The present invention relates generally to inputting character information from a circular input device.
Electronic equipment, e.g., MP3 players and wireless communication telephones, are becoming smaller with additional user capability. Consequently, a user may need to enter more data into the electronic equipment having a small input entry device. A popular input device a circular input device that is often used with musical playing instruments.
Because of the need to input greater amounts of data into smaller electronic equipment, there is a real need in the marketplace to enter alphabetical and numerical character through a circular input device.
The present invention provides methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for inputting character information from a circular input device. Character information is provided by a user drawing at least one input stroke on the circular input device.
With one aspect of the invention, a circular input device is partitioned into a plurality of regions, where each region is associated with a numerical value. A user draws an input stroke by traversing at least one region of the circular input device. When an input stroke is detected, corresponding numerical values are obtained. When a code is obtained from the sequence, a character is extracted from the code.
With another aspect of the invention, character strokes are obtained from at least one input stroke from a circular input device. A character, e.g., a Chinese character, contains a plurality of character strokes.
With another aspect of the invention, different operational modes may be selected by a user pressing a predefined location of a circular input device. With embodiments of the invention, a user may enter either English characters or Chinese characters through a circular input device.
With another aspect of the invention, a circular input device is partitioned into at least four regions, where the first, second, third, and fourth regions are associated with first, second, third, and fourth numerical values, respectively.
With another aspect of the invention, a region of a circular input is associated with a center portion of the circular input device. A corresponding numerical value is recognized when a user presses a center input touch pad.
With another aspect of the invention, an error condition may be detected if an inputted code is not a valid code.
With another aspect of the invention, a time pause is detected between input strokes if a sufficiently large time duration occurs between the input strokes. The time pause may be included when determining an entered code.
With another aspect of the invention, a code may be reduced if a sequence contains redundant information. In such a case, the number of members in the sequence may be reduced while preserving the uniqueness of the code.
The foregoing summary of the invention, as well as the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are included by way of example, and not by way of limitation with regard to the claimed invention.
The following is separated by subheadings for the benefit of the reader. The subheadings include: Terms, Architecture of Platform, Exemplary Circular Input Device, Mapping between Characters and Codes, Processing of Input Strokes.
Input stroke—a contiguous (uninterrupted) curve drawn on the circular input device.
Character stroke—a portion of a character. A character comprises a collection of lines and curves.
Alphabetical character—a symbol used in a writing system for a language. A character represents a sound or a thing and may be phonetic, ideographic, or pictographic.
Numerical character—symbol that represents a number.
Embodiments of the invention enable a user to input alphabetical characters (e.g., contained in the English language) into a device that interfaces with a circular input device.
The captured information from circular input device 101 appears a set of numerical values (a code), which processor 103 uses to convert to a character. In an embodiment of the invention, memory 105 contains a lookup table that maps a code to a corresponding character. A character may be an alphabetical character or a numerical character. Moreover, a code may be mapped to a character stroke, for example as will be discussed with
One of the embodiment of the circular input device should make with small extrusion line for four quadrants to help ease of reference by end user.
In the user scenario shown in
While a direction is associated with an input stroke, embodiments of the invention may support a collection of codes that is invariant to the direction of the input strokes. For example, a collection of codes may be specified so that a valid sequence in a different order is not a valid sequence.
In an embodiment of the invention, circular input device 101 may be further partitioned to specify central touch input key 205. The user enters a numerical value of “0” into the numerical sequence when the user presses central touch input key 205. An exemplary embodiment is shown in
With user scenario 353, the user draws input stroke 305, which is interpreted as sequence 363 {1, 4, 3}. Sequence 363 is the code for alphabetical character “I”. With user scenario 355, the user draws input stroke 307, which is interpreted as sequence 365 {2}. Sequence 365 is the code for numerical character “1”. With user scenario 357, the user draws input stroke 309 followed by input stroke 311, which is interpreted as sequence 367 {1, 4, 3, 3}. Sequence 367 is the code for numerical code “2”. Because strokes 309 and 311 are closely drawn together, no time pause is detected.
