Method and apparatus for efficient data input

摘要

Visual and/or audible cues are used to assist users with data input on keyboards having keys associated with multiple input symbols or functions. Each input symbol or function has a correspondence to an input object, such as a finger. During key actuation, one or more input objects are detected. Candidate input symbols or functions are determined based on identification of the key being actuated. The candidate input symbols or functions are presented to the user in the form of cues having visual and/or audible features. The detected input objects may be optionally identified and presented to the user in the form of cues having visual and/or audible features as well.

主权项

1. A data entry device having at least one output unit and a virtual input unit having a plurality of virtual key regions on a surface having no mechanical or touch-sensitive key structures, the device configured to:
associate a group of symbols or a group of functions with each of a single virtual key region from the plurality of virtual key regions; define a group of unique input objects with each unique input object having a defining feature that differentiates it from the other unique input objects in the group; assign to each of the single symbols from the group of symbols or each of the single functions from the group of functions associated with each of the virtual key regions a unique input object from the group of unique input objects; an optical sensor to identify a virtual key region about to be actuated by an input object to define a candidate key region; identify and detect with the optical sensor the most probable input object from the group of unique input objects about to actuate the candidate key region; determine the most probable symbol or function based on the identity of the most probable input object and the candidate key region; display via the output unit the group of symbols, or a representation of the group of functions, associated with the candidate key region; apply a visually-perceptible emphasis to the most probable symbol or function to differentiate it from the other symbols or functions in their respective groups; display via the output unit a visually-perceptible representation of the group of input objects; and apply a visually-perceptible emphasis to the visually-perceptible representation of the most likely input object to differentiate it from the visually-perceptible representations of other input objects in the group of input objects.