Virtual Input Device (e.g., Virtual Keyboard) Patents (Class 715/773)
  • Publication number: 20140300722
    Abstract: Provided are methods, systems, devices, and computer programs enabling the measurement of various objects using imaging. The disclosed inventions are adaptable to mobile devices such as smartphones, allowing a range of unique measurements to be conveniently made, including length, area, distance, velocity, and height. The methods, systems, devices, and computer programs disclosed herein include the novel application of image-based measurement in medical, research, and other contexts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventor: Maurice Garcia
  • Publication number: 20140304639
    Abstract: In a method for triggering events of an electronic device, one or more events of the electronic device are set through a user interface, and a key combination for each of the events is received from the user interface. The key combination includes one or more distance sensors and a hot key of the electronic device. The method determines whether one of the distance sensors detects a user's finger in an effective sensing range when the hot key is approached by the user's finger. When one of the distance sensors detects the user's finger in the effective sensing range, the method triggers an event of the electronic device corresponding to the hot key, and executes a specified function of the hot key according to the event. If no distance sensor detects the user's finger in the effective sensing range, the method executes an inherent function of the hot key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: FIH (HONG KONG) LIMITED
    Inventor: WEN-SHIAN HUANG
  • Publication number: 20140304640
    Abstract: A technique is presented for fast input of multi-character compound consonants and vowels on a touch computing device. The technique provides for fast input of multi-character compound consonants and vowels by enabling a user to touch an initial character on a first layout of characters, then slide his/her finger in different directions and/or different distances according to a second layout of characters. The second layout of characters can be based on the first touched character and therefore can have a limited set of characters, e.g., fewer characters in comparison to the first layout of characters. A syllable formed after input of both a consonant and a vowel, represented as one character set, e.g., in the Roman alphabet, can then be transliterated into another language, e.g., Chinese.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Hao Huang, Song Fu, Wei Sun, Hanping Feng
  • Patent number: 8856683
    Abstract: A method and system that permits a user to navigate or browse a long list on a handheld device with a restricted user interface, such as a limited display and a limited user input device. The user first uses a coarse search to find a generally desired area in the list. The user then uses finer and finer search intervals in the vicinity of the desired area, until the desired entry is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Eric Johnson, Ronald Anthony Dicke
  • Patent number: 8856690
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for associating a gesture, in contact with a touch screen, with a character. More specifically, the present invention links a user's movement on a surface of a device to represent a character. A character includes any number, letter, or symbol. For example, an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a user may swipe a surface on their device such as a cell phone. The present invention recognizes the swipe to represent the number “0,” a swipe in another direction to represent the number “1,” a tap in the middle region to represent the number “2,” etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond Emilio Reeves, Ryan Alan Wick
  • Patent number: 8856674
    Abstract: A virtual keyboard for an electronic device having a display. The keyboard comprises a plurality of virtual keys organized in accordance with a keyboard layout with each key in a position according to the layout. The plurality of virtual keys include a first virtual key designated to activate, upon selection, a backward-delete function for deleting characters in a first direction and a forward-delete function for deleting characters in a second direction. The first direction and the second direction are opposite to each other. The keyboard also comprises direction identifier indicia displayed on the first virtual key. The direction identifier indicia are configured to indicate the first direction when the backward-delete function is activated, and the second direction when the forward-delete function is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Yoojin Hong
  • Publication number: 20140298237
    Abstract: A radial based user interface (UI) is provided for entering data into a computer device. The radial based UI has a central region with a plurality of radial regions. A location for the central region is defined on a touch sensitive display screen of the device and a value is assigned to each radial region. When a first touch is detected in the central region of the radial UI, an indication of a radial position responsive to a second touch on the touch sensitive screen may be determined. A value corresponding to the radial position of the second touch may then be input to an application being executed on the device. The first and second touches may be two separate finger taps, or may be sequential portions of a continuous stroke that occurs along one of the plurality of radial regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: James Joseph Galu, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140298238
    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: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventor: Shiro Kunori
  • Patent number: 8850311
    Abstract: The present invention provides a word input method including the steps of: selectively inputting one or more letters containing the first letter of the word to be inputted; extracting, as a first priority, a word having less letters than a predetermined number, and which coincides with the word to be inputted, in a sequence from the first letter, from words containing one or more letters, from a word storage unit; extracting, as a second priority, a word having less letters than the predetermined number, from words containing one or more letters, from the word storage unit; extracting, as a third priority, a word having more letters than the predetermined number, and which coincides with the word to be inputted, in a sequence from the first letter, from words containing one or more letters, from the word storage unit; extracting, as a fourth priority, a word having more letters than the predetermined number, from words containing one or more letters, from the word storage unit; dividing the words of the first
