Electronic device and key input method therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11188227-B2
Application number	US-201916689806-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2019
Priority date	Nov 28, 2018
Publication date	Nov 30, 2021
Grant date	Nov 30, 2021

Abstract

An electronic device and a key input method using an external input device are provided. The electronic device includes a camera; a display; a communication interface; a memory; and a processor. The processor is configured to establish an electrical connection to an external keyboard; obtain an image of the external keyboard; set a key arrangement for the external keyboard based on the obtained image; and generate information corresponding to a key input signal received from the external keyboard based on the set key arrangement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a camera;
a display;
a communication interface;
a memory; and
a processor operatively coupled with the camera, the display, the communication interface and the memory,
wherein the processor is configured to:
establish a wireless connection with an external keyboard;
obtain an image of the external keyboard by photographing the external keyboard through the camera;
obtain key arrangement information of the external keyboard from the obtained image;
determine whether a key arrangement corresponding to the key arrangement information is stored in the memory;
set, if a key arrangement corresponding to the key arrangement information is stored in the memory, the stored key arrangement as a key arrangement for the external keyboard;
set, if a key arrangement corresponding to the key arrangement information is not stored in the memory, a key arrangement corresponding to a system language of the electronic device as a key arrangement for the external keyboard; and
generate information corresponding to a key input signal based on the set key arrangement if the key input signal is received from the external keyboard.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
display the generated information on the display; and
transmit the generated information through the communication interface to an external electronic device, and wherein the external electronic device is configured to display the received information.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide the image of the external keyboard on the display while the generated information is displayed on the external electronic device.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
obtain key arrangement information corresponding to a plurality of languages of the external keyboard from the obtained image; and
set, among the plurality of languages, a key arrangement corresponding to a language that matches a language of a soft keyboard of the electronic device as a key arrangement for the external keyboard.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide at least one of a guide line, a notification, or a help item for obtaining an image of the external keyboard.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
obtain an image of the external keyboard before establishing the wireless connection to the external keyboard; and
establish the wireless connection to the external keyboard to set a key arrangement corresponding to the external keyboard.

7. A method for an electronic device, the method comprising:
establishing a wireless connection with an external keyboard;
obtaining an image of the external keyboard by photographing the external keyboard through a camera;
obtaining key arrangement information of the external keyboard from the obtained image;
determining whether a key arrangement corresponding to the key arrangement information is stored in a memory of the electronic device;
setting, if a key arrangement corresponding to the key arrangement information is stored in the memory, the stored key arrangement as a key arrangement for the external keyboard;
setting, if a key arrangement corresponding to the key arrangement information is not stored in the memory, a key arrangement corresponding to a system language of the electronic device as a key arrangement for the external keyboard; and
generating information corresponding to a key input signal based on the set key arrangement if the key input signal is received from the external keyboard.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
displaying the generated information on a display of the electronic device; and
transmitting the generated information through a communication interface of the electronic device to an external electronic device, and wherein the external electronic device is configured to display the received information.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising providing the image of the external keyboard on a display of the electronic device while the generated information is displayed on the external electronic device.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
obtaining key arrangement information corresponding to a plurality of languages of the external keyboard from the obtained image; and
setting, among the plurality of languages, a key arrangement corresponding to a language that matches a language of a soft keyboard of the electronic device as a key arrangement for the external keyboard.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising providing at least one of a guide line, a notification, or a help item for obtaining an image of the external keyboard.

12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
obtaining an image of the external keyboard before establishing the wireless connection to the external keyboard; and
establishing the wireless connection to the external keyboard to set a key arrangement corresponding to the external keyboard.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Heo Jiyoon
• Oh Younghak
• Moon Minjeong
• Moon Minjung
• Bang Myojin
• Yoon Seoyoung
• Han Jaegi

Classifications

• G06F3/0231

  Cordless keyboards · CPC title

• G06F3/0238 Primary

  Programmable keyboards (key guide holders G06F3/0224) · CPC title

• G06F3/04886

  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 · CPC title

• G06F3/04895 Primary

  Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting · CPC title

• G06F3/005

  Input arrangements through a video camera · CPC title