Abstract:
A system and method for the inputting of characters for processing by very small electronic devices based on correlated movement of such a device by the user to access groupings of certain characters and the subsequent choice by said user of the proper character to be entered by touch screen input. In the preferred embodiment each of the twenty six letters of the Roman alphabet are intelligently marshaled into a default grouping and three selectable groupings, each of which being easily accessible by a user simply by moving the electronic device in a prescribed manner.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates in general to methods for inputting characters, that is, letters and numbers, into and for processing by electronic devices that have small footprints that perforce do not allow for the use of standard keyboard inputting techniques and more specifically to correlating the user&#39;s movements of such devices to the selection of groupings of characters to be input by use of touch screen displays incorporated in such devices. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    As electronic devices have become smaller and smaller in line with the continuing miniaturization of components for such devices, a problem has arisen with respect to the input of characters, that is, letters and numbers, to be read and processed by a small device. While touch screen technology for inputting information has supplanted tactile keyboard input as devices have become mobile and, as a result, handheld in nature, the continuing trend for smaller, and in some cases wearable electronic devices, or even bodily implanted devices, has created a need for new input methods and systems in connection with such miniaturization. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The instant invention solves the problem by providing a system and method for the inputting of characters in very small electronic devices based on correlated movement of the device by the user in order to select certain groupings of letters or numbers and the subsequent choice by the user of the character to be entered via touch screen input. 
         [0004]    The preferred embodiment of the system is based on the division of the Roman alphabet into four distinct categories based in part on the shape of the letters. For example, the non-capitalized Roman alphabet letters that are written by starting with a straight stroke, that is, the eight letters - - - “h,” “i,” “j,” “k,” “l” “p” “r,” and “t” - - - are classified as members of a distinct grouping, in the preferred embodiment the so-called second grouping. As will be further described, in the preferred embodiment each of the twenty six letters of the Roman alphabet is intelligently placed into a default grouping or one of three other groupings, each of which is accessible by a user simply moving the electronic device in a predescribed manner. 
         [0005]    Other details, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description of the presently preferred embodiment and presently preferred method of practicing the invention proceeds. This application follows on my earlier application entitled “Wireless Processing System and Method” and is expected to be followed by my application entitled “Child&#39;s Wearable Computing Device.” 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof shown, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a frontal view of a small electronic device of the present invention in its preferred embodiment with display front cover removed; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is the left side view of said device; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is the right side view of said device; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is the bottom view of said device; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a frontal view of the display front cover of said device; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a frontal view of said small electronic device with the display front cover removed having a digitally generated analog watchface displayed on its display screen; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  shows the small electronic device of the preferred embodiment with display front cover affixed thereto as mounted on a wristband to be worn by a child; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  shows the small electronic device of the preferred embodiment as shown in  FIG. 6  but mounted on a wristband to be worn by a child with display front cover removed; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  shows the frontal view of said small electronic device having the default grouping of icons of characters displayed on the touch screen display of said device; 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  depicts the initial user movement in the process of the preferred embodiment of the present method in changing the grouping of icons of characters as shown on the touch screen display of said device from the default group of icons of characters to a second grouping of icons of characters; 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  depicts the final user movement in the process of the preferred embodiment of the present method in changing the grouping of icons of characters as shown on the touch screen display of said device from the default group of icons of characters to the first different grouping of icons of characters; 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  shows the frontal view of said small electronic device having said first different grouping of icons of characters shown on the touch screen display of said device; 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  depicts the initial user movement in the process of the preferred embodiment of the present method in changing the grouping of icons of characters as shown on the touch screen display of said device from the default group of icons of characters to the second different grouping of icons of characters; 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  depicts the final user movement in the process of the preferred embodiment of the present method in changing the grouping of icons of characters as shown on the touch screen display of said device from the default grouping of icons of characters to the second different grouping of icons of characters; 
