Method of performing one or more operations based on a gesture

• US 10,209,882 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2015
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: S, Arjun Raj Kumar, Das, Kollol, Verma, Rajeev, Malhotra, Tanu
• Primary Examiner(s): Dasgupta, Shourjo
• Application Number:
  US14/887,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20160110093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• 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 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• 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

Abstract

A method for performing an action in an electronic device is provided. The method includes detecting a gesture performed on a first edge and a second edge of the electronic device. Further, the method includes computing a length of a movement of the gesture, and performing an action corresponding to an item in the electronic device based on the length of the movement.

Claims

1. A method providing an improved user interface in an electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting a first touch on a first edge of a screen of the electronic device;

detecting a second touch on a second edge of a screen of the electronic device, wherein the second touch is detected concurrently with the first touch or within a threshold time after detecting the first touch;

detecting at least one of a long press hold gesture, a squeeze gesture or a lift gesture, wherein the long press hold gesture is the first touch and the second touch are held during at least a predetermined time, the squeeze gesture is the first touch and the second touch are move toward a horizontal center of the screen, and the lift gesture is the first touch and the second touch move in an upward direction from the screen;

in response to detecting the at least one of the long press hold gesture, the squeeze gesture or the lift gesture, selecting one of objects displayed on the screen and displaying visual effects including lifting the selected object in the upward direction;

detecting a rail swipe gesture or a hover gesture which is that the first touch moves along the first edge and the second touch moves along the second edge in the same direction as the first touch moves;

moving the selected object along the moving direction of the rail swipe gesture or the hover gesture; and

in response to detecting a drop gesture on the first edge and the second edge, displaying visual effects including falling of the moved object, wherein the drop gesture is the first touch and the second touch are taken off from the first edge and the second edge,

wherein the first edge and the second edge are on substantially opposite ends of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a third touch on the first edge;

detecting a fourth touch on the second edge, wherein the fourth touch is detected concurrently with the third touch or within a threshold time after detecting the third touch;

detecting an asymmetric swipe gesture indicating that the third touch moves along the first edge and the fourth touch moves along the second edge in the opposite direction as the third touch moves; and

rotating a screen in response to detecting the asymmetric swipe gesture.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a third touch on the first edge;

detecting a fourth touch on the second edge, wherein the fourth touch is detected concurrently with the third touch or within a threshold time after detecting the third touch;

detecting an asymmetric swipe gesture indicating that the third touch moves along the first edge and the fourth touch moves along the second edge in the opposite direction as the third touch moves; and

setting a screen state to be rotatable in response to detecting the asymmetric swipe gesture.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a third touch on the first edge;

detecting a fourth touch on the second edge, wherein the fourth touch is detected concurrently with the third touch or within a threshold time after detecting the third touch;

detecting an asymmetric swipe gesture indicating that the third touch moves along the first edge and the fourth touch moves along the second edge in the opposite direction as the third touch moves; and

setting a screen state to be not rotatable in response to detecting the asymmetric swipe gesture.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a third touch on the first edge;

detecting a fourth touch on the second edge, wherein the fourth touch is moved in the same direction as the third touch and detected concurrently with the third touch or within a threshold time after detecting the third touch;

computing a first movement distance of the third touch along the first edge and a second movement distance of the fourth touch along the second edge;

detecting a start of a swipe gesture if at least one of the first movement distance and the second movement distance is greater than a threshold value; and

detecting an end of the swipe gesture if the third touch is removed from the first edge or the fourth touch is removed from the second edge;

wherein the an action performed in response to detecting the end of the swipe gesture comprises one of;

capturing a partial screen shot,

changing a brightness of a screen of the electronic device based on a direction of the swipe gesture,

terminating a running application corresponding to the item displayed on the screen by deleting the running application in a memory of the electronic device,

forwarding or rewinding a video displayed on the screen based on a direction of the swipe gesture, and

displaying a window of a background application.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a third touch on the first edge;

detecting a fourth touch on the second edge, wherein the fourth touch is moved in the same direction as the third touch and detected concurrently with the third touch or within a threshold time after detecting the third touch;

computing a first movement distance of the third touch along the first edge and a second movement distance of the second touch along the second edge;

detecting a start of a swipe gesture if at least one of the first movement distance and the second movement distance is greater than a threshold value; and

detecting an end of the swipe gesture if the third touch reaches a predetermined area of the first edge or the fourth touch reaches a predetermined area of the second edge;

wherein an action performed in response to detecting the end of the swipe gesture comprises one of;

capturing a partial screen shot,

changing a brightness of a screen of the electronic device based on a direction of the swipe gesture,

terminating a running application corresponding to the item displayed on the screen by deleting the running application in a memory of the electronic device,

forwarding or rewinding a video displayed on the screen based on a direction of the swipe gesture, and

