Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/016—Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/048—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
  • G06F3/0487—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
  • G06F3/0489—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
  • G06F3/04895—Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/02—Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
  • G06F3/023—Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
  • G06F3/0233—Character input methods
  • G06F3/0237—Character input methods using prediction or retrieval techniques
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
  • G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
  • G06F3/0414—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means using force sensing means to determine a position
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/048—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
  • G06F3/0487—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
  • G06F3/0488—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
  • G06F3/04883—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/048—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
  • G06F3/0487—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
  • G06F3/0488—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
  • G06F3/04886—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/14—Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
  • G09G2354/00—Aspects of interface with display user

Definitions

• the invention relates to a smooth touch-sensitive surface that allows the user to rest their hands or fingers on the surface without causing an event actuation. More specifically, the touch surface is a dynamic display presenting an onscreen keyboard that is used for inputting text and commands.
• Auer et al in U.S. Patent No. 4,725,694, describe a system wherein one or more images of simulated keyboards are displayed on a touch-sensitive screen of a computer, and in response to the touching of the simulated keys, generate appropriate control signals.
• the image of the keyboard is displayed floating above other applications running on the computer, rather than occupying a dedicated portion of the screen.
• the user interacts with this "on-screen keyboard” or “virtual keyboard” by either directing a cursor pointer over it, or directly touching the keys via a touch screen using a finger or stylus.
• On-screen keyboards such as that described by Auer, have been primarily used for devices that lack a standard keyboard, such as certain public information kiosks and personal digital assistants (PDAs), Smartphones, Tablets, and other handheld computers that are too small to accommodate a physical keyboard.
• PDAs personal digital assistants
• Onscreen keyboards are also frequently used by individuals who have physical challenges that prevent them from using a conventional electromechanical keyboard.
• Kushler et al in U.S. Patent No. 7,098,896, describe a system that allows single- finger (or stylus) text entry caused by the user setting down on the key representing the first letter of a desired word, then, while remaining in contact with the touch surface, sliding from key to key of each subsequent letter of the word. This has the benefit of eliminating the motion of lifting and setting down on the onscreen keyboard for every letter, thus speeding text entry. Disambiguation algorithms allow the user to be less accurate when selecting each letter, lending further to an increase in speed.
• Swype ® a commercialized version of technology described by Kushler et al, was used to set the world record for fastest typing on a Smartphone.
• the record-breaking individual input a prescribed phrase at a speed of 61 words per minute. While that speed is remarkable, given that it is based on single-finger entry, it still falls well below the fastest speeds possible using ten-finger typing.
• Another approach is to use voice recognition systems to input text by verbal utterances. While this technology has significantly improved over recent time, even if it were working 100% accurately, there are many times when text input by verbal utterances is not desirable by the user (such as during times where privacy or consideration of others within audible range is required). And, thus, an alternative way of entering text through some sort of keyboard paradigm is still necessary.
• the present invention provides systems and methods that allow the user to rest their fingers on the keys of an onscreen keyboard displayed on a touch-sensitive screen and dynamically define the location, orientation, shape, and size of the onscreen keyboard. Rather than the user having to take care to place their fingers on the keys (which typically would require tactile markers on said keys), the system dynamically moves the location of the onscreen keyboard to where the user's fingers are already resting.
• the process defines a "home-row definition event", which is an action performed by the user that causes the system to redefine where the home-row of the onscreen keyboard is located. This location is dynamically established based on the user's action.
• the home-row definition event is defined as the user resting all four fingers of both hands simultaneously on the touch-sensitive surface for a preset period of time (e.g., 1 second).
• the home-row definition event is defined as the user double-tapping all four fingers of both hands on the touch-sensitive surface and then resting them on the surface after a second tap.
• the home-row definition event is defined as the user resting all four fingers of both hands simultaneously on the touch-sensitive surface and then pressing them down momentarily.
• the system provides feedback to the user in numerous ways.
