Virtual Keyboard Geometric Layout for Controller Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Virtual keyboards, especially those operated with game controllers or television remote controllers having a reduced number of keys, suffer from slow text input as users must repeatedly navigate directional keys to select characters, leading to inefficient typing performance.
Innovation Solution
A method for a virtual keyboard that involves defining geometric shapes on which character icons are placed, with lines crossing these shapes to highlight pairs of icons automatically, allowing users to select characters using a limited number of keys on a controller, such as a television remote control, by rotating or moving the highlighting lines while keeping the icons stationary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If directional keys are used to navigate and select characters on a virtual keyboard, then character selection is possible with a reduced number of keys, but text input speed becomes very slow requiring many repeated presses
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual keyboard is segmented into multiple geometric shapes (e.g., circles, squares), each containing a subset of character icons arranged along their outlines. This segmentation allows characters to be organized in groups, enabling faster selection by reducing the navigation distance compared to a traditional linear layout.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically successively highlighting pairs of character icons in advance, so that when a user presses a key, the desired character is already highlighted or becomes highlighted immediately. This eliminates the need for repeated directional key presses to navigate to each character.
2Productivity
If character icons are arranged along the outline of geometric shapes, then character selection can be achieved with fewer key presses, but the keyboard layout complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs geometric shapes such as circles and ellipses as the foundation for character icon arrangement. Characters are positioned along the outlines of these curved shapes, creating a radial or circumferential layout that reduces navigation distance and allows for more efficient key press patterns compared to linear arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The character icons are arranged in two-dimensional geometric patterns (along the outlines of shapes) rather than traditional one-dimensional linear rows. This dimensional change allows for more characters to be accessible within a smaller navigation space, improving typing performance while maintaining visual clarity.
3Loss of time
If automatic successive highlighting of character pairs is implemented, then navigation time is reduced, but the system complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by automatically successively highlighting pairs of character icons at regular intervals or in a predetermined sequence. This periodic highlighting pattern allows the system to cycle through character pairs efficiently, reducing navigation time while using simple, repeatable highlighting logic that doesn't require complex processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Method for a virtual keyboard, the method being characterized in that it comprises the steps of: defining (301) at least one geometric shape; placing (302), along the outline of the geometric shape, a plurality of character icons corresponding to alphanumeric characters; generating (303), at least one line, crossing said geometric shape, and having at least two crossing points with said at least one geometric shape and with two of its character icons per line, which are thereby designated as currently highlighted character icons; assigning (304) said two character icons to two distinct keys on a controller (200); automatically, successively (305) highlighting pairs of said character icons; awaiting (306) a user input designating either of the two character icons currently highlighted.