Adaptive Keypad Layout for Mobile Terminal Text Input

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile terminals face challenges in efficient text input due to small key spacing on keypads, leading to frequent typing errors, especially for long texts, and are cumbersome for hearing-impaired users attempting to input sign language, with limited space utilization.

Innovation Solution

A method and mobile terminal design that includes a modified keypad operation allowing for interlocking display windows with edit objects, enabling split or slid keypads, and utilizing display windows for text input, correction, and language adaptation based on content and input schemes, including handwriting, voice, and sign language recognition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a basic keypad with multiple keys is used for text input, then text input function is provided, but typing errors increase due to small key spacing and thumb thickness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetext input accuracyVSAvoidtyping error rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The keypad is divided into multiple language-specific keypads (Korean, English, Chinese, etc.) that can be selectively displayed. This segmentation allows users to choose the appropriate keyboard layout for their input needs, reducing typing errors by avoiding unnecessary key switches and providing optimized key spacing for each language.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between different keypad layouts based on detected input language or user selection. The keypad configuration changes in real-time, transitioning from a static basic keypad to an adaptive interface that optimizes key arrangement and spacing according to the current input requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple keypads are included for different languages, then language versatility is improved, but operation becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelanguage supportVSAvoidkeypad operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of the input language or user intent before displaying the appropriate keypad. This preliminary action allows the correct language-specific keypad to be pre-configured and displayed, eliminating the need for users to manually switch between multiple keypads during text input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects the input language and selects the appropriate keypad layout without requiring user intervention. The keypad adapts itself to the user's needs by monitoring input patterns and automatically switching between language configurations, making the system self-serve the user's multilingual requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Area of stationary object

If a basic keypad layout is used, then space utilization is limited, but simple structure is maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvekeypad space utilizationVSAvoidkeypad structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The same display area is used to present different keypad layouts depending on the detected language or input mode. The basic keypad structure serves multiple functions by dynamically reconfiguring itself, maximizing space utilization without requiring additional physical hardware or complex structural elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2778879B1Mobile terminal and modified keypad with corresponding method
Publication Date: 2019.09.11 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2778879B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2778879B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP2778879B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A method of controlling a mobile terminal, and which includes displaying an application screen of an executing application and a corresponding keypad on a display of the mobile terminal; modifying, via a controller of the mobile terminal, the keypad into a new keypad arrangement; displaying, via the controller, a display window in a vacant space created by the modification of the keypad, wherein a function of the display window is automatically selected based on a type of the executing application; and inputting text on the displayed application screen through the display window and modified keypad.