Abstract:
A touch screen system including a data buffer to allow an operator to enter data in a touch ahead mode without waiting for the screen to be refreshed. As an operator enters data through touches to the screen, the buffer stores data represented by the touches. As the screen refreshes to reflect entry of a data item, that data item is passed from the data buffer and processed. Feedback is provided to the operator to inform the operator that each data item has been entered. The touch ahead mode may be turned on or off depending on whether the graphic being displayed is conducive to touch ahead data entry. Alternatively, touch ahead mode may be selected through an operator-entered command.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to touch screen data entry. More particularly, the invention relates to buffering entries to a touch screen data entry system, in order to minimize delays presented to an operator by limitations of the rate at which the system can accept data. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Touch screen data entry systems are becoming increasingly popular because of their ease and versatility of operation. A system having a display screen can be programmed so that the screen displays graphic objects allowing data entry, such as menus, collections of icons, or representations of characters, numerals and the like typically entered utilizing traditional data entry hardware such as keypads or keyboards. An operator enters data into such a system by touching the screen in appropriate locations as suggested by the graphic objects. The screen recognizes the touch and the position on the screen of the touch. The system interprets the touch in accordance with its programming and registers the data indicated by the touch. 
     Touch screen systems of the prior art are limited in the speed at which they can receive data, as the screen must refresh after every data entry. Traditionally, touch screen systems have been widely used in the hospitality industry. In applications such as reserving tables or booking rooms, rapid data entry is typically not required. A table reservation can be made, for example, by touching a representation of a table and waiting for a reservation menu for that table to be displayed, and then making a menu selection from the reservation menu. The data entries in this example depend on display of a subsequent menu, and cannot be properly made until that menu is displayed. Therefore, the requirement that the display be refreshed, does not slow data entry. 
     As touch screen systems decrease in price and increase in capability, they are becoming more and more popular, and are being used in wider applications. Touch screen systems are now being widely used in retail applications, in which rapid data entry is a significant advantage. It is a simple matter to program a touch screen system to display a keyboard or keypad on the screen, and allow the operator to enter data by touching representations of keys. In such specific applications, the display does not materially change (for example, the representation of a keypad is maintained, even though different keys may be highlighted as each keypress is registered) and so there is no reason to force an operator to wait for a display to be updated in order to make the next entry. Many operators can enter data much faster than a display is able to refresh an image. When the limitations of a system force the operator to wait for a display to be refreshed, this forced wait both slows operation and frustrates the operator. 
     In the context of a touch screen systems more generally, however, circumstances continue to exist in which it is not desirable to allow data to be entered at a rate faster than that at which the screen can be refreshed. This is because different screen displays can call for changes in the data entry protocol. If entries are made which cause the display to change significantly, allowing data entries to be made before the changes have occurred in the display can cause incorrect data to be entered. For example, if touching an item calls up a menu offering options relating to that item, it would be at best preferable and at worst necessary to wait for the display to be changed before allowing data entry, as the accuracy of the data entry is likely to depend on the visual cues provided to the operator by the new display. 
     There exists, therefore, a need in the art for a touch screen system which will allow data entries to be made without being limited by a display refresh rate, but which can also be set to an operating mode which prevents entries from being made before the display has refreshed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A touch screen system according to the present invention includes a monitor and a touch detector. The monitor is directed by a data processing system, such as a computer, to display appropriate images to aid data entry. The touch detector detects the presence and location of a touch on the monitor. When the images displayed are such that they do not materially change as a result of the entry of data, such as with a keypad image, a touch ahead feature is enabled, so that the touch detector sends data to a buffer where it is stored until a computer or other data processing system is able to process the data received and update the monitor. Thus, an operator is able to enter data without waiting for the display to be updated. The touch screen system provides feedback to the operator when the touch ahead feature is enabled, by an audible signal emitted when a touch is registered by the touch detector, or by a tactile feedback method such as a solenoid which strikes the monitor, causing a slight vibration detectable by the operator at registration of a touch. The system typically automatically disables the touch ahead feature when entry of data causes a change to the display, in order to prevent the operator from entering data when the visual continued entry of data prior to presentation of visual cues from a changed display would tend to result in entry of incorrect data. In order to accommodate highly skilled operators who are able to enter data without requiring prompting by visual cues, the operator is preferably provided with a manual override control so that the touch ahead feature can be enabled when desired. 
