validation filter character set for the predetermined data type, selectively presenting a respective character keyboard corresponding to the predetermined data type to a user for text entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Yuqiang Shu
  • Patent number: 9508322
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium are disclosed for re-sizing input fields and text of a user interface displayed within a touch-sensitive screen. The user interface comprises an initial view with at least one input field. The user interface is provided for display on the screen. A touch interaction is detected on the screen, and it is determined whether the interaction is within a predefined area of an input field. Responsive to determining that the interaction is within the predefined area, a magnified view of the input field is generated. The magnified view increases the proportion of the screen filled by the input field and text relative to the initial view. The magnified view is then presented for display on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Christopher Thomas
  • Patent number: 9501171
    Abstract: Various implementations related to gesture fingerprinting are described. In one such implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving input from a user entered via an input device; determining a gesture and one or more attributes associated with the gesture based on the input; matching the gesture to a gesture model for the user using the one or more attributes; and optimizing the gesture model based on subsequent input received from the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Famous Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E Newcomb, Mark H Lu
  • Patent number: 9495620
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media related to a technique for providing handwriting input functionality on a user device. A handwriting recognition module is trained to have a repertoire comprising multiple non-overlapping scripts and capable of recognizing tens of thousands of characters using a single handwriting recognition model. The handwriting input module provides real-time, stroke-order and stroke-direction independent handwriting recognition. User interfaces for providing the handwriting input functionality are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jannes G. A. Dolfing, Karl M. Groethe, Ryan S. Dixon, Jerome R. Bellegarda
  • Patent number: 9483178
    Abstract: The present invention enables a user to perform an operation of closing a software keyboard displayed on a display unit by an operation to a predetermined input item with use of a hardware keyboard. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus includes receiving an input to a predetermined input item via a software keyboard displayed on a display unit, receiving an input to the predetermined input item via a hardware keyboard connected to the information processing apparatus, inputting a character to the predetermined input item according to the key input received via the software keyboard or the hardware keyboard, and closing a display of the software keyboard displayed on the display unit if the input to the predetermined input item which is received via the hardware keyboard satisfies a predetermined condition during the display of the software keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shiro Kunori
  • Patent number: 9454517
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a device, a method, and a computer-readable recording medium, all of which reduce the processing load when a document is opened, and improve the operability for editing a document. A smartphone includes a touch-screen display and a controller. The controller displays a virtual keyboard and a document area which displayed an editing document inputted via the virtual keyboard, on the touch-screen display. The controller maintains displaying of the virtual keyboard while switching the editing document over from a first document to the second document, in a case in which a touch operation to switch the editing document over from the first document to the second document is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuka Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 9450939
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for service login to a service provider sites have been disclosed. The method including: receiving a login request from a user, wherein the login request comprises at least both terminal's login information input by the user and third party account information pertaining to the user; after successful verification on the third party account information, determining by the service provider, whether the terminal's login information input by the user matches to reference login information, wherein the reference login information comprises specific information of the user to further identify user's identity; if the terminal's login information matches to at least a portion of the reference login information, delivering service to the terminal according to the third party account information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hao Zhou, Wenrui Zhang, Hui Wang, Tianqing Huang, Wen Cha, Lifang Cen, Jinfu Deng
  • Patent number: 9380453
    Abstract: Provided is a mobile terminal and a method of controlling the same. The mobile terminal includes a body and a display provided on a front side of the body. An input device is provided on a back side of the body. The input device may be exposed through a back surface of the body and may have a plurality of buttons. A storage device may be provided to store a mapping between a prescribed pattern of inputs associated with the input device and prescribed commands for a plurality of functions. A controller may detect an input at the input device, determine a prescribed pattern associated with the input at the input device, retrieve from the storage device a command for a function associated with the prescribed pattern of the input, and process the retrieved command for the function associated with the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jongseok Park, Jumin Chi, Jinhae Choi, Sohoon Yi
  • Patent number: 9377870
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to classifying character information to be input by category and inputting the information classified by category by using the motion information of a motion remote control working as an input unit. Character information input according to embodiments is as follows. At least one of a mode and a key to input information is selected, a category including information to be input is selected, and by moving an in input unit to be corresponded to the information direction in the category activated on a display device on the basis of the selection, character information is input/output on the display device on the basis of the motion direction information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong Bok Kim
  • Patent number: 9367240
    Abstract: A graphical user interface for improved text character entry is disclosed. In some embodiments, the graphical user interface may be displayed on a mobile communications device. The graphical user interface may display a message field, a soft keyboard, and at least one visual foveal echo field. The message field may display text characters of a message being authored by a user interacting with the soft keyboard. The visual foveal echo field may be placed adjacent to a soft keyboard row and contain a portion of the message being authored by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: LOOKOUT, INC.
