Abstract:
A method of presenting keys of a touchscreen device, to facilitate correct actuation. Following depression of a key, the device determines likelihood of selection of a subsequent key. Keys determined to be more likely to be subsequently selected are visually enhanced. Enhancement may be by presenting the keys as relatively large relative to keys not so determined, by adjusting coloring, and introducing dynamic effects, among others. Also, keys surrounding keys determined to be likely to be subsequently selected may be visually enhanced. Visually enhanced surrounding keys may have enhanced brightness relative to keys not surrounding keys so determined. Keys may be further categorized in an intermediate category as being of equal likelihood rather than of relatively great or relatively unlikely subsequent selection. Visual presentation may intuitively reflect the three categories.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 USC 119(e) of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/111,891, filed Nov. 6, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to devices having touch screens and which are operated by actuating virtual keys displayed on the screen. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Electronic communications and data processing devices such as the iPhone (RTM) or HTC Diamond (RTM) and the like enjoy the benefits of miniaturization. The ability to reproduce images and to receive and transmit data forming images and messages is facilitated by miniaturized electronics. However, these devices also suffer from the drawback that miniaturization makes a keypad or touch screen which is necessary to control the device difficult to use. In particular, touch screens suffer from proximity of one switching area to an adjacent switching area and all but undefined borders separating adjacent switching areas. It is easy in a miniaturized touch screen for a person&#39;s fingers to intrude onto an adjacent switching area and inadvertently enter an unintended command. 
     There exists a need for a way of overcoming the problem of miniaturized switching areas in an electronic device of minimal and limited dimensions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention addresses the above articulated problem by enhancing the visual aspects of individual switches which appear on a touch screen. The device uses data processing apparatus and programming to predict selections which are subsequent to a first switching area selection, or alternatively, to offer a choice of switching areas which are rendered in more visually conspicuous fashion to the user to facilitate selection of the actual desired switching function. 
     The present invention firstly improves the ability to strike virtual keys with their fingers, which may by contrast be awkwardly large. The invention also highlights certain keys to assist in identifying and locating desired keys. 
     Illustratively, responsive to a switch command which designates a particular alphanumeric or other symbol, the device uses a logical choice or past experience to suggest subsequent symbols. The suggested symbols are rendered in a visually conspicuous manner, such as greater in size than unsuggested symbols. The more conspicuous suggested symbol is more readily recognized and actuated by the user. 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to address the problem of poorly discerned switching areas of touch screens of miniaturized electronic devices. 
     It is another object of the invention to make switching areas larger, even if only temporarily, to facilitate location and striking of desired switching areas. 
     It is another object to temporarily render individual switching areas more conspicuous to the user. 
     It is a further object of the invention to use prediction to limit the choices of switching areas to the user. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of an electronic device having a touch screen, showing an initial condition of the screen. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the screen of  FIG. 1 , wherein certain keys have become exaggerated in width. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan detail view showing only the top row of letters of  FIG. 1 , with certain keys shown both exaggerated in width and also having colored backgrounds. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan detail view similar to  FIG. 3 , but showing three different widths of keys. 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of steps of a method of practicing the invention, and is read starting at the upper left. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  of the drawings shows an electronic device  10  having a touch screen  12  on which are displayed keys  14 . Keys  14  are the graphically represented identity of switching areas (not separately shown) of a touch screen, which operate in conventional fashion and need not be set forth in greater detail herein. Keys  14  may correspond for example to letters of the Roman alphabet, punctuation symbols, numerals, and other symbols which are typically used in textual communications. These letters, numerals, and symbols, which are well known and need not be set forth with every individual example being explicitly portrayed, may be arrayed according to a typical or standard “QWERTY” arrangement for example. 
       FIG. 1  depicts the initial condition of the array of keys  14 , which is the array as it would appear prior to depressing any key  14 . In the initial condition, all keys  14  may have a generally similar visual appearance as that refers to size, footprint, or dimensions of each key  14 , font of the legend of the particular alphabetical, numeric, or symbolic character represented on each key  14 , and color attributes of the background portion of each key  14 . 
     The invention comes into play when any one key  14  is depressed. In response to depressing a key  14 , the electronic device  10  introduces changes to the display of keys  14  in the following way. The electronic device  10  has circuitry, memory, and data processing capability (not shown per se) which responds to depressing of any one key  14  such that a suggestive response is triggered. The suggestive response suggests a selection of keys which would logically follow the initially depressed key. This may be accomplished in either of two principal separate ways, or by a combination of both. The first way is to establish, based on the first depressed key  14 , a selection of probable words or other character strings which would logically be possible starting from the character of the first depressed key  14 . 
