Patent Publication Number: US-2009222770-A1

Title: Method of inputting control instruction and handheld device thereof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Taiwan Patent Application No. 097107063, filed on Feb. 29, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a control method and a handheld device thereof, and more particularly, to a method of inputting a control instruction and a handheld device thereof in which when a user inputs a writing track, the handheld device activates a corresponding application program and a specific action thereof. 
     2. Related Art 
     At present, for the sake of convenience, leading communication and information enterprises world wide all begin to develop related products of handheld devices, and the handheld device has increasingly diversified functions as a result of great efforts of the enterprises. In addition to previous voice and short message communications, a user may access to the Internet to inquire about required information, perform navigation by using Global Positioning System (GPS), or further execute data synchronous transmission or remote control switches through the connection of the handheld device with the peripheral information and home appliances, and so on. 
     However, the prior art has inevitable disadvantages, that is, although the handheld device has a lot of functions, but an ordinary user may only require ten percents thereof or even less. Now, the handheld device has a number of function menus, and the function menus may further include multiple ranks of detail function menus. Therefore, a user needs to inquire about one by one to obtain and execute the required function menus. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to provide a method of inputting a control instruction and the handheld device thereof, which may quickly activate a function program required by a user by writing symbols, drawings or texts input by the user. 
     As embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention provides a handheld device for inputting a control instruction, which is used to activate a program required by a user without opening function menus. The handheld device includes a memory unit, a touch module, and a recognition module. The memory unit stores at least one feature data, at least one application program, and at least one program instruction. Each feature data is corresponding to a program instruction, and the program instruction is used to execute an application program. The touch module is provided for touching to form a writing track. The recognition module obtains and analyzes the writing track to form a track data, and determines whether a feature data consistent with the track data exists in the memory unit, so as to execute the program instruction corresponding to the feature data. 
     The present invention further provides a method of inputting a control instruction, which is applicable in a handheld device to activate a program required by a user without opening function menus. The method includes receiving a writing track input by the user from a touch module, analyzing the writing track by the recognition module to convert the writing track into the track data, comparing the track data with the feature data stored in a memory unit, and judging whether a feature data consistent with the track data exists, so as to determine whether to execute a program instruction corresponding to the feature data. 
     The present invention has the following efficacies superior to the prior art. 
     First, the user may write a text, drawing, or symbol on the touch module intuitively. The handheld device then activates the application program corresponding to the text, drawing, or symbol, so as to execute the specific action required by the user, thus saving time for inquiring about the function menus one by one. 
     Second, by different matches of texts, drawings and symbols, the handheld device may continuously activate related application programs and execute continuous specific actions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are schematic structural views of a handheld device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1C  is a flow chart of inputting a control instruction according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of activating a dialing module according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of activating a wireless network module according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of activating a Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of activating a real time communication program according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of inputting multiple writing tracks according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7A  is a schematic view of configuration of programming an instruction writing module according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7B  is a schematic view of operation of the programmed instruction writing module according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to provide a further understanding to purposes, structural features, and functions of the present invention, detailed description is given below through related embodiments and drawings. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , schematic structural views of a handheld device according to an embodiment of the present invention are shown. The handheld device is applicable to activate a program required by a user without opening function menus. The handheld device  10  includes an instruction writing module  11 , a memory unit  140 , a touch module  110 , a recognition module  130 , an update module  150 , and a display unit  120 . 
     The memory unit  140  stores multiple different data, including a feature data  141 , a program instruction  142 , and an application program  143 . Each feature data  141  is corresponding to a program instruction  142 , and the program instruction  142  is used to activate an application program  143  to execute a specific action. 
     The touch module  110  may be a touch panel provided for writing by the user to form a writing track. 
     The recognition module  130  analyzes the writing track to convert the writing track into a track data and compares the track data with the feature data  141  stored in the memory unit  140 , so as to judge whether a feature data  141  consistent with the track data exists. If yes, the feature data  141  consistent with the track data is read, and the program instruction  142  corresponding to the feature data  141  is executed, so as to activate the application program  143  to execute the specific action. 
     The instruction writing module  11  is used to obtain a control right of the touch module  110  to avoid other application programs  143  from disturbing the input of the control instruction when other application programs  143  require the touch module  110  for text input. 
     The display unit  120  is used to display the writing track formed by touching the touch module  110 , and display an executing state of the application program  143  when the recognition module  130  executes the program instruction  142  corresponding to the feature data  141 . 
     The update module  150  is used to update the feature data  141 , the application program  143 , and the program instruction  142  stored in the memory unit  140 . The update module  150  first obtains a writing track through the touch module  110 , converts the writing track into the feature data  141  through the recognition module  130 , then directs the feature data  141  to an application program  143  and selects a specific action of the application program  143  to form a program instruction  142 , and finally updates the feature data  141  and the corresponding program instruction  142  thereof in the memory unit  140 . 