displaying a window of a background application.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a third touch on the first edge;

detecting a fourth touch on the second edge, wherein the fourth touch is moved in a opposite direction to the third touch and detected concurrently with the third touch or within a threshold time after detecting the third touch,

computing a first movement distance of the first touch along the first edge and a second movement distance of the second touch along the second edge;

detecting a start of a swipe gesture if at least one of the first movement distance and the second movement distance is greater than a threshold value; and

detecting an end of the swipe gesture if the third touch is removed from the first edge or the fourth touch is removed from the second edge,

wherein an action performed in response to detecting the end of the swipe gesture comprises one of;

rotating a screen,

setting a screen state to be rotatable, and

setting the screen state to be not rotatable.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a third touch on the first edge;

detecting a fourth touch on the second edge, wherein the fourth touch is moved in a opposite direction to the third touch and detected concurrently with the third touch or within a threshold time after detecting the third touch, computing a first movement distance of the third touch along the first edge and a second movement distance of the fourth touch along the second edge;

detecting a start of a swipe gesture if at least one of the first movement distance and the second movement distance is greater than a threshold value; and

detecting an end of the swipe gesture if the third touch reaches a predetermined area of the first edge or the fourth touch reaches a predetermined area of the second edge,

wherein an action performed in response to detecting the end of the swipe gesture comprises one of;

rotating a screen,

setting a screen state to be rotatable, and

setting the screen state to be not rotatable.

9. An electronic device providing an improved user interface, the electronic device comprising at least one processor configured to:

detect a first touch on a first edge of a screen of the electronic device;

detect a second touch on a second edge of a screen of the electronic device, wherein the second touch is detected concurrently with the first touch or within a threshold time after detecting the first touch;

detect at least one of a long press hold gesture, a squeeze gesture or a lift gesture, wherein the long press hold gesture is the first touch and the second touch are held during at least a predetermined time, the squeeze gesture is the first touch and the second touch are move toward a horizontal center of the screen, and the lift gesture is the first touch and the second touch move in an upward direction from the screen;

in response to detecting the at least one of the long press hold gesture, the squeeze gesture or the lift gesture, select one of objects displayed on the screen and displaying visual effects including lifting the selected object in the upward direction;

detect a rail swipe gesture or a hover gesture which is that the first touch moves along the first edge and the second touch moves along the second edge in the same direction as the first touch moves;

move the selected object along the moving direction of the rail swipe gesture or the hover gesture; and

in response to detecting a drop gesture on the first edge and the second edge, display visual effects including falling of the moved object, wherein the drop gesture is the first touch and the second touch are taken off from the first edge and the second edge,

wherein the first edge and the second edge are on substantially opposite ends of the electronic device.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

detect a third touch on the first edge;

detect a fourth touch on the second edge, wherein the fourth touch is detected concurrently with the third touch or within a threshold time after detecting the third touch;

detect an asymmetric swipe gesture indicating that the third touch moves along the first edge and the fourth touch moves along the second edge in the opposite direction as the third touch moves; and

rotate a screen in response to detecting the asymmetric swipe gesture.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

detect a third touch on the first edge;

detect a fourth touch on the second edge, wherein the fourth touch is detected concurrently with the third touch or within a threshold time after detecting the third touch;

detect an asymmetric swipe gesture indicating that the third touch moves along the first edge and the fourth touch moves along the second edge in the opposite direction as the third touch moves; and

set a screen state to be rotatable in response to detecting

the asymmetric swipe gesture.

12. A computer program product providing an improved user interface in an electronic device, the computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the computer executable program code when executed causing actions including:

detecting a first touch on a first edge of a screen of the electronic device;

detecting a second touch on a second edge of a screen of the electronic device, wherein the second touch is detected concurrently with the first touch or within a threshold time after detecting the first touch;

detecting at least one of a long press hold gesture, a squeeze gesture or a lift gesture, wherein the long press hold gesture is the first touch and the second touch are held during at least a predetermined time, the squeeze gesture is the first touch and the second touch are move toward a horizontal center of the screen, and the lift gesture is the first touch and the second touch move in an upward direction from the screen;

in response to detecting the at least one of the long press hold gesture, the squeeze gesture or the lift gesture, selecting one of objects displayed on the screen and displaying visual effects including lifting the selected object in the upward direction;

detecting a rail swipe gesture or a hover gesture which is that the first touch moves along the first edge and the second touch moves along the second edge in the same direction as the first touch moves;

moving the selected object along the moving direction of the rail swipe gesture or the hover gesture; and

in response to detecting a drop gesture on the first edge and the second edge, displaying visual effects including falling of the moved object, wherein the drop gesture is the first touch and the second touch are taken off from the first edge and the second edge,

wherein the first edge and the second edge are on substantially opposite ends of the electronic device.