Voice-to-Text Input Activation for One-Handed Screen Interaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

When using a single hand to operate an electronic device, it is difficult for a user's thumb to simultaneously interact with both the top and bottom of the device, causing operational inconvenience, especially in scenarios like viewing notifications or text input.

Innovation Solution

An input interaction method that enables voice-to-text conversion through breath activation, allowing users to lift the device to their mouth to speak, activating a voice-to-text function without additional screen operations, and displaying the transcribed text in a text input area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the user uses single-hand operation to hold the device, then portability and ease of carrying are improved, but the ability to interact with both top and bottom of the screen is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesingle-hand operation convenienceVSAvoidscreen interaction range
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical operation (thumb tapping) with acoustic field interaction (voice commands). The voice-to-text function allows users to input commands acoustically rather than mechanically, enabling full screen interaction while holding the device with one hand. The breath-activated voice input further simplifies this by using breath detection instead of requiring precise thumb placement on screen buttons.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements multiple voice input modes (standard voice-to-text and breath-activated voice input) that can be used across different screen regions and applications. This multi-functional approach allows the same voice input mechanism to serve both text input and navigation purposes throughout the entire screen area, not just specific zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Extent of automation

If the user taps the voice-to-text button manually, then voice input function is activated, but additional operation steps increase complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoice-to-text activationVSAvoidoperation steps
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides self-service through breath-activated voice input that automatically detects when the user intends to speak and activates the appropriate input mode without requiring manual button presses. The system serves itself by using breath detection to trigger voice-to-text functionality, eliminating the need for users to navigate to and tap voice-to-text buttons.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent prepares the voice input system in advance by detecting breath patterns before actual voice input is needed. The breath-activated mechanism pre-conditions the system to receive voice commands as soon as breath is detected, eliminating the need for users to perform preliminary actions like tapping buttons to activate the function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If standard voice-to-text function is used, then text input is achieved, but noise interference reduces reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoice input accuracyVSAvoidnoise interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different processing qualities to different aspects of voice input. The breath-activated function uses specialized noise filtering and breath pattern recognition algorithms tailored specifically for breath-based activation, while standard voice-to-text uses general-purpose voice recognition. This localized optimization improves reliability in specific contexts where breath activation is used.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4671931A1Input interaction method, electronic device and readable medium
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 HONOR DEVICE CO LTD
  • EP4671931A1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP4671931A1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(c)
  • EP4671931A1 patent drawingFigure 3A(1)

AI summary

This application provides an input interaction method, an electronic device, and a readable medium. In a process in which the electronic device displays a first interface, the electronic device enables a first voice-to-text function when a user lifts the electronic device to the mouth to speak, and the electronic device displays, in a first text input area, a text corresponding to a voice input by the user. In an application scenario in which the user views a notification, inputs a text, or the like, an interface displayed by the electronic device includes the first text input area. The user may lift the electronic device to the mouth to speak, and the electronic device enables the first voice-to-text function. The electronic device can display, in the first text input area without an additional operation performed by the user on a screen of the electronic device, a text corresponding to a voice input by the user, thereby simplifying an operation performed by the user on the screen and bringing convenience to the user.