Anyone who has ever pressed “Send” and then spotted a hideous typographical error in an important message a moment before the screen changes may be interested in Apple Inc.’s (AAPL) latest published patent application.
The patent application is for a new autocorrect feature known informally as “enhanced autocorrect” and officially as “Transient Panel Enabling Message Correction Capabilities Prior to Data Submission.” This system is designed to give users the chance to have second thoughts and make last moment corrections to an outgoing message.
The function of this program storage device is to offer an interface that basically double-check whether the user really wants to send the message as-is. Enhanced autocorrect would be used mostly or entirely on smartphones such as the next generation of iPhone. The new invention likely could not be retrofitted to existing Apple devices, but would instead be built into new models issued after its creation.
A smartphone with enhanced autocorrect would not send the message immediately after the user pressed send. Instead, it would show the autocorrections that had already been made and prompt the user to either send the message on, or modify it. To ensure timely delivery, a letter would not be held long in the absence of input from the telephone user. The system would display a countdown until sending, and if the smartphone’s owner did nothing, the message would be sent onwards automatically. It would be impossible to forget a message and leave it queued but unsent in autocorrect mode, thanks to this timer.
Several options would also appear along with the autocorrections list. If the user chooses to “Fix Errors,” a special user interface (UI) dubbed a “transient panel” by Apple Inc. would open, permitting fine-tuning of the message text. Other controls would enable immediate sending of the message, canceling the “send” command, and so on. An option to queue and review multiple messages is also described in the patent application.
Apple filed the patent application (number 20140040773) on July 31st, 2012, but it was not published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office until today, some one and a half years later. The inventors are listed as Mehul K. Sanghavi and Swati J. Deo. Mr. Sanghavi is a Senior Manager in Apple’s iAd Product Management, and has applied for or received at least 25 patents prior to the most recent. He has also worked for Oracle, Aptean, and Yahoo! Communications.
The rationale behind this invention is that rapid typing on a smartphone often leads to errors and incorrect autocorrect word completion, and that a review system that summarizes changes will help users avoid minor and major mistakes far more often. The function will also be programmable and customizable to match the smartphone owner’s typical vocabulary and any unusual words they frequently use. Whether the technology is ever put into actual production as part of an Apple smartphone remains to be seen once the patent is granted.
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