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: Yun Kee Kang
  • Patent number: 8847739
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates detecting and identifying objects within surface computing. An interface component can receive at least one surface input, the surface input relates to at least one of an object, a gesture, or a user. A surface detection component can detect a location of the surface input utilizing a computer vision-based sensing technique. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag can transmit a portion of RFID data, wherein the RFID tag is associated with the surface input. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) fusion component can utilize the portion of RFID data to identify at least one of a source of the surface input or a portion of data to associate to the surface input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew D. Wilson, Alex Olwal
  • Patent number: 8850349
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Xincheng Zhang, Yefei Peng
  • Patent number: 8850350
    Abstract: A graphical keyboard including a number of keys is output for display at a display device. The computing device receives an indication of a gesture to select at least two of the keys based at least in part on detecting an input unit at locations of a presence-sensitive input device. In response to the detecting and while the input unit is detected at the presence-sensitive input device: the computing device determines a candidate word for the gesture based at least in part on the at least two keys and the candidate word is output for display at a first location of the output device. In response to determining that the input unit is no longer detected at the presence-sensitive input device, the displayed candidate word is output for display at a second location of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaojun Bi, Yu Ouyang, Shumin Zhai
  • Publication number: 20140289664
    Abstract: A cellular phone includes a display surface, a touch sensor configured to accept an input with respect to the display surface and a CPU. The CPU displays a keyboard for inputting characters, an input text and a send button for executing a function for sending the input text as a message on the display surface. Further, the CPU executes a suppressing control for suppressing the execution of the function for sending the text as the message while one or more undetermined characters are included in the text displayed on the display surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Hiroaki Honda, Yoshihiko Inaoka
  • Patent number: 8843845
    Abstract: A computing device outputs a keyboard for display, receives an indication of a first gesture to select a first sequence of one or more keys, determines a set of candidate strings based in part on the first sequence of keys, and outputs for display at least one of the set of candidate strings. The computing device receives an indication of a second gesture to select a second sequence of one or more keys, and determines that characters associated with the second sequence of keys are included in a first candidate word based at least in part on the set of candidate strings, or are included in a second candidate word not based on the first sequence of keys. The computing device modifies the set of candidate strings based at least in part on the determination and outputs for display at least one of the modified candidate strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Ouyang, Shumin Zhai, Xiaojun Bi
  • Patent number: 8843844
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide an interactive viewer for an input device interface. Specifically, some embodiments provide a Keyboard Enhanced Interface (KEI) system that includes a KEI viewer. The KEI viewer includes multiple graphical keys that correspond to keys of a key based input device. The KEI viewer also includes multiple symbols that identify different output actions and logic for presenting a set of symbols over a set of graphical keys to identify a set of keys of the key based input device that are usable to directly invoke a set of output actions based on an active operational mode of the KEI system. A symbol identifies a particular output action that is directly invocable with a press of a key of the key based input device that corresponds to a graphical key over which said symbol is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Intellitact LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Laubach
  • Patent number: 8842136
    Abstract: A method for adaptively adjusting sizes of virtual keys and a display device using the same are provided. The display device displays a virtual keyboard, and the virtual keyboard is arranged with a plurality of virtual keys that can be chosen remotely by a plurality of direction keys of a remote controller. The method includes following: receiving cursor movement information and confirmation information transmitted by the remote controller; converting the cursor movement information and confirmation information into characters of virtual keys of a first key size configuration model of the virtual keyboard, and converting the characters into words; performing an operation on the words respectively by using a preset algorithm to generate a second key size configuration model of the virtual keyboard; and adjusting horizontal sizes of at least a part of the virtual keys of the virtual keyboard according to the second key size configuration model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: AmTRAN TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Jen Kuo, Kuang-Cheng Chao
  • Publication number: 20140282203
    Abstract: A method for an electronic device having a display, including, displaying, on the display, a first virtual keyboard including a set of keys, wherein each key of the set of keys is associated with one or more characters, receiving an input reflecting selection of one or more keys of the set of keys, determining, based on the selection, one or more subsequent candidate input characters and one or more word predictions corresponding to the one or more subsequent candidate input characters, displaying, on the display, a second virtual keyboard including a second set of keys, wherein the second set of keys comprises one or more keys associated with the one or more word predictions positioned based, at least in part, on the one or more subsequent candidate input characters. An electronic device including a display, a memory, and a processor, the processor being configured to execute the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Jerome PASQUERO, Donald Somerset McCulloch MCKENZIE, Jason Tyler GRIFFIN
