IP Library Granted Patent US 7,251,367
Granted Patent B2
US 7,251,367 · App. 10/325,197 · Granted Jul 31, 2007

System and method for recognizing word patterns based on a virtual keyboard layout

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,251,367
App. No.
10/325,197
Granted
Jul 31, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system augments stylus keyboarding with shorthand gesturing. The system defines a shorthand symbol for each word according to its movement pattern on an optimized stylus keyboard. The system recognizes word patterns by identifying an input as a stroke, and then matching the stroke to a stored list of word patterns. The system then generates and displays the matched word to the user.

Claims (73)

1. A method of recognizing word patterns, comprising:

defining word patterns of a plurality of known words by a plurality of paths,

wherein each path connects elements in a word on a virtual keyboard layout;

accepting an input as a stroke based on a virtual keyboard layout;

matching the inputted stroke to a word having a word pattern that approximates the inputted stroke; and

generating the matched word having the word pattern that approximates the inputted stroke.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying the matched word.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising analyzing the input to differentiate between a tapping input and a stroke input.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein generating the matched word comprises generating at least one matched candidate word based on the stroke input.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein generating the at least one matched candidate word comprises comparing the at least one matched candidate word to a predetermined matching threshold.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the input comprises the tapping input that represents at least one element of the word.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein displaying the matched word comprises displaying a plurality of candidate matched words in a graphical format.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the graphical format includes a pie chart graphical display.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising selecting a desired candidate matched word from the displayed candidate matched words by accepting a gesture input in a direction of the desired candidate matched word.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual keyboard layout matches a physical keyboard layout.

11. A computer program product having executable instruction codes stored on a computer-readable medium, for recognizing word patterns, comprising:

a set of instruction codes for defining word patterns of a plurality of known words by a plurality of paths, wherein each path connects elements in a word on a virtual keyboard layout;

a set of instruction codes for accepting an input as a stroke based on a virtual keyboard layout;

a set of instruction codes for matching the inputted stroke to a word having a word pattern that approximates the inputted stroke; and

a set of instruction codes for generating the matched word having the word pattern that approximates the inputted stroke.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 , further comprising a set of instruction codes for displaying the matched word.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 , further comprising a set of instruction codes for differentiating between a tapping input and a stroke input.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the set of instruction codes for generating the matched word comprises generating at least one matched candidate word based on the stroke input.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein the set of instruction codes for generating the at least one matched candidate word compares the at least one matched candidate word to a predetermined matching threshold.

16. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the input comprises the tapping input that represents at least one one element of the word.

17. The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein the set of instruction codes for displaying the matched word comprises displaying a plurality of candidate matched words in a graphical format.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the the graphical format includes a pie chart graphical display.

19. The computer program product of claim 17 , further comprising a set of instruction codes for selecting a desired candidate matched word from the displayed candidate matched words by accepting a gesture input in a direction of the desired candidate matched word.

20. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the virtual keyboard layout matches a physical keyboard layout.

21. A system for recognizing word patterns, comprising:

means for defining word patterns of a plurality of known words by a plurality of paths, wherein each path connects elements in a word on a virtual keyboard layout;

means for accepting an input as a stroke based on a virtual keyboard layout;

means for matching the inputted stroke to a word having a word pattern that approximates the inputted stroke; and

means for generating the matched word having the word pattern that approximates the inputted stroke.

22. The system of claim 21 , further comprising means for displaying the matched word.

23. The system of claim 22 , further comprising means for differentiating between a tapping input and a stroke input.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the means for generating the matched word comprises generating at least one matched candidate word based on the stroke input.

25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the means for generating the at least one matched candidate word comprises means for comparing the at least one matched candidate word to a predetermined matching threshold.

26. The system of claim 23 , wherein the input comprises the tapping input that represents at least one element of the word.

27. The system of claim 24 , wherein the means for displaying the matched word displays a plurality of candidate matched words in a graphical format.

