Dynamic keyboard and method for dynamically redefining keys on a keyboard

US 5,920,303 A
Filed: 12/15/1997
Issued: 07/06/1999
Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
Status: Expired due to Term

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1. An apparatus, comprising:

integrated input and display device for displaying a plurality of keys of a displayed keyboard, each of the plurality of keys including a displayed polysemous symbol defined to correspond thereto, and for inputting a corresponding polysemous symbol upon selection of a key;

memory for storing a plurality of symbol sequences including the corresponding polysemoous symbol of each selected key, in sequential order of selection; and

control means for comparing the temporarily stored symbol sequence, in response to each key selection, to a plurality of prestored symbol sequences, each including at least one symbol in a predetemined sequence, and for dynamically redefining symbols of less than all of the plurality of displayed keys of the integrated input and display device in response to the temporarily stored symbol sequence matching at least one of the plurality of prestored symbol sequences.

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Abstract

pe1

A dynamic keyboard includes a plurality of keys, each with an associated symbol, which are dynamically redefinable to provide access to higher level keyboards. Based on sequenced symbols of keys sequentially activated, certain dynamic categories and subcategories can be accessed and keys corresponding thereto dynamically redefined. Dynamically redefined keys can include embellished symbols and/or newly displayed symbols. These dynamically redefined keys can then provide the user with the ability to easily access both core and fringe vocabulary words in a speech synthesis system.

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124 Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:
- integrated input and display device for displaying a plurality of keys of a displayed keyboard, each of the plurality of keys including a displayed polysemous symbol defined to correspond thereto, and for inputting a corresponding polysemous symbol upon selection of a key;
  
  memory for storing a plurality of symbol sequences including the corresponding polysemoous symbol of each selected key, in sequential order of selection; and
  
