Automatic Soft Keyboard Switching for Multifunction Peripherals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information processing apparatuses, such as multifunction peripherals, require users to manually switch from a wireless keyboard to a soft keyboard, which is inconvenient and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that includes a display, a communicator, and a controller. The controller displays a soft keyboard on the display if no key input information is received from a connected key input receiving device, such as a wireless keyboard, within a predetermined time after the apparatus is ready to receive key input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the apparatus waits for key input from a wireless keyboard before displaying the soft keyboard, then the soft keyboard can be used as a backup input method, but the user must manually switch between keyboards which is inconvenient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects whether a wireless keyboard is connected and switches to the soft keyboard without user intervention when no key input is received from the wireless keyboard within a predetermined time period. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual keyboard switching while maintaining both input methods' functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system preliminarily checks for wireless keyboard connection status and sets a timeout period before automatically switching to the soft keyboard. This preliminary action ensures that the soft keyboard is only displayed when necessary, avoiding unnecessary switching while providing automatic fallback functionality.
2Ease of operation
If the soft keyboard is displayed automatically when no key input is received from the wireless keyboard, then user convenience is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors key input from the wireless keyboard and uses this feedback to determine when to switch to the soft keyboard. When no key input is detected within a predetermined time period, the system automatically displays the soft keyboard. This feedback mechanism simplifies the control logic by using straightforward timeout detection rather than complex prediction algorithms.
3Speed
If the system monitors key input from the wireless keyboard continuously, then automatic soft keyboard display can be triggered timely, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors key input from the wireless keyboard periodically rather than continuously, checking for input at predetermined time intervals. This periodic monitoring approach enables timely detection of key input to trigger soft keyboard display while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes: a display; a communicator that communicates with a key input receiving device; and a controller that performs control to display a soft keyboard on the display if the controller does not receive information indicating content of key input from the key input receiving device before a predetermined period of time elapses after the information processing apparatus becomes ready to receive key input.