     Using the example of words of the English language, it will be apparent that depressing any one key  14  causes a group of words which start with the letter of the depressed key  14  to become possible candidates of being generated as text, to the exclusion of all words which start with other letters. The data processing system of the electronic device  10  may incorporate in digital form a look-up table, or electronic “dictionary” containing a database of words of the English language. Not only will the list of possible candidate words be limited to words starting with the letter of the key  14  that was depressed, the list of possible candidates may be further limited by known letter combinations. That is, for any one initial letter, only certain letters can follow when spelling out words in the English language. Therefore, the system can then predict the next letter which may be selected to generate text. 
     It has been stated that there are two principal ways of suggesting subsequent character candidates, the “dictionary” approach being one. The other principal way is based on history of usage of the electronic device  10 . The data processing system may enter usage into memory and identify those words or other character strings which have most often been entered into the electronic device  10 . The list of possible candidates may then reflect those words or other character strings which have historically most often been entered. 
     One of these two ways or the other one of the two ways may be used as the principal criterion, with the other way being invoked secondarily. This approach can be used to establish an order or hierarchy of candidates for suggestion. 
     Returning to explanation of the suggestive process, typically, in practice, several letters, rather than just one letter, are logical candidates to follow the first letter. The system suggests all possible logical candidates by making their corresponding keys  14  more visually conspicuous to the user of the electronic device  10 . 
     This may be done by visually increasing the size of the key  14  for each possible logical candidate letter or character. The data processing system may correspondingly reduce size of the key  14  for non-candidate letters or characters. 
       FIG. 2  shows an exemplary response to the key  14 A of the letter “H” being depressed. The system responds by visually enhancing the keys  14 B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F, and  14 G, which respectively correspond to the letters A, E, I, O, U, and Y. In the example of  FIG. 2 , the size of the displayed keys  14 B . . .  14 F has been increased by increasing the width but not the height. This procedure may be followed where for example it is desired to avoid intruding upon touch screen space which is devoted to other purposes, such as displaying entered text as that text is generated. It would be possible if desired to increase height also, or height rather than width if desired. 
     This procedure may also be employed to differentiate between unequal candidates. In the above example, if one letter is determined by the system to have more possibilities that it will succeed the “H” compared to the number of possibilities of another letter, then the switching area  14  of the letter having the greater number of possibilities may be visually enhanced to a degree greater than that of the letter with relatively fewer possibilities. 
     It will also be seen that the legends identifying the particular character corresponding to each one of the keys  14 B . . .  14 F has been rendered in bold font, relative to the other characters. 
     It would be possible to use other graphic treatments to achieve visual enhancing the keys  14 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , the color or other characteristic or characteristics of the background of keys  14  may be changed. In the example of  FIG. 3 , the background of the keys  14 G,  14 H,  14 J, and  14 K (corresponding respectively to the letters Y, W, R, and P) has been modified. This modification may comprise rendering the hue of each one of the keys  14 G,  14 H,  14 J and  14 K darker, by introducing hatching (as actually depicted), by introducing cross hatching, by introducing stippling, or by otherwise changing the appearance of the background so that by contrast, the background of the suggested keys  14 C,  14 D,  14 E, and  14 F is more conspicuous to the eye. The suggested keys  14 C,  14 D,  14 E, and  14 F may receive graphical treatment to make them more conspicuous, such as by causing their backgrounds to flash or pulse (this is represented as short lines radiating from the respective keys  14 C . . .  14 F), brighten, or otherwise become more conspicuous. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates another graphical treatment of keys beyond mere suggestion of appropriate or likely selections. That is, keys neighboring the suggested keys are highlighted or emphasized in some way as an aid in selecting suggested keys, but in a subordinated way that visually distinguishes neighboring keys from the suggested keys. This helps the user to depress the actual desired keys, while making those keys and the surrounding area more conspicuous and more easily manipulated. 
       FIG. 4  shows a further aspect of the invention illustrating another way of establishing three statuses of keys rather than two statuses. In  FIG. 2 , there are precisely two groups of keys  14 . One group comprises those keys  14  which are being suggested, and all of the suggested keys are given equal visual treatment within this first group. The second group comprises the non-suggested keys  14 , all of which are once again given equal visual treatment within the second group. 
     In  FIG. 3 , there are three levels of visual treatment or statuses. That is, the suggested keys  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F are enlarged and brightened; the adjacent non-suggested keys  14 G,  14 H,  14 J, and  14 K are enlarged and darkened; and the remaining keys  14 L and  14 M (which correspond to the letters Q and T) are neither enlarged nor brightened or darkened. 
