Mobile Input Error Correction via Shake Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile devices face challenges in maintaining input accuracy due to instability, leading to accidental entries when users are not in a stationary position, as the onscreen keypad's keys are not physically defined, making it difficult to precisely touch the correct character or number.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a sensor, such as an accelerometer, to detect movement and evaluate characters within a predetermined distance of the entered character during a shake, allowing the device to select a replacement character from nearby options and provide notifications to the user, thereby correcting erroneous entries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If an onscreen keypad is used to reduce device footprint, then device size is reduced, but input accuracy deteriorates due to device instability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice footprintVSAvoidinput accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors accelerometer data to detect device shakes and uses this feedback to identify and correct erroneous character entries in real-time, improving input accuracy without changing the onscreen keypad interface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces reliance on mechanical stability (physical keyboard) with an electronic detection and correction system using accelerometers and software algorithms to compensate for the lack of physical key definition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the device is made portable and mobile, then mobility is improved, but input accuracy deteriorates due to inability to maintain stable position

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovemobilityVSAvoidinput accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system converts the harmful effect of device movement and shakes into useful information by using accelerometer data to detect erroneous entries and automatically correct them, turning mobility-induced instability into a detectable signal for error correction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Volume of moving object

If keys are not physically defined on the display, then device footprint is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in precisely touching correct character

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice footprintVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides self-correction by automatically detecting shakes that cause erroneous entries and replacing them with the intended characters, allowing the device to correct its own errors without user intervention and maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enhances input accuracy by predicting the intended character based on detected movement, reducing errors and improving user experience in unstable environments by providing aural or visual cues for correction opportunities.

Implementation Method 1

Incorporating a sensor, such as an accelerometer, to detect movement

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAccelerometer: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentUS9535510B2Input precision method for minimizing erroneous entries stemming from instability of a mobile device using an accelerometer and apparatus to detect a shake and apparatus and computer program thereof

Publication Date: 2017.01.03 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

A method of correcting an error in user input is described. The method includes monitoring for an occurrence of a shake in a user equipment, detecting a shake, comparing the detected shake with a threshold value, evaluating characters within a pre-determined distance of a character entered by the user during the shake, selecting a replacement character from the evaluated characters and replacing the entered character with the replacement character.