Fast typing system and method

Abstract

A method of interpreting keypad input includes identifying a first letter of a target word from activation of an initial key, identifying a set of possible intermediate letters of the target word in response to non-activating traversal of associated keys of the keypad following activation of the initial key, identifying a last letter of the target word from activation of a final key following the non-activating traversal, and then determining the target word based upon the identified first, intermediate and last letters. The method is particularly useful in key input devices sensitive to non-activating finger position above the keys.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of interpreting keypad input, the method including
 identifying a first letter of a target word from activation of an initial key;   identifying a set of possible intermediate letters of the target word in response to non-activating traversal of associated keys of the keypad following activation of the initial key;   identifying a last letter of the target word from activation of a final key following the non-activating traversal; and   determining the target word based upon the identified first, intermediate and last letters.   
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the target word comprises generating a set of possible words from which the target word is to be selected. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  including selecting a most probable target word from the set of possible words. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2  wherein the set of possible words contains only words starting with the identified first letter and ending with the identified last letter. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 2  wherein the set of possible words is selected from a list of words stored in memory within a device connected to the keypad. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  further comprising displaying the target word on a display of a device connected to the keypad. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  further comprising displaying a word-separation character immediately after displaying the target word. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  further comprising deleting the word-separation character in response to activation of a key associated with a punctuation character. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  further comprising editing identified letters to remove any of a predetermined set of non-occurring adjacent two letter combinations. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the target word includes preferentially considering intermediate letters associated with finger traversal direction changes. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein determining the target word includes selecting the target word from a list of words each starting with the identified first letter, containing all intermediate letters associated with finger traversal direction changes, and ending with the identified last letter. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1  wherein identifying any of the first, intermediate or last letters includes sensing an intensity of finger pressure upon an associated region of the keypad. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  wherein identifying either of the first and last letters includes sensing finger pressure intensity above a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12  wherein keys traversed between activation of the initial and final keys during periods of finger pressure intensity below a predetermined threshold are omitted from the set of possible intermediate letters of the target word. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1  further comprising identifying occurrences of duplicate sequential letters in response to a transient change of finger position above an associated region of the keypad. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the final key is associated with the last letter of the target word. 
     
     
       17. An input device comprising
 a keypad defining a set of keys associated with alphanumeric characters; and   a processor adapted to
 identify a first letter of a target word from activation of an initial key; 
 identify a set of possible intermediate letters of the target word in response to non-activating traversal of associated keys of the keypad following activation of the initial key; 
 identify a last letter of the target word from activation of a final key following the non-activating traversal; and to 
 determine the target word based upon the identified first, intermediate and last letters. 
   
     
     
       18. The input device according to  claim 17  wherein the keypad comprises a plurality of spaced apart key structures each associated with a corresponding one of the set of keys. 
     
     
       19. The input device according to  claim 17  wherein the keypad comprises a continuous sheet defining a plurality of discrete key regions each associated with a corresponding one of the set of keys. 
     
     
       20. A method of interpreting input from a keypad having a layout of letters, the method determining a target word from a trace of a user's finger across the keypad, the method comprising:
 identifying a first letter of the target word based, at least in part, on a sensed position of the user's finger within a first region of the keypad;   identifying a set of possible intermediate letters of the target word in response to non-activating traversal of the user's finger across other regions of the keypad following the sensed position of the user's finger within the first region;   identifying a last letter of the target word based, at least in part, on a sensed position of the user's finger within a final region of the keypad following the non-activating traversal; and   determining the target word based, at least in part, on the identified first, intermediate and last letters,   wherein identifying the first, intermediate and last letters comprises sensing changes in measured capacitance levels at corresponding positions along the keypad; and   wherein the layout of the letters on the keypad remains constant during the trace.   
     
     
       21. The method of claim 20 wherein determining the target word comprises generating a set of possible words from which the target word is to be selected. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 21, including selecting a most probable target word from the set of possible words. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 21, wherein the set of possible words contains only words starting with the identified first letter and ending with the identified last letter. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 21, wherein the set of possible words is selected from a list of words stored in memory within a device connected to the keypad. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 20 further comprising displaying the target word on a display of a device connected to the keypad. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 20 further comprising displaying a word-separation character immediately after displaying the target word. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 26 further comprising deleting the word-separation character in response to activation of a key associated with a punctuation character. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 20 further comprising editing identified letters to remove any of a predetermined set of non-occurring adjacent two letter combinations. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 20 wherein determining the target word includes preferentially considering intermediate letters associated with finger traversal direction changes. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 20 wherein determining the target word comprises selecting the target word from a list of words each starting with the identified first letter, containing all intermediate letters associated with finger traversal direction changes, and ending with the identified last letter. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 20 wherein identifying any of the first, intermediate or last letters comprises sensing an intensity of finger pressure upon an associated region of the keypad. 
     
