Touchscreen Character Input Layout for Single-Slide Candidate Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing character input systems on touch screens require multiple operations to input character strings, making the process cumbersome, as users need to select representative characters, then candidate characters, and finally confirm the input, often after completing a second character selection operation.
Innovation Solution
A character input system that displays three band-shaped areas on a touch screen - a first key area, a second key area adjacent to it, and a candidate area - allowing users to slide from the first key area to the second and then to the candidate area to select and confirm candidate character strings with a single slide operation, reducing the number of steps required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a virtual keyboard is displayed on a touch screen with multiple selection steps (representative character selection, then candidate character selection), then character input accuracy is improved, but the number of operations required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the representative character selection and candidate character selection into a single continuous sliding operation. The touch panel detects the movement trajectory of the finger from the first key area through the second key area to the candidate area, allowing both selections to be completed in one motion rather than requiring separate tap operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary display of the candidate area based on the detected sliding direction and position. As the user slides from the first key area toward the second key area, the system anticipates the user's intent and pre-displays relevant candidate characters, so that when the user completes the sliding motion, the desired candidates are already visible and ready for selection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple key areas are displayed on the touch screen to provide character groups and candidates, then character input versatility is improved, but the display area requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the temporal dimension of touch interaction by detecting the movement trajectory over time. Instead of requiring all character groups and candidates to be visible simultaneously in space, the system uses the sliding motion trajectory to sequentially present different key areas and candidate areas, effectively adding a time dimension to the spatial arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The display configuration is made dynamic rather than static. The visible key areas and candidate areas change based on the user's sliding position and direction. As the user slides across the screen, different portions of the keyboard and candidate areas are dynamically displayed, allowing versatility without requiring all elements to occupy screen space simultaneously.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(1)~2(7)
Figure 3
AI summary
On the initial character input screen of a touch screen 1, only a first band-shaped key area (31) is displayed in which the characters of a plurality of character groups in which representative characters are given one by one are lined up, and when a touch point is detected in this area (31), a second band-shaped key area (32) is displayed in which the characters of the group in which the representative characters are the characters displayed at that detection position are lined up. When movement of a touch point from the first band-shaped key area (31) to the second band-shaped key area (32) is detected, a band-shaped candidate area (41) is displayed in which candidate character strings that match the characters displayed at that movement position are displayed in a line. These areas (31, 32, and 41) are arranged in that order in the width direction and with their orientations aligned. When the touch point disappears after moving from the second band-shaped key area (32) to the band-shaped candidate area (41), the candidate character string displayed at that disappearance position is confirmed as the input character string.