• the system provides visual feedback by causing the onscreen keyboard to appear beneath the user's fingers.
• the system provides an audible cue.
• the system causes the touch-screen to momentarily vibrate.
• the onscreen keyboard remains visible continuously while typing is taking place.
• the onscreen keyboard becomes transparent after the home-row definition event.
• the onscreen keyboard becomes semitransparent, so as to allow the user to see through the keyboard to content on the screen below.
• the onscreen keyboard cycles between visible and invisible as the user types. Each time the user taps on the "hidden" onscreen keyboard, the onscreen keyboard temporarily appears and then fades away after a user-settable amount of time.
• the onscreen keyboard becomes temporarily visible when the user, with fingers resting in the home-row position, presses down on the surface with their resting fingers.
• the onscreen keyboard becomes visible when the user performs a predefined action on the edge of the enclosure outside of the touch sensor area, such as a double- or triple-tap.
• the home-row resting keys are defined as the eight keys rested upon by the four fingers of each hand.
• the resting keys may be fewer than eight keys to accommodate users who may not have use of all eight fingers.
• the system disambiguates which key was intended according to movement of a particular finger in an intended direction. For example, the user lifts their ring finger and moves it slightly downward and taps. The user may not have moved far enough to reach the virtual location of the adjacent key, but their intention was clearly to select it since they moved from their resting position by a definable threshold distance and tapped in the direction of the adjacent key. Even though the tap may not have occurred on the adjacent key in this example, the system will select it.
• the system adjusts the probability of each key being selected, based on the text sequence that immediately preceded it. This probability is used in conjunction with the tap location algorithm described in the previous paragraphs to determine the most likely key the user intended to tap on.
• the system automatically accounts for "user drift" as they type on the onscreen keyboard. Without the benefit of tactile feel for each key, it is easy for the user to move their hands slightly as they type. The system tracks this behavior by comparing the center of the intended key with the actual location that the user tapped. If a consistent drift is detected over the space of consecutive key events, the system shifts the location of the keys accordingly to accommodate the drift. Again, rather than make the user take care where the keys are, the system moves the keys to where the user's fingers are already located.
• the method and system monitor for user taps that are on the surface of the portable computing device, but not within the boundaries of the touch sensor. For example, the user may tap an edge of the device's enclosure to indicate a spacebar actuation.
• the system correlates the signals from the touch sensors and vibration sensors to determine the tap location. When an absence of signal is detected by the touch sensor, the system recognizes the event as an "external tap" (i.e., a tap on the surface of the device, but outside the boundaries of the touch sensors).
• External taps generate unique vibration waveforms depending on their location on the enclosure. Characteristics of these waveforms are stored in a database and are used to uniquely identify the general location of the external tap.
• the external taps once identified, can be assigned to keyboard functions (such as space, or backspace).
• FIGURE 1 is a block diagram showing an exemplary system formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIGURES 2A through 2F show a flowchart of exemplary processes performed by the system shown in FIGURE 1 ;
• FIGURE 3A is a schematic view a tablet device with a flat-surfaced virtual keyboard formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIGURES 3B and 3C illustrate keyboard displays formed in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
• FIGURE 1 shows a block diagram of an exemplary device 100 for providing an adaptive onscreen keyboard user interface for alphanumeric input.
• the device 100 includes one or more touch sensors 120 that provide input to a CPU (processor) 110.
• the touch sensors 120 notify the processor 110 of contact events when a surface is touched.
• the touch sensor(s) 120, or the processor 110 include a hardware controller that interprets raw signals produced by the touch sensor(s) 120 and communicates the information to the processor 110, using a known communication protocol via an available data port.
• the device 100 includes one or more vibration sensors 130 that communicate signals to the processor 110 when the surface is tapped, in a manner similar to that of the touch sensor(s) 120.
• the processor 110 generates a keyboard image that is presented on a display 140 (touch surface) based on the signals received from the sensors 120, 130.
