Virtual Input Device (e.g., Virtual Keyboard) Patents (Class 715/773)
  • Patent number: 8928589
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for providing virtual keyboards. In one aspect, a system includes a camera, a display, a video feature extraction module and a gesture pattern matching module. The camera captures a sequence of images containing a finger of a user, and the display displays each image combined with a virtual keyboard having a plurality of virtual keys. The video feature extraction module detects motion of the finger in the sequence of images relative to virtual sensors of the virtual keys, and determines sensor actuation data based on the detected motion relative to the virtual sensors. The gesture pattern matching module uses the sensor actuation data to recognize a gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Ning Bi
  • Publication number: 20150007088
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a method, including: displaying, on a touch sensitive display, a data structure composed of a plurality of keys in a keyboard window; determining, using a processor, at least one key to display in the keyboard window; receiving, at an input device, user input; changing, based on user input, the keys to be displayed in the keyboard window; and selecting a key based on user input, using the touch sensitive display screen, from the keys displayed in the keyboard window. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Hiroshi Itoh, Fusanobu Nakamura, Mitsuhiro Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20150007087
    Abstract: Data visualization that interactively rotates data about a particular axis or translates data in a particular plane based on input received outside the axis space. Data to be visualized is accessed by a data visualization application. The data may be structured or unstructured, filtered and analyzed. The accessed data may be displayed through an interface of the visualization application for a user. The coordinate system for displaying the data may also be displayed. A user may rotate data about a particular axis of the coordinate system or translate data in a particular plane by providing a continuous input within a graphics portion of an interface. The input may be associated with a virtual track ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Silicon Graphics International Corp.
    Inventor: Marc David Hansen
  • Publication number: 20150007089
    Abstract: Methods and electronic apparatuses for repeatedly inputting a character or number are described. The method includes identifying a predetermined gesture relating to a soft key on a soft keyboard displayed on a touch screen of an electronic apparatus, using the identified predetermined gesture to determine the number of times the at soft key was input, and processing input of the at soft key the determined number of times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Hyun-Suk Choi
  • Patent number: 8924882
    Abstract: A method for controlling a software direction pad of an electronic device, configured to display a software keyboard and an editing area, includes the following steps: displaying the software direction pad in response to a start input, wherein the software direction pad is used for moving a cursor on the editing area; and closing and hiding the software direction pad in response to a close input received through the software keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventor: Hua-Li Liao
  • Patent number: 8924877
    Abstract: At least one statistical output associated with a process model and a rate of change associated with each statistical output is identified, such as by using historical data associated with the process model. The statistical outputs and the rates of change are used to generate a graphical display, such as a phase plane plot. Each point in the display is based on one of the statistical outputs and its associated rate of change. The graphical display could include multiple portions, such as quadrants, and one of the portions can be selected and highlighted. The different portions of the graphical display may represent whether the process model is a poor fit to current conditions and approaching a better fit, a poor fit and approaching a poorer fit, a good fit and approaching a poorer fit, and a good fit and approaching a better fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Wendy K. Foslien, Soumitri N. Kolavennu, Dinkar Mylaraswamy, Dal Vernon C. Reising
  • Patent number: 8922489
    Abstract: Text input may be identified from a combination of key stroke information and handwriting gesture information. In one example, a touch screen displays an on-screen keyboard. A user then draws a character on the keyboard over the key that represents the character. In this way, two types of information are provided that identify the character that the user intended to enter: the particular drawing gesture that the user provided, and the location on the keyboard at which the user drew that gesture. These two pieces of information may be used, in combination, to determine which character the user intended to enter, and may help to interpret the input accurately in the case where either the gesture or key information, individually, would have been ambiguous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Fei Chua
  • Patent number: 8922492
    Abstract: A method of inputting characters includes: generating a character display area, displaying characters in a first direction sub-region or a second direction sub-region of the character browsing region according to a direction indicating action in a first direction or a second direction, upon detecting a change in directions indicated by two successive direction indicating actions, displaying, in an input character display region, the character currently displayed in the character browsing region, switching between the first direction sub-region and the second direction sub-region of the character browsing region according to the direction indicated by the latter direction indicating action, and performing an action of selecting a next character corresponding to the latter direction indicating action in the switched direction sub-region. The invention also provides a device of inputting characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sony (China) Limited