           [0021]      FIG. 15  shows the frontal view of said small electronic device having the second different grouping of icons of characters shown on the touch screen display of said device; 
           [0022]      FIG. 16  depicts the initial user movement in the process of the preferred embodiment of the present method in changing the grouping of icons of characters as shown on the touch screen display of said device from the default group of icons of characters to the third different grouping of icons of characters; 
           [0023]      FIG. 17  depicts the final user movement in the process of the preferred embodiment of the present method in changing the grouping of icons of characters as shown on the touch screen display of said device from the default group of icons of characters to the third different grouping of icons of characters; 
           [0024]      FIG. 18  is a frontal view of device  100  in the state of having been changed to display the third different grouping of icons of characters shown on the touch screen display of said device; 
           [0025]      FIG. 19  is a front view of device  100  in the state of the letter “c” having been entered in the first blank space of a three letter word. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    Referring to the drawings wherein like or similar references indicate like of similar elements throughout the several views, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a front plan view of the face  110  of the small electronic device  100  of the instant invention with display front cover  120  removed. The face  110  of device  100  has a touch screen display  111  on which in  FIG. 1  is shown a set of icons of characters shown in the form of hard keys, which set of icons of characters is referred to as the “default grouping” of icons of characters hereinbelow. At the bottom of the plan view of device  100  and on its face  110  is depicted a depressable control button  112 . As will be described hereinbelow, control button  112  can be depressed by the user in order to activate certain motion sensors (to be described infra) built into electronic device  100 . Device  100  is also outfitted with a speaker output  113  and a microphone input  114  as well as key inputs  131 , being a left side key, and  141 , being a right side input key, both of which as shall be discussed in this specification as under the control of application software resident in said device  100  and hence referred to herein as “soft keys.” 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a view of the left side panel  130  of device  100  showing the front view of soft key  131 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a view of the right side panel  140  of device  100  showing the front view of soft key  141  of device  100  and headphone input jack  142  that provides for use of electronic device  100  with headphones, perforce disabling speaker  113  output when utilized. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a view of the bottom side panel  150  of device  100  showing control button  112  in perspective view height and shape from below and mini USB port  151  for connection of said device  100  with any one of a variety of computer or electronic products, for input or output of data, or for battery charging in the manner known in the art relative to USB connections generally. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is the front plan view of display front cover  120  which is constructed in the preferred embodiment to fit over the front of device  100  and can be removed either in its entirety, as in the preferred embodiment, or flipped up on a hinge (not shown herein), in either case to allow viewing, and wanted touching, of the touch screen display  110  of device  100 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 6  shows device  100  having a digital representation of an analog wrist watch on its touch screen display  110 , as well as icons displayed thereon representing, among other things, an alarm, battery life indicator, and volume setting for speaker/headphone use. 
         [0032]      FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  depict the preferred embodiment for a child&#39;s “wearing” of small electronic device  100 , that is, by attachment of device  100  by well known means to a wrist watchband  200 , having normal watchband cutouts  201  for engagement with band tightening fasteners (not shown).  FIG. 7  depicts device  100  as attached to said wrist watch band with the face  110  of the device  100  as covered by protective display front cover  120 .  FIG. 8  shows the combination of the device  100  and the watchband  200  with the face  110  of said device  100  uncovered with touch screen display  111  exposed to present said digitally displayed analog watchface as represented in the plan view of  FIG. 6 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 9  depicts what is displayed on the touch screen display  111  of face  110  of said device  100  in the case in which control button  112  is depressed by the user&#39;s thumb and then released. After release, screen display  111  is populated with icons representative of nine keyboard style keys  300 , to wit, key  301  for the small letter “a,” key  302  for the small letter “b,” key  303  for the small letter “c,” key  304  for the small letter “d,” key  305  for the small letter “e,” key  306  for the small letter “f,” key  307  for the small letter “x,” key  308  for the small letter “y,” and key  309  for the small letter “z.” Each of said keys  301  through and including  309  make up separate and independent parts of touch screen  111  and as such are susceptible of touching by the user to input any one of the respective nine characters into the device for processing by device  100  just as if said “keys” were on a hard key computer QWERTY keyboard. Such grouping  300  of said key icons representing said nine characters on said keyboard is referred to herein as the “default grouping” of characters in the preferred embodiment. 