  • Publication number: 20140282204
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for key input by using a random number in a virtual keyboard in a portable terminal are provided. The method includes sending, to a server, a request for random number generation; receiving a random number generated in response to the request; displaying a virtual keyboard that activates keys corresponding to the received random number; and receiving, through the displayed virtual keyboard, an input of keys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong-Kyu PARK, Hye-Won Cho, Jung-Hyun Kim, Kyung-Soo Lee, Il-Ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20140281953
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method an a device for mapping a virtual user input interface to a physical user input interface. The method is provided for mapping a virtual user input interface to a physical user input interface on a mobile terminal device. The mobile terminal device comprises a first physical user input interface, a display and a processing unit being connected to said display and said physical user interface, wherein an application is configured for use with a second user interface. The method of the invention comprises detecting an event indicative of an application to be executed that is configured for use with said second user interface and displaying a virtual user input interface representing said second user input interface on said display. If a a physical user input is received on said first physical user input interface, it is mapping to said displayed virtual user input interface, and displayed as an indication of a virtual input on said displayed virtual user input interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Core Wireless Licensing, S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Sawako-Eeva HAYASHI, Olaf JOERESSEN
  • Publication number: 20140282201
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for improving word prediction candidate selection in an electronic device. Input of one or more characters is received via a capacitive physical keyboard. A word prediction process generates a set of word prediction candidates, determines a unique character in each word prediction candidate, and displays the word prediction candidates along with visual indicia to indicate the unique character. A second input is then received comprising a tap input of a single character on the keyboard. The electronic device determines whether the second input corresponds to a unique character associated with any of the word prediction candidates, and if so, displays the selected word in an input field on the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Jerome PASQUERO, Donald Somerset McCulloch MCKENZIE, Jason Tyler GRIFFIN
  • Publication number: 20140282202
    Abstract: A data entry system is disclosed. Some embodiments of the data entry system utilize an input device and a user interface. In some embodiments, a user can actuate keys on an input device to activate and/or select from the user interface cells associated with symbols, such as letters. A user can input different symbols quickly and efficiently. In some embodiments, users can input the most common letters of a given alphabet using only a single actuation of one of four keys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Peter James Tooch
  • Patent number: 8836662
    Abstract: A method and device for key-press judgment based on a touch screen are disclosed. The method involves: detecting a press operation; when the press operation is detected, acquiring position information of current pressed point and extended information corresponding to the position information, until the end of this press operation is detected; judging a pressed key corresponding to this press operation according to the position information and the extended information of pressed points in this operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited
    Inventor: Tingchao Liu
  • Patent number: 8839156
    Abstract: Pointing tools for use in connection with touch screen displays are described. The pointing tools are provided with a visually offset pointer tip that can be rotated easily by user manipulation provided to the computing device through an interface. The pointing tools may include one or more buttons. The button(s) may be visually connected with the pointing tool on the display screen and/or logically associated therewith. The pointing tools described provide for accurate and precise inputs, and are useful in many applications, such as those where fine positioning and input within a touch screen environment is desirable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Todd Backer, Robert F. Fleischacker
  • Patent number: 8839123
    Abstract: An interface engine is configured to generate a user interface on a display coupled to an electronic device. The interface engine is configured to display characters, in the user interface, that may input into the electronic device. The interface engine is configured to generate the user interface to include character sections. The interface engine is configured to associate a sub-set of the characters with each character sections. The sub-set of characters included in each character section can be based on the frequency that the characters are used and/or the patterns in which the characters are used. Additionally, the sub-set of characters associated with each character section can be selected by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventor: Robin J. Landry
  • Patent number: 8839136
    Abstract: A method of controlling a viewpoint of a user or a virtual object on a two-dimensional (2D) interactive display is provided. The method may convert a user input to at least 6 degrees of freedom (DOF) structured data according to a number of touch points, a movement direction thereof, and a rotation direction thereof. Any one of the virtual object and the viewpoint of the user may be determined as a manipulation target based on a location of the touch point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung In Yoo, Chang Kyu Choi
  • Patent number: 8839151