    Inventors: Chengjia Lu, Leiping Zhu
  • Publication number: 20140380224
    Abstract: A computing device automatically customizes attributes of a graphical keyboard based on user inputs to the graphical keyboard. For example, the computing device can display a first graphical keyboard arrangement that includes a first representation of a key associated with a target region of an input-sensitive display. The computing device receives a plurality of user inputs, each associated with a respective touch region of the input-sensitive display. Subsequent to determining that one or more of the touch regions is not substantially aligned with the target region, the computing device displays a second graphical keyboard arrangement that includes a second representation of the key, wherein at least one attribute of the second representation of the key is graphically modified relative to the first representation of the key so as to substantially align one or more of the touch regions with a target region associated with the second representation of the key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Xincheng Zhang, Yefei Peng
  • Publication number: 20140380223
    Abstract: A processing device is configured to provide a user interface comprising a radial layout soft keypad. The radial layout soft keypad comprises a central region and one or more concentric groupings of keys arranged around the central region. For example, the one or more concentric groupings of keys may be arranged as multiple concentric circular rows of keys substantially surrounding the central region, with all of the keys of the concentric circular rows being simultaneously visible in the radial layout soft keypad. The radial layout soft keypad is illustratively presented on a display associated with the processing device and a user interacts with the radial layout soft keypad by making hand gestures in free space in a field of view of an image sensor. A gesture of a first type controls selection of a key and gestures of second and third types control acceptance and rejection of the selected key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Dustin Counsell, Hieu D. Pham, James F. MacDonald, Barrett J. Brickner
  • Patent number: 8918734
    Abstract: A reduced virtual keyboard system for text input on electronic devices is disclosed. Text input is performed by creating a tracing trajectory. Dynamic prediction solutions are created during the tracing process, thus avoiding the need for a user to complete the entire word trajectory. The system also allows a mixture of tapping actions and sliding motions for the same word. The system may comprise a Long Words Dictionary database having first letters corresponding to predetermined keys of the keyboard. Alternatively, the system uses a Dictionary and a database management tool to find long words.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Suraqui
  • Publication number: 20140372931
    Abstract: In one example, a device includes at least one processor and at least one module operable by the at least one processor to output, for display, a graphical user interface including a graphical keyboard and one or more text suggestion regions, and select, based at least in part on an indication of gesture input, at least one key of the graphical keyboard. The at least one module is further operable by the at least one processor to determine a plurality of candidate character strings, determine past interaction data that comprises a representation of a past user input corresponding to at least one candidate character string while the at least one candidate character string was previously displayed in at least one of the one or more text suggestion regions, and output the at least one candidate character string for display in one of the one or more text suggestion regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Shumin Zhai, Philip Quinn
  • Patent number: 8914751
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaojun Bi, Kurt Edward Partridge, Yu Ouyang, Shumin Zhai
  • Publication number: 20140365945
    Abstract: A device with touch-sensitive surface and display is configured to: display a page of a multi-page interface; and detect an input that includes a contact and movement of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface. The device is further configured to, in response to detecting the input: if the input meets next-page display criteria, where the next-page display criteria include a criterion that is met when the contact moves by more than a predefined amount in a first predetermined direction, replace display of the page with display of a second page of the multi-page interface; and if the input meets search-interface display criteria, where the search-interface display criteria include a criterion that is met when the contact moves by more than the predefined amount in a second predetermined direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, display a search interface that includes a search input field for inputting search terms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Chanaka G. KARUNAMUNI, Imran CHAUDHRI
  • Publication number: 20140365946
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses operable to manage an enterprise system via a mobile electronic device. The mobile electronic device includes a touch screen display, a transmitter configured for bi-directional wireless communication, and a processor configured to provide a user interface to the mobile electronic device, wherein the mobile electronic device connects, via the transmitter, to at least one computer system remote from the mobile electronic device, the processor further configured to cause display of a soft-overlay keyboard on the touch screen display, wherein the soft-overlay keyboard is superimposed on content displayed on the touch screen display. The mobile electronic device further includes a harness removably coupled to the mobile electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Pugazhenthi Sankaralingham, Mohamed Reyaz
  • Publication number: 20140365947
