GB2490321A

GB2490321A - Five-key touch screen keyboard

Info

Publication number: GB2490321A
Application number: GB1106701.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michal Barnaba Kubacki
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-04-20
Filing date: 2011-04-20
Publication date: 2012-10-31
Also published as: GB201106701D0; GB2490321A9

Abstract

A five-key, touch screen keyboard for typing alphanumeric and other characters and issuing commands in response to user input of single or multiple strokes on the designated screen areas or through slides between these areas. The combinations of strokes on, or slides between, areas is translated to characters according to a schedule which can be predetermined or set by the user. The arrangement of the keys on the screen can be predetermined or set by the user. The combinations of key inputs must be entered within a predetermined time-frame. A mechanical equivalent is also envisaged (see figure 4).

Description

DESCRIPTION Title

Five-key touch screen keyboard.

Field of invention

This invention relates to information inputting devices, and more specifically -to touch screen keyboards for use in electronic equipment, mainly of the portable nature. The principles behind the invention can also be applied for facilitating transmission of alphanumeric and other characters or commands by means other than a touch screen: through sound, light, gestures or movement.

Background of the invention

The miniaturization of personal computers and increasing complexity of mobile phones have both resulted in a large number of devices (such as PDAs, smartphones and tablets), which -whilst offering the opportunity to work with text -are no longer equipped with physical keyboards.

Paradoxically, the above-mentioned equipment is better than ever prepared to support a plethora of applications which are conducive to written communication and heavily rely on written commands, but at the same time -offers only limited options to facilitate effective typing.

In the case of those portable electronic devices which still come equipped with sufficiently large, non-touch screen keyboards -and assuming some level of users' manual dexterity -correct text can usually be input relatively quickly.

Touch screen operated equipment on the other hand consistently lacks precise and swift solutions for typing. Its manufacturers continue with attempts to either emulate physical

I

keyboards (most frequently: QWERTY), or to reduce the size of keyboards being displayed on screen by assigning more than one character to each screen area mirroring a mechanical key (a solution well known from non-touch screen mobile phones).

Such efforts demonstrate in essence a struggle between the aspiration for ever-smaller, highly advanced electronics and practical ities of communication with (and through) such miniaturized devices.

The flaws of the two approaches just described -exact or re-engineered touch screen emulations of mechanical keyboards -include lack of precision and reduced typing speeds, as well as significantly restricted screen area: every time such keyboards are used, they take up a significant portion of the screen. What is more, dictionaries often used alongside to support the input of text (by using the initial letters typed in to suggest words), are prone to incorrectly recognizing the intentions of their users.

Solutions for reducing the size of traditional, non-touch screen keyboards have mainly revolved around the concept of so-called chord keyboards (USPTO patents 4.042.777, 4.360.892, 4.442.506, 4.443.789 and 4.791.408), which work using a cut-down number of keys.

Any characters beyond those assigned to the reduced number of primary keys are input by pressing two or more keys simultaneously, in combinations (chords), eg key no. I + key no. 2 for character "x". This of course demands a significant user effort necessary for memorizing the different chords. In addition, such systems have a reduced capacity for conveying characters or commands, due to limited number of the available chords. They also have to be produced in right-and left-handed variants.

Touch screen versions of the chord-keyboard concept are marked by all the flaws listed above. What is more, electronic displays are rarely large enough to offer the space necessary to comfortably accommodate all fingers required to simultaneously press touch screen equivalents of the mechanical keys.

Statement of invention

To overcome the above problems, the present invention proposes a touch screen-based system of five keys.

Touching the five keys (through single or multiple strokes of the same key or through slides between them), is treated as a separate combination and translated into alphanumeric and other characters or commands. This can be summarized as: Input (strokes and slides) Combinations (which are set to be recognized) Output (characters and commands) The process of translation from each combination into characters or commands is based on an underlying schedule (example included below, figure 1). Combinations are separated by short pauses (the length of which is pre-determined by the product developer and can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user).