    Inventor: Brian James Buck
  • Patent number: 9348424
    Abstract: An input control unit includes: a keyboard storage unit for storing keyboard screens each corresponding to a set of characters or symbols; a keyboard display unit for reading one of the keyboard screens and displaying the read keyboard screen on the screen; an input receiving unit for receiving a selection of the character or the symbol by the user; and a switching control unit for reading keyboard screens from the keyboard storage unit, displaying the read keyboard screens on the screen as selection candidates, and switching the selection candidate from among the plurality of keyboard screens. When the switching control unit receives a user control input to confirm the candidate being selected from the user, the keyboard display unit displays the keyboard screen selected on the screen, and receives a selection of the character or the symbol selected from the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Takeshi Matsuzawa, Takashi Amada, Ryota Uchino, Yasuhiro Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 9342240
    Abstract: A keypad displaying method is provided. The keypad displaying method includes displaying a plurality of keys in a predetermined first display area, and upon receiving a signal corresponding to a request to cyclically shift the plurality of keys, cyclically shifting the plurality of keys in response to the request. The proposed keypad displaying method enables a user to conveniently enter text into a media device while holding the media device with one hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Ho Sohn, Hyeong-Su Lee
  • Patent number: 9317200
    Abstract: Desired character information can be effectively obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoya Yoshihara, Akinori Wada, Futoshi Iwashita
  • Patent number: 9292200
    Abstract: A touch-enabled terminal and a keypad providing method for the same are provided. The method of providing a virtual keypad includes activating the virtual keypad in character input mode, performing first-stage presentation by focusing a first one of characters assigned to each one of plural buttons of the virtual keypad and displaying the focused characters, and performing, in response to a touch on a button of the virtual keypad, second-stage presentation by displaying a character entered by the touched button, focusing a next enterable character related to the touched button, and focusing next enterable characters related respectively to the other buttons. The touch-enabled terminal provides visual information regarding currently enterable characters through the virtual keypad with respect to the last entered button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Moo Jin Im
  • Patent number: 9256361
    Abstract: A device incorporates a touch-enabled screen configured to accept a user's interaction with the touch screen to control display of the results of online searches for information and ecommerce listings. A user's interaction with the touch screen of the device with multipoint pinch gestures facilitates navigation through large volumes of search results. Touch-enabled navigation with pinch gestures to elaborate or contract the results of a given search may present a more definitive view of those results or present a better indication of the requirement for a further search by the user. Listings of item data with elaborated or contracted details are produced through corresponding scaling processes which are in turn controlled through associated multipoint pinch gestures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Han-Shen Yuan, Ryan Melcher, Steve Yankovich
  • Patent number: 9241101
    Abstract: A portable electronic device providing a user-specified input string, comprising: user controls enabling a user to select between at least an up input, a down input, a left input, a right input, and a confirmation input; and a program memory storing instructions configured to implement a method for providing a user-specified input string. The method includes: displaying a string input interface including a string entry section, and at least two independently scrollable character selection sections; accepting user input to sequentially select characters, wherein the up input and the down input are used to select a scrollable character selection section, the left input and the right input are used to scroll through the characters in the selected scrollable character selection section to select a particular character, and the confirmation input is used to add the selected particular character to the input string displayed in the string input section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Fund 83 LLC
    Inventors: Frank Marino, Alison Rose Boncha, Noah Joseph Stupak, Keith Stoll Karn
  • Patent number: 9224378
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method including generating a user interface implemented on a touch-sensitive display configured to generate a virtual dual flywheel system for modulating a lifecycle of a musical note or chord. The dual flywheel system (DFS) includes a first VFS and a second VFS, where the first virtual flywheel system series connected to the second virtual flywheel system such that an output of the first virtual flywheel system is coupled to an input of the second virtual flywheel system. Upon receiving a user input on the user interface, the dual flywheel system determines a virtual momentum for the first virtual flywheel based on the user input and a predetermined mass coefficient of the first virtual flywheel system, and determines a virtual momentum for the second virtual flywheel based on the virtual momentum of the first virtual flywheel system and a predetermined mass coefficient of the second virtual flywheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alec H. Little, Eli T. Manjarrez
  • Patent number: 9199155
    Abstract: In one example, a method includes determining, by a computing device and based at least in part on an initial character string, one or more candidate morpheme sequences, wherein each of the candidate morpheme sequences includes the initial character string and one or more candidate morphemes. The method further includes outputting, for display, the one or more candidate morpheme sequences. The method further includes receiving an indication of a user input detected at a presence-sensitive input device. The method further includes selecting, based on the indication of the user input, at least one of the candidate morphemes from one of the candidate morpheme sequences to define a selected morpheme sequence that includes the initial character string and the selected candidate morpheme from the one of the candidate morpheme sequences. The method further includes outputting, for display, the selected morpheme sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Travis Skory, Richard Zarek Cohen
  • Patent number: 9201594
    Abstract: In a method for controlling virtual keyboards using an electronic device, a first virtual keyboard, a second virtual keyboard, and a third virtual keyboard are preset, and the first virtual keyboard is preset to be a default virtual keyboard. When the electronic device enters a character input mode, the default virtual keyboard is invoked. A tilt direction and a tilt angle of the electronic device are detected. When the tilt direction is left and the tilt angle is greater than a predetermined angle, the default virtual keyboard is switched to the second virtual keyboard. When the tilt direction is right and the tilt angle is greater than the predetermined angle, the default virtual keyboard is switched to the third virtual keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Chiun Mai Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Chin-Yu Lin
  • Patent number: 9170736
    Abstract: Example apparatus and methods concern controlling a hover-sensitive input/output interface. One example apparatus includes a proximity detector that detects an object in a hover-space associated with the input/output interface. The apparatus produces characterization data concerning the object. The characterization data may be independent of where in the hover-space the object is located. The apparatus selectively controls the activation, display, and deactivation of user interface elements displayed by the apparatus on the input/output interface as a function of the characterization data and interface state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Inventors: Lynn Dai, Dan Hwang, Bo-June Hsu, Raymond Quan, Eric Badger, Jose Rodriguez, Peter Gregory Davis
  • Patent number: 9098184
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a processor which executes a process including receiving position information of a plurality of touch points on a screen, displaying a plurality of operation areas to be touched on the screen, calculating a length of a stroke including the touch points on a basis of the position information received in the receiving, measuring a time period for drawing the stroke including the touch points on a basis of the position information received in the receiving, setting a threshold value on a basis of relationship information, and comparing one of the time period measured in the measuring and the length of the stroke calculated in the calculating with the threshold value set in the setting to determine whether the position information received in the receiving is input by a handwriting or by a touch operation on the operation areas in accordance with a comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20150149948
    Abstract: A screen control method for a portable electronic device is provided. The screen control method includes receiving a touch event; moving a foreground screen according to the received touch event; and outputting a virtual or soft button corresponding to a hardware button of the portable electronic device at a position close to the moved foreground screen in a display area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Jaeku YUN
  • Publication number: 20150149947
    Abstract: Techniques are described for character deletion on a computing device that utilizes a gesture-based keyboard. The computing device includes a processor and at least one module operable by the processor to output, for display at a presence-sensitive display, a graphical keyboard comprising a plurality of keys and a text editor field. In response to receiving an indication of a gesture that comprises a first path, the module outputs a first character, based at least in part on the first path, associated with a first key and a second character associated with a second key. In response to determining that the gesture further comprises a second path that retraces at least a portion of the first path, the module removes the second character from the text editor field of the presence-sensitive display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Xiaojun Bi, Kurt Edward Partridge, Yu Ouyang, Shumin Zhai