       FIG. 4  shows another scheme of three levels of visual treatment or statuses. The keys  14 C,  14 D,  14 E,  14 F (corresponding to the letters E, U, I, and O) are enlarged; the keys  14 H,  14 J,  14 K,  14 L,  14 M (corresponding to the letters W, R, P, Q, T) are small in dimensions or footprint; and the key  14 G (corresponding to the letter Y) is of an intermediate size. 
     One possible usage for visually enhancing and especially for enlarging keys  14  which are adjacent to those keys  14  which are to be selected to form text is to facilitate transition of finger position from one selected key  14  to another selected key  14 . Again, invoking size adjustment enables a user to slide his or her finger to an adjacent switching area without releasing the screen, especially where the latter function is automatically invoked by the device  10 . 
     Using the above system and procedures, the invention may be regarded as a method  100  of presenting switching areas, such as those corresponding to the keys  14 , of a touch screen such as the touch screen  12  to an observer. The method  100 , as described in  FIG. 5 , may comprise a step  102  of providing an electronic device such as the electronic device  10  having a touch screen, memory, and data processing apparatus. 
     The method  100  may comprise a step  104  of visually displaying switching areas such as those represented by the keys  14  of the touch screen as keys which may or may not initially have substantially equal visual characteristics, apart of course from legends identifying the various keys, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The method  100  may comprise a step  106  of, responsively to a first switching area being depressed, determining and identifying as a first group switching areas which are more likely to be subsequently selected for depressing after the first switching area has been depressed, and determining and identifying as a second group switching areas which are less likely to be subsequently selected for depressing after the first switching area has been depressed. 
     The method  100  comprises a step  108  of visually enhancing display of the member switching areas of the first group relative to display of the member switching areas of the second group. 
     The step  106  may comprise a further step  110  of determining members of the first group by considering past switching history. 
     The step  106  may comprise a further step  112  of determining members of the first group by considering likelihood of each potentially selected character and associated switching area contributing to a known linguistic character progression. Known words of various languages are examples of known linguistic character progressions. Examples of known character progressions which are not words include well known acronyms and for example, the progression QWERTY, which is used representatively for designating the widely adopted array of letters for keyboards. 
     The method  100  may comprise a step  114  of visually enhancing switching areas which are immediately adjacent to a switching area which has been determined as more likely to be subsequently selected. 
     The method  100  may comprise a step  116 , wherein the method of visually enhancing immediately adjacent switching areas is different from that of visually enhancing switching areas which have been determined to be members of the first group. 
     The step  108  may comprise a further step  118  of causing each visually enhanced switching area to be presented as an enlarged key relative to visual presentation of the keys of the second group. 
     The method  100  may comprise a step  120  wherein selecting of a switching area causes members of the second group to be displayed in a size less than the size of their original depiction. 
     The step  118  may comprise a further step  122  of increasing width of the image of an enlarged key but not increasing height of the image of an enlarged key. 
     The method  100  may comprise a further step  124  of determining and identifying as a third group switching areas which are equally likely to be subsequently selected for depressing after the first switching area has been depressed, and a still further step  126  of visually distinguishing the third group from the first group and the second group. 
     The step  108  may comprise a further step  128  of causing each visually enhanced switching area to be presented as of color different from that used for visual presentation of the keys of the second group. 
     The various steps of the method  100  may be practiced out of the order described herein. Also, steps may be selectively adopted and deleted where feasible. 
     The step  104  may be modified such that initial display of letters or other characters visually enhances those letters which are most often used prior to any selection being made. 
     The invention should not be construed as being limited to the precise procedures and characteristics described prior, as other characteristics are contemplated. 
     Other visual enhancements may encompass pulsing, flashing and other dynamic effects which change appearance over time. Changes over time may occur once, constantly, or intermittently. Legends may be made to appear to pulse, flash, vibrate, otherwise move, enlarge, or otherwise to change visual appearance to become more conspicuous. 
     Treatments of background of keys may also be applied to legends of keys. As employed herein, color will be understood to signify hue, brightness, or both hue and brightness. 
     Circuitry will be understood to comprise the number of conductors, and specific connection schemes necessary to carry out the described functions, as well as supporting apparatus. Circuitry and any of its individual components may vary in logic from that specifically described herein. 
     Because it is depicted in representative capacity, the data processing device  10  will be understood to include components such as central processor, memory devices, power supply and others even though these components may not be explicitly shown. Peripheral data handling devices encompass functions which support, expand, increase, enhance, and otherwise improve on the original capabilities of the data handling device, and may include items such as PCMCIA cards, ExpressCards (RTM), and the like. The data handling port may receive signals, transmit signals, or both. 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.