• a speaker 150 is also coupled to the processor 110 so that any appropriate auditory signals are passed on to the user as guidance (e.g., error signals).
• a vibrator 155 is also coupled to the processor 110 to provide appropriate haptic feedback to the user (e.g., error signals).
• the processor 110 is in data communication with a memory 160, which includes a combination of temporary and/or permanent storage, and both read-only and writable memory (random access memory or RAM), read-only memory (ROM), writable nonvolatile memory, such as FLASH memory, hard drives, floppy disks, and so forth.
• the memory 160 includes program memory 170 that includes all programs and software such as an operating system 171, adaptive onscreen keyboard (“OSK”) software component 172, and any other application programs 173.
• the memory 160 also includes data memory 180 that includes a word database(s) 181, a record of user options and preferences 182, and any other data 183 required by any element of the device 100.
• the processor 110 positions a virtual on-screen keyboard beneath the user's fingers on the display 140.
• the processor 110 constantly monitors the placement of the user's fingers, as well as tapped locations for each key actuation, and makes adjustments to the location, orientation, and size of each key (and the overall keyboard) to ensure the on-screen keyboard is located where the user is typing. In this way, it is possible to account for the user's “drifting", or moving their fingers off of the original position of the on-screen keyboard. If the user drifts too far in one direction so-as to reach the edge of the touch sensor area, the processor 110 outputs an audible and/or haptic warning.
• the user may manually re-assign the location of the on-screen keyboard by initiating a home-row definition event (as described above).
• haptic feedback is provided via the vibrator 155 when the user positions their index fingers on the keys commonly-referred to as the "home keys" (F and J keys on a typical English keyboard).
• a momentary vibration is issued when the user rests their fingers on the keys using a slightly different frequency of vibration for left and for right. In this manner, the user may choose to move their hands back into a fixed home-row position, when the user chooses the processor 1 10 to not dynamically change the position of the on-screen keyboard.
• the intensity of these vibrations may change depending upon finger position relative to the home keys of the fixed home-row.
• the device 100 allows the user to type without looking at their fingers or the virtual keyboard. It follows, then, that the keyboard need not be visible at all times. This allows valuable screen space to be used for other purposes.
• the visual appearance of the keyboard varies its state between one or more of the following: visible, partially visible, invisible, and semitransparent.
• the full keyboard visually appears when a home-row definition event takes place or when the user has rested their fingers without typing for a settable threshold amount of time.
• the keyboard fades away to invisible until the user performs any one of a number of actions including, but not limited to: a home -row definition event, pausing typing, pressing on four fingers simultaneously, or some other uniquely identifying gesture.
• the keyboard does not fade away to be completely invisible, but rather becomes semitransparent so the user can still discern where the keys are, but can also see content of the screen that is "beneath" the on-screen keyboard.
• the keyboard temporarily "lights", or makes visible, the tapped key as well as those immediately surrounding the tapped key in a semitransparent manner that is proportional to the distance from the tapped key. This illuminates the tapped region of the keyboard for a short period of time.
• the keyboard becomes "partially" visible with the keys having the highest probability of being selected next lighting up in proportion to that probability. As soon as the user taps on a key, other keys that are likely to follow become visible or semivisible. Keys that are more likely to be selected are more visible, and vice versa. In this way, the keyboard "lights" the way for the user to the most likely next key(s).
• the onscreen keyboard is made temporarily visible by the user performing tap gestures (such as a double- or triple-tap in quick succession) on the outer rim of the enclosure surrounding the touch-sensitive surface.
• tap gestures such as a double- or triple-tap in quick succession
• the various modes of visual representation of the on-screen keyboard may be selected by the user via a preference setting in a user interface program.
• FIGURES 2A-F show an exemplary process performed by the device 100.
• the flowcharts shown in FIGURES 2A-F are not intended to fully detail the software of the present invention in its entirety, but are used for illustrative purposes.
