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Following the large attention the 8pen™ has received since its launch, we would like to clarify the legal issues involved in copying the 8pen™, either directly or with variations. Please be aware that any form of copying the 8pen™ violates intellectual property, and may result in legal charges.



Patent title: "Dispositif de saisie de signes comprenant une zone de base et au moins deux zones périphériques, procédé et programme associés" ("Device for the input of signs, comprising a base area and at least two peripheral areas, associated method and program")

Application no.: 1058945

Application date: October 29, 2010

Status: Pending. International patent, potentially enforceable in every country

Outline: The patent "Dispositif de saisie de signes comprenant une zone de base et au moins deux zones périphériques, procédé et programme associés", outlined more formally below, describes a method for the input of text (i.e. letters, words and symbols) on devices capable of detecting the motion of a pointer in a scheme consisting of a number (n = 2, 3, 4, ...) of sectors surrounding a central region:




The input of a sign occurs as a result of the pointer first placed in the centre, then passing through a sequence of adjacent sectors, and finally being returned to the centre. For example, the sequence "Centre - Sector 1 - Sector 2 - Centre" could be used as signature for the input of the symbol "a". A sequence of signs thus occurs as the result of a single continuous movement, starting and ending in the centre, and successively moving in and out of said centre via the peripheral regions.


A working example, for devices equipped with a touch-screen, is found in the present realization of the 8pen™ Android® application. Here, the touch-screen is divided into four sectors, and the layout of the letters is optimized for the input of common English language (which however can be used for the input of generic written text in any language using the Latin alphabet). The input of words occurs as the result of a gesture, of the type described above, initiated in the centre by pressing down the finger, and ended there by releasing it, which optionally inserts a space character.


Claims:


For reference, refer to the schematic drawings (non-final)

  1. Device for the input of at least one sign, comprising means for moving a cursor/pointer (22 ;...; 25) controlled by a user, in an input area (1, 12 ;...; 15) and means for interpreting said displacements in order to associate sets of displacements (Sl7, Sl8, Sl9) to corresponding signs (S7, S8, S9), characterized in that the input area includes (1, 12 ; ...; 15) a base region (C) and at least two peripheral regions (R, L, T, B).
  2. Input device as in claim 1 characterized in that the input area (1, 12 ; ...; 15) comprises four peripheral regions (R, L, T, B) surrounding the base region.
  3. Input device as in one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the peripheral regions (R, L, T, B) are separate from and adjacent to the base region (C) and/or each other.
  4. Input device as in one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the input area (1, 12 ; ...; 15) comprises a touchpad present on and/or connected to said device, and on which the means of displacement of a cursor/pointer are implemented on said touchpad.
  5. Input device as in one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the means of interpretation include a layout of signs in which each sign is associated with a set of specific movements, and in that said layout is optimized for quick input.
  6. Input device as in claim 5 characterized in that it furthermore comprises means for displaying the layout of signs and/or means for displaying the sign being seized during said displacements of the cursor/pointer.
  7. Process for the input of at least one sign implemented on a device as in one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the input of each sign (S1) includes:
    • A step consisting in a displacement (SL12) of the cursor/pointer from the base region (C) to a first peripheral region (R),
    • A step consisting in a displacement (SL22) of the cursor/pointer of said first peripheral region to a final peripheral region (T),
    • A step consisting in a displacement (SL32) of the cursor/pointer of said last region to said base region (C).
  8. Input method as in claim 7 characterized in that the input area includes at least three peripheral areas, and where, for the input of certain signs (S7), the step of moving the cursor/pointer (SL9) of said first peripheral region to a final peripheral region takes place through at least one intermediate peripheral region.
  9. Input method as in one of claims 7 or 8 characterized in that the steps of moving the cursor/pointer is made substantially circular, in either clockwise (Cw) or anti-clockwise (ACw) direction.
  10. Input method as in one of claims 7 to 9, which, when dependent of claims 4 to 6, is characterized in that the input (t1) of several signs is made by a contact (t0) and several displacements (SL12, SL22 , SL32) on the touchpad.
  11. Input method as in one of claims 7 to 10, which, when dependent of claims 4 to 6, is characterized in that the entry of a space character following the input of a sign is implemented by releasing the touchpad after the input of said sign.
  12. Computer program adapted to be loaded into the memory of a computer or device according to claims 1 to 10 and comprising portions of software code for performing the method according to claims 7 to 11.