  control means for comparing the temporarily stored symbol sequence, in response to each key selection, to a plurality of prestored symbol sequences, each including at least one symbol in a predetemined sequence, and for dynamically redefining symbols of less than all of the plurality of displayed keys of the integrated input and display device in response to the temporarily stored symbol sequence matching at least one of the plurality of prestored symbol sequences.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 87)
- - 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dynamic redefining of the control means includes embellishing display of a corresponding displayed symbol of at least one of the plurality of keys of the displayed keyboard.
  - 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each embellished at least one corresponding displayed symbol relates to a common theme.
  - 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the control means accesses a prestored message associated with an embellished symbol subsequent to a corresponding key being selected.
  - 5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:
    - output means for outputting the accessed message.
  - 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the output means includes a voice synthesizer.
  - 7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the control means controls the integrated input and display device to display a previously embellished symbol as a non-embellished symbol in response to a corresponding key being selected.
  - 8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the memory temporarily stores a new symbol sequence including the previously stored symbols and the embellished symbol, in sequential order of selection, and the control means compares the temporarily stored symbol sequence including the embellished symbol, to the first set of prestored symbol sequences and accesses the prestored message in response to the new symbol sequence including the embellished symbol matching one of the first set of prestored symbol sequences.
  - 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the integrated input and display device is a touch-panel screen.
  - 10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one embellished corresponding displayed symbol is polysemous.
  - 11. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the embellishing includes adding a word displayed with a corresponding displayed symbol.
  - 12. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the embellishing includes modifying a displayed symbol.
  - 13. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the embellishing includes varying color of a displayed symbol.
  - 14. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the at least one embellished corresponding displayed symbols is displayed on the integrated input and display device so as to render each of the at least one embellished corresponding displayed symbols distinct from non-embellished displayed symbols.
  - 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein each embellished symbol is varied in brightness with respect to non-embellished symbols.
  - 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dynamic redefining of the control means includes replacing at least one corresponding displayed polysemous symbol of at least one key of the displayed keyboard with a newly displayed symbol, different from the previously displayed corresponding polysemous symbol.
  - 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein dynamic redefining of the control means includes replacing each of a plurality of corresponding displayed polysemous symbols of a plurality of keys of the displayed keyboard with a newly displayed symbol, each different from the previously displayed corresponding polysemous symbol.
  - 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein each of the newly displayed symbols relates to a common theme represented by the temporarily stored symbol sequence previously matched.
  - 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein each of the newly displayed symbols are nonpolysemous.
  - 20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein at least one of the newly displayed symbols replaces the previously displayed polysemous symbol corresponding to a last sequentially detected key.
  - 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein each of the newly displayed symbols is proximate to at least one other newly displayed symbol.
  - 22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein each of the replaced symbols is of a common display tone so as to render each replaced symbols distinct from non-replaced displayed symbols.
  - 23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein each of the replaced symbols is of a common brightness so as to render each replaced symbol distinct from non-replaced displayed symbols.
  - 24. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the control means compares the temporarily stored symbol sequence to a first set of a plurality of prestored symbol sequences, each including at least one symbol in a predetermined sequence and an associated prestored message,compares the temporarily stored symbol sequence to a second set of a plurality of prestored symbol sequences in response to the temporarily stored symbol sequence failing to match any of the first set of prestored symbol sequences, andreplaces at least one corresponding displayed polysemous symbol of at least one key of the displayed keyboard with a newly displayed symbol, in response to the temporarily stored symbol sequence matching one of the second set of prestored symbol sequences.
  - 25. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the control means accesses a prestored message associated with a prestored symbol sequence in response to the temporarily stored symbol sequence matching one of the first set of prestored symbol sequences.
  - 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the control means accesses a prestored message associated with a newly displayed symbol subsequent to a corresponding key being selected.
  - 27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein each at least one newly displayed symbol is nonpolysemous.
  - 28. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:
    - output means for outputting at least one of the prestored messages accessed by the control means.
  - 29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the output means includes a voice synthesizer and the message output by the output means is voice synthesized.
  - 30. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:
    - output means for outputting the accessed message.
  - 31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the output means includes a voice synthesizer and the message output by the output means is voice synthesized.
  - 32. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein a key of the displayed keyboard of the integrated input and display device is selectable through physical contact with a key of the displayed keyboard.
  - 33. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:
    - a keyboard, separate from the integrated input and display device, for rendering a key of the displayed keyboard of the integrated input and display device selectable through activation of a key on the separate keyboard, corresponding in relative position to the key of the displayed keyboard.
  - 34. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein a key of the displayed keyboard is selected through optical scanning.
  - 35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:
    - a keyboard, separate from the integrated input and display, for rendering a key of the displayed keyboard, selectable through row-column sequential optical scanning and subsequent activation of a key on the separate keyboard corresponding in position to the key of the displayed keyboard.
  - 36. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each at least one newly displayed symbol is nonpolysemous.
  - 37. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the memory temporarily stores a new symbol sequence including the previously stored symbols and the newly displayed symbol, in sequential order of selection, and the control means compares the temporarily stored symbol sequence, including the newly displayed symbol, to the first set of prestored symbol sequences and accesses the prestored message in response to the new symbol sequence including the newly displayed symbol matching one of the first set of prestored symbol sequences.
  - 38. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the displayed keyboard includes the plurality of keys which each include a displayed polysemous symbol defined to correspond thereto and at least one key which fails to include a corresponding displayed polysemous symbol, wherein keys with or without symbols originally defined to correspond thereto can be dynamically redefined.
  - 39. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control means controls the keys of the keyboard with dynamically redefined symbols to be separately displayed.
  - 40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the keys separately displayed are relatively increased in size in comparison to a size of originally displayed keys.
  - 41. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein relative to other keys of the keyboard, display of dynamically redefined keys of the keyboard is enlarged.
  - 87. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein each embellished symbol is varied in brightness with respect to non-embellished symbols.

42. An apparatus, comprising:
- integrated input and display device for displaying a plurality of keys of a displayed keyboard, each of the plurality of keys including a displayed rolvsemous symbol defined to correspond thereto, and for inputting a corresponding polysemous symbol upon selection of a key;
  
  memory for temporarily storing a symbol sequence including the corresponding polysemous symbol of each selected key, in sequential order of selection; and
  