28. The system of claim 27 , wherein the graphical format includes a pie chart graphical display.

29. The system of claim 27 , further comprising an input device for selecting a desired candidate matched word from the displayed candidate matched words by accepting a gesture input in a direction of the desired candidate matched word.

30. The system of claim 21 , wherein the virtual keyboard layout matches a physical keyboard layout.

31. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual keyboard layout comprises alphabetical letters.

32. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual keyboard layout comprises punctuations that correspond to the elements of the word.

33. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual keyboard layout comprises symbols that correspond to the elements of the word.

34. The method of claim 33 , wherein the symbols comprise phonetic symbols.

35. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual keyboard layout comprises elements in a non-alphabetical language that correspond to the elements of the word.

36. The method of claim 1 , wherein the known words comprise a finite number of fragments of words.

37. The method of claim 1 , wherein the known words comprise a finite number of names.

38. The method of claim 1 , wherein the known words comprise a finite number of abbreviations.

39. The method of claim 1 , further comprising inputting the stroke by any one of a digital pen and a stylus, on a sensing surface.

40. The method of claim 1 , further comprising inputting the stroke by a hand gesture on a sensing surface.

41. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the virtual keyboard layout comprises alphabetical letters.

42. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the virtual keyboard layout comprises punctuations that correspond to the elements of the word.

43. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the virtual keyboard layout comprises symbols that correspond to the elements of the word.

44. The computer program product of claim 43 , wherein the symbols comprise phonetic symbols.

45. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the virtual keyboard layout comprises elements in a non-alphabetical language that correspond to the elements of the word.

46. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the known words comprise a finite number of fragments of words.

47. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the known words comprise a finite number of names.

48. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the known words comprise a finite number of abbreviations.

49. The computer program product of claim 11 , further comprising inputting the stroke by any one of a digital pen and a stylus, on a sensing surface.

50. The computer program product of claim 11 , further comprising inputting the stroke by a hand gesture on a sensing surface.

51. The system of claim 21 , wherein the virtual keyboard layout comprises alphabetical letters.

52. The system of claim 21 , wherein the virtual keyboard layout comprises punctuations that correspond to the elements of the word.

53. The system of claim 21 , wherein the virtual keyboard layout comprises symbols that correspond to the elements of the word.

54. The system of claim 53 , wherein the symbols comprise phonetic symbols.

55. The system of claim 21 , wherein the virtual keyboard layout comprises elements in a non-alphabetical language that correspond to the elements of the word.

56. The system of claim 21 , wherein the known words comprise a finite number of fragments of words.

57. The system of claim 21 , wherein the known words comprise a finite number of names.

58. The system of claim 21 , wherein the known words comprise a finite number of abbreviations.

59. The system of claim 21 , further comprising means for inputting the stroke by any one of a digital pen and a stylus, on a sensing surface.

60. The system of claim 21 , further comprising means for inputting the stroke by a hand gesture on a sensing surface.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE (REEL 052935 / FRAME 0584) Recorded Jan 2, 2025
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: CERENCE OPERATING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 069797/0818 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REPLACE THE CONVEYANCE DOCUMENT WITH THE NEW ASSIGNMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 050836 FRAME: 0191. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Apr 19, 2022
From: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: CERENCE OPERATING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 059804/0186 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 15, 2020
From: CERENCE OPERATING COMPANY
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 052935/0584 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2020
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: CERENCE OPERATING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 052927/0335 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 7, 2019
From: CERENCE OPERATING COMPANY
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 050953/0133 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 050836 FRAME: 0191. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 29, 2019
From: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: CERENCE OPERATING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 050871/0001 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 23, 2019
From: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: CERENCE INC.
Reel/Frame 050836/0191 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 26, 2013
From: CONCORD STAR HOLDINGS, LTD.
To: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 031676/0133 →
PATENT ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 15, 2010
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: CONCORD STAR HOLDINGS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 023882/0942 →