Keyboard Layout Access Keys Using Virtual Key Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Many individuals are unable to access keyboard shortcuts due to their limitations on specific operating systems, computing devices, or input devices, excluding them from utilizing application enhancements.

Innovation Solution

An access key management system that determines access key characters for any keyboard layout, associating them with virtual keys to avoid key conflicts and display characters independently of the actual layout, allowing access to access key commands across various devices and languages without requiring additional application development.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If keyboard shortcuts are limited to specific operating systems or computing devices, then the shortcuts can be implemented with simple, device-specific configurations, but accessibility to shortcuts is reduced for users of different devices or operating systems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility to keyboard shortcutsVSAvoidsystem complexity for supporting multiple layouts

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal access key management system that can determine and present access key characters for any keyboard layout. The system associates virtual keys with access key commands and displays appropriate characters based on the current keyboard layout, allowing the same system to serve multiple keyboard layouts and operating systems without requiring device-specific implementations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces virtual keys as an intermediary layer between the access key commands and the physical keyboard layouts. This intermediary allows the system to map access key commands to virtual keys independently of the specific keyboard layout, then present the appropriate characters based on the current layout, thereby resolving conflicts and enabling cross-platform compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If keyboard shortcuts are configured for specific keyboard layouts, then the shortcuts work correctly for that layout, but users of other layouts cannot access the same shortcuts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility across keyboard layoutsVSAvoidease of accessing shortcuts

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic access key character determination system that automatically adapts to the current keyboard layout. The system determines access key characters based on the active keyboard layout at runtime, allowing users to access the same functionality regardless of which keyboard layout they are using, while maintaining correct character display for each layout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of access key character display based on the keyboard layout parameter. Instead of using fixed characters for access keys, the system dynamically selects and displays characters that are appropriate for the current keyboard layout, enabling users of different layouts (e.g., QWERTY, AZERTY, Dvorak) to access the same shortcuts with their respective layout conventions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If access key characters are displayed based on the current keyboard layout, then users can see the correct characters for their layout, but key conflicts may occur between different layouts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of correct access key charactersVSAvoidconsistency of access key commands

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses virtual keys as a copy or representation of the physical keyboard keys. Instead of directly mapping physical keys to access key commands, the system creates virtual key representations that can be consistently managed across different layouts. This allows the system to present layout-specific characters while maintaining consistent underlying command mappings, avoiding conflicts between different keyboard layouts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS12504832B2Determining and presenting access keys for a current keyboard layout

Publication Date: 2025.12.23 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and computer-readable media for providing enhanced accessibility to access keys across a variety of keyboard layouts (or other character input devices). In particular, systems described herein involve determining access key characters to display in conjunction with selectable inputs via a graphical user interface (GUI) of a computing device where the access key characters are selectively determined based on display characters that are mapped to specific keys on a particular keyboard layout. This enables access key characters of all kinds (not limited to Latin-based types) to be provided in conjunction with selectable icons in a way that enables an individual to use the access keys with any type of keyboard or other input device.