  control means for comparing the temporarily stored symbol sequence, in response to each key selection, to a first set of a plurality of prestored symbol sequences, each including at least one symbol in a predetermined sequence and an associated prestored message,for comparing the temporarily stored symbol sequence to a second set of a plurality of prestored symbol sequences in response to the temporarily stored symbol sequence failing to match any of the first set of prestored symbol sequences, andfor dynamically redefining symbols of less than all of the plurality of displayed keys in response to the temporarily stored symbol sequence matching one of the second set of prestored symbol sequences.
- View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 88, 89, 91)
- - 43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the dynamic redefining of the control means includes embellishing display of a corresponding displayed symbol of at least one of the plurality of keys of the displayed keyboard in response to the temporarily stored symbol sequence matching one of the second set of prestored symbol sequences.
  - 44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the control means embellishes display of a corresponding displayed symbol of at least one of the plurality of keys not previously selected.
  - 45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein each embellished at least one corresponding displayed symbol relates to a common theme represented by the matched symbol sequence of the second set.
  - 46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the control means accesses a prestored message associated with an embellished symbol subsequent to a corresponding key being selected.
  - 47. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising:
    - output means for outputting the accessed message.
  - 48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the output means includes a voice synthesizer.
  - 49. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the control means controls the integrated input and display device to display a previously embellished symbol as a non-embellished symbol in response to a corresponding key being selected.
  - 50. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein a key of the displayed keyboard of the integrated input and display device is selectable through physical contact with a key of the displayed keyboard.
  - 51. The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising:
    - a keyboard, separate from the integrated input and display device, for rendering a key of the displayed keyboard of the integrated input and display device selectable through activation of a key on the separate keyboard, corresponding in relative position to the key of the displayed keyboard.
  - 52. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein a key of the displayed keyboard is selectable through optical scanning.
  - 53. The apparatus of claim 52, further comprising:
    - a keyboard, separate from the integrated input and display device, for rendering a key of the displayed keyboard, selectable through row-column sequential optical scanning and subsequent activation of a key on the separate keyboard corresponding in position to the key of the displayed keyboard.
  - 54. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the memory temporarily stores a new symbol sequence including the previously stored symbols and the embellished symbol, in sequential order of selection, and the control means compares the temporarily stored symbol sequence including the embellished symbol, to the first set of prestored symbol sequences and accesses the prestored message in response to the new symbol sequence including the embellished symbol matching one of the first set of prestored symbol sequences.
  - 55. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the control means accesses a prestored message associated with a prestored symbol sequence in response to the temporarily stored symbol sequence matching one of the first set of prestored symbol sequences.
  - 56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the control means accesses a prestored message associated with an embellished symbol in response to a corresponding key being selected.
  - 57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the memory temporarily stores a new symbol sequence including the previously stored symbols and the embellished symbol, in sequential order of selection, and the control means compares the temporarily stored symbol sequence, including the embellished symbol, to the first set of prestored symbol sequences and accesses the prestored message in response to the new symbol sequence including the embellished symbol matching one of the first set of prestored symbol sequences.
  - 58. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein at least one embellished corresponding displayed symbol is polysemous.
  - 59. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein, the memory temporarily stores a symbol sequence including a corresponding symbol of each selected key, in sequential order of selection, including a corresponding embellished symbol, upon selection of a key including a corresponding embellished symbol,the control means compares the temporarily stored symbol sequence including a corresponding symbol of each selected key and the corresponding embellished symbol, in sequential order of selection, to a third set of a plurality of prestored symbol sequences, each including at least one symbol and one embellished symbol in a predetermined sequence, andthe control means dynamically redefines at least a portion of the displayed keyboard in response to the sequenced at least one corresponding symbol and corresponding embellished symbol matching one of the third set of a plurality of prestored symbol sequences.
  - 60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the dynamic redefining of the control means includes displaying a data table on the integrated input and display device.
  - 61. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the dynamic redefining of the control means includes displaying a window containing subsequently selectable information on the integrated input and display device.
  - 62. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the dynamic redefining of the control means includes replacing at least one corresponding displayed polysemous symbol of at least one key of the displayed keyboard with a newly displayed symbol, different from the previously displayed corresponding polysemous symbol.
