Compressed standardized keyboard

Abstract

A keyboard of reduced size is provided in which multiple characters are assigned to each of the primary keys. The selection of the characters to be assigned to each specific primary key is based on the touch typing rules associated with a specific standardized keyboard, preferably allowing at least three rows of keys to be reduced to a single row of keys. A disambiguating system is used to interpret which of the characters and/or symbols assigned to a particular key is intended, typically by applying a set of disambiguating rules to generated input sequences.

1 . (canceled) 
   
   
       2 . A keyboard system, comprising:
 a first portion having a first plurality of input keys and being configured for use by fingers of a user's left hand;   a second portion having a second plurality of input keys and being configured for use by fingers of a user's right hand, wherein at least one portion is movable, and wherein each input key of the first and second portions corresponds to a plurality of individual keys on a standardized keyboard, is associated with a single, specific finger based on touch typing rules of the standardized keyboard, and generates a signal when selected;   a memory for storing a plurality of signal sequences, each signal sequence being comprised of multiple signals that are generated by selection of input keys; and   a processor coupled to the memory, the processor being configured to apply a set of disambiguating rules to each signal sequence and output a chosen signal sequence based on the set of disambiguating rules for each signal sequence.   
   
   
       3 . The keyboard system of  claim 2 , wherein said standardized keyboard is a QWERTY keyboard. 
   
   
       4 . The keyboard system of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second portions are embedded within a portable device. 
   
   
       5 . The keyboard system of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion includes at least five input keys and the second portion includes at least five input keys. 
   
   
       6 . The keyboard system of  claim 5 , wherein three adjacent letters of three individual keys of three different rows of the standardized keyboard are assigned to each input key of the first portion. 
   
   
       7 . The keyboard system of  claim 5 , wherein three adjacent letters of three individual keys of three different rows of the standardized keyboard are assigned to at least two input keys of the second portion, and at least one input key of the second portion corresponds to two letter keys and at least one number key of the standardized keyboard. 
   
   
       8 . The keyboard system of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion includes a first space key corresponding to a space bar of the standardized keyboard and is configured for use by a user's left thumb, and the second portion includes a second space input key corresponding to the space bar of the standardized keyboard and is configured for use by a user's right thumb. 
   
   
       9 . The keyboard system of  claim 2 , wherein individual adjacent keys of the standardized keyboard that are accessible by extending and contracting a specific finger are combined into a single input key. 
   
   
       10 . The keyboard system of  claim 2 , wherein both of the first and second portions are movable. 
   
   
       11 . The keyboard system of  claim 2 , wherein at least one portion of input keys is slidably movable. 
   
   
       12 . The keyboard system of  claim 11 , wherein both of the first and second portions of input keys are slidably movable. 
   
   
       13 . The keyboard system of  claim 12 , wherein the first portion of input keys is slidably movable in a first direction, and the second portion of input keys is slidably movable in a second, different direction. 
   
   
       14 . The keyboard system of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second portions of input keys are horizontally slidable in opposite directions, and at least one portion of input keys is vertically slidable. 
   
   
       15 . The keyboard system of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second portions of input keys are hingedly coupled. 
   
