Rui Zhong Li

US Patent:

20130147707, Jun 13, 2013

Filed:

Dec 9, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/316452

Inventors:

Rui Li - Bellevue WA, US

Assignee:

MICROSOFT CORPORATION - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 3/033

US Classification:

345157

Abstract:

Systems, methods and computer program products for providing a text sensitive backspace key for bi-directional content are disclosed. Such systems, methods and computer program products provide a multi-stage text flow identification approach that combines desirable aspects of tracking a chronological position of typed characters as well as a cursor within bi-directional content. A directional orientation of a backspace key is thereafter manipulated on a keyboard that is both reliable and intuitive for users of a computing system. Thus, when a last-typed character, chronologically positioned immediately before the cursor, is a left-to-right (LTR) character (e.g., English language text), the backspace key is displayed in a first direction. When the last-typed character is a right-to-left (RTL) character (e.g., Hebrew language text), the backspace key is displayed in a second direction. Advantageously, the user visually learns which character will be deleted when the backspace key is pressed on the keyboard.