System and method for preview and selection of words

Abstract

A system, method and computer-readable medium that previews words and commands recognized by a continuous stroke recognizer based on input into a virtual keyboard layout is presented. The system and method allows a user to see the word that will be recognized or output before the user commits the continuous stroke input to the system. Further, after recognition and output, the system presents the recognized output word and the closest word candidates in a correction display integrated with the virtual keyboard layout. Among other things, the user is provided with options to change the current output word by selecting another word candidate on the correction display, and to delete the current output word by selecting the representation of the current output word on the correction display.

I/we claim: 
     
         1 . A computing system for receiving input with a continuous stroke, the computing system comprising:
 one or more processors;   a memory;   a display; and   an interface configured to:
 display a virtual keyboard; and 
 receive a first part of the continuous stroke which has been input into the virtual keyboard, 
 wherein the first part of the continuous stroke corresponds to locations, on the virtual keyboard, of multiple letters of the beginning of a word in sequence, without indicating a last letter of the word; 
   wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations that:
 determine, while the first part of the continuous stroke is being received through the interface, and before the last letter corresponding to the first part of the continuous stroke has been indicated, a matching set of word patterns that at least partially match the first part of the continuous stroke, 
 obtain, corresponding to the matching set of word patterns, representations of multiple words which correspond to the received first part of the continuous stroke; and 
   wherein the display is configured to, in response to a trigger event, display at least one of the representations of the multiple words before the continuous stroke has been completed,
 wherein the trigger event is based on a comparison between speed information concerning a current rate of movement of entering the continuous stroke and a threshold speed value. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the comparison between speed information concerning the current rate of movement of entering the continuous stroke and the threshold speed value results in the trigger event when the comparison determines the current rate of movement of entering the continuous stroke is below the threshold speed value.   
     
     
         3 . A method for receiving input with a continuous stroke, the method comprising:
 receiving a first part of the continuous stroke which has been input into a virtual keyboard,
 wherein the first part of the continuous stroke corresponds to areas, on the virtual keyboard, of multiple characters of the beginning of a set of characters, without indicating a last letter of the set of characters; 
   while the first part of the continuous stroke is being received and before the last letter corresponding to the first part of the continuous stroke has been indicated, determining a matching set of patterns that at least partially match the first part of the continuous stroke,   obtaining, from the matching set of word patterns, representations of multiple sets of characters that correspond to the received first part of the continuous stroke; and   displaying, in response to a comparison event, at least one of the representations of the multiple words before the continuous stroke has been completed,
 wherein the comparison event comprises a comparison between speed information concerning a current rate of movement of entering the continuous stroke and a threshold speed value. 
   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 receiving a selection of a selected one of the multiple sets of characters by receiving an extension of the continuous stroke to intersect with a displayed representation of the selected one of the multiple sets of characters. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 receiving a selection of a selected one of the multiple sets of characters by determining, prior to completing the continuous stroke, that an input implement has lifted from the virtual keyboard. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 receiving a selection of a selected one of the multiple sets of characters by determining that an input implement has moved, at or above a predetermined threshold speed, outside the virtual keyboard. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 ,
 wherein displaying at least one of the representations of the multiple sets of characters comprises displaying a best matching set of characters, of the multiple sets of characters, with a distinct graphical attribute.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the method is performed by one of: a computer, a PDA, a cellular phone, a smartphone, a tablet PC, a mobile communications device, or a projection device having a touch-screen.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the comparison between speed information concerning the current rate of movement of entering the continuous stroke and the threshold speed value results in the comparison event when the comparison determines the current rate of movement of entering the continuous stroke is below the threshold speed value.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the comparison between speed information concerning the current rate of movement of entering the continuous stroke and the threshold speed value results in the comparison event when the comparison determines the current rate of movement of entering the continuous stroke is at or above the threshold speed value.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 3 :
 wherein the continuous stroke is associated with an active application; and   wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving a selection of one of the multiple sets of characters; and 
 deleting, from the associated active application, the selected one of the multiple sets of characters. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 3 :
 wherein the continuous stroke is associated with an active application; and   wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving a selection of one of the multiple sets of characters; and 
 outputting, to the associated active application, the selected one of the multiple sets of characters. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the continuous stroke is associated with an active application of a computing system;   wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving a selection of one of the multiple sets of characters; and 
 outputting, to the associated active application, the selected one of the multiple sets of characters; and 
   wherein the associated active application is an operating system of the computing system.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the continuous stroke is associated with an active application;   wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving a selection of one of the multiple sets of characters; and 
 outputting, to the associated active application, the selected one of the multiple sets of characters; and 
   wherein the associated active application is a word processor, an e-mail client, or an instant messaging client.   
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations for receiving input through a continuous stroke, the operations comprising:
 receiving a first part of the continuous stroke which has been input into a virtual keyboard,
 wherein the first part of the continuous stroke corresponds to areas, on the virtual keyboard, of multiple characters of the beginning of a set of characters, without indicating a last letter of the set of characters; 
   while the first part of the continuous stroke is being received and before the last letter corresponding to the first part of the continuous stroke has been indicated, determining a matching set of patterns that at least partially match the first part of the continuous stroke,   obtaining, from the matching set of word patterns, representations of multiple sets of characters which correspond to the received first part of the continuous stroke; and   displaying, in response to a comparison event, at least one of the representations of the multiple words before the continuous stroke has been completed,
 wherein the comparison event comprises a comparison between velocity information concerning a current rate of movement of entering the continuous stroke and a threshold velocity value. 
   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving a selection of a selected one of the multiple sets of characters by receiving an extension of the continuous stroke to intersect with a displayed representation of the selected one of the multiple sets of characters.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving a selection of a selected one of the multiple sets of characters by determining, prior to completing the continuous stroke, that an input has lifted from the virtual keyboard.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the comparison between velocity information concerning the current rate of movement of entering the continuous stroke and the threshold velocity value results in the comparison event when the comparison determines the current rate of movement of entering the continuous stroke is below the threshold velocity value.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the comparison between velocity information concerning the current rate of movement of entering the continuous stroke and the threshold velocity value results in the comparison event when the comparison determines the current rate of movement of entering the continuous stroke is at or above the threshold velocity value.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 :
 wherein the continuous stroke is associated with an active application; and   wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving a selection of one of the multiple sets of characters; and 
 outputting, to the associated active application, the selected one of the multiple sets of characters.