Flexible Keyboard Layout System with Dynamic Error Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mobile devices face challenges in flexible keyboard layouts and error correction due to dimension and cost constraints, leading to inflexible input systems and limited auto-correction capabilities, especially on touch screens with reduced key sizes.

Innovation Solution

A system that allows for flexible keyboard layouts and smart error-correction by mapping user inputs to character sets based on current layouts, using an input module, layout mapping module, dictionary module, and candidate word module to generate and prioritize candidate words, enabling users to customize layouts and correct errors effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a full-size hardware keyboard is equipped on electronic devices, then input accuracy is improved, but device dimension and manufacture cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinput accuracyVSAvoiddevice dimension

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a software keyboard on touch screen that mimics the layout and functionality of a physical keyboard through visual display and touch interaction, eliminating the need for a bulky hardware keyboard while maintaining input accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical keyboard system with a software-based touch input system that uses visual display and capacitive touch sensing to achieve the same input function without mechanical components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If keyboard layout is changed from QWERTY to AZERTY, then adaptability to different languages is improved, but software and dictionary file have to be rewritten entirely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelanguage adaptabilityVSAvoidsoftware complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic keyboard layout system where the keyboard configuration can be changed at runtime through software parameters without requiring recompilation or restructuring of the dictionary files, allowing flexible switching between different language layouts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter-based configuration to define different keyboard layouts, where changing the layout corresponds to changing software parameters rather than rewriting the entire software system, thus maintaining simplicity while achieving adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Length of moving object

If keyboard size is reduced to fit portable devices, then device portability is improved, but user is prone to press adjacent keys by mistake

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice portabilityVSAvoidinput reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent provides visual feedback by displaying the keyboard layout and pressed keys on the touch screen, allowing users to see exactly what they are pressing and receive immediate confirmation, which compensates for the reduced tactile feedback and helps prevent adjacent key errors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent displays the full keyboard layout before input, allowing users to mentally prepare and locate the desired keys, and provides candidate word suggestions that anticipate potential input errors before they occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If conventional auto-correction method using predetermined error list is used, then error correction function is provided, but it can determine only limited known mistake types and is readily subject to misjudgment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror correction capabilityVSAvoiderror recognition scope

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent calculates the physical distance between contact points and key centers as a dynamic parameter to determine whether a key press was intentional or accidental, replacing the static predetermined error list with a flexible distance-based judgment mechanism that can handle any adjacent key error scenario

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9323345B2System capable of accomplishing flexible keyboard layout

Publication Date: 2016.04.26 SHANGHAI CHULE (COOTEK) INFORMATION TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A system of implementing flexible keyboard layout for inputting text into an electronic device, where a user's input is mapped to a character set based on a keyboard layout, and an input sequence is formed. The user may customize different keyboard layouts and switch among these different layouts arbitrarily. Also, an auto error-correction may be achieved, and smart words selection may be achieved based on context. With the system of the invention, the design cost of the portable device manufactures may be reduced significantly.