Nuance Communications, Inc.

Jane Manning

Clifford A Kushler

Aaron Sheedy

Mike McSherry

A system and method for performing actions via a keyboard application of a computing device is described. In some examples, a contextual keyboard facilitates the entry of text and the performance of actions across applications supported by a device. For example, the contextual keyboard may receive a word macro and/or a gesture, and determine that the received word macro and/or gesture is a command to perform one or more actions. Example actions to be performed include searching for information, storing information, posting information, sending information, enhancing information, and so on.

Performing actions on a computing device using a contextual keyboard

A contextual keyboard allows users to bring in information not normally found on a keyboard, as though that information had been typed in afresh. It also allows users to take information entered on the keyboard, or simply available on the screen, or implicit in information on the screen, and perform actions on it, such as calling a phone number, entering contact or calendar information into a local database on the device, or using the information as search terms in an online query. The central novelty of this invention is moving the functionality into the keyboard layer, so as to be universally accessible on the device.

Systems and methods for using entered text to access and process contextual information

A system and method for commanding a keyboard application based on a gesture received at a displayed keyboard is described. In some examples, the system receives a gesture, such as a shape-based or key-based gesture, identifies a command associated with the received gesture, and performs a function (e.g. changes mode of the keyboard, hides the keyboard, and so on), based on the identified command.

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Jane Manning