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: a display device; and a processor configured to: display a graph corresponding to a function formula on the display device, wherein a coefficient of a term included in the function formula comprises a variable; determine a numeric value range of numeric values which are to be inputted to the variable, based on a degree of the term and a display state of the graph; generate an operation receiver for allowing a user to variably specify a numeric value within the determined numeric value range; display the operation receiver on the display device. When a numeric value is specified within the numeric value range through the operation receiver, the processor displays a graph corresponding to a function formula in which the specified numeric value is inputted to the variable on the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventor: Kosuke KAROJI
  • Publication number: 20140365932
    Abstract: An apparatus for displaying characters in a mobile device includes a screen configured to display an input window containing a virtual keyboard and a message window, wherein the screen is configured to receive one or more characters through a virtual keyboard in the input window on a screen in a typing mode, and a controller configured to cause the screen to display the one or more characters in the input window, and a message window on the screen at a substantially same time by each character received. A method includes receiving one or more characters through a virtual keyboard in an input window on a screen in a typing mode, and displaying the one or more characters in the input window, and a message window on the screen at a substantially same time by each character received. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventor: Hyungsuk Hwang
  • Publication number: 20140359514
    Abstract: A method of processing an input received through a touch screen in a mobile terminal. The method includes displaying, if a first key to which a plurality of key values are allocated is input, a second key to which a plurality of the key values are allocated, on a screen, and determining a first key value displayed at a cursor by an input of the first key as a final input value if the second key is input, moving the cursor to a next first position, and then displaying one of the plurality of key values of the first key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ho-yeon PARK
  • Publication number: 20140359515
    Abstract: A system and method for inputting text A system (10) comprising a feature identification means (2) configured to generate one or more features (12) from a plurality of samples (11), wherein each of the plurality of samples (11) are sampled at a different time and correspond to a location of a single continuous gesture on a gesture-sensitive keyboard as the gesture is being performed and, wherein each of the one or more features (12) relates to one of a plurality of targets of the gesture sensitive keyboard that a user may have intended to input when performing the gesture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Benjamin Medlock, James Aley, Douglas Alexander Harper Orr
  • Publication number: 20140359513
    Abstract: In one example, a method includes outputting, by a computing device and for display, a graphical user interface comprising a first graphical keyboard comprising a first plurality of keys. The method further includes determining, based at least in part on an input context, to output a second graphical keyboard comprising a second plurality of keys, and outputting, for contemporaneous display with the first graphical keyboard, the second graphical keyboard. A character associated with at least one key from the second plurality of keys may be different than each character associated with each key from the first plurality of keys. The method further includes selecting, based at least in part on a first portion of a continuous gesture, a first key from first graphical keyboard, and selecting, based at least in part on a second portion of the continuous gesture, a second key from the second graphical keyboard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Thad Eugene Starner, Nirmal Patel, Shumin Zhai
  • Patent number: 8904309
    Abstract: In one example, a method includes detecting, by a computing device, at least one user contact with a presence-sensitive screen of the computing device to input one or more characters of an input string. The method also includes detecting, by the computing device, a subsequent user contact with the presence-sensitive screen. The method also includes detecting, by the computing device, a gesture at a region of the presence-sensitive screen that is associated with a terminator symbol while the subsequent user contact is maintained with the presence-sensitive screen. The method also includes adding, by the computing device, the terminator symbol to the input string when the gesture comprises a virtual key press gesture. The method also includes replacing, by the computing device, the input string with a predicted completed string for the input string when the gesture comprises a prediction completion gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Shumin Zhai, Yang Li
  • Patent number: 8904303
    Abstract: A mobile communication terminal is provided. The mobile communication terminal includes a memory, a touch screen, and a controller. The touch screen is configured to display an Internet address input window, at least a portion of an Internet page corresponding to an Internet address in the Internet address input window, and a virtual key pad. The controller is configured to generate a duplicate window of the Internet address input window in response to a first touch input performed on the Internet address input window, move the duplicate window in response to a drag operation, store the Internet address in a memory in response to dropping the moved duplicate window on a key in the virtual key pad, and generate a short-cut by assigning the stored Internet address to the key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Min Kyoung Chang, Joo Hee Son, Young Hoon Song, Seung Hwan Son, Hyo Jin Suh
  • Publication number: 20140351740
    Abstract: An input method for use in a device, includes: receiving character input information; determining, based on the character input information, an inputted character and time information associated with an input operation; and selecting a state of the inputted character according to the time information and at least one predetermined time threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Xiaomi Inc.
