Remote Control Keypad Character Selection for Faster Text Entry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Entering textual data using a remote control with a numeric keypad is cumbersome, requiring multiple key presses to select alphabetic characters, which hinders the ease of use in video conferencing and similar systems.
Innovation Solution
Assigning multiple alphabetic characters to each numeric key on the remote control, with associated characters displayed upon key press, allowing selection using navigation buttons, reducing the number of clicks needed for data entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a numeric keypad is used on the remote control, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the ease of operation for textual data entry deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The numeric keypad is made multi-functional by assigning both numeric input and alphabetic character selection capabilities to the same keys. When a numeric key is pressed, the system displays associated alphabetic characters, allowing the user to select letters by pressing the same key multiple times or combining it with navigation buttons. This eliminates the need for a separate alphabetic keyboard while enabling full text input functionality.
2Device complexity
If multiple key presses are required to select each alphabetic character, then the device complexity remains low, but the productivity and speed of data entry deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-associating multiple alphabetic characters with each numeric key and displaying them immediately when the key is pressed. This allows the user to see all available character options before making a selection, enabling faster character entry compared to sequential or hidden selection methods. The navigation buttons provide immediate access to different character positions without requiring multiple iterative key presses.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for performing data entry in videoconferencing and other systems that use remote controls and other non keyboard-based user interface devices. In some embodiments, the keys of a numeric keypad are associated with letters and symbols, such that when a number key is pressed the system displays a selection of choices in a spatial configuration, including the number pressed as well as additional character choices. Users can use navigation buttons to move the selection to any one of the displayed characters and select it, thus minimizing the number of remote control operations for data entry.