  - 63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the dynamic redefining of the control means includes replacing each of a plurality of corresponding displayed polysemous symbols of a plurality of keys of the displayed keyboard with a newly displayed symbol, each different from the previously displayed corresponding polysemous symbol.
  - 64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein embellishing of each at least one displayed polysemous symbol relates to a common theme represented by the matched symbol sequence of the second set.
  - 65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein each of the newly displayed symbols relate to a common sub-theme of the common theme, the common sub-theme represented by the temporarily stored symbol sequence matching one of the plurality of prestored symbol sequences of the third set.
  - 66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein each of the newly displayed symbols are nonpolysemous.
  - 67. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein at least one of the newly displayed symbols replaces the embellished symbol corresponding to the selected key.
  - 68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein each of the newly displayed symbols is proximate to at least one other newly displayed symbol.
  - 69. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the control means accesses a prestored message associated with a newly displayed symbol subsequent to a corresponding key being selected.
  - 70. The apparatus of claim 69, further comprising:
    - output means for outputting a voice synthesization of the accessed message.
  - 71. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the control means controls the integrated input and display device to display each of the newly displayed symbols as a previously displayed symbol in response to one of the keys including a corresponding newly displayed symbol being selected.
  - 72. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the memory temporarily stores a new symbol sequence including the previously stored symbols and the newly displayed symbol, in sequential order of selection, and the control means compares the temporarily stored symbol sequence, including the newly displayed symbol, to the first set of prestored symbol sequences and accesses the prestored message in response to the new symbol sequence including the newly displayed symbol matching one of the first set of prestored symbol sequences.
  - 73. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein each of the replaced symbols is of a common display tone so as to render each replaced symbols distinct from non-replaced displayed symbols.
  - 74. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein each of the replaced symbols is of a common brightness so as to render each replaced symbol distinct from non-replaced displayed symbols.
  - 75. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the control means accesses a prestored message associated with a newly displayed symbol subsequent to a corresponding key being selected.
  - 76. The apparatus of claim 75, further comprising:
    - output means for outputting a voice synthesization of the accessed message.
  - 77. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the control means controls the integrated input and display device to display each of the at least one newly displayed symbol as a previously displayed symbol in response to detecting selection of a corresponding key being selected.
  - 78. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein a key of the displayed keyboard of the integrated input and display device is selectable through physical contact with a key of the displayed keyboard.
  - 79. The apparatus of claim 75, further comprising:
    - a keyboard, separate from the integrated input and display device, for rendering a key of the displayed keyboard of the integrated input and display device selectable through activation of a key on the separate keyboard, corresponding in relative position to the key of the displayed keyboard.
  - 80. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein:
    - a key of the displayed keyboard is selected through optical scanning.
  - 81. The apparatus of claim 80, further comprising:
    - a keyboard, separate from the integrated input and display device, for rendering a key of the displayed keyboard, selectable through row-column sequential optical scanning and subsequent activation of a key on the separate keyboard corresponding in position to the key of the displayed keyboard.
  - 82. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the memory temporarily stores a new symbol sequence including the previously stored symbols and the newly displayed symbol, in sequential order of selection, and the control means compares the temporarily stored symbol sequence, including the newly displayed symbol, to the first set of prestored symbol sequences and accesses the prestored message in response to the new symbol, sequence including the newly displayed symbol matching one of the first set of prestored symbol sequences.
  - 83. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the embellishing includes adding a word displayed with a corresponding displayed symbol.
  - 84. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the embellishing includes modifying a displayed symbol.
  - 85. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the embellishing includes varying color of a displayed symbol.
  - 86. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein each of the at least one embellished corresponding displayed symbols is displayed on the integrated input and display device so as to render each of the at least one embellished corresponding displayed symbols distinct from non-embellished displayed symbols.
  - 88. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the displayed keyboard includes the plurality of keys which each include a displayed polysemous symbol defined to correspond thereto and at least one key which fails to include a corresponding displayed polysemous symbol, wherein keys with or without symbols originally defined to correspond thereto can be dynamically redefined.
  - 89. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the control means controls the keys of the keyboard with dynamically redefined symbols to be separately displayed. separately displayed are relatively increased in size in comparison to a size of originally displayed keys.
  - 91. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein relative to other keys of the keyboard, display of dynamically redefined keys of the keyboard is enlarged.

