Dynamic Command Presentation and Key Configuration for Keyboards

Abstract

Techniques involving selective modification of keyboard presentation and functionality. A commanding mode is selectively activated on a virtual keyboard. Activating the commanding mode attributes commands to respective individual keys of the virtual keyboard. Also in response to the commanding mode, indicia suggestive of the command is presented on those individual keys to which the commands were attributed. The commands can be executed in an application in response to selection of the respective individual keys when in commanding mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method, performed by a computing device comprising a touch-sensitive display, the method comprising:
 displaying, by an operating system, a virtual keyboard in a first graphical layout on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the first graphical layout includes a plurality of character keys;   recognizing, while the virtual keyboard is displayed in the first graphical layout, a selection of text displayed on the touch-sensitive display; and   in response to recognizing the selection of text, transitioning from displaying the virtual keyboard in the first graphical layout to displaying the virtual keyboard in a second graphical layout, wherein the second graphical layout includes at least a portion of the plurality of character keys included in the first graphical layout and a plurality of command keys not included in the first graphical layout, and wherein the plurality of command keys are configured to execute a plurality of corresponding operations on text.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising respectively presenting a plurality of command identifiers on the plurality of command keys when the virtual keyboard is displayed in the second graphical layout. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising associating a command keystroke sequence with at least one of the plurality of command keys. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 determining that the at least one of the plurality of command keys has been selected; and   in response to determining that the at least one of the plurality of command keys has been selected, sending the command keystroke sequence to a keyboard stack.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the command keystroke sequence defines multiple key selections to execute a corresponding operation on the text; and   the command keystroke sequence is sent to the keyboard stack without requiring a user to perform each of the multiple key selections.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 executing a corresponding operation on the selection of text based at least in part on the command keystroke sequence being sent to the keyboard stack; and   in response to execution of the corresponding operation on the selection of text based at least in part on the command keystroke sequence being sent to the keyboard stack, transitioning from displaying the virtual keyboard in the second graphical layout back to displaying the virtual keyboard in the first graphical layout.   
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of corresponding operations comprise a select text operation, a cut text operation, a copy text operation, and a paste text operation. 
     
     
         8 . A computing device comprising:
 a touch-sensitive display;   processing hardware;   storage hardware storing instructions configured to cause the processing hardware to:
 display a virtual keyboard in a first graphical layout on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the first graphical layout includes a plurality of character keys; 
 recognize, while the virtual keyboard is displayed in the first graphical layout, a selection of text displayed on the touch-sensitive display; and 
 in response to recognizing the selection of text, transition from displaying the virtual keyboard in the first graphical layout to displaying the virtual keyboard in a second graphical layout, wherein the second graphical layout includes at least a portion of the plurality of character keys included in the first graphical layout and a plurality of command keys not included in the first graphical layout, and wherein the plurality of command keys are configured to execute a plurality of corresponding operations on text. 
   
     
     
         9 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processing hardware to respectively present a plurality of command identifiers on the plurality of command keys when the virtual keyboard is displayed in the second graphical layout. 
     
     
         10 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processing hardware to associate a command keystroke sequence with at least one of the plurality of command keys. 
     
     
         11 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processing hardware to:
 determine that the at least one of the plurality of command keys has been selected; and   in response to determining that the at least one of the plurality of command keys has been selected, send the command keystroke sequence to a keyboard stack.   
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the command keystroke sequence defines multiple key selections to execute a corresponding operation on the text; and   the command keystroke sequence is sent to the keyboard stack without requiring a user to perform each of the multiple key selections.   
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processing hardware to:
 execute a corresponding operation on the selection of text based at least in part on the command keystroke sequence being sent to the keyboard stack; and   in response to execution of the corresponding operation on the selection of text based at least in part on the command keystroke sequence being sent to the keyboard stack, transition from displaying the virtual keyboard in the second graphical layout back to displaying the virtual keyboard in the first graphical layout.   
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of corresponding operations comprise a select text operation, a cut text operation, a copy text operation, and a paste text operation. 
     
     
         15 . Computer readable storage hardware storing instructions that, when executed by processing hardware, cause a computing device to:
 display a virtual keyboard in a first graphical layout on a touch-sensitive display, wherein the first graphical layout includes a plurality of character keys;   recognize, while the virtual keyboard is displayed in the first graphical layout, a selection of text displayed on the touch-sensitive display; and   in response to recognizing the selection of text, transition from displaying the virtual keyboard in the first graphical layout to displaying the virtual keyboard in a second graphical layout, wherein the second graphical layout includes at least a portion of the plurality of character keys included in the first graphical layout and a plurality of command keys not included in the first graphical layout, and wherein the plurality of command keys are configured to execute a plurality of corresponding operations on text.   
     
     
         16 . The computer readable storage hardware of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the computing device to associate a command keystroke sequence with at least one of the plurality of command keys. 
     
     
         17 . The computer readable storage hardware of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions further cause the computing device to:
 determine that the at least one of the plurality of command keys has been selected; and   in response to determining that the at least one of the plurality of command keys has been selected, send the command keystroke sequence to a keyboard stack.   
     
     
         18 . The computer readable storage hardware of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the command keystroke sequence defines multiple key selections to execute a corresponding operation on the text; and   the command keystroke sequence is sent to the keyboard stack without requiring a user to perform each of the multiple key selections.   
     
     
         19 . The computer readable storage hardware of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions further cause the computing device to:
 execute a corresponding operation on the selection of text based at least in part on the command keystroke sequence being sent to the keyboard stack; and   in response to execution of the corresponding operation on the selection of text based at least in part on the command keystroke sequence being sent to the keyboard stack, transition from displaying the virtual keyboard in the second graphical layout back to displaying the virtual keyboard in the first graphical layout.   
     
     
         20 . The computer readable storage hardware of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of corresponding operations comprise a select text operation, a cut text operation, a copy text operation, and a paste text operation.