  • Publication number: 20150146247
    Abstract: Upon accepting a region dividing operation, a display input apparatus sets a line, which passes through a predetermined region, as a first reference line; sets an end edge of the predetermined region, which is opposite to the first reference line, as a second reference line; obtains a ratio for input numerical value calculation, namely, a ratio of a distance from the first reference line to the second reference line and a distance from the first reference line to a division line of the predetermined region divided by the region dividing operation; obtains a numerical value by multiplying a maximum value or minimum value in a numerical value input range by the ratio for input numerical value calculation, and displays the obtained numerical value in a numerical value input screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kenji TAKAI
  • Publication number: 20150149949
    Abstract: The present invention includes a device, method, and user interface for providing optimized entry of alphanumeric text. In one form, a method for providing selectable characters within a user interface includes determining an operating mode of a communication device and receiving an input associated with a selected input key. The method determines a group of characters associated with the selected key based on the operating mode and displays the group of characters within the user interface. The user interface may display a first character of the group of characters within a first portion of the user interface and the group of characters proximal to the first character within a second portion of the user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: John A. Toebes, lIya N. Slain
  • Patent number: 9043718
    Abstract: An electronic device for text prediction in a virtual keyboard. The device includes a memory including an input determination module for execution by the microprocessor, the input determination module being configured to: receive signals representing input at the virtual keyboard, the virtual keyboard being divided into a plurality of subregions, the plurality of subregions including at least one subregion being associated with two or more characters and/or symbols of the virtual keyboard; identify a subregion on the virtual keyboard corresponding to the input; determine any character or symbol associated with the identified subregion; and if there is at least one determined character or symbol, provide the at least one determined character or symbol to a text prediction algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Colin Stephen Samuel Ho, Douglas Rider
  • Publication number: 20150143276
    Abstract: A method for controlling a control region on a display screen of a computerized system is presented. The method includes obtaining data from a touchpad. The data is associated with a position of a portion of the hand of a user when the user operates the touchpad. The method includes transmitting the data from the touchpad to the computerized device and analyzing the data in accordance with a model of a human hand. In certain embodiments, the method includes identifying different sets of virtual keys to be associated with the different fingers of the user's hand and generating a control region comprising the sets of virtual keys. In some embodiments, the method may include displaying the control region in a position on the display screen in accordance with a position of one or more fingers of the user's hand on the touchpad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Tong Luo
  • Publication number: 20150143278
    Abstract: Described herein is a computer-implemented system and method for processing one or more alternate symbols associated or linked to a base symbol. A base symbol is a symbol to which at least one alternate symbol is linked. A base symbol commonly appears on a key of a keyboard or a display of a keyboard, or is a handwritten symbol recognized by handwriting entry software. Examples of alternate symbols are accented characters and punctuation marks that do not appear on a keyboard or are not commonly recognized by a handwriting entry program, and short symbol sequences. An example of a common short symbol sequence is an emoticon used in e-mail messages to convey tone or feelings. An example of a computer device that may embody the system or method is a hand-held computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey Hawkins, William Rees, Debbie Chyi, Robert Haitani
  • Publication number: 20150143277
    Abstract: A method in an electronic device is provided. The method includes detecting a number of input tools on a touch screen, switching into one input mode among at least two set input modes according to the number of the detected input tools, and receiving a set content or changing a layout of a displayed content according to a touch-inputted input tool among the detected input tools, a relative length change, and a movement direction of the touch-inputted input tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Sung-Jin YOON, Pyo-Je CHO, Yoo-Jin HONG
