US6094197A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Graphical keyboard
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1995-05-17
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Granted: 2000-07-25
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Expires: 2015-05-17
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for a graphical keyboard that benefits from the expressive power and intuitive ease of use associated with pen strokes and gestures, yet does not require complex character-recognition software. The graphical keyboard responds differently to different kinds of pen strokes. For example, lowercase "a" is entered by tapping a stylus on the "a" key of the graphical keyboard. Uppercase "A" is entered by an upward stroke initiated over the "a" key. Likewise, by stroking in other directions, a user can express other modifiers to the basic character, such as "control", "alt", "command," etc. Also, strokes in distinct directions can be used to express space, backspace, delete, and return characters, for example. Multiple strokes can be applied in sequence to a single key to express multiple modifiers. Visual feedback of pen strokes can be provided in the form of marks made by the pen. Pop-up menus can be used to provide help with and to facilitate memorization of command strokes and stroke sequences. The graphical keyboard thus lets the expert user proceed by "feel," and prompts the novice user when and as necessary.
Inventors
- 👤 William A. S. Buxton
- 👤 Gordon P. Kurtenbach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:36
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0488; G06F3/04883; G06F3/0481; G06F3/0482; G06F3/04886; G06V; G06V30/00; G06V30/10; G06V30/14; G06V30/142; G06V30/1423; G06F2203/00; G06F2203/048; G06F2203/04807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A user interface apparatus for a computing system, said apparatus comprising: a display device displaying a graphical keyboard image; an input source comprising a designating device, said input source providing an input comprising key information and path information, said key information representing a key of said graphical keyboard image, said path information representing a series of points designated by said designating device, wherein said path information comprises a direction of displacement of said designating device; an output generator, responsive to said key information and said path information provided by said input source, for producing a keycode data defing an output character by applying a modifier corresponding to said path information to an input character corresponding to said key information, with said modifier being determined according to said direction of displacement; and a buffer, wherein said keycode data produced by said output generator is stored in said buffer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A user interface apparatus for a computing system, said apparatus comprising: a display device displaying a graphical keyboard image; an input source comprising a designating device, said input source providing an input comprising key information and path information, said key information representing a key of said graphical keyboard image, said path information representing a series of points designated by said designating device, wherein said path information comprises a direction of displacement of said designating device; an output generator, responsive to said key information and said path information provided by said input source, for producing a keycode data defing an output character by applying a modifier corresponding to said path information to an input character corresponding to said key information, with said modifier being determined according to said direction of displacement; and a buffer, wherein said keycode data produced by said output generator is stored in said buffer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said graphical keyboard image comprises a representation of a plurality of characters; and said key information provided by said input source comprises a character to which said key corresponds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input source further comprises a sensor responsive to a plurality of positions of said designating device, said sensor providing said input source with position information about said designating device during a manipulation of said designating device, said position information determining said points of said series.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said sensor is integrated with said display device and said positions of said plurality include positions in a vicinity of said displayed graphical keyboard image throughout a substantial portion of said manipulation of said designating device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said designating device comprises a pointing device selected from the group consisting of a pen, a light pen, a stylus, a pencil, a pointer, a mouse, a trackball, a joystick, or a finger.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said designating device comprises a cursor displayed by said display device, said cursor providing a representation of a position of a plurality of positions, a displacement of said cursor determining said points of said series.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said modifier is selected from the group consisting of shift, uppercase, control, alt, option, and command.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said keycode data corresponds to said path information and is independent of said key information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said keycode data is a special character selected from the group consisting of return, space, backspace, and delete.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input source provides said key information according to a position of said designating device relative to said graphical keyboard image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input source provides said key information according to one point of said series.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said one point is a starting point of said series.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said display device further displays a representation of said path information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said representation of said path information comprises a mark corresponding to said path information, said mark being displayed in conjunction with said graphical keyboard image.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said representation of said path information comprises an ink trail corresponding to said series of points displayed in the vicinity of said graphical keyboard image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said representation of said path information comprises a menu displayed in conjunction with said graphical keyboard image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
140 words
In a computing system comprising a processor, a sensor, a display, and a buffer, a method for using a graphical keyboard to produce and store a keycode data, said method comprising the steps of: displaying on said display a graphical keyboard image; sensing with said sensor a motion of a pen device relative to said sensor, said pen device being maintained proximate to said sensor throughout a substantial portion of said motion; using said processor to generate said keycode data responsively to said motion by determinant an unmodified character according to an initial position of said pen device at a starting point of said motion, determining a modifier according to a path taken by said pen device during said motion, and applying said modifier to said unmodified character; and receiving and storing in said buffer said keycode data thus generated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
140 words
In a computing system comprising a processor, a sensor, a display, and a buffer, a method for using a graphical keyboard to produce and store a keycode data, said method comprising the steps of: displaying on said display a graphical keyboard image; sensing with said sensor a motion of a pen device relative to said sensor, said pen device being maintained proximate to said sensor throughout a substantial portion of said motion; using said processor to generate said keycode data responsively to said motion by determinant an unmodified character according to an initial position of said pen device at a starting point of said motion, determining a modifier according to a path taken by said pen device during said motion, and applying said modifier to said unmodified character; and receiving and storing in said buffer said keycode data thus generated.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said step of using said processor to generate said keycode data comprises the step of: determining a special character according to a path taken by said pen device during said motion and independently of an initial position of said pen device at a starting point of said motion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-07-25 | 2004-01-24 | 2004-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-25 | 2008-01-24 | 2008-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-25 | 2012-01-24 | 2012-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |