Operating touch screen interfaces

• US 20080136785A1
• Filed: 12/07/2006
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wilson, Andrew D., Baudisch, Patrick, Hinckley, Kenneth P., Vogel, Daniel, Sarin, Raman, Cutrell, Edward B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,692,629 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

Techniques and technologies are provided which can allow for touch input with a touch screen device. In response to an attempt to select a target displayed on a screen, a callout can be rendered in a non-occluded area of the screen. The callout includes a representation of the area of the screen that is occluded by a selection entity when the attempt to select the target is made.

Claims

1. In a touch screen device comprising a screen, a method for touch input comprising:

displaying a target on the screen; and

rendering a callout on the screen in response to an attempt to select the target, wherein the callout comprises a representation of an occluded area of the screen in a non-occluded area of the screen.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

rendering a pointer representing an actual contact point on the screen.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

guiding the pointer over a representation of the target displayed in the non-occluded area of the screen.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising:

committing to target acquisition when the pointer is over the representation of the target displayed in the non-occluded area of the screen.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the attempt to select the target, comprises:

contacting the occluded area of the screen with a selection entity to attempt to select the target displayed on the screen under the selection entity; and

further comprising;

determining if occlusion is a problem for the target under the selection entity, wherein the callout is rendered if occlusion is a problem for the target under the selection entity, and wherein the callout is not rendered if occlusion is not a problem for the target under the selection entity.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein determining if occlusion is a problem for the target under the selection entity, comprises:

determining if occlusion is a problem for the target under the selection entity based on size of the target.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein occlusion is a problem for targets which are relatively small with respect to the occluded area, wherein occlusion is not a problem for targets which are relatively large with respect to the occluded area, and wherein the callout is not rendered when the target comprises a target which is relatively large with respect to the occluded area.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein determining if occlusion is a problem for the target under the selection entity, comprises:

determining if occlusion is a problem for the target under the selection entity based on a dwell timeout period.

9. A method according to claim 5, wherein determining if occlusion is a problem for the target under the selection entity, comprises:

determining that occlusion is a problem for the target under the selection entity based on a command received from a user.

10. A method according to claim 5, wherein the actual contact point is a current selection point of the selection entity on the screen, and wherein rendering a callout comprises:

displaying the callout in the non-occluded area responsive to contact with the occluded area of the screen, wherein the callout comprises the representation of the occluded area of the screen in the non-occluded area of the screen.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein guiding the pointer over a representation of the target displayed in the non-occluded area of the screen comprises:

keeping the selection entity on the screen; and

guiding the pointer, based on visual feedback provided by the callout, over the representation of the target displayed in the non-occluded area of the screen by moving the selection entity on the surface of the screen.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein committing to target acquisition when the pointer is over the representation of the target displayed in the non-occluded area of the screen, comprises:

lifting the selection entity off the surface of the screen to define the selection point when the pointer is over the representation of the target displayed in the non-occluded area to select the target; and

removing the callout when the selection entity is lifted off the screen.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the occluded area comprises an area of the screen which includes the target and which is covered by a selection entity.

14. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps recited in claim 1.

15. A touch screen device, comprising:

a touch screen for displaying information comprising a target;

a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for rendering a callout on a non-occluded area of the touch screen responsive to an attempt to select a target displayed on the touch screen, wherein the screen includes an occluded area which includes the target and which is covered by a selection entity, and wherein the callout comprises a representation of the occluded area of the screen in the non-occluded area of the screen.

16. A touch screen device according to claim 15, further comprising:

a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for rendering a pointer on the non-occluded area of the touch screen responsive to the attempt to select the target displayed on the touch screen, wherein the pointer represents an actual contact point of the selection entity on the screen and wherein the pointer is movable over the representation of the target displayed in the non-occluded area of the touch screen.

17. A touch screen device according to claim 16, wherein the target is selected by lifting the selection entity off the surface of the screen while the pointer is over the representation of the target displayed in the non-occluded area, and further comprising:

a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for determining if occlusion is a problem for the target under the selection entity when the selection entity presses on a surface of the touch screen to attempt to select the target displayed on the screen; and

a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for removing the callout when the selection entity is lifted off the touch screen.

18. A display device comprising a screen designed to display at least one target which can be selected by pressing on a surface of the screen using a selection entity, the display device comprising:

a callout, rendered in a non-occluded area of the screen responsive to an attempt to select the target using a selection entity, wherein the callout comprises a representation of an occluded area of the screen which includes the target and which is covered by the selection entity, wherein the representation of the occluded area comprises a representation of the target.

19. A display device according to claim 18, further comprising:

a pointer representing an actual contact point of the selection entity on the screen, wherein the pointer is displayed in the non-occluded area, and wherein the actual contact point represents an actual current actual contact point within the occluded area, and

wherein the pointer is movable by moving the selection entity on the surface of the screen, and wherein visual feedback provided to the user by the callout allows a user to move the pointer over the representation of the target displayed in the non-occluded area of the screen.

20. A display device according to claim 19, wherein the callout is displayed only when occlusion is a problem for the target under the selection entity, and wherein the callout is not displayed when the user attempts to select a larger target on the screen of the display device.