     
       32. The method of claim 31 wherein identifying either of the first and last letters comprises sensing finger pressure intensity above a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim 31 wherein, during the non-activating traversal of the user's finger across other regions of the keypad, keys traversed during periods of finger pressure intensity below a predetermined threshold are omitted from the set of possible intermediate letters of the target word. 
     
     
       34. The method of claim 20 further comprising identifying occurrences of duplicate sequential letters in response to a transient change of finger position above an associated region of the keypad. 
     
     
       35. The method of claim 20, wherein each of the first, other, and final regions are each associated with a respective, single letter. 
     
     
       36. The method of claim 20, wherein each of the first, other, and final regions are defined by independently displaceable spaced apart key structures. 
     
     
       37. The method of claim 20, wherein the first, other, and final regions are adjacent regions of a contiguous keypad surface. 
     
     
       38. The method of claim 20 wherein determining the target word comprises selecting the target word from a list of words each containing intermediate letters associated with finger traversal direction changes. 
     
     
       39. The method of claim 20, wherein identifying either of the first and last letters comprises sensing a change in measured capacitance levels above a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       40. The method of claim 20, wherein identifying one or more of the set of possible intermediate letters comprises sensing changes in measured capacitance levels within a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       41. The method of claim 20, wherein identifying the first letter of the target word comprises sensing activation of an initial key region of the keypad. 
     
     
       42. The method of claim 41, wherein sensing activation of the initial key region comprises sensing a change in a measured capacitance level above a predetermined threshold at a corresponding position along the keypad. 
     
     
       43. The method of claim 20, wherein identifying the final letter of the target word comprises sensing activation of a final key region of the keypad. 
     
     
       44. The method of claim 43, wherein sensing activation of the final key region comprises sensing a change in a measured capacitance level above a predetermined threshold at a corresponding position along the keypad. 
     
     
       45. The method of claim 20, wherein the keypad is configured to allow a user to enter letters associated with non-adjacent regions of the keypad without requiring the user to individually press each of the non-adjacent regions. 
     
     
       46. A method of interpreting input from a keypad having a layout of letters, the method determining a target word from a trace of a user's finger across the keypad, the method comprising:
 identifying a first letter of a target word from activation of an initial key;   identifying a set of possible intermediate letters of the target word in response to non-activating traversal of associated keys of the keypad following activation of the initial key;   identifying a last letter of the target word from activation of a final key following the non-activating traversal; and   determining, by a processor associated with the keypad, the target word based upon the identified first, intermediate and last letters;   wherein the layout of the letters on the keypad remains constant during the trace.   
     
     
       47. The method of claim 46 wherein determining the target word comprises generating a set of possible words from which the target word is to be selected. 
     
     
       48. The method of claim 47 including selecting a most probable target word from the set of possible words. 
     
     
       49. The method of claim 47 wherein the set of possible words contains only words starting with the identified first letter and ending with the identified last letter. 
     
     
       50. The method of claim 47 wherein the set of possible words is selected from a list of words stored in memory within a device connected to the keypad. 
     
     
       51. The method of claim 46 further comprising displaying the target word on a display of a device connected to the keypad. 
     
     
       52. The method of claim 46 further comprising displaying a word-separation character immediately after displaying the target word. 
     
     
       53. The method of claim 52 further comprising deleting the word-separation character in response to activation of a key associated with a punctuation character. 
     
     
       54. The method of claim 46 further comprising editing identified letters to remove any of a predetermined set of non-occurring adjacent two letter combinations. 
     
     
       55. The method of claim 46 wherein determining the target word includes preferentially considering intermediate letters associated with finger traversal direction changes. 
     
     
       56. The method of claim 55 wherein determining the target word includes selecting the target word from a list of words each starting with the identified first letter, containing all intermediate letters associated with finger traversal direction changes, and ending with the identified last letter. 
     
     
       57. The method of claim 46 wherein identifying any of the first, intermediate or last letters includes sensing an intensity of finger pressure upon an associated region of the keypad. 
     
     
       58. The method of claim 57 wherein identifying either of the first and last letters includes sensing finger pressure intensity above a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       59. The method of claim 57 wherein keys traversed between activation of the initial and final keys during periods of finger pressure intensity below a predetermined threshold are omitted from the set of possible intermediate letters of the target word. 
     
     
       60. The method of claim 46 further comprising identifying occurrences of duplicate sequential letters in response to a transient change of finger position above an associated region of the keypad. 
     