With user scenario 451, a user draws stroke 401 followed by stroke 403 on circular input device 101. Processor 103 interprets the sequence as {1 or 3}, which corresponds to a horizontal line character stroke. With user scenario 453, the user draws stroke 405 followed by stroke 407 on circular input device 101. Processor 103 interprets the sequence as {2 or 4}, which corresponds to a vertical line character stroke. With user scenario 455, the user draws stroke 409 followed by stroke 411 on circular input device 101. Processor 103 interprets the sequence as {12 or 43}, which corresponds to a slanted line character stroke. With user scenario 457, the user draws stroke 413 followed by stroke 415 on circular input device 101. Processor 103 interprets the sequence as {14 or 23}, which corresponds to a dot character stroke. With user scenario 459, the user draws stroke 417 followed by stroke 419 on circular input device 101. Processor 103 interprets the sequence as {123 or 143}, which corresponds to a corner character stroke.
Each input stroke forms a unique code that is recognized by processor 103. Codes for alphabetical characters and numerical characters are unique, and thus no selection is needed. For Chinese character input, some of the stroke codes are the same as English. Furthermore, unlike English characters, Chinese characters are formed by multiple input codes. Thus, the apparatus 100 supports entry of both English and Chinese characters by a selection mechanism as previously discussed. To activate the upper case mode, lower case mode, or Chinese entry mode, the user presses predefined locations of circular input device 101 for a sufficient time duration. For example, when the user presses the left side of circular input device 101 for 2 seconds, the circular input device 101 enters into mode upper case and Chinese entry mode. When the user presses the right side of circular input device 101 for 2 seconds, circular input device 101 enters into the lower case mode.
Embodiments of the invention support a circular input device, in which different languages may be supported. For example, English and Chinese may be supported by a user selecting an appropriate ode. Moreover, other languages may be supported, including different Indo-European languages.
With user scenario 651, the user draws input strokes 601 and 603 and then presses center input touch pad 605. When the user presses center input touch pad 605, processor 103 translates the action by inserting a “0” into the corresponding sequence. Consequently, processor 103 translates user scenario 651 as sequence {12_14_0}, which is the code for character “A” as shown in Table 700 (
With user scenario 653, the user draws input stroke 607, presses center input touch pad 609, and then draws input stroke 611. Processor 103 translates user scenario 653 as sequence {1_0_3 }, which is the code for character “A” as shown in Table 700 (
User scenarios 655 and 657 are similar to user scenarios 355 and 357 (as shown in
A user draws input stroke 901b to enter horizontal character stroke 901a. The user then draws input stroke 903b to enter slanted downward stroke 903a. The user subsequently draws input strokes 905b, 907b, 909b, and 911b to enter vertical stroke 905a, corner stroke 907a, horizontal stroke 909a, and horizontal stroke 911a. The six character strokes form the corresponding Chinese character.
While not shown in flow diagram 1000, processor 103 may determine that an error condition has occurred, e.g., an undefined code has been detected. In such a case, processor 103 may take corrective actions such as deleting the obtained sequence and resetting circular input device.
Flow diagram 1000 may be extended for obtaining input strokes through circular input device 101 and determining character strokes (e.g. Chinese character strokes when in Chinese entry mode) in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. When in the Chinese entry mode, processor 103 detects at least one input stroke from circular input device 101 and obtains the corresponding numerical values (forming a sequence). Processor 103 determines the corresponding to a character stroke (e.g., a vertical line) and determines whether a character is specified by the obtained character strokes (e.g. character strokes 901a-911a as shown in
As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, a computer system with an associated computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling the computer system can be utilized to implement the exemplary embodiments that are disclosed herein. The computer system may include at least one computer such as a microprocessor, digital signal processor, and associated peripheral electronic circuitry.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.