• FIGURE 2A shows a process 200 executed by the processor 100 based on instructions provided by the OSK software component 172.
• various system variables are initialized, such as minimum rest time, number of finger touch threshold, drift distance threshold and key threshold.
• the process 200 waits to be notified that a contact has occurred within the area of a touch-screen.
• home-row detection occurs based on signals from one or more of the sensors 120, 130. Home-row detection is described in more detail in FIGURE 2B.
• locations of keys for the to-be-displayed virtual keyboard are determined based on the sensor signals. The key location determination is described in more detail in FIGURE 2C.
• key activations are processed (see FIGURES 2D and E for more detail.)
• user's finger drift is detected based on the sensor signals. Finger drift is described in more detail in FIGURE 2F.
• a virtual keyboard is presented on the display 140 based on at least one of the determinations made at blocks 210-218. The process 200 repeats when a user removes their eight fingers and then makes contact with the touchscreen.
• FIGURE 2B shows the home-row detection process 210.
• the process 210 determines if a user has rested their fingers on the touch-screen for a minimum amount of time (i.e., minimum rest threshold).
• the process 210 determines if the appropriate number of fingers have rested on the touch surface, thus initiating a home-row definition event. If the conditions in either blocks 234 or 236 are not met, the process 210 exits without changing the location of the on-screen keyboard.
• the processor 110 determines the location of the resting fingers, see block 240.
• a KeySpacelndex (or "KSI") value is then determined in block 242.
• the KSI is used to customize the on-screen keyboard to the size and spacing of the user's fingers.
• the KSI may change from one home-row definition event to the next, even for the same user.
• all four fingers of each hand are resting on the touch surface to initiate the home-row definition event.
• the KSI is given by the following formula:
• KSI Average RestingKey Spacing
• A a modeled nominal distance between keys (typically 19mm)
• the KSI formula can be adjusted accordingly if fewer than four resting fingers are used to initiate a home-row definition event (as defined in a set of user preferences stored in a database). The KSI is used in subsequent processes.
• a data model for a standard onscreen keyboard is stored in memory of the system.
• the onscreen keyboard layout is divided into two sections: keys normally typed with the right hand, and keys normally typed with the left hand.
• each key is related to the home-row resting key that is rested upon by the finger that is most likely to type that particular key (defined as the "related resting key").
• the location of each key is defined in the data model as a relative measurement from its related resting key.
• the modified key positions of two or more keys may overlap. If that is the case, the size of the overlapping keys is reduced until the overlap is eliminated.
• the orientation of the X-Y axis is determined separately for each resting key. For each of the left and right sectors, a curve is fit to the resting keys in that sector. The X-Y axis for each key is then oriented to be the tangent (for the x-axis) and orthogonal-tangent (for the y-axis) to the curve at the center of that key.
• FIGURE 2C shows the assigning key locations process 212.
• the process 212 is repeated for each key of the keyboard.
• a prestored location for each key is retrieved from the database 181, relative to its associated resting key position in the form [RestingKey, ⁇ , Ay].
• the key representing the letter "R” is associated with the resting key LI (typically the letter "F"), and is positioned up and to the left of LI .
• its data set would be [LI, -5, 19] (as measured in millimeters).
• Similar data is retrieved for each key from the database 181.
• a new relative offset is calculated for each key by multiplying the offset retrieved from the database by the KSI.
• the absolute coordinates of each key is then determined by adding the new offset to the absolute location of the associated resting key as determined at block 254.
• the process 212 tests to see if any keys are overlapping, and if so, their size and location are adjusted at block 262 to eliminate any overlap. Then the process 212 returns to the process 200.
• FIGURE 2D shows the process-key actuations process 216, whereby the actual key events are determined and output.
• the process 216 begins at decision block 270 that tests if a valid touch-tap event has occurred. This is determined through a correlation between the touch sensor(s) 120 and vibration sensor(s) 130 as explained more fully in Marsden et al., U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 2009/0073128.