     
       61. The method of claim 46 wherein determining the target word includes selecting the target word from a list of words each containing intermediate letters associated with finger traversal direction changes. 
     
     
       62. The method of claim 46, wherein identifying either of the first and last letters includes sensing a change in measured capacitance levels above a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       63. The method of claim 46, wherein identifying one or more of the set of possible intermediate letters includes sensing changes in measured capacitance levels within a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       64. The method of claim 46, wherein identifying the first letter of the target word comprises sensing a change in a measured capacitance level above a predetermined threshold at a corresponding position along the keypad. 
     
     
       65. The method of claim 46, wherein identifying the final letter of the target word comprises sensing a change in a measured capacitance level above a predetermined threshold at a corresponding position along the keypad. 
     
     
       66. The method of claim 46, wherein the keypad is configured to allow a user to enter letters associated with non-adjacent regions of the keypad without requiring the user to individually press each of the non-adjacent regions. 
     
     
       67. A method of interpreting keypad input, the method comprising:
 identifying a first letter of a target word based, at least in part, on a sensed position of a user's finger within a first region of a keypad;   identifying a set of possible intermediate letters of the target word in response to non-activating traversal of the user's finger across other regions of the keypad following the sensed position of the user's finger within the first region;   identifying a last letter of the target word based, at least in part, on a sensed position of the user's finger within a final region of the keypad following the non-activating traversal; and   determining the target word based, at least in part, on the identified first, intermediate and last letters, the determining comprising preferentially considering intermediate letters associated with one or more inflection points;   wherein identifying the first, intermediate and last letters comprises sensing changes in measured capacitance levels at corresponding positions along the keypad.   
     
     
       68. A method of interpreting keypad input, the method comprising:
 identifying a first letter of a target word based, at least in part, on a sensed position of a user's finger within a first region of a keypad,   identifying a set of possible intermediate letters of the target word in response to traversal of the user's finger from the first region across other regions of the keypad, wherein the traversal of the user's finger across the other regions of the keypad comprises traversal of at least one key of the keypad corresponding to a letter that is not in the target word, and wherein identifying the set of possible intermediate letters comprises identifying the letter that is not in the target word as a possible intermediate letter;   identifying a last letter of the target word based, at least in part, on a sensed position of the user's finger within a final region of the keypad at the end of the traversal; and   determining the target word based, at least in part, on the identified first, intermediate and last letters,   wherein identifying the first, intermediate and last letters is based, at least in part, on sensed changes in measured capacitance levels at corresponding positions of the keypad.   
     
     
       69. The method of claim 68, wherein each of the first, other, and final regions is associated with a respective, single letter. 
     
     
       70. The method of claim 68, wherein the first, other, and final regions are adjacent regions of a contiguous keypad surface. 
     
     
       71. The method of claim 68, wherein identifying either of the first and last letters comprises sensing a change in measured capacitance levels above a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       72. The method of claim 68, wherein identifying one or more of the set of possible intermediate letters comprises sensing changes in measured capacitance levels below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       73. The method of claim 68, wherein identifying the first letter of the target word comprises sensing activation of an initial key region of the keypad. 
     
     
       74. The method of claim 73, wherein sensing activation of the initial key region comprises sensing a change in a measured capacitance level above a predetermined threshold at a corresponding position on the keypad. 
     
     
       75. The method of claim 68, wherein identifying the final letter of the target word comprises sensing activation of a final key region of the keypad. 
     
     
       76. The method of claim 75, wherein sensing activation of the final key region comprises sensing a change in a measured capacitance level above a predetermined threshold at a corresponding position on the keypad. 
     
     
       77. The method of claim 68, wherein the keypad is configured to allow a user to enter letters associated with non-adjacent regions of the keypad without requiring the user to individually press each of the non-adjacent regions. 
     
     
       78. An input device comprising:
 a keypad defining a set of regions associated with alphabetic characters; and   a processor adapted to:
 identify a first letter of a target word based, at least in part, on a sensed position of a user's finger within a first region of the keypad; 
 identify a set of possible intermediate letters of the target word in response to traversal of the user's finger from the first region across other regions of the keypad, wherein the traversal of the user's finger across the other regions of the keypad comprises traversal of at least one key of the keypad corresponding to a letter that is not in the target word, and wherein the processor is adapted to identify the set of possible intermediate letters at least in part by identifying the letter that is not in the target word as a possible intermediate letter; 
 identify a last letter of the target word based, at least in part, on a sensed position of the user's finger within a final region of the keypad at the end of the traversal; and 
 determine the target word based, at least in part, upon the identified first, intermediate and last letters, 
 wherein the processor is adapted to identify the first, intermediate and last letters based, at least in part, on sensed changes in measured capacitance levels at corresponding positions along the keypad. 
   