     A more complete understanding of the present invention, as well as further features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following Detailed Description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a touch screen system of the prior art; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a touch screen system with touch ahead capability according to the present invention; and 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a method of touch screen data entry having touch ahead capability according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a touch screen system  100  of the prior art. The system  100  includes a monitor  102  and a touch detector  104 . The monitor displays a graphic image or images  106  to aid data entry. The graphic image  106  illustrated in FIG. 1 is a restaurant layout illustrating the reservation or occupancy status of tables in a restaurant. When an operator touches a portion of the graphic image  106 , such as a rectangle  107  representing one table, the touch detector  104  senses and interprets the touch and sends data to a data processing system, such as a computer  108 . The computer  108  then processes the data and updates the monitor display. For example, if an operator wishes to change the reservation status for the table corresponding to the rectangle  107 , the operator touches that table, in other words rectangle  107 , on the graphic image  106 . The touch detector transmits the touch information to the computer, which transmits a subsequent image to the monitor  102 , such as a list of times and names for the table, in order to allow the operator to provide specific information as to the new status of the table selected. 
     The touch screen system  100  is well suited for applications where a selection leads to a significant change in the image such as image  106  displayed on the monitor  102 . Due to system limitations, the monitor takes a finite time to update its image, so that it cannot keep up with very rapid data entry. This is not a significant limitation in cases where one selection leads to another, but in applications where a graphic image of a keyboard or keypad is displayed the monitor  102  is not able to update as fast as information is entered into such devices. The delay in updating the monitor results in a slowing of data entry, sacrificing productivity and frustrating the operator. 
     FIG. 2 is a more detailed representation of a touch screen system  200  in accordance with the present invention. The touch screen system  200  includes a video monitor  202  which serves as a surface for a touch to be interpreted and processed as data. The monitor  202  is shown here as displaying a keypad graphic  204 . The operator can touch images of the keyboard graphic  204  in order to enter data into the touch screen system  200 . The monitor  202  may also display other graphics, for example button images  206 A-C, in order to provide system control. The monitor  202  may display any of a number of images during the same operating session, with the images changing in accordance with the data required to be entered, and in order to display appropriate information to the operator. 
     Touches of the monitor  202  are detected by a touch detector  208  which senses each touch and detects the position of the touch with respect to the monitor  202 . The touch detector  208  may suitably communicate with a data processing system, such as a computer  210 , to receive instructions for interpretation of a touch in a particular location. For example, in the case where the monitor  202  displays the numeric keypad  204 , the computer  210  may suitably direct the touch detector  208  to interpret touches within a certain range of locations as a ‘1’, touches within another range of locations as a ‘2’, and so on. Alternatively, the touch detector  208  may simply detect the coordinates of a location being touched and direct the coordinate information to the computer  210  for processing. The computer  210  also provides instructions to the touch detector  208  to identify areas in which touches will not be detected. These areas are typically those areas of the monitor  202  which are not part of the display graphic  204 . Touches to these areas have no meaning in the context of the touch screen system, and detection of a touch to such an area would therefore introduce extraneous data. 
     As data is entered into the buffering system  200  by touches to the monitor  202 , the system  200  will receive and process the data and update the display on the monitor  202  in accordance with the data entered. 
     A typical monitor of a type suitably used as the monitor  202  will not be able to update its display as fast as a skilled operator is able to enter the data. Therefore, a buffer  212  is provided to receive data from the touch detector  204  as touches are detected. Depending on system design, the buffer  212  may receive numerical or other data derived from touch locations detected by the touch detector  204 , or alternatively may receive raw position data to be stored and passed along for processing by other system components. The buffer  212  preferably comprises high-speed memory in an amount suitable for storing the maximum amount of data contemplated to be received before the monitor  202  is able to receive and process the data. 
     The computer  210  receives data from the buffer  212 , processes the data, and sends display commands to the monitor  202 . The computer  210  sends updated display commands to the monitor  202  at a rate at which the monitor  202  is able to receive the commands, and extracts data from the buffer  212  whenever a new piece of data is able to be processed. At the same time, an operator is able to enter data via touches of the monitor  202  at whatever rate is desired, as data can be placed in the buffer  212  as fast as the operator can enter the data, without a need to wait for the monitor  202  to update its display. 