         [0034]    The juxtaposition of  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11  depicts the manner in which in the preferred embodiment the default grouping of icons of characters is changed by the user through the method of the instant invention by the user depressing control key  112  as represented in  FIG. 10  in order to actuate motion detection circuitry resident in the device (as will be described in detail hereinbelow) to change the default grouping  300  of icons of characters into the second grouping of icons of characters  500 . Having depressed said control key  112 , the user as is shown in FIG. is moving the device  100  in a straight and downward direction. The straightness of the motion is chosen in the preferred embodiment to remind the user that the default grouping of icons of characters  300  will be changed on the screen display (through the interplay of motion detection means and processing by the electronic device) to a new grouping of icons for letters that are begun with straight lines, to wit, the small Roman letters “h,” “i,” “j,” “k,” “l,” “p,” “r,” and “t,” icons for keys for which letters are shown on screen display  111  of device  100  in both  FIG. 11  and in  FIG. 12 ). 
         [0035]      FIG. 12  is a frontal view of device  100  in the state of having been changed to display the first different grouping of icons of characters, that is, the grouping  500  of icons of keys of the small Roman letters “h”  501 , “i”  502 , “j”  503 , “k”  504 , “l”  505 , “p”  506 , “r”  507 , and “t”  508 , all of which are formed in writing with pencil and paper by an initial movement of the pencil that is straight and in a downward direction. 
         [0036]    The juxtaposition of  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14  depicts the manner in which in the preferred embodiment the default grouping of icons of characters  300  is changed by the user through the method of the instant invention by the user depressing control key  112  as represented in  FIG. 13  in order to actuate said motion detection circuitry to change the default grouping of icons of characters  300  into the third grouping of icons, of keys of characters  700 . Having depressed said control key  112 , the user is shown in  FIG. 14  moving the device  100  in a downward direction and to the right. The curved nature of the motion as shown in  FIG. 14  is chosen in the preferred embodiment to remind the user that the grouping of icons of characters  300  will be changed on the screen display (through the interplay of motion detection means and processing by the electronic device) to icons for letters that are curved, to wit, the small Roman letters “m,” “n,” “u,” “v,” and “w,” icons for which letters are shown on screen display  111  of device  100  in both  FIG. 14  and in  FIG. 15 ). 
         [0037]      FIG. 15  is a frontal view of device  100  in the state of having been changed to display the second different grouping of icons of characters  700 , that is, the grouping of the small Roman letters “m”  701 , “n”  702 , “u”  703 , “v”  704 , and “w”  705 , all of which are formed in writing with pencil and paper by a curved motion of the pencil. 
         [0038]    The juxtaposition of  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 17  depicts the manner in which under the preferred embodiment the default grouping of icons of characters  300  is changed by the user through the method of the instant invention by the user depressing control key  112  as represented in  FIG. 16  in order to actuate previously mentioned motion detection circuitry to change the default grouping of icons of characters  300  into the fourth grouping of icons of characters  900 . Having depressed said control key  112 , the user is shown in  FIG. 17  moving the device  100  in a counterclockwise direction. Such motion is chosen in the preferred embodiment to remind the user that the grouping of icons of characters  300  will be changed on the screen display (through said interplay of motion detection means and processing by the electronic device) to a grouping 2 icons of keys for letters that are circular in nature, to wit, the small Roman letters “o,” “g,” “s,” and “q,” icons for which letters are shown on screen display  111  of device  100  in both  FIG. 17  and in  FIG. 18 ). 
         [0039]      FIG. 18  is a frontal view of device  100  in the state of having been changed to display the third different grouping of icons of characters, that is, the grouping of the small Roman letters “o”  901 , “g”  902 , “s”  903 , and “q”  904 , all of which are formed in writing with pencil and paper by a circular movement. 
         [0040]      FIG. 19  is a frontal view of device  100  in the state of having had the letter “c” entered into the first blank space of a three letter word. 