    Inventors: Chuangqi Li, Fa Wang, Cheng Qian
  • Publication number: 20140351741
    Abstract: A system for inputting text into an electronic device. The system comprises a candidate generator (2) configured to generate one or more candidates from an input sequence (20). The input sequence (20) comprises a contiguous sequence of characters. Each candidate comprises two or more terms separated by one or more term boundaries. The candidate generator (2) is configured to assign a first probability estimate to each candidate by: searching for one or more terms of that candidate in a context language model, wherein the context language model comprises sequences of terms, each sequence of terms having a corresponding probability of occurring; and assigning the probability corresponding to the one or more terms of that candidate from the context language model to the candidate. The candidate generator (2) is configured to discard one or more candidates on the basis of the corresponding first probability estimates. There is provided a corresponding method of inferring term boundaries in a user input sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Benjamin William Medlock, Joseph Hayyim Benedict Osbourne
  • Publication number: 20140351742
    Abstract: A portable terminal device has enclosures with a movable portion, a display section that displays visible information showing an operation target area, and a touch sensor that detects a position on a display screen of the display section touched by a user's finger, or the like. A shape detection section detects a change in the shape of the enclosure; an input operation management section manages a position detected by the touch sensor and an operation target area of each of pieces of visible information displayed on the display section in an associated manner; and a display control section automatically makes a change to at least display positions of the respective pieces of visible information about the operation target displayed on the display section in accordance with a change in shape of the enclosure detected by the shape detection section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Tomohiro ISHIHARA, Kazumasa Gomyo, Satoshi Iino, Yuji Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20140351739
    Abstract: A method is provided for generating at least one part of a virtual keypad on a touch screen of an electronic terminal. The method includes, prior to displaying the virtual keypad on the touch screen, computing a random graphic representation of the virtual keypad delivering at least one parameter representing a random zone of occupancy of the virtual keypad on the touch screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventor: Michel Leger
  • Patent number: 8896551
    Abstract: A system and a method for improving recognition of a touch keyboard in an electronic device include setting a fuzzy set corresponding to each virtual key of the touch keyboard displayed on a touch panel. The improving method further includes receiving coordinates of a touch point on the touch panel, confirming a touched virtual key corresponding to the touched coordinates and executing a function of the touched virtual key. The improving method further confirming one or more adjacent virtual keys of the touched virtual key, and revising a fuzzy set of the received virtual key or a fuzzy set of an adjacent virtual key, if a backspace virtual key and the adjacent virtual key have been touched in turn after the touched virtual key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventor: Yi-Chun Yu
  • Patent number: 8898586
    Abstract: Methods and systems for using multiple simultaneous touchpoints of a touch-sensitive keyboard, such as an on-screen keyboard, for more efficient text input are provided. A method for generating text using a touch-sensitive keyboard may include receiving touch input from multiple simultaneous touchpoints. The method may also include determining a text character for each respective simultaneous touchpoint based on the touch input. The method may further include generating a text word based on the text characters determined from the multiple simultaneous touchpoints. A system for generating text using a touch-sensitive keyboard may include a touch input receiver, a slide detector and a text word generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Caesar Sengupta
  • Patent number: 8898584
    Abstract: A mobile electronic device includes a touch sensitive display and enables text input to be provided in either a reduced keyboard ambiguous text input mode or in a full keyboard unambiguous text input mode and advantageously enables uncommitted text entered in the ambiguous input mode to be automatically committed when switching into the unambiguous input mode. An improved method employs the mobile electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Dan Rubanovich
  • Patent number: 8898585
    Abstract: An electronic device, an input method thereof, and a computer-readable medium using the method are provided, wherein the electronic device has a function key corresponding to a predetermined function. In the method, when a function key input is received, whether the function key input is inputted successively is determined according to a time interval between a reception time of the function key input and a reception time of a previous key input. The electronic device is prohibited from executing the predetermined function relevant to the function key if the function key input is inputted successively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Te-Pei Tseng, Huan-Chih Tseng
  • Publication number: 20140344748