• Candidate keys are scored by applying a key scoring algorithm at block 272. The key with the highest score is then output at block 274 and the process 216 returns.
• FIGURE 2E shows a process for the key scoring algorithm from block 272 of FIGURE 2D.
• signals received by the touch sensors 120 and the vibration sensors 130 are correlated to determine where the user's tap took place and defines keys in the immediate vicinity as "candidate keys".
• the processor 110 accounts for ambiguity in the user's typing style.
• the process 272 tests to see if the user moved their finger from a resting key to type. Note that in typical typing styles, even a 10-fmger touch typist will not constantly rest all four fingers at all times.
• a change in a resting key takes place in order for a valid key to be typed on.
• useful information can be obtained from such change as explained at block 284.
• a virtual line is calculated between the resting key in the vicinity of the tap for which a state change was detected, and the location of the tap, as calculated at block 280. The virtual line extends beyond the tap location.
• keys that the projected line passes through or by are determined and the processor 110 increases the score of those keys accordingly.
• the processor 110 takes into account the preceding words and characters that were typed as compared with linguistical data stored in data memory 181. This includes commonly known disambiguation methods such as: letter-pair statistical frequencies, partial-match prediction, inter-word prediction, and intra-word prediction. Appropriate scoring is assigned to each candidate key.
• the candidate key with the highest score representing the highest calculated probability of the user's intended selection is determined and the process 272 returns.
• FIGURE 2F shows the drift detection process 218 for accommodating when the user inadvertently moves their hands (or “drifting") as they type.
• the process 218, at block 300 compares the actual tap location with the current center of the displayed intended key, and stores the difference in the X and Y coordinates as ⁇ and ⁇ . These differences are added to a previous cumulative total from previous keystrokes at block 302.
• the processor 110 tests if the cumulative difference in either direction exceeds a prestored variable called "DriftThreshold" (as defined from user preference or default data stored in data memory 182).
• the processor 110 moves the location of the entire keyboard in block 308 by the average of allAX s and AYs since the last location definition event. If the cumulative differences do not exceed the DriftThreshold for the entire keyboard, then a similar calculation for the individual selected key is performed at block 316. At decision block 318, the processor 110 tests if the cumulative differences for that individual key exceeds the user-defined key threshold after block 316 and, if so, adjusts its location at block 320.
• the key threshold is the permissible amount of error in the location of the tap as compared to the current location of the associated key. When key threshold has been exceeded, the associated key will be moved.
• the processor 110 tests if any of the new positions overlap with any other keys and if the overall keyboard is still within the boundaries of the touch sensors. If there are any conflicts for either test, they are corrected with a "best fit" algorithm in block 312 and then exits. Also, if no conflicts are found, the process 218 returns.
• the onscreen keyboard can remain visible continuously while typing is taking place.
• the onscreen keyboard becomes transparent after the home -row definition event.
• the onscreen keyboard becomes semitransparent so-as to allow the user to see through the keyboard to content on the screen below.
• the keyboard is set to be invisible
• other content may be displayed on the full screen.
• the device 100 intercepts the user's input directed toward such an element and causes the onscreen keyboard to become visible, reminding the user that it is indeed present. The user may then elect to "put away” the keyboard by pressing a corresponding key on the keyboard. Note that putting away the keyboard is not the same as making it invisible. Putting away the keyboard means to "minimize” it off the screen altogether, as is a common practice on touchscreen devices.
• the onscreen keyboard cycles between visible and invisible as the user types. Each time the user taps on the "hidden” onscreen keyboard, the onscreen keyboard temporarily appears and then fades away after a user-settable amount of time.
• the onscreen keyboard becomes temporarily visible when the user, with fingers resting in the home -row position, presses down on the surface with their resting fingers based on changes sensed by the touch sensors 120.
• the onscreen keyboard becomes visible when the user performs a predefined action on the edge of the enclosure outside of the touch sensor area, such as a double- or triple -tap.
