METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MOVING A CURSOR AND SELECTING OBJECTS ON A TOUCHSCREEN USING A FINGER POINTER

• US 20090288043A1
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Purple Labs
• Inventors: Willis, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,826,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/859
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A finger pointer is used for moving a cursor and selecting objects on a touchscreen. The finger pointer includes a cursor indicator and a finger contact area. The cursor indicator points to a location on the touchscreen that would be activated when the finger pointer is selected. The finger contact area indicates the location on the touchscreen where a user may touch the screen to activate or move the finger pointer. The finger pointer may be used to select objects such as hyperlinks on a browser web page, and items from an application of menu. The user touches the touchscreen within the finger contact area. The user then contacts the touchscreen at a different location to move the finger pointer to the different location such that the cursor indicator is positioned on an object is to be selected.

Claims

1. A method for moving a cursor and selecting objects on a touchscreen using a finger pointer, the method comprising:

displaying a finger pointer on a touchscreen at a first location, wherein the finger pointer comprises a cursor indicator and a finger contact area;

receiving an activation signal from the touchscreen, wherein the activation signal is generated in response to a finger touching the touchscreen in the finger contact area of the finger pointer;

receiving a movement signal, wherein the movement signal is generated in response to the finger contacting a surface of the touchscreen at a second location;

displaying the finger pointer on the touch screen at the second location;

receiving an object selection signal from the touch screen at the second location, wherein the objection selection signal is generated in response to the user activating the finger pointer to select an object indicated by the cursor indicator; and

activating the selected object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cursor indicator protrudes from the finger contact area such that the tip of the cursor indicator indicates to a user the location on the touchscreen that would be activated by the cursor when the finger pointer is selected.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the cursor indicator is arrow-shaped.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the movement signal is generated in response to the user sliding his finger across the touchscreen from the first location to the second location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the movement signal is generated in response to the user removing his finger from the first location and then contacting the touchscreen with this finger at the second location, without sliding across the touchscreen.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the finger pointer is attracted to selectable objects.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the finger pointer activation is generated in response to the user quickly tapping the finger pointer after removing his finger from the finger contact area.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the finger pointer activation is generated in response to the removal of the finger from the finger contact area.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the appearance of the finger pointer fades to allow the page content to show through the finger pointer, in response to the finger pointer being released.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the inactive finger pointer is provided with a back button, in response to the finger pointer being released.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the finger pointer at a distance from the center of the touchscreen starts scrolling a page displayed on the touchscreen.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the scroll direction depends on the position of the finger pointer relative to center of the touchscreen.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the scroll speed is determined by the position of the finger pointer relative to an edge of the touchscreen.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the finger pointer near an edge of the touchscreen starts scrolling a page displayed on the touchscreen past said edge such that the cursor indicator is positioned over a desired area near said edge.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the finger pointer includes selectable menu keys for zooming and re-accessing web pages.

17. The method of claim 2, wherein the movement signal is generated in response to the user sliding his finger across the touchscreen from the first location to the second location.

18. The method of claim 3, wherein the movement signal is generated in response to the user sliding his finger across the touchscreen from the first location to the second location.

19. The method of claim 2, wherein the movement signal is generated in response to the user removing his finger from the first location and then contacting the touchscreen with this finger at the second location, without sliding across the touchscreen.

20. The method of claim 3, wherein the movement signal is generated in response to the user removing his finger from the first location and then contacting the touchscreen with this finger at the second location, without sliding across the touchscreen.

16. An electronic device, comprising:

a processor,

a touchscreen,

displaying means for displaying data on the

touchscreen,

receiving means for receiving signals from the touchscreen,

wherein the displaying means are adapted to display a finger pointer on a touchscreen at a first location, wherein the finger pointer comprises a cursor indicator and a finger contact area;

wherein the receiving means are adapted to receive an activation signal from the touchscreen, wherein the activation signal is generated in response to a finger touching the touchscreen in the finger contact area of the finger pointer;

wherein the receiving means are adapted to receive a movement signal, wherein the movement signal is generated in response to the finger contacting a surface of the touchscreen at a second location;

wherein the displaying means are adapted to display the finger pointer on the touch screen at the second location;

wherein the receiving means are adapted to receive an object selection signal from the touchscreen at the second location, wherein the objection selection signal is generated in response to the user activating the finger pointer to select an object indicated by the cursor indicator; and

wherein the processor is adapted to activate the selected object.