The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 14, 1997
Filed:
May. 10, 1993
John Thompson-Rohrlich, Santa Fe, NM (US);
Apple Computer, Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for inputting data to an active application program running on a computer system includes the steps of displaying the image of a recognition keypad on a screen of the computer system, the keypad being adapted to receive user inputs; analyzing the user inputs to the recognition keypad; and inputting data to an application program running on the computer system based upon the analysis of the user inputs. The recognition keypad includes at least one button and a recognition area having at least two recognition modes. Preferably, the user inputs include inputs from a pointing device, and the recognition modes include a command mode and a character mode. The user preferably enters characters and gestures to the recognition area, and the buttons are preferably modifier buttons operative to modify the entered characters and gestures based on the current recognition mode.