Radial menus with bezel gestures

• US 10,268,367 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2016
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Hinckley, Kenneth P., Yatani, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Keaton, Sherrod L
• Application Number:
  US15/179,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20160283104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• 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 3/04817 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 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Bezel gestures for touch displays are described. In at least some embodiments, the bezel of a device is used to extend functionality that is accessible through the use of so-called bezel gestures. In at least some embodiments, off-screen motion can be used, by virtue of the bezel, to create screen input through a bezel gesture. Bezel gestures can include single-finger bezel gestures, multiple-finger/same-hand bezel gestures, and/or multiple-finger, different-hand bezel gestures.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a display device;

a bezel disposed adjacent the display device;

a display gesture module configured to recognize display touch input on the display device;

a bezel gesture module configured to recognize bezel touch input on the bezel;

the computing device configured to render a display, in response to a single-contact dragging bezel gesture recognized by the bezel gesture module as a single gesture that originates on the bezel and moves on to the display device, of first objects indicative of first functionality that is associated only with the single-contact dragging bezel gesture, wherein the first objects have not been previously rendered; and

the computing device further configured to render a display, in response to a multi-contact dragging bezel gesture recognized by the bezel gesture module as a single gesture that originates on the bezel and moves on to the display device, of second objects indicative of second functionality that is different than the first functionality and is associated only with the multi-contact dragging bezel gesture, wherein the second objects have not been previously rendered, wherein the multi-contact dragging bezel gesture comprises two or more fingers moving together to produce the dragging bezel gesture.

2. The computing device of claim 1 further configured to indicate, in response to bezel gestures at different locations on the bezel, a different functionality mapped to each of the bezel gestures at its corresponding different location.

3. The computing device of claim 1 further configured to display a visual affordance via the display device, where the displayed visual affordance indicates functionality that is accessible via touch input on the bezel.

4. The computing device of claim 1 further configured to indicate, in response to the recognized gesture also crossing an icon displayed on the display device, functionality associated with the icon.

5. The device of claim 1 where the bezel touch input on the bezel is recognized independent of any buttons on the bezel.

6. The device of claim 1 where the multi-contact dragging bezel gesture originates on multiple sides of the bezel.

7. A method performed on a computing device that comprises a display gesture module, a bezel gesture module, a display device, and a bezel disposed adjacent the display device, the method comprising:

rendering a display of first objects indicative of first functionality in response to a single-contact dragging bezel gesture recognized by the bezel gesture module as a single gesture that originates on the bezel and moves on to the display device that is associated only with the single-contact dragging bezel gesture, wherein the first objects have not been previously rendered; and

rendering a display of second objects indicative of second functionality in response to a multi-contact dragging bezel gesture recognized by the bezel gesture module as a single gesture that originates on the bezel and moves on to the display device, where the second functionality is different than the first functionality and is associated only with the multi-contact dragging bezel gesture, wherein the second objects have not been previously rendered, wherein the multi-contact dragging bezel gesture comprises two or more fingers moving together to produce the dragging bezel gesture.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising indicating, in response to bezel gestures at different locations on the bezel, a different functionality mapped to each of the bezel gestures at its corresponding different location.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising displaying a visual affordance via the display device, where the displayed visual affordance indicates functionality that is accessible via touch input on the bezel.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising indicating, in response to the recognized gesture also crossing an icon displayed on the display device, functionality associated with the icon.

11. The method of claim 7 where the bezel touch input on the bezel is recognized independent of any buttons on the bezel.

12. The method of claim 7 where the multi-contact dragging bezel gesture originates on multiple sides of the bezel.

13. At least one non-transitory computer-readable hardware storage media that includes computer-executable instructions which, based on execution by a computing device that comprises a display gesture module, a bezel gesture module, a display device, and a bezel disposed adjacent the display device, configure the computing device to perform actions comprising:

rendering a display of first objects indicative of first functionality in response to a single-contact dragging bezel gesture recognized by the bezel gesture module as a single gesture that originates on the bezel and moves on to the display device that is associated only with the single-contact dragging bezel gesture, wherein the first objects have not been previously rendered; and

rendering a display of second objects indicative of second functionality in response to a multi-contact dragging bezel gesture recognized by the bezel gesture module as a single gesture that originates on the bezel and moves on to the display device, where the second functionality is different than the first functionality and is associated only with the multi-contact dragging bezel gesture, wherein the second objects have not been previously rendered, wherein the multi-contact dragging bezel gesture comprises two or more fingers moving together to produce the dragging bezel gesture.

14. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable hardware storage media of claim 13 further comprising indicating, in response to bezel gestures at different locations on the bezel, a different functionality mapped to each of the bezel gestures at its corresponding different location.

15. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable hardware storage media of claim 13 further comprising displaying a visual affordance via the display device, where the displayed visual affordance indicates functionality that is accessible via touch input on the bezel.

16. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable hardware storage media of claim 13 further comprising indicating, in response to the recognized gesture also crossing an icon displayed on the display device, functionality associated with the icon.

17. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable hardware storage media of claim 13 where the bezel touch input on the bezel is recognized independent of any buttons on the bezel, or where the multi-contact dragging bezel gesture originates on multiple sides of the bezel.