     The handheld device may be provided with a touch screen  100  including the touch module  110  and the display unit  120 , so as to directly display the writing track formed by touching the touch screen  100 , and display the executing state of the application program  143  when the recognition module  130  executes the program instruction  142  corresponding to the feature data  141 . 
     The handheld device  10  described in the embodiment may be a mobile phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or a notebook electronic apparatus such as a notebook computer. The writing action may be performed on the touch module  110  using a finger or a touch pen. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1C , a flow chart of inputting a control instruction according to an embodiment of the present invention and a detail flow chart thereof are shown. Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B  together, the method is applicable to activate a program required by the user without opening function menus, and includes the following steps. 
     Receive a writing track input by the user from a touch module  110  (Step S 11 ). In order to avoid other application programs from disturbing the inputting of the control instruction, an instruction writing module  11  may be configured on the handheld device  10 . 
     Therefore, the instruction writing module  11  may be activated firstly to obtain the control right of the touch module  110  before the inputting of the control instruction, thereby avoiding the disturbance from other application programs. 
     Touch the touch module  110  and slip on the touch module  110 . The manner of touching includes writing on the touch module  110  using a finger or a touch pen. 
     Touched positions of the touch module  110  are recorded to be converted into a writing track. Generally, a pressure sensing module (not shown) is configured within the touch module  110 . The pressure sensing module is used to sense the touched positions of the touch module  110 , and record the positions to form the writing track that represents the control instruction ordered by the user. 
     The writing track is analyzed by using a recognition module  130 , so as to convert the writing track into a track data (Step S 12 ). The recognition module  130  converts the writing track into a track data according to characteristics such as line length, amplitude, interlacing of the writing track. 
     The track data is compared with at least one feature data  141  stored in the memory unit  140  (Step S 13 ). 
     The feature data  141  stored in the memory unit  140  has two types. One is a grain data corresponding to the line characteristic of the writing track and which is converted from a specific judgment formula. The other is a line pattern formed by capturing the writing track displayed on the display unit  120 . Therefore, the recognition module  130  compares the converted track data with the feature data  141  stored in the memory unit  140  in a manner determined by the type of the feature data  141  stored in the memory unit  140 . 
     It is judged whether at least one feature data consistent with the track data exists (Step S 14 ), so as to determine whether to execute a program instruction  142  corresponding to the feature data  141 . This step includes two corresponding judging manners according to the type of the feature data  141  stored in the memory unit  140 . 
     When the feature data  141  stored in the memory unit  140  is the grain data, the recognition module  130  converts the writing track input by the user through the touch module  110  into a track data which is the grain data, and searches in the memory unit  140  to judge whether a feature data (the grain data) consistent with the track data exists. 
     When the feature data  141  stored in the memory unit  140  is the line pattern, the track data converted by the recognition module  130  is a line pattern formed by capturing the writing track displayed on the display unit  120 , and the recognition module  130  searches in the memory unit  140  one by one to judge whether the feature data  141  (the line pattern) consistent with the track data exists. 
     When it is judged that the track data is consistent with the feature data  141 , the program instruction  142  corresponding to the feature data  141  is executed (Step S 15 ), so as to activate the application program  143  corresponding to the program instruction  142 , and execute the executing action designated by the program instruction  142 . Otherwise, when it is judged that the track data is not consistent with the feature data  141 , no application program  143  is activated, or a message of unable to recognize the control instruction is output (Step S 16 ). 
     However, during the judgment, the recognition module  130  first calculates a difference between the track data and the feature data  141 . When the difference is less than an error value, it is judged that the track data is consistent with the feature data  141 . When it is judged that the track data is consistent with two or more feature data  141 , the program instructions  142  corresponding to the feature data  141  are displayed on the display unit  120  for the user to select a program instruction  142  to be executed. 
     When the program instruction  142  corresponding to the feature data  141  is executed, the program instruction  142  corresponding to the feature data  141  is read firstly, then an application program  143  corresponding to the program instruction  142  is activated, and finally the application program  143  is activated to execute an executing action designated by the program instruction  142 . 
       FIGS. 2 to 6  are schematic views of executing the program instruction  142  according to embodiments of the present invention. The handheld device  10  of this embodiment is a mobile phone with a touch screen  100 , and the touch screen  100  includes the touch module  110  and the display unit  120 . The handheld device  10  is provided with an instruction writing module  11 , which may be implemented as a press key device configured to a housing of the handheld device in this embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a schematic view of executing the program instruction  142  according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, and reference is made to FIG  1 A or  1 B for further understanding. 
     In this embodiment, the application program  143  stored in the memory unit  140  is a dialing module, the stored feature data  141  is a text H, and the program instruction  142  corresponding to the feature data  141  of the text H is “activate the dialing module and dial a home phone”. The user first activates the instruction writing module  11  to obtain the control right of the touch screen  100 , and writes the text H on the touch screen  100 . The touch screen  100  displays the writing track of the text H. The recognition module  130  reads the program instruction  142  corresponding to the feature data  141  of the text H to execute the specific action of “activate the dialing module and dial a home phone”, and displays that on the touch screen  100 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the touch screen  100  displays a text message of “activate the dialing module and dial a home phone, number: 08-7654321”. 
