Dynamic Keyboard Layout for Navigation Address Entry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Navigation systems face inefficiencies in entering addresses using a pointing device due to the large space wasted by disabled keys on a full keyboard, making it difficult to accurately and quickly select the next characters.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that display a simplified keyboard with a reduced number of keys, arranged in a clustered manner, along with a list of candidate street names, once the number of candidate characters is narrowed down, allowing users to easily select the next character using a pointing device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a full keyboard is displayed with all alphabetic keys, then all character input options are available, but a large space is wasted by disabled keys making it difficult to quickly select the next character
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard is segmented into two states: a full keyboard displaying all alphabetic keys when no input has been entered, and a simplified keyboard displaying only the reduced set of candidate keys when characters have been entered. This segmentation allows the system to adapt the keyboard display based on the input stage, eliminating disabled keys from view and reducing the search area for the next character.
Solution Approach 2:
The keyboard display dynamically transitions between the full keyboard and simplified keyboard based on the number of candidate characters. When the number of candidate characters is equal to or smaller than a predetermined number, the system automatically switches to displaying the simplified keyboard with clustered keys, optimizing the display for quick selection.
2Loss of information
If disabled keys are shown on the keyboard, then the system provides visual feedback about unavailable options, but it wastes screen space and slows down input efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes disabled keys from the keyboard display, showing only the enabled candidate keys in the simplified keyboard. This extraction eliminates the visual clutter of disabled keys while maintaining the essential function of providing visual feedback about available options, thereby improving input efficiency.
3Area of stationary object
If the keyboard keys are spread out across the screen, then all keys are visible, but the pointing device must travel longer distances to select the next character
Solution Approach 1:
The enabled candidate keys are merged and clustered together in a compact arrangement within a small area on the screen. This clustering reduces the spatial distance between keys, allowing the pointing device to quickly locate and select the next character without traversing large screen areas, thereby reducing selection time.
4Productivity
If a simplified keyboard with reduced keys is displayed, then the number of input operations is reduced, but the system must determine when to switch from full to simplified keyboard
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis by searching for candidate street names that match the input characters before determining the keyboard display mode. By pre-calculating the number of candidate characters and comparing it to the predetermined threshold, the system automatically determines whether to display the full or simplified keyboard, eliminating the need for complex manual switching logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for entering an address for a navigation system allows a user to easily and quickly select a key indicating the next character of the address. At the start of operation, the navigation system shows a full alpha-numeric keyboard. Once the next candidate characters are narrowed down to a certain degree, the navigation system shows a simplified keyboard with a limited number of keys on the monitor screen and highlights the next candidate characters on the simplified keyboard. The navigation system displays both the simplified keyboard and a street name list on the same screen. Since the keys of the limited number are arranged within a small space such as in the three-by-three manner, the user can easily point a cursor or other pointing device to the desired key.