    Abstract: In one example, a method includes outputting, at a presence-sensitive display operatively coupled to a computing device, a graphical keyboard comprising a plurality of keys and receiving an indication of a gesture to select a group of keys of the plurality of keys. The method may further include determining, in response to the indication, a candidate word based at least in part on the group of keys. The method may further include determining a group of alignment points traversed by the gesture and respective cost values for each of at least two keys of the plurality of keys. The method may further include comparing the respective cost values for at least each of at least two keys of the plurality of keys to determine a combination of keys having a combined cost value and outputting the candidate word that is based on the respective cost values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Yu Ouyang, Shumin Zhai, Ciprian Ioan Chelba, Xiaojun Bi, Satoshi Kataoka, Ken Wakasa, Keisuke Kuroyanagi
  • Publication number: 20140344747
    Abstract: An input device is configured to display a software keyboard drawn by software and receive an input from a user, and includes: a touch panel unit configured to perform as a display to the user and receive an input by contact from the user; a layout information storage unit configured to store, as layout information, information about layout modes of keys included in the software keyboard displayed on the touch panel unit and display modes of the keys; a condition acceptance unit configured to accept a condition for selecting the layout information; and a software keyboard display instruction unit configured to read layout information that maintains the key layout mode while changing the display mode of some of the keys according to the condition, and to instruct the touch panel unit to display a software keyboard based on the read layout information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi ISHIGURE
  • Patent number: 8892996
    Abstract: User input is received, specifying a continuous traced path across a keyboard presented on a touch sensitive display. An input sequence is resolved, including traced keys and auxiliary keys proximate to the traced keys by prescribed criteria. For each of one or more candidate entries of a prescribed vocabulary, a set-edit-distance metric is computed between said input sequence and the candidate entry. Various rules specify when penalties are imposed, or not, in computing the set-edit-distance metric. Candidate entries are ranked and displayed according to the computed metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Erland Unruh
  • Publication number: 20140337786
    Abstract: A method for controlling a virtual keyboard on a display screen of a computerized system includes obtaining data from a touchpad. The data is associated with the location and movement of a finger and/or hand of a user when the user operates the computerized system using the touchpad. The method includes communicating the data from the touchpad to the computerized device, the touchpad being located in a location that is different from the location of the display screen. The method further includes analyzing the data in accordance with a model of a human hand, and assigning the data to at least one of a plurality of fingers of the model. The method also includes generating a virtual keyboard on the display screen and repositioning the virtual keyboard according to either a verbal command from the user or a user input from the touchpad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventor: TONG LUO
  • Patent number: 8887103
    Abstract: A computing device outputs, for display, a virtual keyboard comprising a plurality of virtual keys. Furthermore, the computing device receives an indication of a first movement of an input object along a spatial path. The computing device determines, based on locations of the virtual keys and locations along the spatial path, a plurality of character strings. In response to determining that the first movement has ceased for at least a threshold amount of time, the computing device outputs, for display, the plurality of character strings. While the character strings are displayed, the computing device receives an indication of a second movement of the input object. The computing device selects, in response to the indication of the second movement, and based at least in part on a direction of the second movement of the input object, a particular character string from the plurality of character strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaojun Bi, Shumin Zhai, Michael Andrew Cleron
  • Patent number: 8881046
    Abstract: A method and system for displaying a virtual PIN pad and a virtual non-PIN pad on a touch screen having a screen area. Electronics in electrical communication with the touch screen are operative to provide the virtual PIN pad on the touch screen in a payment mode and provide the virtual non-PIN pad in a non-payment mode. The virtual PIN pad has a first plurality of virtual buttons and the virtual non-PIN pad has a second plurality of virtual buttons, the first plurality of virtual buttons being greater than the second plurality of virtual buttons. The electronics are operative in the payment mode to render the virtual PIN pad having the first plurality of virtual buttons and determine a numerical sequence entered by a user at the virtual PIN pad. The electronics are operative in the non-payment mode to render the virtual non-PIN pad having the second plurality of virtual buttons determine selections entered by a user at the virtual non-PIN pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Gilbarco, S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giovanni Carapelli
