System, method, and computer program product for a multi-pressure selection touch screen

• US 10,031,607 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2017
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith Interface Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: P4tents1 LLC
• Inventors: Smith, Michael S
• Primary Examiner(s): Xavier, Antonio
• Application Number:
  US15/719,406
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 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 Class Codes: G06F 9/4843 : by program, e.g. task dispatcher, supervisor, operating system

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for operating a mobile device including a touch screen, a memory, and a vibratory feedback mechanism coupled to at least one processor. A plurality of applications including an application is stored, utilizing the memory. A first pressure signal indicative of a first magnitude of pressure being applied to the touch screen is identified. In response to the first pressure signal indicative of the first magnitude of pressure being applied to the touch screen, a first state is identified, utilizing the at least one processor. In response to the identification of the first state, an operation is performed, utilizing the at least one processor. A second pressure signal is identified indicative of a second magnitude of pressure being applied to the touch screen that is greater than the first magnitude, in connection with the indicia. In response to the second pressure signal indicative of the second magnitude of pressure being applied to the touch screen, a second state is identified, utilizing the at least one processor. In response to the identification of the second state, the mobile device is vibrated, utilizing the vibratory feedback mechanism. Also in response to the identification of the second state, another operation is performed.

Claims

1. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:

at least a portion of a particular application other than an electronic-mail application and a short message service application, where the particular application is configured to cooperate with a mobile device including a touch screen, a memory, and a vibrator coupled to at least one processor, and the particular application, when installed on the mobile device, cooperates with an operating system of the mobile device to cause the mobile device to;

before the particular application is launched, display an application-specific indicia associated with the particular application via a home screen for choosing different applications, utilizing the touch screen;

identify a first pressure signal indicative of a first magnitude of pressure being applied to the touch screen, in connection with the application-specific indicia;

in response to the first pressure signal indicative of the first magnitude of pressure being applied to the touch screen, identify a first state, utilizing the at least one processor;

in response to the identification of the first state that is in response to the first pressure signal indicative of the first magnitude of pressure being applied to the touch screen, launch the particular application associated with the application-specific indicia, utilizing the at least one processor;

identify a second pressure signal indicative of a second magnitude of pressure being applied to the touch screen that is greater than the first magnitude, in connection with the application-specific indicia;

in response to the second pressure signal indicative of the second magnitude of pressure being applied to the touch screen, identify a second state, utilizing the at least one processor;

in response to the identification of the second state that is in response to the second pressure signal indicative of the second magnitude of pressure being applied to the touch screen, vibrate the mobile device, utilizing the vibrator;

in response to the identification of the second state that is in response to the second pressure signal indicative of the second magnitude of pressure being applied to the touch screen, display, utilizing the touch screen, at least one menu over at least a portion of the home screen that is blurred or fogged for making the at least portion of the home screen appear to be at a greater depth as compared to the at least one menu, the at least one menu configured to provide access to a plurality of action options including;

a first particular action option associated with a first particular action that invokes a first other application including the electronic-mail application for utilizing the electronic-mail application to share at least one object associated with the particular application that is not the electronic-mail application, and

a second particular action option associated with a second particular action that invokes a second other application including the short message service application for utilizing the short message service application to share the at least one object associated with the particular application that is not the short message service application,

where the first particular action option associated with invoking the electronic-mail application and the second particular action option associated with invoking the short message service application are both accessible through the at least one menu that is displayed in response to the second magnitude of pressure being applied to the touch screen in connection with the application-specific indicia associated with the particular application that is not the electronic-mail application and is not the short message service application;

identify a selection signal indicative of pressure being applied to the touch screen, in connection with at least one of the plurality of action options including at least one of the first particular action option or the second particular action option; and

in response to the selection signal, perform at least one of the first particular action or the second particular action, utilizing the at least one processor.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured such that the plurality of action options include a search action option that initiates a search function in response to a selection thereof.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured such that the plurality of action options include a favorites action option that, in response to a selection thereof, displays content associated with at least one favorite associated with the particular application.

4. The computer program product of claim 3, wherein the computer program product is configured such that the at least one favorite is based on historical usage.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured such that the plurality of action options include a favorites action option that, in response to a selection thereof, displays at least one favorite associated with the particular application where the at least one favorite is capable of being selected for accessing content associated with the at least one favorite.

6. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein the computer program product is configured such that the at least one favorite is based on historical usage.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured such that the plurality of action options include a bookmark action option that, in response to a selection thereof, displays content associated with at least one bookmark associated with the particular application.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the computer program product is configured such that the at least one bookmark is based on historical usage.

9. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured such that the plurality of action options include a bookmark action option that, in response to a selection thereof, displays at least one bookmark associated with the particular application where the at least one bookmark is capable of being selected for accessing content associated with the at least one bookmark.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer program product is configured such that the at least one bookmark is based on historical usage.

11. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured such that the at least one menu includes information that is based on usage of the particular application.

12. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured such that the at least one menu itself displays information that is based on historical usage of the particular application.

13. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured to cooperate with the at least one processor which, in turn, determines whether the first pressure signal indicative of the first magnitude of pressure being applied to the touch screen is received for less than a predetermined amount of time, in connection with the application-specific indicia, and in response to the first pressure signal being received for less than the predetermined amount of time, identifies the first state.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the computer program product is configured to cooperate with the at least one processor which, in turn, determines whether the first pressure signal indicative of the first magnitude of pressure being applied to the touch screen is received for more than the predetermined amount of time, in connection with the application-specific indicia, and in response to the first pressure signal being received for more than the predetermined amount of time, identifies a third state.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computer program product is configured such that, in response to the identification of the third state, a removal action is performed, utilizing the at least one processor.

16. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured such that the plurality of action options permit convenient sharing of the at least one object via the application-specific indicia, where the application-specific indicia also serves a dual purpose of launching the particular application, and the dual purpose is made conveniently accessible despite a size of the touch screen of the mobile device by using the first and second pressure signals which are capable of being applied on a same location on the application-specific indicia and differ only in pressure magnitude.

17. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured such that the at least one object associated with the particular application that is shared includes an iconic representation of the particular application, where the particular application is not the electronic-mail application and not the short message service application.

18. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured such that the at least one object associated with the particular application that is shared includes a web link associated with the particular application, where the particular application is not the electronic-mail application and not the short message service application.

19. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured such that the at least one object associated with the particular application that is shared includes at least part of the particular application, where the particular application is not the electronic-mail application and not the short message service application.

20. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured such that the plurality of action options is capable of invoking the electronic-mail application and the short message service application such that, in response to a selection of the electronic-mail application, the electronic-mail application is utilized for sharing the at least one object associated with the particular application;

and, in response to a selection of the short message service application, the short message service application is utilized for sharing the at least one object associated with the particular application.

21. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured such that the application-specific indicia includes an application-specific icon that is configured to be displayed on the touch screen of the mobile device, along with other application-specific icons.

22. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured such that, in response to the identification of the second state, the at least one menu is displayed until a selection thereon is made.

23. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured such that the application-specific indicia serves dual purposes including a first purpose of launching the particular application, and a second purpose of sharing the at least one object associated with the particular application by invoking different applications other than the particular application.

24. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured such that the at least one menu is a pop-up menu that overlays the at least portion of the home screen.

25. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured such that at least one of:

said touch screen includes a touch interface and a display;

said touch screen is a combination of a touch interface and a display;

said touch screen is on a front face of the mobile device;

said application-specific indicia includes an application-specific icon;

said states each include a selection state;

said application-specific indicia includes a user interface control widget;

said application-specific indicia includes a selectable graphic;

each pressure results from a touch event;

each pressure is in connection with a gesture input;

said at least one menu and the home screen are part of a three-dimensional layered user interface;

said at least one menu and the home screen are each part of different layers;

said fog includes a thin, uniform fog;

said fog results from a three-dimensional depth queue;

said blur results from a three-dimensional depth queue;

said at least one menu and the home screen are each part of different layers with different three-dimensional depth queues;

said at least one menu and the home screen are each part of different layers that are accessible via different inputs of different pressure levels;

said at least one menu and the home screen are each part of different layers that are accessible via different inputs of different pressure levels, and the fog or blur indicate a movement through the different layers;

said at least one menu and the home screen are part of a three-dimensional layered user interface that can be operated upon via a back interaction surface;

said selection signal is indicative of pressure being applied to the touch screen that is greater than the first magnitude;

said selection signal is indicative of pressure being applied to the touch screen that is less than the first magnitude;

said selection signal is indicative of pressure being applied to the touch screen that is greater than the second magnitude;

said selection signal is indicative of pressure being applied to the touch screen that is less than the second magnitude;

said pressure associated with the selection signal is applied to a menu option associated with the at least one action option;

said first state is capable of being identified in a first usage scenario without the second state being identified, and the second state is identified in a second usage scenario without the first state being identified;

or

said second state is capable of being identified in a first usage scenario without the first state being identified, and the first state is identified in a second usage scenario without the second state being identified.

26. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured such that the at least portion of the home screen is blurred.

27. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured such that the at least portion of the home screen is fogged.

28. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured such that, in response to the first pressure signal being received for less than a predetermined amount of time, the first state is identified;

and in response to the first pressure signal being received for more than the predetermined amount of time, a third state is identified that results in a removal action; and

further wherein the computer program product is configured such that the at least one object associated with the particular application that is shared includes an iconic representation of the particular application and a web link associated with the particular application.

29. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

developing at least a portion of a particular application other than an electronic-mail application and a short message service application, utilizing a Objective C programming language such that the at least portion of the particular application is configured to cooperate with a mobile device including a touch screen, a memory, and a vibrator coupled to at least one processor, the particular application, when installed on the mobile device, cooperates with an operating system of the mobile device to cause the mobile device to;

before the particular application is launched, display an application-specific indicia associated with the particular application via a home screen for choosing different applications,

identify a first signal resulting from a first magnitude of pressure being detected on the touch screen, in connection with the application-specific indicia,

in response to the first signal resulting from the first magnitude of pressure being detected on the touch screen, identify a first state,

in response to the identification of the first state that is in response to the first signal resulting from the first magnitude of pressure being detected on the touch screen, perform an operation in connection with the particular application that results in the particular application associated with the application-specific indicia being launched,

identify a second signal resulting from a second magnitude of pressure being detected on the touch screen that is greater than the first magnitude, in connection with the application-specific indicia,

in response to the second signal resulting from the second magnitude of pressure being detected on the touch screen, identify a second state,

in response to the identification of the second state that is in response to the second signal resulting from the second magnitude of pressure being detected on the touch screen, vibrate the mobile device,

in response to the identification of the second state that is in response to the second signal resulting from the second magnitude of pressure being detected on the touch screen, display at least one menu via which access is provided to a plurality of action options, the at least one menu being displayed over at least a portion of the home screen that is blurred or fogged for making the at least portion of the home screen appear to be at a greater depth as compared to the at least one menu, the plurality of action options including;

a first particular action option associated with a first particular action that invokes a first other application including the electronic-mail application for utilizing the electronic-mail application to share at least one object associated with the particular application that is not the electronic-mail application, and

a second particular action option associated with a second particular action that invokes a second other application including the short message service application for utilizing the short message service application to share the at least one object associated with the particular application that is not the short message service application,

where the electronic-mail application and the short message service application are invokable after the at least one menu is displayed in response to the second magnitude of pressure being detected on the touch screen in connection with the application-specific indicia associated with the particular application that is not the electronic-mail application and is not the short message service application,

identify a third signal resulting from a pressure being detected on the touch screen, in connection with at least one of the plurality of action options including at least one of the first particular action option or the second particular action option, and

in response to the third signal, perform at least one of the first particular action or the second particular action; and

causing storage of the at least portion of the particular application.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the at least one menu permits user access to the plurality of action options associated with the particular application before launching the particular application, and the particular action permits convenient sharing of the at least one object via the application-specific indicia, where the application-specific indicia also serves an additional purpose of launching the particular application.

31. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

developing at least a portion of a particular application other than an electronic-mail application and a short message service application, utilizing a Objective C programming language such that the at least portion of the particular application is configured to cooperate with a mobile device including a touch screen and a memory coupled to at least one processor, the particular application, when stored on the mobile device, cooperates with an operating system of the mobile device to cause the mobile device to;

before the particular application is launched, display an application-specific indicia associated with the particular application via a home screen that permits different applications to be chosen,

identify a first signal resulting from a first magnitude of pressure being detected on the touch screen, in connection with the application-specific indicia,

in response to the first signal resulting from the first magnitude of pressure being detected on the touch screen, identify a first state,

in response to the identification of the first state that is in response to the first signal resulting from the first magnitude of pressure being detected on the touch screen, launch the particular application associated with the application-specific indicia,

identify a second signal resulting from a second magnitude of pressure being detected on the touch screen that is greater than the first magnitude, in connection with the application-specific indicia,

in response to the second signal resulting from the second magnitude of pressure being detected on the touch screen, identify a second state,

in response to the identification of the second state that is in response to the second signal resulting from the second magnitude of pressure being detected on the touch screen, display at least one menu through which access is provided to a plurality of action options, the at least one menu being displayed over at least a portion of the home screen that is blurred or fogged for making the at least portion of the home screen appear to be at a greater depth as compared to the at least one menu, the plurality of action options including;

a first particular action option associated with a first particular action that is capable of invoking a first other application including the electronic-mail application, for utilizing the electronic-mail application to share at least one object associated with the particular application that is not the electronic-mail application, and

a second particular action option associated with a second particular action that is capable of invoking a second other application including the short message service application, for utilizing the short message service application to share the at least one object associated with the particular application that is not the short message service application,

where the first particular action option associated with invoking the electronic-mail application and the second particular action option associated with invoking the short message service application are both accessible through the at least one menu that is displayed in response to the second magnitude of pressure being detected on the touch screen in connection with the application-specific indicia associated with the particular application that is not the electronic-mail application and is not the short message service application, such that the first particular action and the second particular action permit sharing of the at least one object through the application-specific indicia that is also capable of serving an additional purpose of launching the particular application,

identify a third signal resulting from a pressure being detected on the touch screen, in connection with at least one of the plurality of action options including at least one of the first particular action option or the second particular action option, and

in response to the third signal, perform the at least one of the first particular action or the second particular action; and

causing storage of the at least portion of the particular application.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein, in response to the first pressure signal being received for less than a predetermined amount of time, the first state is identified;

and in response to the first pressure signal being received for more than the predetermined amount of time, a third state is identified that results in a removal action; and

further wherein the at least one object associated with the particular application that is shared includes an iconic representation of the particular application and a web link associated with the particular application.