    Abstract: Provided is an image folder transmission/playing device which can transmit an image folder regardless of whether or not a name of the image folder complies with DCF standard and further can display an image file included in the image folder on a monitor. A CPU determines whether or not there is an album setting folder file in the image folder. When there is no album setting folder file, the CPU creates the album setting folder file in the image folder included in the album setting folder file. The CPU transmits the image folder and displays an electronic album on the monitor in accordance with information included in the album setting folder file. Accordingly, a user can view the electronic album with a user's favorite layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Visionarist Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sukeichi Miki, Shinichi Miki, Manabu Miki, Hikaru Miki
  • Patent number: 8839139
    Abstract: An electronic “To-Do” bar is provided in which displayed upcoming tasks, meetings, appointments and the like. The electronic To-Do bar is displayed in a lightweight menu of tasks, meetings and appointments and is displayed persistently in addition to other software functionality or user interfaces displayed on a user's computer display screen according to other software applications or other software functionality in use. A user is presented with an always-visible list of upcoming tasks, meetings and appointments without the need to launch a separate tasks application or calendar application to view upcoming tasks, meetings or appointments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Richard H. Leukart, Glenn L. Frankel, Stephen D. Jensen, Hernan Savastano, Cheryl L. Williams
  • Publication number: 20140258853
    Abstract: A computer-implemented user interface method for a computing device is disclosed. The method includes associating each of a plurality of telephone keys with a direction of each key relative to a center of a telephone keypad, receiving a contact from a user of the device at a location on a touchscreen display of a computing device and an input at a direction relative to the location of the user contact, and causing a telephone number to be entered on the computing device based on the direction of each key relative to the center of the telephone keypad corresponding to the direction relative to the location of the user contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Tiruvilwamalai Venkatram Raman, Charles L. Chen
  • Patent number: 8830163
    Abstract: A data input system including a screen that selectably displays an image of a data input device such as a keyboard or a computer mouse. The screen tracks pressure applied by the user, and processes an input signal created by the pressure into input data according to the image displayed on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Chen Chen Sim, Ban Ho Chong, Ki Su Lenny Lim
  • Patent number: 8832804
    Abstract: A computer implemented system and method are provided for password pre-verification on the client side in client-server applications. An example system comprises a translation module configured to translate user input, in the form of a character string that can represent a password, to obtain a symbolic representation of the user input. The example system also comprises an output module configured to receive the symbolic representation from the translation module and, based on the user input, provide output to the user in the form of visual, audio or haptic cues. Such cues can alert a user as to whether or not the input character string is correctly entered. In a further example embodiment, a system can further comprise a comparison module configured to compare an existing symbolic representation with the symbolic representation generated from the user input by the translation module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Casey, Girts Folkmanis, John Mishanski
  • Patent number: 8830198
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses a method for dynamically generating a touch keyboard. The method includes that: a positioning point of a keyboard is dynamically generated according to number and position information of touch points of a finger of a user; an input area of each character of the keyboard is generated and adjusted according to the positioning points; and the input area is clicked to realize an input operation. The disclosure further discloses a device for dynamically generating a touch keyboard. By means of the method and the device, a keyboard is dynamically generated to input according to a touch of the user on a touch screen, and the keyboard can be adjusted according to ergonomics, so that an input efficiency of the user is greatly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventor: Yijun Luo
  • Publication number: 20140250402
    Abstract: The subject disclosure is directed towards technology that provides an input mechanism for efficient navigation on a computing device. The input mechanism may include a cell-based input mechanism for displaying a display pattern having a central portion and a peripheral portion on which input cells are configured. When a stroke begins at a position on the peripheral portion that corresponds to a desired page and ends at the central portion, the cell-based input mechanism modifies the input cells on the display pattern to display input cells for the desired page.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Jason Lee Van Eaton
  • Publication number: 20140250403
    Abstract: A virtual keyboard interface system of an electronic apparatus for displaying a virtual keyboard interface in a display of the electronic apparatus includes a graphical data module and a displaying module. The graphical data module stores graphical data of a number of keys, a number of shadow parts corresponding to the keys, and a number of patterns on the keys. The displaying module displays the virtual keyboard interface on the display according to the graphical data to make the virtual keyboard interface being seen from a slanting angle ? relative to a vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: MING-HUNG CHUNG, CHIA-CHING HSU, JIAN-SHIHN TSANG
  • Publication number: 20140250404