  • Publication number: 20140317549
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for controlling a touchscreen by using a virtual trackball. The method for controlling the touchscreen includes the steps of displaying a virtual keyboard on the input window, displaying a virtual trackball by selecting an Execute button on the virtual keyboard, enlarging a cursor displayed on the output window and a predetermined region surrounding the cursor, and inputting movement information of the cursor being enlarged and displayed by using the virtual trackball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: The Klever Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Doo Geon Hwang, Chul Soo Kim
  • Publication number: 20140317548
    Abstract: A method for operating a text input interface for a device (100) controllable via a controller (102), the method comprising the steps of displaying (202) a set of imputable characters (SC) arranged along a path (P) having a first portion (P1) and a second portion (P2) and inputted text (IT) between the first portion (P1) and the second portion (P2) of the path, receiving (203) input from a user via the controller (102), the input comprising at least a character shift command and a selection command, selecting (204), within the set of imputable characters (SC), a focused character (FC) in response to the received character shift command by navigating within the set of imputable characters (SC) according to the direction of the character shift command, adding (205) the focused character (FC) to the inputted text (IT) in response to the received selection command, wherein the imputable characters of the set of imputable characters (SC) arranged before the focused character (FC) are displayed (207) in the first p
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: ADVANCED DIGITAL BROADCAST S.A.
    Inventor: Marcin WIELGOSZ
  • Publication number: 20140317550
    Abstract: An MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral) as an information processing apparatus accepts an input through a keyboard selectively displayed on the touch panel of an operation terminal from among a plurality of keyboards configured with software key groups different from each other. The MFP displays a setting screen including a plurality of input areas on the touch panel. When the setting screen appears, the MFP acquires the type of the selectively displayed keyboard and decides an input accepting area that accepts an input through the selectively displayed keyboard, from among the plurality of input areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Shohei ICHIYAMA, Toshimi SHINCHI
  • Publication number: 20140317547
    Abstract: A computing device outputs, for display, a virtual keyboard comprising a plurality of virtual keys. Furthermore, the computing device receives an indication of a first movement of an input object along a spatial path. The computing device determines, based on locations of the virtual keys and locations along the spatial path, a plurality of character strings. In response to determining that the first movement has ceased for at least a threshold amount of time, the computing device outputs, for display, the plurality of character strings. While the character strings are displayed, the computing device receives an indication of a second movement of the input object. The computing device selects, in response to the indication of the second movement, and based at least in part on a direction of the second movement of the input object, a particular character string from the plurality of character strings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Xiaojun Bi, Shumin Zhai, Michael Andrew Cleron
  • Patent number: 8866781
    Abstract: A contactless gesture-based control method and apparatus are provided. The method includes: obtaining gestures/movements of a user; obtaining control instructions corresponding to the gestures/movements according to pre-stored mapping relationships; and executing the control instructions, where the gestures/movements include: an index finger draws a circle, and remaining four fingers clench into a fist; or, five fingers clench together and a palm moves in a direction where a device is; or, a thumb, the index finger, and a middle finger extend naturally, the remaining two fingers clench together, and the index finger moves freely; or, the thumb, the index finger, and the middle finger extend naturally, the remaining two fingers clench together, and the thumb moves up and down; or the thumb, the index finger, and the middle finger extend naturally, the remaining two fingers clench together, and the middle finger moves up and down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yingtao Li
  • Patent number: 8869060
    Abstract: A method of displaying a translucent pop-up including additional information corresponding to information selected on a touch screen includes receiving a first touch input for selecting first information on the touch screen; displaying a first translucent pop-up including first additional information corresponding to the first information; receiving a second touch input for selecting second information located in a region of the first translucent pop-up, on the touch screen; and displaying a second translucent pop-up including second additional information corresponding to the second information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae-gyun Cho
  • Patent number: 8869059