• the onscreen keyboard if set to appear, will typically do so when a text-insertion condition exists (as indicated by the operating system 171), commonly represented visually by an insertion carat (or similar indicator).
• the tactile markers commonly used on the F and J home -row keys are simulated by providing haptic feedback (such as a vibration induced on the touchscreen) when the user positions their fingers to rest on those keys.
• haptic feedback such as a vibration induced on the touchscreen
• This "disambiguation" is different from other methods used for other text input systems because in the present invention a permanent decision about the desired key must be made on the fly. There is no end-of-word delineation from which word choices can be displayed to the user and the output modified. Instead, each time the user taps on a key, a decision must be made and a key actuation must be sent to a target application program (i.e., text entry program).
• a target application program i.e., text entry program
• Prediction by Partial Match A well-known algorithm originally invented for data compression useful in this case is prediction by partial match (or PPM). Applied to a keyboard, the PPM algorithm is used to predict the most likely next character, given a string of characters that has already occurred (of length k). Computing time and resources grow exponential with the value of k. Therefore, it is best to use the lowest value of k that still yields acceptable disambiguation results.
• the statistical model is built up for each language (although with a small value for k); the table may be similar for languages with common roots.
• the model also dynamically updates as the user enters text. In this way, the system learns the users typing patterns and more accurately predicts them as time goes on.
• Language variants are provided in the form of language-specific dictionaries configured through an operating system control panel.
• the control panel identifies the current user's language from the system locale and selects the appropriate prediction dictionary.
• the dictionary is queried using a continuously running "systray" application that also provides new word identification and common word usage scoring.
• a database made up of commonly used words in a language is used to disambiguate intended key actuations.
• the algorithm simply compares the letters typed thus far with a word database, and then predicts the most likely next letter based on matches in the database.
• word prediction algorithm is different from that traditionally used for onscreen keyboards, because it is not truly a word prediction system at all: it is a letter prediction system that uses a word database.
• word pairs are used to further disambiguate the most likely selected key. With simple word prediction, there is no context to disambiguate the first letter of the current word; it is completely ambiguous. (This disambiguation is reduced slightly for the second letter of the word, and so on for the remainder of the word.) The ambiguous nature of the first few letters of a word can be significantly reduced by taking into account the word that was entered immediately previous to the current word; this is called "next- word prediction".
• next-word prediction algorithm can help disambiguate (in this case, "K" would win).
• a notable difference between the letter-by-letter prediction system described herein and a word-based prediction system is the ability to dynamically reorient the prediction for each letter. For example, if a guess is wrong for a specific key and the desired word subsequently becomes clear, the algorithm abandons the choice it made for the incorrect letter and applies predictions for the remaining letters, based on the newly determined target word.
• the user ambiguously enters a key in the middle of the keyboard and the scoring algorithm indicates that potential candidates are "H”, "J", and "N”; the scores for those three letter fall into the acceptable range and the best score is taken.
• the algorithm returns the letter "J” as the most likely candidate and so that is what the keyboard outputs.
• the user unambiguously types a ⁇ backspace> and then an "H", thus correcting the error.
• a user-settable option could allow the keyboard to issue backspaces and new letters to correct a word that was obviously wrong.
• the keyboard would issue backspaces, change the "b” to an "h”, reissue the subsequent letters (and possibly even complete the word).
• FIGURE 3 A shows a schematic view representative of a typical handheld tablet computer 350 that incorporates on its forward-facing surface a touch-sensitive display 352 and a keyboard 354 designed and used in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
• the keyboard 354 when used in accordance with the present invention, generates text that is output to the text display region 358 at a text insertion location 360.
• the term "keyboard” in this application refers to any keyboard that is implemented on a touch- and tap-sensitive surface, including a keyboard presented on a touch-sensitive display.