    Abstract: A communication device, which is capable of presenting one or more of a plurality of virtual keyboards, may be operable to receive application content. The application content may require a user to enter particular data via one of the plurality of virtual keyboards. The plurality of virtual keyboards may comprise a system keyboard and one or more third-party keyboards. The communication device may be operable to determine whether the particular data to be entered by the user may comprise sensitive personal information associated with the user. Based on the determination of the personal information and/or based on a configuration option communicated from the user, the communication device may be operable to determine whether to cause presentation of the system keyboard for the user to enter the particular data. The communication device may cause presentation of the system keyboard by disabling the one or more third-party keyboards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Diego Puppin
  • Patent number: 8826167
    Abstract: A text input method and apparatus of a portable terminal supporting a virtual keypad including a plurality of character keys are provided. The method includes displaying, when a text input mode is activated, a virtual keypad including a plurality of key regions, each key region being assigned plural letters, compounding, when a touch movement event is detected on the virtual keypad, letters assigned to a first key region to which a touch-down event is made with letters assigned to a second key region to which a touch-up event is made into compound letters, displaying the compound letters, and inputting, when a compound letter is selected, the compound letter selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Joon Park, Bum Soo Kim
  • Publication number: 20140245212
    Abstract: A method and apparatus which improves QWER-sive text input into an information handling system by gestures on or above a keyboard layout. It is known that languages have a characteristic frequency at which characters will appear. Relying upon such characteristics, a keyboard layout is generated in such a way that the area allocated to individual characters varies among the character set with larger areas being assigned to characters more likely to be used in a language selected by a user. Such enlargement of areas of response may either be visible to the user or concealed, in which latter case all of the individual characters appear to have been allocated areas of the same size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: David Bruce Kumhyr
  • Patent number: 8819574
    Abstract: An example method includes displaying, at a presence-sensitive device, a virtual keyboard, receiving an indication of input entered at a presence-sensitive device indicating a plurality of characters, determining a sequence of at least three character strings in the plurality such that the sequence does not include any space characters, modifying the characters by inserting at least two space characters to demarcate the at least three character strings, and determining at least two suggested character strings based on first, second, and third character strings of the sequence. The method further includes outputting, for display at the presence-sensitive device and at a text-suggestion area of the GUI, the at least two suggested character strings, receiving a selection that indicates a selected character string of the at least two suggested character strings, and outputting, for display at the presence-sensitive device and at the text-entry area of the GUI, the selected character string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Ouyang, Shumin Zhai
  • Publication number: 20140237412
    Abstract: A method and an electronic device for controlling a virtual keypad are provided. The method for displaying the virtual keypad of the electronic device includes detecting execution of an application allowing text input, detecting at least one touch subject within a threshold distance of a touch screen, and when detecting at least one touch subject within the threshold distance of the touch screen, displaying a virtual keypad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Pil-Joo YOON, Jin-Hong JEONG, Geon-Soo KIM, Jeong-Hyun PANG, Yong-Joon JEON
  • Publication number: 20140237413
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter is directed to providing feedback in a touch screen device in response to an actuation of a virtual unit in a virtual input device. Specifically, the claimed subject matter provides a method and system for providing visual feedback in response to an actuation of a virtual key in a virtual keyboard. One embodiment of the claimed subject matter is implemented as a method for providing luminescent feedback in response to an actuation of a virtual key in a virtual keyboard. User input in a virtual keyboard corresponding to a virtual key is received. The corresponding virtual key is actuated and registered in response to the user input, and a luminescent feedback is displayed to the user as confirmation of the actuation of the virtual key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jan-Kristian Markiewicz, Manuel Clement, Jason Silvis
  • Publication number: 20140237411
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for improving character entry in an electronic device. User input of one or more characters is received via a capacitive physical keyboard. A second user input is then received indicating a desire to add or remove a word completion, such as a prefix or a suffix, to the first set of characters. Based on a generated list of word completion rules, the electronic device modifies the word based on the user input, and outputs the completed word for display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Jerome PASQUERO, Donald Somerset McCulloch MCKENZIE
  • Patent number: 8812972
    Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed which relate to improving the efficiency of text input by dynamically generating a visually assistive virtual keyboard. Exemplary variations display a soft keyboard on a touchscreen of a text-entry device. The touchscreen works with the soft keyboard as a form of text input. Keyboard logic on the text-entry device is programmed to change the visual appearance of each key within the soft keyboard based on the prior entry. The keyboard logic assigns a prediction value to each key based on a statistical probability that the key will be entered next. The touchscreen displays a visually enhanced keyboard based on these prediction values. Enhancements include resizing keys relative to their prediction value, rearranging the keys a distance from the previous key entered inverse to its prediction value, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Srinivas Bangalore
  • Patent number: 8812992
    Abstract: A touch screen panel to input multi-dimension values and a method of controlling the touch screen panel are provided. In the touch screen panel, a touch screen unit displays a multi-dimensional coordinate system, and senses whether a certain point of the multi-dimensional coordinate system is touched, a control unit calculates coordinates of the touched point if the touched point is sensed, and a coordinate display unit displays values of the calculated coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ki-hong Im