  • Publication number: 20150135080
    Abstract: A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to provide wireless communication; a touch screen; and a controller configured to receive a plurality of taps applied to the touch screen, and display at least one function executable by the mobile terminal on the touch screen based the received plurality of taps and based on at least one of an operating state and an ambient environmental state of the mobile terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jaeyoung JI, Byoungzoo JEONG, Jinhae CHOI, Soyeon YIM, Kyungjin YOU, Soohyun LEE, Younghoon LEE, Nayeoung KIM
  • Publication number: 20150135123
    Abstract: A cursor-based character input interface inputs a character selected by a cursor. A character prediction unit is adapted to predict one or more next characters based on a current input character, wherein the input interface is adapted to present the one or more predicted next characters as a supplementary interface in proximity to the current input character, and wherein the one or more predicted next characters of the supplementary interface are selectable by the cursor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Joshua M. Carr, Emma L. Foley, Josephine D. Messa, Thomas A. Wright
  • Publication number: 20150135121
    Abstract: An information processing system has a display monitor and a user-interface for text entry. The display monitor presents the set of alphanumerical characters in a spatial configuration of three parallel horizontal rows or three parallel vertical columns. The “left”-button and the “right” button of the directional buttons of the user-interface control the selection of a group of alphanumerical characters, one of each of the three parallel arrays and positioned in the same column. The “up”-button and the “down”-button of the directional buttons and the “OK”-button, sitting in between, are used to select a specific one of the alphanumerical characters from the selected group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Beng Tee Peh, Andries Jacob Benoit Rambouts
  • Publication number: 20150135120
    Abstract: In a touch panel input device, in cases when display and input functions fail in one area, touch keys can be displayed without modifying the normal touch-key-image layout, while retaining the normal touch-key-image layout relationship. When a touch panel input device fails, a designation for an alternative display area (51) for displaying a touch-key image while avoiding a failure area (41) is received from a user. The touch-key image normally displayed is reduced and displayed in the alternative display area (51). The alternative display area may also be in a plurality of places. In such a case, the touch-key image normally displayed is divided, respectively reduced and displayed. Furthermore, the touch-key image maybe displayed in the alternative display area (51) in a scrollable manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Hiroshi TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20150135122
    Abstract: A system for use on a hand held computing device where a virtual/soft keyboard is presented on a display screen and where selected individual keys displayed within said virtual/soft keyboard have the ability to display any of a plurality of data characters assigned to each of said individual keys and select and insert into a designated data input area on said display screen where each said data character is displayed for a portion of a time duration of a user's continuous touch or press on said individual key and comprising: a. a display screen on said hand held computing device, b. a first software program that displays said virtual/soft keyboard on the display screen of said hand held computing device whereby, c. said first software program assigns to each said individual key on said virtual/soft keyboard a plurality of data characters in a specific order of sequence contained in an array containing said plurality of data characters and d.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Gary Streuter, William Pat Price
  • Patent number: 9032322
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Jason Tyler Griffin, Jerome Pasquero
  • Publication number: 20150128081
    Abstract: Presented herein are techniques to enable a user of an electronic device having a display and touch screen to customize the size and location of a displayed keypad or keyboard such that the user can more easily hold the electronic device and operate the keypad or keyboard using a single hand. The techniques include detecting a touch operation input via the touch screen, the touch operation including a start point, an end point and a drag path between the start point and the end point; and when the start point is located at a first boundary of the touch screen and the end point is located at a second boundary of the touch screen, defining a bounded area of the display according to the first boundary, the second boundary and the drag path in which the set of keys is to be re-displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: Acer Incorporated
    Inventor: Meng-Fu HSIEH
  • Publication number: 20150128082