Single key being struck once, Combination or more than once (where the same letters are repeated) / Character number Slides between keys typed (starting from the first letter in the sequence and ending on the last one) 1 E e 2 T t 3 A a 4 0 o I (space) 6 EE 7 ET n 8 EA d 9 EQ u El w 11 TE f 12 TT 13 TA s 14 TO TI m 16 AE b 17 AT g 18 AA z 19 AO h Al c 21 OE 22 OT v 23 OA Y 24 00 01 r 26 IE q 27 IT x 28 IA k 29 10 p

II

31 EEE (delete) 32 ETE (enter) 33 ETA (shift) Figure 1: a sample compilation of the first thirty-three combinations, where * keyno. 1 is referred to using the letter"E" * key no. 2 is referred to using the letter "T" * key no. 3 is referred to using the letter "A" * key no. 4 is referred to using the letter 0" * key no. 5 is referred to using the letter "I" The content of the schedule can be altered in different ways. Firstly, in how the five primary keys are referred to (in the example above using the letters: E, T, A, 0 and I). Secondly, in which strokes and slides constitute combinations translatable into characters and commands (later referred to as "meaningful" combinations; these can be made of single strokes). Thirdly, in what characters, numbers, symbols or commands result from the input of combinations agreed to be detectable as meaningful. All of these variables can potentially be designed to come with an option of being altered by the user.

The underlying, unchangeable principle is that the keyboard always relies on only five keys to produce different combinations translatable into alphanumeric and other characters or commands.

Facilitating the idea of multiple strokes of the same key and slides between different keys to produce combinations means the keyboard carries a significant capacity for conveying different characters, numbers, symbols and commands: * 5 alphanumeric and other characters or commands can be produced through inputting combinations via single stokes * additional 25 alphanumeric and other characters or commands can be produced through inputting combinations via two strokes of the same key or slides between two keys * further 125 alphanumeric and other characters or commands can be produced through inputting combinations by using three strokes of the same key or through slides encompassing three keys.

The capacity of the keyboard can be expanded further by adding more strokes of the same key or extending slides by additional keys to input combinations resulting in alphanumeric characters and commands: to four for extra 625, to five for extra 3125, etc. This is largely thanks to the fact that slides between the same keys, but in a reversed direction, result in combinations translated into different characters and commands.

The above means that written communication using standard English alphabet requires the use of just single and double strokes of the same key, and slides between just two keys.

Characters or commands resulting from combinations input through strokes and slides can represent many types of alphabets or systems of commands. These could include the Latin or Cyrillic alphabet, logographic script based on Chinese characters or a system of commands for controlling the device itself or other, dependant devices. Users may be potentially given an option of being able to switch between such alphabets or systems of commands.

The reduction of keys to only five allows for freeing up a significant portion of the screen. It also means that the keys' location can be easily learnt by users. This location can be changeable, whilst the keys can carry an option of being made transparent once remembered, to further enhance the viewing experience. Positioning keys in different configurations in respect to each can serve increasing the speed of typing by shortening the distance to be covered through slides.

The five-key touch screen keyboard can be reproduced in a mechanical version, for example by placing five keys on the sides of a mobile phone. The equivalent of slides would be in such case striking multiple keys in a given order and within a set timeframe (both determined by the product developer and potentially designed to come with an option of being altered by the user).

DnAWINP. KEY Figure 1 (in its three variants, "start", "mid" and "end"), shows a five-key touch screen keyboard where the screen areqs, being the equivalent of mechanical keys, are placed vertically, Figure 2 & 3 shows a five-key touch screen keyboard where the screen areas, being the equivalent of mechanical keys, are placed, respectively, in the form of a crdss and pentagon, to minimise the distance between each of them, Figure 4 shows a non-touch screen version of the five-key touch screen keyboard, where the five primary screen areas are represented by mechanical keys.

In aH variants of figure 1, the five areas of the screen indicated are (similarly to figures 2 and

I

3) the touch screefl equivalents of mechanical keys. They are referred to as "keys", carrying numbers from 1 (top key) to 5 (bottom key). I. * S Sn

Variqus alphanumeric characters (referred to as "characters") are recalled by single strokes, eg key no. 1 (pointed at in figUre 1, position "start") is struck once for a combination translated 4 45.,,,, * into a.

Characters are also recalled by using slides, eg slide beginning on key no. 1 (pointed at in figure 1, position "start") and ending on key no. 2 (pointed at in figure 1, pos)tion "mid"), for a combination translated into "x".

Slides in reversed order are used for recalling additional characters, eg slide beginning on key no. 2 (pointed at in figure 1, position mid") to key no I (pointed at in figure 1, position "start") for a combination translated into "y".

individual keys maybe struck multiple times, eg key no; 1 (pointed at in figure 1, position "start") struck three times for a combination translated into b".

