Patent ID: 8421756
Filing Date: 2013-04-16
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method performed by a device having a touch panel, the method comprising: providing input keys for the device, each key having both a character from a right keyboard half of a known keyboard format and a character from a left keyboard half of the known keyboard format, wherein each of the input keys represents variable inputs; detecting a primary touch on a particular one of the keys of the device, wherein the primary touch is detected based on a first level of sensitivity of the touch panel; detecting on the touch panel a set of near-touch coordinates associated with the primary touch, wherein the near-touch coordinates are detected based on a second level of sensitivity of the touch panel, wherein the first level of sensitivity is different than the second level of sensitivity; identifying an approach orientation of the primary touch as one of a left-hand input or a right-hand input based on the location of the primary touch and the near-touch coordinates; generating a first command signal for one of the variable inputs of the particular one of the keys corresponding to the character from the right keyboard half when the approach orientation of the primary touch is identified as a right-hand input; generating a second command signal for another of the variable inputs of the particular one of the keys corresponding to the character from the left keyboard half when the approach orientation of the primary touch is identified as a left-hand input; and performing an action based on the first command signal or the second command signal.