    Abstract: A multi-language input method is provided. The method includes sensing a touch input for a letter entry, sensing a touch gesture consecutive to the touch input, and displaying a letter corresponding to the touch input and a symbol corresponding to the touch gesture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Gyoung Ryoul LEE
  • Publication number: 20150128049
    Abstract: An advanced user interface includes a display device and a processing unit. The processing unit causes the display device to display a dynamic user interface containing a plurality of input areas in an adaptive graphical arrangement, detect user in puts on the dynamic user interface, and record the user inputs in a memory unit in association with a context of information inputted by the user. The graphical arrangement of input areas includes at least one primary input area, each of which is respectively associated with different information. The processing unit detects a user input for one of the input areas, compares the detected user input with prior user inputs recorded in the memory unit, and predicts a first next user input based on the comparison and the context of information associated with the detected user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Robert S. BLOCK, Alexander A. WENGER, Paul SIDLO
  • Publication number: 20150128084
    Abstract: A software calculator is provided herein that includes an art object displayed along with the calculator as part of the calculator. The art object may be displayed as a background image, a portion of which is shown behind the controls and input/output display area of the calculator. The user may select other images from a gallery of available images to be displayed along with the calculator. The user may also provide rating for and/or purchase a print or an original of the art object currently being displayed by a click of a button or link displayed on the user interface of the calculator. The displayed art object may also automatically change or otherwise be updated according to user preferences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Aidan Thomas Hughes, Micah Andrew Koffron, Eric Charles Moselle, Yi Chen
  • Publication number: 20150128083
    Abstract: A virtual keyboard with dynamically adjusted recognition zones for predicted user-intended characters. When a user interaction with the virtual keyboard is received on the virtual keyboard, a character in a recognition zone encompassing the detected interaction location is selected as the current input character. Characters likely to be the next input character are predicted based on the current input character. The recognition zones of the predicted next input characters are adjusted to be larger than their original sizes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Zhen Jia, Jing Guo, Lina Yu, Yuqi Cui
  • Patent number: 9024790
    Abstract: Keyboards, keypads and other data entry devices can suffer from a keying ambiguity problem. In a small keyboard, for example, a user's finger is likely to overlap from a desired key to onto adjacent ones. An iterative method of removing keying ambiguity from a keyboard comprising an array of capacitive keys involves measuring a signal strength associated with each key in the array, comparing the measured signal strengths to find a maximum, determining that the key having the maximum signal strength is the unique user-selected key, and maintaining that selection until either the initially selected key's signal strength drops below some threshold level or a second key's signal strength exceeds the first key's signal strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Harald Philipp
  • Patent number: 9024882
    Abstract: A data input system for a touch sensor input identifies words input as a set of points by a user. The intended word is identified by determining an origin and points associated with letters on a log polar coordinate system. The log distances and angles of the points are then compared to log distances and angles for known words stored in a computer memory. The known word having the log distances and angles that most closely match the input points is identified as the intended word.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Fleksy, Inc.
    Inventor: Kostas Eleftheriou
  • Patent number: 9024880
    Abstract: An interactive system capable of improving image processing includes a reference device, a processing module and a controller. The reference device is used for transmitting and/or reflecting light signals within a predetermined spectrum. The processing module includes an image sensor, an estimation unit and a transmission interface. The image sensor is used for sensing an image so as to generate pixel signals; the estimation unit is used for determining static parameters of at least one image object according to the pixel signals; and the transmission interface is used for serially outputting the static parameters of the at least one image object. The controller is used for controlling operation of the interactive system according to the static parameters of the at least one image object outputted from the transmission interface. The image sensor, the estimation unit, and the transmission interface can all be formed on the same substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Hsin-Chia Chen, Chih-Hung Lu, Cho-Yi Lin, Tzu-Yi Chao