90. An apparatus, comprising:
- integrated input and display device for displaying a plurality of keys of a displayed keyboard, each of the plurality of keys including a displayed polysemous symbol defined to correspond thereto, and for inputting a corresponding polysemous symbol upon selection of a key;
  
  memory for temporarily storing a symbol sequence including the corresponding polysemous symbol of each selected key, in sequential order of selection; and
  
  control means for comparing the temporarily stored symbol sequence, in response to each key selection, to a plurality of prestored symbol sequences, each including at least one symbol in a predetermined sequence, and for dynamically redefining symbols of less than all of the plurality of displayed keys of the integrated input and display device in response to the temporarily stored symbol sequence matching at least one of the plurality of prestored symbol sequences.

92. An apparatus, comprising:
- integrated input and display device for displaying a plurality of keys of a displayed keyboard, each of the plurality of keys including a displayed polysemous symbol defined to correspond thereto, and for inputting a corresponding polysemous symbol upon selection of a key;
  
  memory for storing a plurality of symbol sequences, each associated with a prestored dynamic category;
  
  control means for detecting, in sequence, selection of a plurality of keys of the displayed keyboard, for accessing a prestored dynamic category based upon the sequence of polysemous symbols of detected keys selected, and for embellishing a plurality of displayed key symbols of the integrated input and display device based upon the accessed prestored dynamic category, to dynamically redefine symbols of keys of the displayed keyboard.
- View Dependent Claims (93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103)
- - 93. The apparatus of claim 92, wherein the keys corresponding to embellished symbols form a keyboard corresponding to the accessed prestored dynamic category.
  - 94. The apparatus of claim 92, wherein the control means further renders the embellished symbols distinct from non-embellished symbols.
  - 95. The apparatus of claim 94, wherein the control means further detects selection of a key corresponding to an embellished symbol and further accesses a prestored message, stored in the memory in association with the embellished symbol, in response to the detected selection of a corresponding key.
  - 96. The apparatus of claim 95, further comprising:
    - output means for outputting the accessed message.
  - 97. The apparatus of claim 92, therein the control means further detects selection of a key corresponding to an embellished symbol and further accesses a prestored dynamic subcategory, stored in memory in association with the embellished symbol, in response to the detected selection of a corresponding key.
  - 98. The apparatus of claim 97, wherein the control means further displays a plurality of new symbols on the integrated input and display device in place of previously displayed polysemous key symbols based upon the accessed prestored dynamic subcategory, to further dynamically redefine symbols of keys of the displayed keyboard.
  - 99. The apparatus of claim 98, wherein the control means further detects selection of a key corresponding to a newly displayed symbol and further accesses a prestored message, stored in the memory in association with the embellished symbol, in response to the detected selection of a corresponding key.
  - 100. The apparatus of claim 92, wherein the displayed keyboard includes the plurality of keys which each include a displayed polysemous symbol defined to correspond thereto and at least one key which fails to include a corresponding displayed polysemous symbol, wherein keys with or without symbols originally defined to correspond thereto can be dynamically redefined.
  - 101. The apparatus of claim 92, wherein the control means controls the keys of the keyboard with dynamically redefined symbols to be separately displayed.
  - 102. The apparatus of claim 101, wherein the keys separately displayed are relatively increased in size in comparison to a size of originally displayed keys.
  - 103. The apparatus of claim 92, wherein relative to other keys of the keyboard, display of dynamically redefined keys of the keyboard is enlarged.

104. An apparatus, comprising:
- integrated input and display device for displaying a plurality of keys of a displayed keyboard, each of the Plurality of keys including a corresponding displayed polysemous symbol, and for inputting a corresponding polvsemous symbol upon selection of a key;
  
  memory for storing a plurality of symbol sequences, each associated with a prestored dynamic category;
  
  control means for detecting, in sequence, selection of a plurality of keys of the displayed keyboard, for accessing a prestored dynamic category based upon the sequence of polysemous symbols of detected keys selected, and for displaying keys with a plurality of new symbols in place of or simultaneous with a plurality of keys with previously displayed polysemous key symbols of the integrated input and display device based upon the accessed prestored dynamic category, to dynamically redefine the displayed keyboard to include keys with new symbols.
- View Dependent Claims (105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 115)
- - 105. The apparatus of claim 104, wherein the keys corresponding to newly displayed symbols form a keyboard corresponding to the accessed prestored dynamic category.
  - 106. The apparatus of claim 104, wherein the control means further renders the newly displayed symbols distinct from previously displayed polysemous symbols.
  - 107. The apparatus of claim 106, wherein the control means further detects selection of a key corresponding to a newly displayed symbol and further accesses a prestored message, stored in the memory in association with the newly displayed symbol, in response to the detected selection of a corresponding key.
  - 108. The apparatus of claim 107, further comprising:
    - output means for outputting the accessed message.
  - 109. The apparatus of claim 104, wherein the displayed keyboard includes the plurality of keys which each include a corresponding displayed polysemous symbol and at least one key which fails to include a corresponding displayed polysemous symbol, wherein keys with or without originally corresponding symbols can be dynamically redefined.
  - 110. The apparatus of claim 104, wherein the control means controls only the keys of the keyboard with new symbols to be separately displayed.
  - 111. The apparatus of claim 110, wherein keys separately displayed are relatively increased in size in comparison to a size of originally displayed keys.
  - 112. The apparatus of claim 104, wherein relative to other keys of the keyboard, display of keys of the keyboard with new symbols is enlarged.
  - 115. The apparatus of claim 112, wherein a plurality of keys of the keyboard include corresponding indicators, the indicators of dynamically redefined keys being activated for association of dynamically redefined keys and relative positionally corresponding embellished displayed symbols.