         [0041]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the small electronic computing device  100  measures approximately 50 mm×40 mm×15 mm in order that the device may be easily “worn” by a child. With such a small footprint, even with a touch screen display  111  measuring 1.54″ diagonally that is mounted on the front  110  of the device it is difficult, if not impossible, to make available a useable compete QWERTY keyboard on such display for the entry of Roman letters and Arabic numbers. The present invention solves the problem of entering such characters on such a small device. The device  100  utilizes any one of a number of commercially available 16-bit microprocessors and has NAND flash memory of approximate size of 4 GBytes resident therein. The motion detection circuitry used in the device comprises an accelerometer working together with a magnetometer. The accelerometer is a standard MEMS device used in a variety of handheld products, such as the commercially available Bosch BMA 222, and the magnetometer, also a standard MEMS device, is of the general nature of the commercially available part ALPS HSCDT DOO4A. The accelerometer detects movement of the device and the magnetometer identifies the direction of the movement of the device. Working together, the circuitry can distinguish movement straight down as opposed to movement that is down and to the right or movement that is counterclockwise as necessary in the preferred embodiment of the instant invention. Soft keys  131  and  141  are programmable by the user and are under the control of application software resident in said device to be used in order to facilitate certain functions, to wit, “enter,” “esc,” and “game mode.” 
         [0042]    The preferred embodiment of the invention is based on providing learning activities for young children in the age range of three to eight years. An example of a learning activity is a spelling teaching program. The device  100  is programmed to speak out loud via its speaker  113  or through a headphone connected at jack  142  a simple English word, such as, for example purposes only, “cat.” The child upon hearing the word “cat” is prompted to enter the proper spelling of the word on the display screen  111  as a number of blank spaces appear on said display, such as the blanks shown in  FIG. 19 . On speaking the word “cat,” the device displays as well as the blanks the default grouping of icons  300 , that is, icons of keys of the letters “a,” “b,” “c,” “d,” “e,” “f,” “x,” “y,” and “z” as shown in  FIG. 9 . In the case in which the precocious three year old knows that “cat” begins with the letter “c” and touches key  303  to enter the letter “c” the screen display changes to that as shown in  FIG. 19  in which the first blank has been filled with the small letter “c.” If the child knows that the next letter should be “a,” he or she can touch key  301  to enter the proper letter into the second blank. But for sake of example, if the child believes the next letter to be other than as shown on the default screen, in this example the letter “h,” the child, knowing that the small letter “h” is formed with a downward motion in a straight line, depresses the control button  112  and moves the device  100  in the manner shown in the juxtaposition of  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , that is, downward and in a straight line, causing the default set of icons  300  to change into the set of icons  500  as shown in  FIG. 12 . The child can then touch icon  501  to enter the small letter “h” into the second blank of the screen display  111 . Alternatively, should the child believe the second blank should properly filled in with the letter “m” the child, knowing that the small letter “m” is formed with curved motion, depresses the control button  112  and moves the device  100  in the manner shown in the juxtaposition of  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 , that is, downward and to the right, causing the default set of icons  300  to change into the set of icons  700  as shown in  FIG. 15 . The child can then touch icon  701  to enter the small letter “m” into the second blank on the display screen  111 . Alternatively, should the child believe the second blank should properly filled in with the letter “o” the child, knowing that the small letter “o” is formed with circular motion, depresses the control button  112  and moves the device  100  in the manner shown in the juxtaposition of  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 17 , that is, in a counterclockwise direction, causing the default set of icons  300  to change into the set of icons  900  as shown in  FIG. 15 . The child can then touch icon  901  to enter the small letter “m” into the second blank on the display screen  111 . 
         [0043]    As can be appreciated by anyone skilled in the art, the entry of numbers or other characters, that is, letters other than Roman alphabet small letters, can be accomplished in a similar manner to that described herein of the preferred embodiment. Likewise, the composition of the default grouping and the groupings other than the default grouping can be different from that described in the preferred embodiment. Also, numbers can be entered simply by moving or tapping the device the number of times equal to the number that is desired to be entered, which movement or tapping can be easily identified by the accelerometer MEMS and translated into the entry of the number on the screen display  111  for processing by the device. 
         [0044]    As can be appreciated, the method spelt out above is usable in many different environments having small footprint electronic devices, not only in the area of endeavor that constitutes learning tasks or games for children.