Multi-language Virtual Keyboard with Overlapping Character Boundaries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current keyboards are inefficient and cumbersome when handling input of alphabet characters from multiple languages, as they require switching between keyboards and fail to recognize relationships between characters from different languages, making it difficult to decipher and input combinations of characters from languages like English and Korean.
Innovation Solution
A combined language keyboard system that allows simultaneous access to alphabet characters of multiple languages, using a virtual keyboard layout where characters from different languages are displayed with adjustable boundaries that can overlap, and a timing or key-based mode to determine when characters are combined, enabling efficient input and display of mixed language text.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single keyboard is used for multiple languages, then keyboard switching is eliminated and input efficiency is improved, but character alignment and visual grouping between different languages deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension by implementing timing-based modes (continuous input mode vs. separate input mode) to manage character alignment. In continuous input mode, characters from different languages are automatically aligned based on input timing, while in separate input mode, traditional spacing is maintained. This temporal dimension allows the system to resolve the conflict between multi-language input efficiency and character alignment visibility.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If traditional keyboard switching is used, then character alignment is maintained, but memory usage increases and operation becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple language keyboards into a single unified keyboard interface that can display and input characters from different languages simultaneously. This consolidation eliminates the need to switch between separate keyboard layouts, reducing operational complexity and memory usage while maintaining the ability to properly align and display mixed-language text through the timing-based alignment mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If characters from different languages are displayed with standard spacing, then readability is maintained, but visual grouping and phonetic understanding deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic spacing adjustment based on the input timing and language context. When characters are input in rapid succession within a predetermined time period, the system dynamically reduces the spacing between them to create visual grouping, thereby preserving phonetic relationships. This dynamic adjustment maintains readability while preventing loss of phonetic grouping information.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for combining of alphabet characters of different languages is provided. The method includes loading, from a memory, a combined virtual keyboard providing simultaneous access to both an alphabet character of a first language and an alphabet character of a second language. On the combined keyboard, an input of the alphabet character of the first language and an input of the alphabet character of the second language are received for display. Each of the inputted alphabet characters of the first language and the second language has an image of respective alphabet character surrounded by a quadrilateral boundary of a predetermined size. When the alphabet characters are combined, at least one of the alphabet character of the first language and the alphabet character of the second language shifted towards each other, such that boundaries surrounding the alphabet characters are partially overlapped.