     To insure accurate data entry, the operator is preferably provided with feedback in order to determine when a touch has been detected and when a touch has not been detected. If the operator is entering data faster than the monitor  202  can be updated, feedback is not available from the monitor  202  at the time it is needed. The touch screen system  200  therefore provides feedback as each touch is detected. Feedback may suitably be provided by a solenoid  214  suitably connected to the buffer  212 . As the buffer  212  receives data from a touch, the buffer  212  sends a command to the solenoid  214  to cause the solenoid  214  to tap the monitor  202 , causing the monitor  202  to vibrate and notify the operator that a touch has been properly registered. Alternatively, the touch screen system  200  may provide audio feedback, for example through a loudspeaker  215 . The loudspeaker  215  would sound a designated tone whenever data from a touch was received by the buffer  212 . 
     For purposes of providing feedback, the touch detector  208  may be designed to detect a touch in an invalid area. The touch detector would not provide data to the buffer  212  in such a case, but instead would cause the loudspeaker  215  to sound a designated tone indicating an invalid touch. The touch detector  208  may communicate directly with the loudspeaker  215 , or alternatively may communicate through the buffer  212  or through the computer  210 . 
     In some applications, it is inadvisable to prevent the operator from entering information faster than the monitor  202  is able to be updated. This situation occurs, for example, when a data entry causes a change to the display such that a location on the monitor  202  represents different data than previously. This happens, for example, when the operator is accessing a series of menus, with a menu selection causing the appearance of a different menu calling for different entries. In such a case, allowing the operator to enter data before the monitor  202  is updated will allow or result in incorrect data entry, as the meaning of a touch in a particular location will have changed before the operator is provided with a display showing the new meaning of a touch. It is therefore advantageous for the buffering system  200  to enable or disable the ability to touch ahead, as appropriate. The touch detector  208  is connected to the computer  210 , in addition to being connected to the buffer  212 . The computer  210  is able to transmit instructions to, and receive data from, the touch detector  208 . The computer  210  preferably automatically disables the touch ahead capability when the monitor  202  is changing displays in such a way that entries change. The computer  210  can simply be programmed to allow the touch ahead capability for certain displays and to disable the touch ahead capability for other displays. 
     A highly skilled operator who is extremely familiar with the system may wish to be able to touch ahead even in the case of changing displays. It is therefore advantageous for the touch screen system  200  to allow the operator a manual override control to force the system  200  to enable the touch ahead capability whenever desired. This can be accomplished by providing an enable/disable button graphic  216  on the monitor  202 . Alternatively, it may be found advantageous to include a physical keypad  218  connected to the computer  210  as part of the touch screen system  200 . In this case an enable/disable key  220  may be provided. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a method  300  of touch screen data entry allowing touch ahead by an operator, according to the present invention. At step  302 , a touch screen system is provided, similar to the touch screen system  200  of FIG.  2 . The touch screen system includes a monitor, touch detector, computer, and buffer. At step  304 , the system is initialized and the monitor displays a graphic whereby an operator can make touches to enter data. At step  306 , an operating mode is selected depending on the graphic displayed and selections made by the operator. If the graphic displayed is suitable for touch ahead to be allowed, or if the operator chooses a touch ahead mode, touch ahead mode is enabled. Otherwise, touch ahead mode is disabled and a standard mode is enabled. 
     At step  308 , the operator enters data into the system by making a touch at an appropriate location on the monitor. 
     At step  310 , the data entered by the operator is processed. If the system is in the touch ahead mode, the data is stored in a buffer and the user is provided with feedback to indicate that a touch has been registered. The data stored in the buffer is passed to the computer as it is able to be handled, and the monitor is updated with the data as it is able to refresh its display in accordance with the new data. If the system is not in the touch ahead mode, the data is passed to the computer, which disables entry of further data and updates the monitor display. The computer then re-enables the entry of data once the monitor display has been updated. 
     While the present invention is disclosed in the context of a presently preferred embodiment, it will be recognized that a wide variety of implementations may be employed by persons of ordinary skill in the art consistent with the above discussion and the claims which follow below.