Touch screen user interface featuring stroke-based object selection and functional object activation

• US 20040119763A1
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Mizobuchi, Sachi, Mori, Eigo
• Granted Patent: US 7,554,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method is disclosed to operate a touch screen user interface. The method includes forming a stroke that encloses an area that contains at least a portion of at least one displayed object; and selecting the at least one displayed object. Forming the stroke may further include extending the stroke to a functional object, and activating the functional object with the at least one selected displayed object. If the stroke does not define an area that is totally enclosed by the stroke, the method may further include automatically continuing the stroke such that the area is totally enclosed by the stroke. In this case the stroke may be automatically continued by drawing a line that connects a stroke starting point to a stroke ending point, and by adding touch screen coordinates covered by the line to a list of touch screen coordinates that describe the stroke. If the stroke encloses an area that contains at least a portion of a plurality of displayed objects, each of the displayed objects is simultaneously selected.

Claims

1. A method to operate a touch screen user interface, comprising:

forming a stroke that encloses an area that contains at least a portion of at least one displayed object; and

selecting the at least one displayed object.

2. A method as in claim 1, where forming the stroke further comprises extending the stroke to a functional object, and activating the functional object with the at least one selected displayed object.

3. A method as in claim 1, where the stroke does not define an area that is totally enclosed by the stroke, and further comprising automatically continuing the stroke such that the area is totally enclosed by the stroke.

4. A method as in claim 3, where the stroke is automatically continued by drawing a line that connects a stroke starting point to a stroke ending point, and by adding touch screen coordinates covered by the line to a list of touch screen coordinates that describe the stroke.

5. A method as in claim 1, where the stroke encloses an area that contains at least a portion of a plurality of displayed objects, and where selecting simultaneously selects each of the plurality of displayed objects.

6. A device comprising a touch screen and a display processor coupled to the touch screen, said touch screen and display processor comprising a device user interface, said display processor operating in accordance with a stored program that is responsive to a user forming a stroke on the touch screen for determining an area encompassed by the stroke, and for indicating whether at least one displayed object is contained wholly or partially within the determined area.

7. A device as in claim 6, where said display processor further operates, in response to the stroke being extended to a functional object, for signaling an activation of the functional object with the at least one selected displayed object.

8. A device as in claim 6, where the stroke does not define an area that is totally enclosed by the stroke, and where said display processor further operates to automatically continue the stroke such that the area is totally enclosed by the stroke.

9. A device as in claim 8, where the stroke is automatically continued by drawing a line that connects a stroke starting point to a stroke ending point, and by adding touch screen coordinates covered by the line to a list of touch screen coordinates that describe the stroke.

10. A device as in claim 6, where said display processor further operates, in response to the stroke enclosing an area that contains at least a portion of a plurality of displayed objects, to simultaneously select each of the plurality of displayed objects.

11. A handheld communications device having a graphical user interface that comprises a touch screen display and a display processor coupled to the touch screen display, said display processor operating in accordance with a stored program to be responsive to a user of the handheld communications device forming a stroke on the touch screen display for determining an area encompassed by the stroke, and for indicating whether at least one displayed icon is contained wholly or partially within the determined area.

12. A handheld communications device as in claim 11, where said display processor further operates, in response to the stroke being extended by the user to a functional object, for signaling an activation of the functional object with the at least one selected displayed icon.

13. A handheld communications device as in claim 11, where the stroke does not define an area that is totally enclosed by the stroke, and where said display processor further operates to automatically continue the stroke such that the area is totally enclosed by the stroke.

14. A handheld communications device as in claim 13, where the stroke is automatically continued by drawing a line that connects a stroke starting point to a stroke ending point, and by adding touch screen coordinates covered by the line to a list of touch screen coordinates that describe the stroke.

15. A handheld communications device as in claim 11, where said display processor further operates, in response to the stroke enclosing an area that contains at least a portion of a plurality of icons, to simultaneously select each of the plurality of displayed icons.