Slides can be separated by other keys, eg slide beginning on key no. I (pointed at in figure 1 position "start') through key no. 2 (pointed at in figure 1 position "mid") finishing on key no. 3 (pointed at in figure 1 position "end") for a combination translated into "1".

Single and multiple strokes, as well as slides, can also be used for producing combinations tSnslated into commands, eq three strokes of key no. 2 (pointed at in figure I position "mid") for a combination translated to "ENTER", or three strokes of key no. 3 (pointed at in in figure 1 position "end") for a combination translated to "delete". S. S * 50 * 00

*fl.*. * C S. * * *00

S S..

U -

* * 0 -so U

Claims

CLAIMS1. A touch screen keyboard consisting of five screen areas serving as keys and detecting user's touch to produce combinations translated (using a set schedule) into the output of characters, numbers, symbols or commands and where said combinations are produced by striking of a single key or through slides encompassing two or more keys.
2. A set schedule according to claim 1, specifying strokes and slides constituting meaningful combinations and characters, numbers, symbols or commands into which these combinations are translated.
3. Meaningful combinations according to claim 2, which are determined by the product developer, but can potentially come with an option of being defined and altered by the user.
4. A set schedule according to claim 1, where what results from meaningful combinations is determined by the product developer, but can come with an option of being altered by the user and changed on character by character, symbol by symbol, number by number and command by command basis or on an alphabet to alphabet, symbols' group to symbols' group, numbers' group to numbers' group or commands' group to commands' group basis.
5. Striking a single key according to claim 1, which can be performed once to produce combinations translated into characters, numbers, symbols or commands.
6. Striking a single key once according to claim 5, to produce combinations translated into characters, numbers, symbols or commands, which has to be separated by a pause (the length of which is determined by the product developer but can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user) from other strokes or slides.
7. Striking a single key according to claim 1, which can be repeated multiple times in a series to produce combinations translated into characters, numbers, symbols or commands.
8. Striking a single key multiple times in a series according to claim 7, where each individual stroke has to happen after the preceding one within a specific time-frame (determined by the product developer but which can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user), to produce combinations translated into characters, numbers, symbols or commands.
9. Striking a single key multiple times in a series according to claim 7, to produce combinations translated into characters, numbers, symbols or commands, which has to be separated by a pause (the length of which is determined by the product developer but can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user) from other strokes or slides.
10. Slides encompassing two or more keys according to claim 1, which can be between two keys positioned next to each other or between two keys which are separated by one or more than one key (therefore including these intermediate keys in the slide), to produce combinations translated into characters, numbers, symbols or commands.
11. Slides encompassing two or more keys according to claim 10, which have to be completed within a specific time-frame (determined by the product developer but which can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user), to produce combinations translated into characters, numbers, symbols or commands.
12. Slides encompassing two or more keys according to claim 10, which have to be separated by a pause (the length of which is determined by the product developer but can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user) from other strokes or slides.
13. A touch screen keyboard according to claim 1, where keys can be ordered in various layouts set by the product developer: vertically, horizontally, in a circle or in any other configuration that can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user.
14. A touch screen keyboard according to claim 1, which is designed to be displayed in a specific part of the screen; a position which can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user.
15. A touch screen keyboard according to claim 1, whose five keys can be visualized as various geometrical figures which shape is set by the product developer and can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user.
16. A touch screen keyboard according to claim 1, which can have its mechanical equivalent with five keys located on a device and where combinations later translated into various alphanumeric characters or commands are recalled by single strokes of the same key followed by a set pause, or series of strokes of the same key completed within a set time-frame and followed by a set pause, or pressing two or more keys to emulate touch screen slides in a set order and within a set time sequence followed by a set pause -all of these set parameters potentially assigned an option of being altered by the user.
17. A touch screen keyboard according to claim 1, where the touch screen is replaced by a camera pointing on a surface area programmed to be treated as separated into five parts, tapping of which and slides between which produce combinations translated into characters, numbers, symbols or commands.
18. A camera-reliant equivalent of the touch screen keyboard according to claim 17, where single and series of taps of the same surface part and slides encompassing two or more surface parts have to be completed within a specific time-frame (determined by the product developer but which can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user).
19. A camera-reliant equivalent of the touch screen keyboard according to claim 17, where single and series of taps of the same surface part and slides encompassing two or more surface parts have to be followed by a pause (the length of which is determined by the product developer but can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user), before making subsequent taps or slides to produce combinations translated into characters, numbers, symbols or commands.