• the keyboard 354 shows the letters of the alphabet of the respective language selected by the user on individual keys, arranged in approximately the standard "QWERTY" arrangement found on most keyboards.
• the orientation, location, and size of the keyboard are adaptively changed according to the input behavior of the user.
• the system moves the keyboard 354 to the location determined by the resting fingers.
• they "tap" on the desired key by lifting their finger and striking the surface 352 with discernable force.
• User taps that occur on areas 362, 364 outside of the touch sensor area 352 are detected by the vibration sensor(s) and may also be assigned to keyboard functions, such as the space bar.
• the absence of a touch sensor signal is in effect, a signal with a value of zero, and when correlated with a tap (or vibration) sensor can be used to uniquely identify a tap location.
• the vibration signal for specific regions outside of the touch sensor area 352, such as those indicated at areas 362, 364, are unique and stored in a database by the system.
• the system compares the vibration characteristics of the tap with those stored in the database to determine the location of the external tap.
• the lower outer boundary area 362 is assigned to a space function, while the right outer boundary area 364 is assigned to a backspace function.
• FIGURE 3B is a schematic view representative of an exemplary virtual on-screen keyboard 370.
• the keyboard 370 is divided into two halves: a left half 372 and a right half 374 (as correlates to the left and right hands of the user).
• the two separate halves 372, 374 are not aligned with each other.
• the eight keys 378 that are typically rested on by the user are labeled in bold according to which finger is typically used for that key (e.g., LI represents the index finger of the left hand, L4 represents the little finger of the left hand, and so on). All other nonhome-row keys are indicated by a label showing which finger is normally used to type that key using conventional touch-typing techniques. It should be noted, however, that there are many typing styles that do not use the finger placements as shown in FIGURE 3B, and those labels are included herein for illustrative purposes only.
• the left half of the keyboard 372 shows all the keys aligned in horizontal rows, as they would be on a traditional electromechanical keyboard.
• the home -row keys are dispersed along an arc to better fit the normal resting position of the user's four fingers.
• Nonhome-row keys are similarly dispersed in accordance with their relative location to the home -row resting keys.
• the size of each key may also vary in accordance with the statistical likelihood that the user will select that key (the higher the likelihood, the larger the key).
• FIGURE 3C is a schematic view representative of the virtual on-screen keyboard 384 that is oriented at an angle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
• the user may rest their hands 390 on the touch- sensitive surface 392 of a typical handheld tablet computer 394 at any location and orientation that they wish. In this case, the hands are spread apart further than normal and oriented at an angle as referenced to the straight edges of the device 394.
• the user initiates an action indicating a "home-row definition event", which, may include, but is not limited to, the following: resting all eight fingers for a short, user-definable period of time; double- tapping all eight fingers simultaneously on the surface 392 and then resting them on the surface 392; or pressing down all eight fingers simultaneously as they are resting on the surface 392.
• not all eight fingers are required to initiate a home-row definition event. For example, if someone was missing their middle finger, a home-row definition event may be initiated by only three fingers on that hand.
• the user has rested their hands 290 at an angle on the tablet computer 394, thus causing a processor of the computer 294 to generate and display the virtual on-screen keyboard 384 at an angle.

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• Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)
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• 2011
  • 2011-11-30 EP EP11844775.4A patent/EP2646894A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2011-11-30 CN CN201610489534.4A patent/CN106201324B/zh active Active
  • 2011-11-30 JP JP2013542153A patent/JP5782133B2/ja active Active
  • 2011-11-30 EP EP11844754.9A patent/EP2646893A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2011-11-30 WO PCT/US2011/062721 patent/WO2012075197A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2011-11-30 CN CN201180064220.5A patent/CN103443744B/zh active Active
  • 2011-11-30 WO PCT/US2011/062723 patent/WO2012075199A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2011-11-30 KR KR1020137016964A patent/KR101578769B1/ko active Active
• 2015
  • 2015-07-16 JP JP2015142348A patent/JP6208718B2/ja active Active

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