Interface with and communication between mobile electronic devices

• US 20100020103A1
• Filed: 02/13/2009
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael J Ure
• Original Assignee: Michael J Ure
• Inventors: Ure, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US12/370,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20100020103A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/660
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1675 Miscellaneous details related to the relative movement between the different enclosures or enclosure parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• 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 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72481 for visually impaired users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation

Abstract

An input device and mobile electronic devices having improved user interface capabilities are described. In one embodiment, a “triple-threat” device is provided in the form of a mobile electronic device of a slider construction. A two-way slider mechanism is provided. In one embodiment, a screen of the mobile electronic device is touch-sensitive (touch input); in a first slider position, tactile-response keys are exposed (key input); in another slider position, a writing pad is exposed (stylus input).

Claims

1. A method of zooming an image displayed on a mobile electronic device having touch input, comprising:

sensing a user action tracing a small circle within an image region to be zoomed; and

in response to the user action, performing a zoom operation on the image region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a degree of zoom is controlled depending on a degree of angular rotation traced by the user about a center of the small circle.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising sensing in which of multiple directions the small circle is traced in, a clockwise direction or a counter-clockwise direction, wherein the zoom operation is only performed in response to the circle being traced in a one of said directions, not in response to the circle being traced in a different one of said directions.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said one of said directions is the clockwise direction.

5. The method of claim of claim 4, comprising performing unzooming in response to a user action tracing a small circle in a counter-clockwise direction.