    Abstract: A layout method for an operation key group in a portable terminal apparatus 1 that displays an operation key group on a display unit 4 to perform input operation via a touch panel 5, the layout method including: determining, on the basis of user operation for drawing a line figure on the touch panel 5, a display position and a range of an operation key group displayed on the display unit 4; and displaying the operation key group on the display unit 4 on the basis of the determined display position and the range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Tomotake Aono, Junichi Ujii
  • Publication number: 20140306899
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a multidirectional swipe key for a virtual keyboard of a touch sensitive computing device. The multidirectional swipe key can be used to translate one or more swipe gestures started from the key into cursor movement (or directional input). The characteristics of the multidirectional swipe key gestures, such as the swipe direction and/or swipe length, may affect the resulting cursor movement (or directional input). The multidirectional swipe key may be configured such that held swipe gestures cause continual cursor movement (or directional input). The multidirectional swipe key may also be configured such that dragging the gesture to make a longer swipe accelerates cursor movement (or directional input) and vice versa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: barnesandnoble.com llc
    Inventor: Kourtny M. Hicks
  • Publication number: 20140306897
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a virtual keyboard cursor swipe gesture mode in touch sensitive computing devices. The keyboard cursor swipe mode is configured to translate a swipe gesture (initiated on or over a virtual keyboard of the device) into cursor movement in the direction of the swipe gesture. In some instances, characteristics such as the swipe length, swipe speed, and/or number of contact points used when swiping may affect when the mode is invoked and/or the distance and/or speed of the cursor movement. The keyboard cursor swipe mode may also be configured with a highlighting feature that highlights text while the cursor is moved in combination with a highlight activation action, such as holding the shift key. In some cases, the keyboard cursor swipe mode may allow for continual cursor movement as long as the swipe gesture is held.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: barnesandnoble.com llc
    Inventor: Gerald B. Cueto
  • Publication number: 20140306898
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a virtual keyboard key swipe mode for touch sensitive computing devices. The keyboard key swipe mode allows for the selection and/or input of key options for a particular virtual keyboard key using swipe gestures started from that particular key. Key options may include, for example, uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers or characters. In one example case, an upward swipe gesture performed on a letter key causes an uppercase selection of that letter key and a downward swipe gesture performed on the letter key causes a lowercase selection of that letter key. In another example case, a rightward swipe gesture performed on an alphanumeric key may cause a first character selection and a leftward swipe gesture performed on the alphanumeric key may cause a second character selection. The keyboard key swipe mode may further include a change-all-keys user input that transitions all keys simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: barnesandnoble.com llc
    Inventor: Gerald B. Cueto
  • Publication number: 20140310627
    Abstract: A method of inputting text in an electronic device having a touch screen is provided. The method includes displaying a screen including a keypad and a character input window, displaying a recommended text related to a character on a candidate window when an input of the character is detected through the keypad, detecting a gesture of a touch input according to the recommended text, and displaying a recommended text to which a style corresponding to the gesture is applied on the character input window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jihoon KIM
  • Publication number: 20140310638
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for editing a message in a mobile terminal are provided. The method includes displaying a text display area and a keypad display area, displaying at least one letter and a cursor in the text display area, and moving the cursor according to a first gesture performed in the keypad display area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yo-Han LEE, Se-Jun SONG, Da-Som LEE
  • Patent number: 8863020
    Abstract: A method includes displaying one or more selectable features on a touch-sensitive display of a portable electronic device, detecting a gesture on the touch-sensitive display, identifying at least one of the selectable features based on a direction of the gesture, and increasing a size of the at least one of the selectable features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Blackberry Limited
    Inventor: James Allen Hymel
  • Patent number: 8860675
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product/article of manufacture provide the ability to enable and use a tool implement on a multi-touch device. The tool implements may be activated and deactivated using the borders of touch-sensitive region of a multi-touch device. The tool implement can be positioned in the display area (e.g., by dragging grips of the tool) and then used (in combination with a touch gesture to perform an operation. The tool implement may be a drawing aid tool that is used to remap a user's stroke gesture to a defined stroke that is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Wang, Hans-Frederick Brown