Data input system and method for a touch sensor input

Abstract

A data input system for a touch sensor input identifies words input as a set of points by a user. The intended word is identified by determining an origin and points associated with letters on a log polar coordinate system. The log distances and angles of the points are then compared to log distances and angles for known words stored in a computer memory. The known word having the log distances and angles that most closely match the input points is identified as the intended word.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 at an input device having one or more processors and memory storing programs for execution by the one or more processors:
 receiving user touches on a virtual keyboard to enter a first intended word, wherein the virtual keyboard can be located at any area of the input device; 
 detecting a sequence of locations corresponding to the user touches on a keyboard layout; 
 identifying a first set of X and Y coordinate points associated with letters of the first intended word; 
 determining a center of the virtual keyboard based on the first set of X and Y coordinate points; and 
 moving the virtual keyboard based on the center of the virtual keyboard. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the center is located at the weighted average of the first set of X and Y coordinate points. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the virtual keyboard is a QWERTY keyboard. 
     
     
         18 . A method of optimizing searches in a dictionary, the method comprising:
 at an input device having one or more processors and memory storing programs for execution by the one or more processors:
 receiving user touches on a virtual keyboard to enter a first intended word, wherein the virtual keyboard can be located at any area of the input device; 
 detecting a sequence of locations corresponding to the user touches upon a keyboard layout; 
 identifying a shape of the sequence of locations and a first number of points of the shape; 
 accessing an electronic dictionary, wherein the electronic dictionary stores words by normal spelling and number of points of shapes corresponding to the words; 
 searching in the electronic dictionary for word shapes with a second number of points that is same as the first number of points; and 
 retrieving candidate words in the word shapes stored in the electronic dictionary. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 wherein the electronic dictionary stores the words in groups by prefix, the prefix represents a distinct shape of the points corresponding to the words;   refining the search in the dictionary based upon matching prefixes between the shape and the distinct prefixes stored in the electronic dictionary.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 receiving a correction word from the candidate words;   identifying a shape difference between the correction word and the first intended; and   adjusting the words stored in the dictionary based on the shape difference.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 using a text prediction system as a separate layer to predict the candidate words or candidate phrases.   
     
     
         22 . An electronic device, comprising:
 one or more processors;   a touch screen; and   memory storing programs for execution by the one or more processors, the programs including instructions for:
 receiving user touches on a virtual keyboard to enter a first intended word, wherein the virtual keyboard can be located at any area of the input device; 
 detecting a sequence of locations corresponding to the user touches upon a keyboard layout; 
 identifying a shape of the sequence of locations and a first number of points of the shape; 
 accessing an electronic dictionary, wherein the electronic dictionary stores words by normal spelling and number of points of shapes corresponding to the words; 
 searching in the electronic dictionary for word shapes with a second number of points that is same as the first number of points; and 
 retrieving candidate words in the word shapes stored in the electronic dictionary. 
   
     
     
         23 . The electronic device of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 wherein the electronic dictionary stores the words in groups by prefix, the prefix represents a distinct shape of the points corresponding to the words;   refining the search in the dictionary based upon matching prefixes between the shape and the distinct prefixes stored in the electronic dictionary.   
     
     
         24 . The electronic device of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 receiving a correction word from the candidate words;   identifying a shape difference between the correction word and the first intended; and   adjusting the words stored in the dictionary based on the shape difference.   
     
     
         25 . The electronic device of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 using a text prediction system as a separate layer to predict the candidate words or candidate phrases.