User-centric soft keyboard predictive technologies

Abstract

An apparatus and method are disclosed for providing feedback and guidance to touch screen device users to improve text entry user experience and performance by generating input history data including character probabilities, word probabilities, and touch models. According to one embodiment, a method comprises receiving first input data, automatically learning user tendencies based on the first input data to generate input history data, receiving second input data, and generating auto-corrections or suggestion candidates for one or more words of the second input data based on the input history data. The user can then select one of the suggestion candidates to replace a selected word with the selected suggestion candidate.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving first input data associated with an input scope of a text input device;   receiving second input data comprising a word;   analyzing the second input data and at least a portion of input history data stored in an input history data source; and   based on the analyzing, providing at least one user-specific suggested word candidate for the second input data on a display coupled to the text input device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing the at least one user-specific suggested word candidate in response to user selection of the word of the second input data.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the user-specific suggested word candidates are displayed in an area adjacent to the word in the second input data on the display when the word is most recently selected. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 indicating to the user that the at least one user-specific suggested word candidate is available.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicating includes underlining or highlighting. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the first input data is received after the second input data is received. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating the input history data by automatically learning user tendencies for the first input data. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the input history data comprises at least one or more of the following: user-specific web content, a user-specific dictionary, user-specific word probabilities, or a user-specific touch model. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the display comprises a touch screen keyboard, and wherein the first input data and the second input data are received with the touch screen keyboard. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first input data, the second input data, or the first input data and the second input data are received in a computing cloud via a computer network, and wherein the providing at least one user-specific suggestion candidate comprises sending data for the suggestion candidate to a computing device via the computer network. 
     
     
         11 . A text entry device, comprising:
 at least one processor; and   a computer-readable storage device or memory storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by the at least one processor, cause the text entry device to perform a method of text entry, the instructions comprising:
 instructions to receive first input data associated with an input scope of the text entry device, 
 instructions to receive second input data comprising a word, 
 instructions to analyze the second input data and at least a portion of input history data, and 
 instructions to provide at least one user-specific suggested word candidate for the second input data on a display coupled to the text entry device. 
   
     
     
         12 . The text entry device of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
 instructions that cause the text entry device provide the at least one user-specific suggested word candidate in response to user selection of the word of the second input data.   
     
     
         13 . The text entry device of  claim 11 , wherein the user-specific suggested word candidates are displayed in an area adjacent to the word in the second input data on the display when the word is most recently selected. 
     
     
         14 . The text entry device of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
 instructions that cause the text entry device to indicate to the user that the at least one user-specific suggested word candidate is available.   
     
     
         15 . The text entry device of  claim 14 , wherein the text entry device indicates to the user by underlining or highlighting. 
     
     
         16 . The text entry device of  claim 15 , wherein the text entry device indicates to the user by an underline squiggle. 
     
     
         17 . The text entry device of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
 instructions that cause the text entry device to generate the input history data by automatically learning user tendencies for the first input data.   
     
     
         18 . The text entry device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 at least a portion of the input history data is stored in a computer-readable storage device or memory coupled to the text entry device; and   the input history data comprises at least one or more of the following: user-specific web content, a user-specific dictionary, user-specific word probabilities, or a user-specific touch model.   
     
     
         19 . The text entry device of  claim 11 , wherein the display comprises a touch screen keyboard, and wherein the first input data and the second input data are received with the touch screen keyboard. 
     
     
         20 . One or more computer-readable storage media storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
 receiving first input data associated with an input scope of a text input device;   receiving second input data comprising a word;   analyzing the second input data and at least a portion of input history data stored in an input history data source; and   based on the analyzing, providing at least one user-specific suggested word candidate for the second input data on a display coupled to the text input device.