     
     
       79. The input device of claim 78 wherein the first, other, and final regions are adjacent regions of a contiguous keypad surface. 
     
     
       80. The input device of claim 78, further comprising a capacitive sense matrix. 
     
     
       81. The input device according to claim 78, wherein the input device is configured to allow a user to enter letters associated with non-adjacent ones of the regions of the keypad without requiring the user to individually press each of the non-adjacent regions. 
     
     
       82. The input device according to claim 78, wherein each of the regions of the keypad is identified by an associated alphabetic character, and wherein the regions are arranged to form a standard keypad layout. 
     
     
       83. An input device comprising:
 a keypad having a layout of letters; and   a processor adapted to determine a target word from a trace of a user's finger across the keypad at least in part by:
 identifying a first letter of the target word based, at least in part, on a sensed position of the user's finger within a first region of the keypad; 
 identifying a set of possible intermediate letters of the target word in response to non-activating traversal of the user's finger across other regions of the keypad following the sensed position of the user's finger within the first region; 
 identifying a last letter of the target word based, at least in part, on a sensed position of the user's finger within a final region of the keypad following the non-activating traversal; and 
 determining the target word based, at least in part, on the identified first, intermediate and last letters, 
 wherein identifying the first, intermediate and last letters comprises sensing changes in measured capacitance levels at corresponding positions along the keypad; and 
 wherein the layout of the letters on the keypad remains constant during the trace. 
   
     
     
       84. The input device of claim 83, wherein the processor is further adapted to display the target word on a display of a device connected to the keypad. 
     
     
       85. The input device of claim 83, wherein identifying either of the first and last letters comprises sensing a change in measured capacitance levels above a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       86. The input device of claim 83, wherein identifying one or more of the set of possible intermediate letters comprises sensing changes in measured capacitance levels within a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       87. The input device of claim 83, wherein identifying the first letter of the target word comprises sensing activation of an initial key region of the keypad. 
     
     
       88. The input device of claim 87, wherein sensing activation of the initial key region comprises sensing a change in a measured capacitance level above a predetermined threshold at a corresponding position along the keypad. 
     
     
       89. The input device of claim 83, wherein identifying the final letter of the target word comprises sensing activation of a final key region of the keypad. 
     
     
       90. The input device of claim 89, wherein sensing activation of the final key region comprises sensing a change in a measured capacitance level above a predetermined threshold at a corresponding position along the keypad. 
     
     
       91. The input device of claim 83, wherein the input device is configured to allow a user to enter letters associated with non-adjacent regions of the keypad without requiring the user to individually press each of the non-adjacent regions. 
     
     
       92. The input device of claim 83, the keypad defining regions associated with the letters, wherein each of the regions of the keypad is identified by an associated letter, and wherein the regions are arranged to form a standard keypad layout. 
     
     
       93. A method of interpreting input from a keypad having a layout of letters, the method determining a target word from a trace of a user's finger across the keypad, the method comprising:
 using a processor to perform:   identifying a first letter of the target word based, at least in part, on information generated in response to sensing the user's finger within a first region of a keypad;   identifying a set of possible intermediate letters of the target word based on information generated in response to non-activating traversal of the user's finger across at least one other region of the keypad following the sensing of the user's finger within the first region;   identifying a last letter of the target word based, at least in part, on information generated in response to sensing the user's finger within a final region of the keypad following the non-activating traversal; and   determining the target word based, at least in part, on the identified first, intermediate and last letters,   wherein the layout of the letters on the keypad remains constant during the trace.   
     
     
       94. The method of claim 93, wherein determining the target word comprises generating a set of possible words from which the target word is to be selected. 
     
     
       95. The method of claim 94 including selecting a most probable target word from the set of possible words. 
     
     
       96. The method of claim 93, further comprising displaying a word-separation character immediately after displaying the target word. 
     
     
       97. The method of claim 96, further comprising deleting the word-separation character in response to activation of a key associated with a punctuation character. 
     
     
       98. An input device comprising:
 a keypad having a layout of letters; and   a processor adapted to determine a target word from a trace of a user's finger across the keypad at least in part by:
 identifying a first letter of the target word based, at least in part, on information generated in response to sensing the user's finger within a first region of a keypad; 
 identifying a set of possible intermediate letters of the target word based on information generated in response to non-activating traversal of the user's finger across at least one other region of the keypad following the sensing of the user's finger within the first region; 
 identifying a last letter of the target word based, at least in part, on information 
 generated in response to sensing the user's finger within a final region of the keypad following the non-activating traversal; and 
 determining the target word based, at least in part, on the identified first, intermediate and last letters, 
   wherein the layout of the letters on the keypad remains constant during the trace.   
     
