Wearable Device Predictive Text Input via Paired Terminal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wearable devices face challenges in providing an efficient and accurate method for users to input text messages due to limited space, making it difficult to implement a virtual keyboard effectively.

Innovation Solution

A wearable device system that predicts and displays text messages based on user state information, touch inputs, and receiver device context, allowing users to transmit messages without directly typing on a keyboard.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a virtual keyboard is provided on the touch screen of a wearable device, then character input capability is achieved, but the device size increases and input accuracy decreases due to limited space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharacter input capabilityVSAvoidtouch screen space
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the keyboard interface from the wearable device's touch screen and relocates it to the paired terminal device (smartphone or tablet). The wearable device only needs to display a simplified keyboard icon or indicator, while the full virtual keyboard is presented on the larger screen of the paired device, allowing users to input characters accurately without compromising the wearable device's compact size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The paired terminal device serves as an intermediary between the wearable device and the user's input needs. The wearable device initiates the message sending process and transmits the keyboard interface request to the paired device, which then renders the full virtual keyboard. This intermediary approach allows the system to maintain the wearable device's small form factor while providing comprehensive input capabilities through the paired device's larger display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If a virtual keyboard with sufficient key size is displayed, then input accuracy improves, but the message transmission speed decreases due to multiple typing steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinput accuracyVSAvoidmessage transmission speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting the user's intended message content based on contextual information such as conversation history, time, location, and contact relationships. Before the user needs to type, the system pre-generates predictive text suggestions and presents them on the virtual keyboard, allowing users to select from pre-computed options rather than typing everything from scratch, thus improving both accuracy and speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides self-service by automatically generating predictive text suggestions and updating them in real-time based on user input progress. The keyboard interface automatically adapts to the conversation context without requiring manual configuration, and the predictive algorithms continuously refine suggestions based on user selection patterns, reducing the cognitive and physical effort needed for message composition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If predictive text messages are provided based on user state, then message transmission speed increases, but the system complexity increases due to state monitoring and prediction algorithms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage transmission speedVSAvoidprediction system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The predictive text system is segmented into distinct functional modules: state monitoring module (tracking user activity, location, time), context analysis module (processing conversation history and relationship data), prediction algorithm module (generating text suggestions), and keyboard integration module (displaying and managing predictive options on the virtual keyboard). This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently and facilitates easier maintenance and updates of the prediction system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The predictive text system is designed to serve multiple functions beyond simple message composition: it monitors user state for health and safety applications, analyzes conversation patterns for social insights, provides contextual recommendations for various communication scenarios, and adapts to different user preferences and communication styles. This multi-functionality justifies the system complexity by delivering comprehensive value across multiple use cases.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3228101B1Wearable device and method of transmitting message from the same
Publication Date: 2022.03.09 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3228101B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2c
  • EP3228101B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3228101B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

A wearable device worn on a body of a user is provided. The wearable device includes a sensing unit configured to sense state information of the user, a touch input unit configured to receive a touch input from the user, a controller configured to select at least one of a plurality of strings based on the state information when the touch input is received, a display configured to display the selected at least one string, and a communicator configured to transmit a message including the at least one string to a receiver device.