113. An apparatus comprising:
- keyboard, including a plurality of keys with polysemous symbols defined to correspond thereto, for inputting a corresponding polysemous symbol upon selection of a key;
  
  memory for temporarily storing a symbol sequence including the corresponding polysemous symbol of each selected key in sequential order of selection;
  
  control means for comparing the temporarily stored symbol sequence, in response to each key selection, to a plurality of prestored symbol sequences, each including at least one symbol in a predetermined sequence;
  
  display for displaying a plurality of embellished symbols, embellished from the polysemous symbols corresponding to the plurality of keys, in response to the temporarily stored symbol sequence matching at least one of the plurality of prestored symbol sequences, the control means dynamically redefining symbols of keys on the keyboard to correspond, respectively, to the displayed embellished symbols.
- View Dependent Claims (114, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124)
- - 114. The apparatus of claim 113, wherein the display displays polysemous symbols positionally corresponding to at least some of the polysemous symbols of keys on the keyboard, and embellishes previously displayed polysemous symbols in response to the temporarily stored symbol sequence matching at least one of the plurality of prestored symbol sequences.
  - 116. The apparatus of claim 113, said control means comparing the temporarily stored symbol sequence, in response to each key selection, to a first set of a plurality of prestored symbol sequences, each including at least one symbol in a predetermined sequence and an associated prestored message,comparing the temporarily stored symbol sequence to a second set of a plurality of prestored symbol sequences in response to the temporarily stored symbol sequence failing to match any of the first set of prestored symbol sequences, anddynamically redefining symbols of keys in response to the temporarily stored symbol sequence matching one of the second set of prestored symbol sequences.
  - 117. The apparatus of claim 116, further comprising:
    - output means for outputting a message accessed by the control means in response to the temporarily stored symbol sequence matching a corresponding one of the first set of prestored symbol sequences.
  - 118. The apparatus of claim 117, wherein the control means further detects selection of a key corresponding to a displayed embellished symbol and further accesses a prestored message, stored in the memory in association with the displayed embellished symbol, in response to the detected selection of a corresponding key.
  - 119. The apparatus of claim 113, wherein displayed embellished symbols are of a common theme.
  - 120. The apparatus of claim 113, wherein the control means accesses one of a plurality of prestored dynamic categories, each prestored in the memory in association with a prestored symbol sequence, in response to the temporarily stored symbol sequence matching one of the plurality of prestored symbol sequences, the control means controlling the display to display the plurality of embellished symbols, each associated with a common theme of the accessed dynamic category.
  - 121. The apparatus of claim 113, wherein the displayed keyboard includes the plurality of keys which each include a displayed polysemous symbol defined to correspond thereto and at least one key which fails to include a corresponding displayed polysemous symbol, wherein keys with or without symbols originally defined to correspond thereto can be dynamically redefined.
  - 122. The apparatus of claim 113, wherein the display separately displays keys of the keyboard with new symbols.
  - 123. The apparatus of claim 122, wherein the keys separately displayed are relatively increased in size in comparison to a size of originally displayed keys.
  - 124. The apparatus of claim 113, wherein relative to other keys of the keyboard, display of keys of the keyboard with new symbols is enlarged.

Specification

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Litigation Data

Current Assignee
Semantic Compaction Systems Incorporated
Original Assignee
Semantic Compaction Systems Incorporated
Inventors
Baker, Bruce R., Hershberger, David, Conti, Robert V., Romich, Barry, Yoder, Brian, Nyberg, Eric H. III
Primary Examiner(s)
Mengistu, Amare

Application Number

US08/990,740
Time in Patent Office

568 Days
Field of Search

345/168, 345/133, 345/170, 345/172, 345/173, 395/796, 395/797, 395/2.69, 395/2.8, 340/825.19, 341/22, 341/28, 364/709.12, 364/709.16, 364/709.15, 434/112, 705/7.52, 705/7.8
US Class Current

345/172
CPC Class Codes

G06F 3/0237   using prediction or retriev...

G06F 3/0238   Programmable keyboards key ...

G06F 3/04886   by partitioning the display...

G09B 19/04   Speaking with audible prese...

G09B 21/00   Teaching, or communicating ...

Dynamic keyboard and method for dynamically redefining keys on a keyboard

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Dynamic keyboard and method for dynamically redefining keys on a keyboard

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