  • Patent number: 8812973
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to techniques for text entry/modification using a touch-sensitive device. In one example, the techniques include presenting, by a touch-sensitive device, a graphical keyboard. The graphical keyboard includes at least one character image that represents at least one text character and that is selectable by a user to input the at least one text character. User input may be detected that indicates user selection of at least one formatting option associated with text that is presentable by the touch-sensitive device. A presentation of the at least one character image may be modified to display an indication of the selected formatting option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel Cohen, Simon Raess, Ian Gunn
  • Patent number: 8812984
    Abstract: An input device comprises: an operation unit having a display part that can display a plurality of character keys and a touch screen; a subsequent input candidate search unit that, upon detection of contact to an area corresponding to a specific character key in the touch screen, searches among the input candidate string for an input candidate string with a first character being a specific character corresponding to the area thus detected, as a subsequent input candidate string; a subsequent input candidate determination unit that, with regard to the subsequent input candidate thus found, determines a subsequent character following the first character as a subsequent input candidate character; and a display exchange unit that displays a character key of the subsequent input candidate character thus determined, by exchanging with a character key arranged in the vicinity of a character key for the specific character as the first character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Shinichi Nakanishi
  • Publication number: 20140229838
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a touch screen terminal and a method for locating an electronic document thereof. The touch screen terminal comprises a setting module, a directory listing module, a detection module, a mode switching module, a real-time directory module, a preview module and a chapter/section switching module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: ZTE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tao Xue
  • Publication number: 20140229882
    Abstract: The user interface allowing users to intuitively interact with a virtual keyboard to enter text containing non-alphabetic characters. The user interface uses a special purpose key to input a symbol which can be automatically interpreted as the intended symbol by the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Syntellia, Inc.
    Inventors: Kosta Eleftheriou, Vasileios Rappos
  • Publication number: 20140229884
    Abstract: To provide a terminal device, an information input method, and a program, capable of facilitating input of information of two or more digits or two or more characters. The terminal device comprises an operation unit configured to receive an operation from a user, a display unit configured to display an operation object capable of being operated by the user, an operation recognition unit configured to change input information having a length of two or more digits or two or more characters according to an amount of operation on the operation object and based on a predetermined rule, and a control unit configured to perform a predetermined process using input information selected by the operation on the operation object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: NEC CASIO MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS, LTD.
    Inventor: Mamoru Shimazaki
  • Publication number: 20140229883
    Abstract: There is provided diagnostic X-ray imaging equipment that can reproduce only a desired image range at a desired reproduction speed among a series of consecutive images for an operator. A first band-shaped region 44 of which an overall length corresponds to an overall length of time of consecutive X-ray images in chronological order and a second band-shaped region 44 in which a plurality of positions in a length direction respectively correspond to a plurality of types of reproduction speed determined in advance are displayed on a display device. In a case where an operator designates a position in the first band-shaped region 44, the X-ray image corresponding to the designated position among the consecutive X-ray images is selected to be displayed on the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventors: Kenta Tsukijishin, Kouhei Motoki
  • Patent number: 8806362
    Abstract: A method at a multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display includes: displaying a text entry region and a soft keyboard with default keys; detecting a contact at a first location on the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to an activation region associated with a respective default key, and detecting an immediate subsequent movement of the contact on the touch-sensitive display; in response to detecting the immediate subsequent movement, displaying an array of keys including alternate keys for the respective default key; detecting liftoff of the contact at a second location on the touch-sensitive display; and, in response to detecting the liftoff: when the second location corresponds to an activation region associated with a respective alternate key, ceasing to display the array and inserting a character associated with the respective alternate key into the text entry region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bas Ording, Kenneth L. Kocienda
  • Publication number: 20140223354
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating floating keys in a portable device is provided. The method includes selecting a key by providing an activation signal on any of the keys present in a keypad of the device. Further, the selected key is floated to display irrespective of keypad layout, keypad type and input method engine. The floating keys can be created from any online document. The method also provides a Unicode interface to the user to add keys present in a web source as a floating key. Further, a method of creating floating keys with multiple key combinations is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Barath Raj KANDUR RAJA, Jith Thomas THELLEERATHU