Animating images to reflect user selection

• US 20040135818A1
• Filed: 01/14/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Thomson, Michael J., Morris, Larry A., Pomerantz, Uri
• Granted Patent: US 7,194,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/823
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• 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: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237

Abstract

Images displayed on a display device are animated to reflect a user'"'"'s selection of the images. According to one embodiment, the displayed images include keyboard characters that are selected when the user touches the display at the locations of the display where the images are shown. Selection of the displayed images can also be made through any combination of audio, optical, mechanical and electrical input devices. A plurality of selected images can also be animated simultaneously and by varying degree to reflect a sequence in which the images were selected by the user.

Claims

1. In a computing system that includes a display that is configured to display images that can be selected by user input, a method for animating one or more images displayed by the display, upon being selected by the user, and for a predetermined period to reflect the selection of the one or more images by the user, the method comprising:

an act of displaying a plurality of images at the display that can each be individually selected by user input received by the computing system;

an act of receiving a first user input that selects a first image;

upon receiving the first user input, an act of animating the selected first image; and

after a predetermined period, an act of modifying the animation of the selected first image at the display.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further including an act of receiving a second user input that selects a second image, wherein the predetermined period expires upon receiving the second user input, such that the act of modifying the display of the selected first image occurs upon receiving the second user input, the first and the second user input being received through one or more of a mechanical, optical, audio, and electrical input device.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the first and second user input include audible user input.

4. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the first and second images are displayed on a touch-sensitive display, such that each of the first and second images can be individually selected by the user touching one or more corresponding portions of the display proximate the displayed first and second images, and wherein the first and second user input comprise the user touching the one or more corresponding portions of the display.

5. In a computing system that includes a touch-sensitive display that is configured to display images that can be selected when a user touches the touch- sensitive display at locations where the images are correspondingly displayed, a method for animating one or more images displayed by the touch-sensitive display, upon being selected by the user, and for a predetermined period to reflect the selection of the one or more images by the user, the method comprising:

an act of displaying a plurality of touchpad images at the touch-sensitive display that can each be individually selected by a user touching the touch- sensitive display device at locations where the key images are correspondingly displayed;

an act of receiving a first user input at the touch-sensitive display that selects a first one of the touchpad images;

upon receiving the first user input, an act of animating the selected touchpad image; and

after a predetermined period, an act of modifying the animation of the selected touchpad image.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the touchpad images include keyboard characters.

7. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the touchpad images include selections from a menu.

8. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the touchpad images include numbers associated with a calculator.

9. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the computing system includes a PDA.

10. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the computing system includes one of a telephone, an information kiosk and an ATM.

11. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the act of animating the selected touchpad image includes one or more of highlighting, tinting, coloring, flashing, enlarging, recessing, emboldening, and reducing the selected touchpad image.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the act of modifying the animation of the selected touchpad image includes the act of terminating the animation of the selected touchpad image.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the act of terminating the animation of the selected touchpad image occurs in a single instance.

14. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the act of terminating the animation of the selected touchpad image occurs incrementally.

15. A method as recited in claim 5, further including the act of animating a second touchpad image while the first touchpad image is animated.

16. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the user input includes touching the touch-sensitive display.

17. In a computing system that includes a touch-sensitive display device that is configured to display images that can be selected when a user touches the touch- sensitive display at locations where the images are correspondingly displayed, a method for altering the display of one or more images displayed by the touch-sensitive display, upon being selected by the user, and for a predetermined period, to reflect the selection of the one or more images by the user, the method comprising:

an act of displaying a keyboard at the touch-sensitive display, the keyboard including a plurality of discrete key images that can each be individually selected by a user touching the touch-sensitive display at locations where the key images are correspondingly displayed;

an act of receiving a first user input at the touch-sensitive display that selects a first one of the key images by touch;

upon receiving the first user input, an act of modifying the display of the selected first one of the key images at the display from a first display state to a second display state;

an act of receiving a second user input at the touch-sensitive display that selects a second one of the key images by touch;

upon receiving the second user input,

an act of modifying the display of the selected second one of the key images at the display from the first display state to the second display state, and

an act of modifying the display of the selected first one of the key images at the display from the second display state to a third display state.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the computing system includes a PDA.

19. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the computing system includes one of a telephone, an information kiosk and an ATM.

20. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the acts of modifying the display of the first and second key images includes one or more acts of highlighting, tinting, coloring, flashing, enlarging, recessing, emboldening, and reducing the selected first and second key images.

21. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the third display state is the same as the first display state.

22. A computer program product for use in a computing system that includes a touch-sensitive display that is configured to display images that can be selected when a user touches the touch-sensitive display at locations where the images are correspondingly displayed, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for implementing a method for animating one or more images displayed by the touch-sensitive display, upon being selected by the user, and for a predetermined period, to reflect the selection of the one or more images by the user, the method including;

an act of displaying a plurality of touchpad images at the touch- sensitive display that can each be individually selected by a user touching the touch-sensitive display device at locations where the key images are correspondingly displayed;

an act of receiving a first user input at the touch-sensitive display that selects a first one of the touchpad images;

upon receiving the first user input, an act of animating the selected touchpad image; and

after a predetermined period, an act of modifying the animation of the selected touchpad image.

23. A computer program product as recited in claim 22, wherein the one or more computer-readable media include physical media.

24. A computer program product as recited in claim 22, wherein the touchpad images include keyboard characters.

25. A computer program product as recited in claim 22, wherein the touchpad images include selections from a menu.

26. A computer program product as recited in claim 22, wherein the touchpad images include numbers associated with a calculator.

27. A computer program product as recited in claim 22, wherein the computing system includes a PDA.

28. A computer program product as recited in claim 22, wherein the computing system includes one of a telephone, an information kiosk and an ATM.

29. A computer program product as recited in claim 22, wherein the act of animating the selected touchpad image includes one or more of highlighting, tinting, coloring, flashing, enlarging, recessing, emboldening, and reducing the selected touchpad image.

30. A computer program product as recited in claim 29, wherein the act of modifying the animation of the selected touchpad image includes the act of terminating the animation of the selected touchpad image.

31. A computer program product as recited in claim 30, wherein the act of terminating the animation of the selected touchpad image occurs in a single instance.

32. A computer program product as recited in claim 30, wherein the act of terminating the animation of the selected touchpad image occurs incrementally.

33. A computer program product as recited in claim 22, further including the act of animating a second touchpad image while the first touchpad image is animated.

34. A computer program product as recited in claim 22, wherein the user input includes touching the touch-sensitive display.