# US 10,871,897 B2 · Identification of candidate characters for text input

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- Number: US 10,871,897 B2
- Document ID: US10871897B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/200,071
- Filed: 2018-11-26
- Published: 2019-03-28
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2008-05-30
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Deborah Eileen Goldsmith; Chia-Chi Chou; Maria Celia Vigil; Leland Douglas Collins, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871897B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
- G06F 3/018: {Input/output arrangements for oriental characters}
- G06F 3/04886: by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
- G06F 40/129: Handling non-Latin characters, e.g. kana-to-kanji conversion
- G06F 40/274: Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

Methods, systems, devices, and apparatus, including computer program products, for identifying candidates for text entry. One or more inputs entering one or more characters are received. One or more first candidate characters are identified and presented for the inputs using a first dictionary. One or more second candidate characters related to a respective first candidate character are identified and presented.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electronic device, comprising:
a touch-sensitive display;
one or more processors; and
memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
receiving a first type of gesture in a handwriting area of the touch-sensitive display;
in response to the first type of gesture:
identifying one or more candidate characters; and
displaying the one or more candidate characters;
receiving a first selection of a first candidate character of the one or more candidate characters;
in response to receiving the first selection, displaying the first candidate character in a composition area of the touch-sensitive display;
while displaying the handwriting area as blank, receiving a second type of gesture, different than the first type of gesture, in the handwriting area of the touch-sensitive display;
in response to the second type of gesture:
displaying two or more candidate punctuation characters; and
maintaining display of the handwriting area as blank;
receiving a second selection of a first punctuation character of the two or more candidate punctuation characters; and
in response to receiving the second selection, displaying the first punctuation character in the composition area of the touch-sensitive display.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first type of gesture is a flicking gesture, a pinching gesture, a handwriting gesture, or any combination thereof, and wherein the second type of gesture is a tap gesture in the handwriting area of the touch-sensitive display.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein receiving the second selection of the first punctuation character comprises detecting a predefined amount of time has elapsed without detecting an input on the touch-sensitive display.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein receiving the second selection of the first punctuation character comprises detecting movement of an input from a first location on the touch-sensitive display corresponding to the first punctuation character to a second location on the touch-sensitive display corresponding to the composition area.

### Claim 5

A method comprising:
at an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display:
receiving a first type of gesture in a handwriting area of the touch-sensitive display;
in response to the first type of gesture:
identifying one or more candidate characters; and
displaying the one or more candidate characters;
receiving a first selection of a first candidate character of the one or more candidate characters;
in response to receiving the first selection, displaying the first candidate character in a composition area of the touch-sensitive display;
while displaying the handwriting area as blank, receiving a second type of gesture, different than the first type of gesture, in the handwriting area of the touch-sensitive display;
in response to the second type of gesture:
displaying two or more candidate punctuation characters; and
maintaining display of the handwriting area as blank;
receiving a second selection of a first punctuation character of the two or more candidate punctuation characters; and
in response to receiving the second selection, displaying the first punctuation character in the composition area of the touch-sensitive display.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the first type of gesture is a flicking gesture, a pinching gesture, a handwriting gesture, or any combination thereof, and wherein the second type of gesture is a tap gesture in the handwriting area of the touch-sensitive display.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein receiving the second selection of the first punctuation character comprises detecting a predefined amount of time has elapsed without detecting an input on the touch-sensitive display.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein receiving the second selection of the first punctuation character comprises detecting movement of an input from a first location on the touch-sensitive display corresponding to the first punctuation character to a second location on the touch-sensitive display corresponding to the composition area.

### Claim 9

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display, the one or more programs including instructions for:
receiving a first type of gesture in a handwriting area of the touch-sensitive display;
in response to the first type of gesture:
identifying one or more candidate characters; and
displaying the one or more candidate characters;
receiving a first selection of a first candidate character of the one or more candidate characters;
in response to receiving the first selection, displaying the first candidate character in a composition area of the touch-sensitive display;
while displaying the handwriting area as blank, receiving a second type of gesture, different than the first type of gesture, in the handwriting area of the touch-sensitive display;
in response to the second type of gesture:
displaying two or more candidate punctuation characters; and
maintaining display of the handwriting area as blank;
receiving a second selection of a first punctuation character of the two or more candidate punctuation characters; and
in response to receiving the second selection, displaying the first punctuation character in the composition area of the touch-sensitive display.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the first type of gesture is a flicking gesture, a pinching gesture, a handwriting gesture, or any combination thereof, and wherein the second type of gesture is a tap gesture in the handwriting area of the touch-sensitive display.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein receiving the second selection of the first punctuation character comprises detecting a predefined amount of time has elapsed without detecting an input on the touch-sensitive display.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein receiving the second selection of the first punctuation character comprises detecting movement of an input from a first location on the touch-sensitive display corresponding to the first punctuation character to a second location on the touch-sensitive display corresponding to the composition area.