     Referring to  FIG.3 , a schematic view of executing the program instruction  142  according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, and reference is made to  FIG. 1A  or  1 B for further understanding. 
     In this embodiment, the application program  143  stored in the memory unit  140  is a wireless network module. The stored feature data  141  is a text W, and the program instruction  142  corresponding to the feature data  141  of the text W is “activate the wireless network module and access to the Internet”. 
     The user first activates the instruction writing module  11  to obtain the control right of the touch screen  100 , and writes the text W on the touch screen  100 . The touch screen  100  displays the writing track of the text W. The recognition module  130  reads the program instruction  142  corresponding to the feature data  141  of the text W to execute the specific action of “activate the wireless network module and access to the Internet”, and displays that on the touch screen  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a schematic view of executing the program instruction  142  according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, and reference is made to  FIG. 1A  or  1 B for further understanding. 
     In this embodiment, the application program  143  stored in the memory unit  140  is an activating program of a Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system. The stored feature data  141  is a text G, and the program instruction  142  corresponding to the feature data  141  of the text G is “activate the GPS navigation system”. 
     The user first activates the instruction writing module  11  to obtain the control right of the touch screen  100 , and writes the text G on the touch screen  100 . The touch screen  100  displays the writing track of the text G. The recognition module  130  reads the program instruction  142  corresponding to the feature data  141  of the text G to execute the specific action of “activate the GPS navigation system”, and displays that on the touch screen  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a schematic view of executing the program instruction  142  according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, and reference is made to  FIG. 1A  or  1 B for further understanding. 
     In this embodiment, the application program  143  stored in the memory unit  140  is a real time communication program. The stored feature data  141  is a text M, and the program instruction  142  corresponding to the feature data  141  of the text is M “activate the real time communication module”. 
     The user first activates the instruction writing module  11  to obtain the control right of the touch screen  100 , and writes the text M on the touch screen  100 . The touch screen  100  displays the writing track of the text M. The recognition module  130  reads the program instruction  142  corresponding to the feature data  141  of the text M to execute the specific action of “activate the real time communication module”, and displays that on the touch screen  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a schematic view of executing the program instruction  142  according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, and reference is made to  FIG. 1A  or  1 B for further understanding. This embodiment is different from the above embodiments in that a plurality of writing tracks are input continuously in this embodiment. 
     In this embodiment, the application program  143  stored in the memory unit  140  includes a wireless network module and a real time communication program. The stored feature data  141  includes a text M and a text W. The program instruction  142  corresponding to the feature data  141  of the text M is “activate the real time communication module”, and the program instruction  142  corresponding to the feature data  141  of the text W is “activate the wireless network module and access to the Internet”. 
     The user first activates the instruction writing module  11  to obtain the control right of the touch screen  100 , and writes the text WM on the touch screen  100 . The touch screen  100  displays the writing tracks of the text WM. The recognition module  130  first reads the program instruction  142  corresponding to the feature data  141  of the text W to execute the specific action of “activate the wireless network module and access to the Internet”. After that, the recognition module  130  continuously reads the program instruction  142  corresponding to the feature data  141  of the text M to execute the specific action of “activate the real time communication module”. Thus, a specific action of “activate the wireless network module to access to the Internet and activate the real time communication module to input a real time message” is formed and displayed on the touch screen  100 . However, in addition to configuring the instruction writing module  11  described above as a press key device, if the handheld device has a keyboard or an assemble keypad such as a dial keypad of the mobile phone, the instruction writing module  11  may be integrated into the keyboard or the assembled keypad. Moreover, the instruction writing module  11  may be further programmed to form an instruction writing program, and meantime be installed on the handheld device having an embedded operating system and a touch module. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , schematic views of configuration and operation of programming the instruction writing module according to the present invention are shown. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7A , the instruction writing module  11  is programmed to form an instruction writing program, and is built in the operating system of the handheld device  10 . Meantime, a specific area is designated on the display area of the display unit  120  or the touch module  100  to configure a picture key (or a hot key) corresponding to the instruction writing module  11 . In this embodiment, the specific area is disposed to the upper right corner of the display area, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The specific area may be also disposed on the upper left corner, lower right corner, and lower left corner of the display, or on a programmed digital keyboard. 
     The instruction writing module  11  is activated when the user presses the picture key. As show in  FIG. 7B , when the instruction writing module  11  is activated, the display unit  120  or the touch screen  100  displays prompt statements such as “activate the instruction writing mode, and input the writing instruction:”, for prompting the user to write a writing track on the touch module  110  or the touch screen  100  for the recognition of the recognition module  130 , so as to activate the related application program  143 . 
     Although the present invention is disclosed as the preferred embodiment described above, however, it is not used to limit the present invention. The equivalent alternatives of the alterations and modifications made by any skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention still fall in the scope of the claims of the present invention.