Method and software application for transmitting information remaining behind an obstacle located in front of the display to the user of a data processing device

• US 20060284850A1
• Filed: 06/05/2003
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Tokkonen, Timo
• Granted Patent: US 7,710,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

The object of the invention is a method and a software application embodying the method for displaying the information in the display (10) of a data processing device in a situation where a portion of the display (10) area, and thus also a portion of the information on the display, is covered by an obstacle (11) in front of the display (10). The method according to the invention detects the size and position of the obstacle (11), and then regroups (12c) the information in the display (10) into a portion of the display (10), which is not left behind the detected obstacle (11).

Claims

1. A method for displaying the information in the touch display of a data processing device in a situation where a portion of the touch display area, and thus also a portion of the information on the touch display, is covered by a tangible obstacle in front of the touch display, characterised in that in the method the information in the touch display is regrouped into an uncovered portion of the display, so that at least a part of the information in the touch display left behind the tangible obstacle is regrouped into the uncovered portion of the touch display.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that a portion of the area of the touch display can in advance be defined as a region, in which there is made no regrouping of information.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterised in that it comprises

a step to detect an obstacle in front of the touch display,

a step to determine the size of the detected obstacle,

a step to decide whether the detected obstacle exceeds the regrouping threshold value defined for the display,

a step to determine in each point covered by the obstacle the time, which has passed since the obstacle was detected,

a step to determine the movement of the obstacle with the aid of changes of the covered points at border regions of the coverage caused by the obstacle, and

a step for at least to partially regroup the information into a portion of the touch display, which is uncovered by the obstacle, if the obstacle remains stationary.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterised in that the step for regrouping of the information is performed after a predetermined period has passed since the motion of the obstacle ended.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that the information to be regrouped in the touch display is either text or an image or a combination of these.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterised in that the regrouping comprises changing the physical size of said information.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that the method is utilised in a data processing device, which is one the following:

a portable computer, a palm computer, a cellular network terminal, the display unit of an electronic book or magazine.

8. A software application in a data processing device for displaying the information in the touch display of the data processing device in a situation where a portion of the touch display area, and thus also a portion of the information on the touch display, is covered by a tangible obstacle in front of the touch display, characterised in that the information in the touch display is arranged to be regrouped by the software application so that at least a portion of the information contents in the touch display left behind the tangible obstacle is regrouped into an uncovered portion of the touch display.

9. The software application according to claim 8, characterised in that a portion of the touch display can be predefined as a region where regrouping of the information content is not performed.

10. The software application according to claim 9, characterised in that the software application is arranged to realise

a step to detect an obstacle in front of the touch display,

a step to determine the size of the detected obstacle,

a step to decide whether the detected obstacle exceeds a regrouping threshold value defined for the display,

a step to determine in each point covered by the obstacle the time, which has passed since the obstacle was detected,

a step to determine the movement of the obstacle with the aid of changes of the covered points at border regions of the coverage caused by the obstacle, and

a step for at least to partially regroup the information into a portion of the touch display, which is uncovered by the obstacle, if the obstacle remains stationary.

11. The software application according to claim 10, characterised in that said regrouping of the information content in the touch display is arranged to be performed after a predetermined period has passed since the motion of the obstacle ended.

12. The software application according to claim 10, characterised in that it is arranged to regroup information, which comprises both text and images.

13. The software application according to claim 12, characterised in that during regrouping it is arranged to change the physical size of said information.

14. A computer program according to claims 8 on a storage or transfer means which program is loadable into the memory of a data processing device.