20. A touch screen keyboard according to claim 1, where the touch screen is replaced by a system of five sounds and where combinations translated into characters, numbers, symbols or commands are produced by emitting single or multiple sounds of the same frequency to emulate single or multiple strokes of a single key, or series of sounds of varying frequencies to emulate slides between the primary five keys.
21. A sound-reliant equivalent of the touch screen keyboard according to claim 20, where single sounds and series consisting of sounds of the same or different frequencies have to be emitted within a specific timeframe (determined by the product developer but which can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user), to produce combinations translated into characters, numbers, symbols or commands.
22. A sound-reliant equivalent of the touch screen keyboard according to claim 20, where single sounds and series consisting of sounds of the same or different frequencies have to be followed by a pause (the length of which is determined by the product developer but can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user), before emitting subsequent sounds to produce combinations translated into characters, numbers, symbols or commands.
23. A sound-reliant equivalent of the touch screen keyboard according to claim 20, where the frequencies of sounds carrying information are determined by the product developer but can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user.
24. A touch screen keyboard according to claim 1, where the touch screen is replaced by the use of five gestures and where combinations translated into characters, numbers, symbols or commands are produced by making single or multiple gestures of the same type to emulate single or multiple strokes of a single key, or series of varying gestures to emulate slides between the primary five keys.
25. A gestures-reliant equivalent of the touch screen keyboard according to claim 24, where single gestures and series consisting of gestures of the same or different types have to be made within a specific time-frame (determined by the product developer but which can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user), to produce combinations translated into characters, numbers, symbols or commands.
26. A gestures-reliant equivalent of the touch screen keyboard according to claim 24, where single gestures and series consisting of gestures of the same or different types have to be followed by a pause (the length of which is determined by the product developer but can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user), before making subsequent gestures to produce combinations translated into characters, numbers, symbols or commands.
27. A gestures-reliant equivalent of the touch screen keyboard according to claim 24, where the gestures carrying information are determined by the product developer but can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user.
28. A touch screen keyboard according to claim 1, which can have its equivalent in the form of a device generating movement (eg vibrations) through five different channels (eg rubber bands), and where communication is sent from the device to its user by generating single or multiple movements transmitted through the same channel to emulate single or multiple strokes of a single key, or through combining movements transmitted through different channels into a series, to emulate slides between the primary five keys.
29. A mechanical, movement-generating equivalent of the touch screen keyboard according to claim 28, where single movements and series consisting of movements of the same or different types have to be made within a specific time-frame (determined by the product developer but which can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user), to produce combinations translated into characters, numbers, symbols or commands.
30. A mechanical, movement-generating equivalent of the touch screen keyboard according to claim 28, where single movements and series consisting of movements of the same or different type have to be followed by a pause (the length of which is determined by the product developer but can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user), before generating subsequent movements to produce combinations translated into characters, numbers, symbols or commands.
31. A mechanical, movement-generating equivalent of the touch screen keyboard according to claim 28, where the strength of movements carrying information is determined by the product developer but which can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user.
32. A touch screen keyboard according to claim 1, where the touch screen is replaced by a system of five lights and where combinations translated into characters, numbers, symbols or commands are produced by emitting single or multiple flashes of the same wavelength to emulate single or multiple strokes of a single key, or series of flashes of varying wavelengths to emulate slides between the primary five keys.
33. A light-system reliant equivalent of the touch screen keyboard according to claim 32, where single flashes of the same wavelength and series consisting of flashes of the same or different wavelengths have to be emitted within a specific time-frame (determined by the product developer but which can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user), to produce combinations translated into characters, numbers, symbols or commands.
34. A light-system reliant equivalent of the touch screen keyboard according to claim 32, where single flashes and series consisting of flashes of the same or different wavelengths have to be followed by a pause (the length of which is determined by the product developer but which can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user), before emitting subsequent flashes to produce combinations translated into characters, numbers, symbols or commands.
35. A light-system reliant equivalent of the touch screen keyboard according to claim 32, where the lengths of light waves carrying information are determined by the product developer but can potentially come with an option of being altered by the user.