     
       99. The input device of claim 98, wherein the processor is further adapted to display the target word on a display of a device connected to the keypad. 
     
     
       100. The input device of claim 98, wherein the input device is configured to allow a user to enter letters associated with non-adjacent regions of the keypad without requiring the user to individually press each of the non-adjacent regions. 
     
     
       101. The input device of claim 98, the keypad defining regions associated with the letters, wherein each of the regions of the keypad is identified by an associated letter, and wherein the regions are arranged to form a standard keypad layout. 
     
     
       102. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing software that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a method of interpreting input from a keypad having a layout of letters, the method determining a target word from a trace of a user's finger across the keypad, the method comprising:
 identifying a first letter of the target word based, at least in part, on information generated in response to sensing the user's finger within a first region of a keypad;   identifying a set of possible intermediate letters of the target word based on information generated in response to non-activating traversal of the user's finger across at least one other region of the keypad following the sensing of the user's finger within the first region;   identifying a last letter of the target word based, at least in part, on information generated in response to sensing the user's finger within a final region of the keypad following the non-activating traversal; and   determining the target word based, at least in part, on the identified first, intermediate and last letters,   wherein the layout of the letters on the keypad remains constant during the trace.   
     
     
       103. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 102, wherein determining the target word comprises generating a set of possible words from which the target word is to be selected. 
     
     
       104. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 103 including selecting a most probable target word from the set of possible words. 
     
     
       105. A method of interpreting input from a keypad, the method comprising:
 using a processor to perform:   identifying a first letter of a target word based, at least in part, on information generated in response to sensing a user's finger within a first region of the keypad;   identifying a set of possible intermediate letters of the target word based, at least in part, on information generated in response to traversal by the user's finger of at least one region of the keypad corresponding to a letter that is not in the target word, wherein identifying the set of possible intermediate letters comprises identifying the letter that is not in the target word as a possible intermediate letter;   identifying a last letter of the target word based, at least in part, on information generated in response to sensing a user's finger within a final region of the keypad at the end of the traversal; and   determining the target word based, at least in part, on the identified first, intermediate and last letters.   
     
     
       106. The method of claim 105, wherein determining the target word comprises generating a set of possible words from which the target word is to be selected. 
     
     
       107. The method of claim 106 including selecting a most probable target word from the set of possible words. 
     
     
       108. The method of claim 105, further comprising displaying a word-separation character immediately after displaying the target word. 
     
     
       109. The method of claim 108, further comprising deleting the word-separation character in response to activation of a key associated with a punctuation character. 
     
     
       110. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing software that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a method comprising:
 identifying a first letter of a target word based, at least in part, on information generated in response to sensing a user's finger within a first region of a keypad;   identifying a set of possible intermediate letters of the target word based, at least in part, on information generated in response to traversal by the user's finger of at least one region of the keypad corresponding to a letter that is not in the target word, wherein identifying the set of possible intermediate letters comprises identifying the letter that is not in the target word as a possible intermediate letter;   identifying a last letter of the target word based, at least in part, on information generated in response to sensing a user's finger within a final region of the keypad at the end of the traversal; and   determining the target word based, at least in part, on the identified first, intermediate and last letters.   
     
     
       111. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 110, wherein determining the target word comprises generating a set of possible words from which the target word is to be selected. 
     
     
       112. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 111 including selecting a most probable target word from the set of possible words. 
     
     
       113. An input device comprising:
 a keypad having a layout of letters; and   a processor adapted to determine a target word from a trace of a user's finger across the keypad at least in part by:
 identifying a first letter of a target word from activation of an initial key; 
 identifying a set of possible intermediate letters of the target word in response to non-activating traversal of associated keys of the keypad following activation of the initial key; 
 identifying a last letter of the target word from activation of a final key following the non-activating traversal; and 
 determining, by a processor associated with the keypad, the target word based upon the identified first, intermediate and last letters; 
 wherein the layout of the letters on the keypad remains constant during the trace. 
   
     
     
       114. The input device of claim 113, wherein the processor is further adapted to display the target word on a display of a device connected to the keypad. 
     
     
       115. The input device of claim 113, wherein the input device is configured to allow a user to enter letters associated with non-adjacent regions of the keypad without requiring the user to individually press each of the non-adjacent regions. 
     
     
       116. The input device of claim 113, the keypad defining regions associated with the letters, wherein each of the regions of the keypad is identified by an associated letter, and wherein the regions are arranged to form a standard keypad layout.