   
       16 . An apparatus having a keyboard system, comprising:
 a body;   a first portion having a first plurality of input keys and being configured for use by fingers of a user's left hand,   a second portion having a second plurality of input keys and being configured for use by fingers of a user's right hand, wherein at least one of the first and second portions is slidable relative to the body, and wherein each input key of the first and second portions corresponds to a plurality of individual keys on a standardized keyboard, is associated with a single, specific finger based on touch typing rules of the standardized keyboard, and generates a signal when selected;   a memory for storing a plurality of signal sequences, wherein each of said plurality of signal sequences is comprised of multiple signals generated by the selection of multiple input keys selected from the plurality of input keys; and   a processor coupled to the memory, the processor being configured to apply a set of disambiguating rules to each of the plurality of signal sequences and output a chosen signal sequence based on the set of disambiguating rules for each of the plurality of signal sequences.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said standardized keyboard is a QWERTY keyboard. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the body and the first and second portions are integrated within a portable device. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the body and the first and second portions are integrated within a digital assistant (PDA) or a computing device. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a connector, wherein the first and second portions of input keys are operably coupled to a processing device by the connector. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first portion includes at least five input keys and the second portion includes at least five input keys. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein three adjacent letters of three individual keys of three different rows of the standardized keyboard are assigned to each input key of the first portion. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein three adjacent letters of three individual keys of three different rows of the standardized keyboard are assigned to at least two input keys of the second portion, and at least one input key of the second portion corresponds to two letter keys and at least one number key of the standardized keyboard. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first portion includes a first space key corresponding to a space bar of the standardized keyboard and is configured for use by a user's left thumb, and the second portion includes a second space input key corresponding to the space bar of the standardized keyboard and is configured for use by a user's right thumb. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein individual adjacent keys of the standardized keyboard that are accessible by extending and contracting a specific finger are combined into a single input key. 
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein both of the first and second portions of input keys are slidably movable, the first portion is slidably movable in a first direction, and the second portion of input keys is slidably movable in a second, different direction. 
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the first and second portions of input keys are horizontally slidable in opposite directions, and at least one portion of input keys is vertically slidable. 
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the standardized keyboard is a QWERTY keyboard. 
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein individual “q”, “a” and “z” keys on the standardized keyboard are combined into a first input key, individual “w”, “s” and “x” keys on the standardized keyboard are combined into a second input key, individual “e”, “d” and “c” keys on the standardized keyboard are combined into a third input key, individual “r”, “f” and “v” keys on the standardized keyboard are combined into a fourth input key, individual “t”, “g” and “b” keys on the standardized keyboard are combined into a fifth input key, individual “y”, “h” and “n” keys on the standardized keyboard are combined into a sixth input key, and individual “u”, “j” and “m” keys on the standardized keyboard are combined into a seventh input key. 
   
   
       30 . A keyboard system, comprising:
 a first portion having a first plurality of input keys and being configured for use by fingers of a user's left hand;   a second portion having a second plurality of input keys and being configured for use by fingers of a user's right hand, wherein each of said plurality of input keys of the first and second portions corresponds to at least three individual keys on a standardized keyboard, is associated with a single, specific finger based on touch typing rules of the standardized keyboard and generates a signal when selected, and wherein at least one portion is movable relative to the other portion;   a memory for storing a plurality of signal sequences, wherein each of said plurality of signal sequences is comprised of multiple signals generated by the selection of multiple input keys selected from said plurality of input keys; and   a processor coupled to said memory, said processor applying a set of disambiguating rules to each of said plurality of signal sequences and outputting a chosen signal sequence based on said set of disambiguating rules for each of said plurality of signal sequences.   
   
   
       31 . A compressed standardized QWERTY keyboard system, comprising:
 a plurality of input keys, wherein each of said plurality of input keys corresponds to at least three individual keys of a standardized QWERTY keyboard, the plurality of input keys being configured for use by a user's fingers, a first group of input keys being movable relative a second group of input keys, wherein each of said at least three individual keys is associated with a single, specific finger based on touch typing rules of the standardized QWERTY keyboard, and wherein each of said plurality of input keys generates a signal when selected;   a memory for storing a plurality of signal sequences, wherein each of said plurality of signal sequences is comprised of multiple signals generated by the selection of multiple input keys selected from said plurality of input keys; and   a processor coupled to said memory, said processor applying a set of disambiguating rules to each of said plurality of signal sequences and outputting a chosen signal sequence based on said set of disambiguating rules for each of said plurality of signal sequences.   
   
   
       32 . A compressed standardized DVORAK keyboard system, comprising:
 a plurality of input keys; wherein each of said plurality of input keys corresponds to at least three individual keys on a standardized DVORAK keyboard, the plurality of input keys being configured for use by a user's fingers, a first group of input keys being movable relative a second group of input keys, wherein each of said at least three individual keys is associated with a single, specific finger based on touch typing rules of the standardized DVORAK keyboard, and wherein each of said plurality of input keys generates a signal when selected;   a memory for storing a plurality of signal sequences, wherein each of said plurality of signal sequences is comprised of multiple signals generated by the selection of multiple input keys selected from said plurality of input keys; and   a processor coupled to said memory, said processor applying a set of disambiguating rules to each of said plurality of signal sequences and outputting a chosen signal sequence based on said set of disambiguating rules for each of said plurality of signal sequences.