PICTORIAL METHODS FOR APPLICATION SELECTION AND ACTIVATION

• US 20100127991A1
• Filed: 11/24/2008
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: YEE, Mong Suan
• Granted Patent: US 9,501,694 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/20 Drawing from basic elements, e.g. lines or circles
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/36 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/28 Recognition of hand or arm movements, e.g. recognition of deaf sign language static hand signs G06V40/113

Abstract

Methods and devices provide a quick and intuitive method to launch a specific application, dial a number or send a message by drawing a pictorial key, symbol or shape on a computing device touchscreen, touchpad or other touchsurface. A shape drawn on a touchsurface is compared to one or more code shapes stored in memory to determine if there is a match or correlation. If the entered shape correlates to a stored code shape, an application, file, function or keystroke sequence linked to the correlated code shape is implemented. The methods also enable communication involving sending a shape or parameters defining a shape from one computing device to another where the shape is compared to code shapes in memory of the receiving computing device. If the received shape correlates to a stored code shape, an application, file, function or keystroke sequence linked to the correlated code shape is implemented.

Claims

1. A method for initiating an action on a computing device, comprising:

receiving a shape drawn on a touchsurface;

comparing the received shape to a code shape stored in memory; and

implementing an action linked to the stored code shape if the received shape correlates to the code shape.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing the shape as a touchsurface user interface command if the received shape does not correlate to the code shape.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a new shape drawn on the touchsurface;

storing the received new shape in memory as the code shape; and

linking an action to the stored code shape.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a shape drawn on the touchsurface;

determining parameters defining the received shape;

storing the shape defining parameters in memory as the code shape; and

linking an action to the stored code shape.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a shape drawn on the touchsurface a plurality of times;

determining parameters defining a nominal shape representative of the plurality of received shapes;

determining a variability of the plurality of received shapes about the nominal shape;

storing the nominal shape defining parameters and the determined variability in memory as the code shape; and

linking an action to the stored code shape,

wherein comparing the received shape to a code shape stored in memory comprises determining whether the received shape correlates to the nominal shape within the determined variability.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving a sequence of keystrokes, wherein linking an action to the stored code shape comprises storing the received sequence of keystrokes in memory correlated to the code shape.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving identification of an application, wherein linking an action to the stored code shape comprises storing a link to the identified application in memory correlated to the code shape.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the touchsurface is one of touchscreen and a touchpad.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

The code shape is stored in a data table; and

comparing the received shape to the code shape comprises comparing the received shape to the data table.

10. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a code shape training request command while a file or application is open,

wherein linking an action to the stored code shape links an address for the open file or application to the stored code shape.

11. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a code shape training request command while a file or application is highlighted in a graphical user interface,

wherein linking an action to the stored code shape links an address for the highlighted file or application to the stored code shape.

12. A method of communicating, comprising:

receiving in a first computing device a message from a second computing device including shape parameters of a shape drawing on a touchscreen of the second computing device;

comparing the received shape parameters to shape parameters of a code shape stored in memory; and

implementing an action linked to the stored code shape if the received shape correlates to the code shape.

13. A computing device, comprising:

a processor;

a touchsurface coupled to the process; and

a memory coupled to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to perform steps comprising;

receiving a shape drawn on the touchsurface;

comparing the received shape to a code shape stored in the memory; and

implementing an action linked to the stored code shape if the received shape correlates to the code shape.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to perform steps further comprising processing the shape as a touchsurface user interface command if the received shape does not correlate to the code shape.

15. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to perform steps further comprising:

receiving a new shape drawn on the touchsurface;

storing the received new shape in memory as the code shape; and

linking an action to the stored code shape.

16. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to perform steps further comprising:

receiving a shape drawn on the touchsurface;

determining parameters defining the received shape;

storing the shape defining parameters in memory as the code shape; and

linking an action to the stored code shape.

17. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to perform steps further comprising:

receiving a shape drawn on the touchsurface a plurality of times;

determining parameters defining a nominal shape representative of the plurality of received shapes;

determining a variability of the plurality of received shapes about the nominal shape;

storing the nominal shape defining parameters and the determined variability in memory as the code shape; and

linking an action to the stored code shape, wherein comparing the received shape to a code shape stored in memory comprises determining whether the received shape correlates to the nominal shape within the determined variability.

18. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to perform steps further comprising receiving a sequence of keystrokes, wherein linking an action to the stored code shape comprises storing the received sequence of keystrokes in memory correlated to the code shape.

19. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to perform steps further comprising receiving identification of an application, wherein linking an action to the stored code shape comprises storing a link to the identified application in memory correlated to the code shape.

20. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the touchsurface is one of touchscreen and a touchpad.

21. The computing device of claim 13, wherein:

the code shape is stored in a data table in the memory; and

the processor is configured such that the step of comparing the received shape to the code shape comprises comparing the received shape to the data table.

22. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to perform steps further comprising receiving a code shape training request command while a file or application is open, wherein linking an action to the stored code shape links an address for the open file or application to the stored code shape.

23. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to perform steps further comprising receiving a code shape training request command while a file or application is highlighted in a graphical user interface, wherein linking an action to the stored code shape links an address for the highlighted file or application to the stored code shape.

24. A first computing device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to perform steps comprising;

receiving a message from a second computing device including shape parameters of a shape drawing on a touchscreen of the second computing device;

comparing the received shape parameters to shape parameters of a code shape stored in memory; and

implementing an action linked to the stored code shape if the received shape correlates to the code shape.

25. A computing device, comprising:

means for receiving a shape drawn on a touchsurface;

means for comparing the received shape to a code shape stored in memory; and

means for implementing an action linked to the stored code shape if the received shape correlates to the code shape.

26. The computing device of claim 25, further comprising means for processing the shape as a touchsurface user interface command if the received shape does not correlate to the code shape.

27. The computing device of claim 25, further comprising:

means for receiving a shape drawn on the touchsurface;

means for storing the received shape in memory as the code shape; and

means for linking an action to the stored code shape.

28. The computing device of claim 25, further comprising:

means for receiving a shape drawn on the touchsurface;

means for determining parameters defining the received shape;

means for storing the shape defining parameters in memory as the code shape; and

means for linking an action to the stored code shape.

29. The computing device of claim 25, further comprising:

means for receiving a shape drawn on the touchsurface a plurality of times;

means for determining parameters defining a nominal shape representative of the plurality of received shapes;

means for determining a variability of the plurality of received shapes about the nominal shape;

means for storing the nominal shape defining parameters and the determined variability in memory as the code shape; and

means for linking an action to the stored code shape,

wherein means for comparing the received shape to a code shape stored in memory comprises means for determining whether the received shape correlates to the nominal shape within the determined variability.

30. The computing device of claim 27, further comprising means for receiving a sequence of keystrokes, wherein means for linking an action to the stored code shape comprises means for storing the received sequence of keystrokes in memory correlated to the code shape.

31. The computing device of claim 27, further comprising means for receiving identification of an application, wherein means for linking an action to the stored code shape comprises means for storing a link to the identified application in memory correlated to the code shape.

32. The computing device of claim 25, wherein the touchsurface is one of touchscreen and a touchpad.

33. The computing device of claim 25, wherein:

the code shape is stored in a data table; and

means for comparing the received shape to the code shape comprises means for comparing the received shape to the data table.

34. The computing device of claim 27, further comprising means for receiving a code shape training request command while a file or application is open, wherein means for linking an action to the stored code shape links an address for the open file or application to the stored code shape.

35. The computing device of claim 27, further comprising means for receiving a code shape training request command while a file or application is highlighted in a graphical user interface, wherein means for linking an action to the stored code shape comprises means for storing the received sequence of keystrokes in memory links an address for the highlighted file or application to the stored code shape.

36. A first computing device, comprising:

means for receiving a message from a second computing device including shape parameters of a shape drawing on a touchscreen of the second computing device;

means for comparing the received shape parameters to shape parameters of a code shape stored in memory; and

means for implementing an action linked to the stored code shape if the received shape correlates to the code shape.

37. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium, comprising;

at least one instruction for receiving a shape drawn on a touchsurface;

at least one instruction for comparing the received shape to a code shape stored in memory; and

at least one instruction for implementing an action linked to the stored code shape if the received shape correlates to the code shape.

38. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for processing the shape as a touchsurface user interface command if the received shape does not correlate to the code shape.

39. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for receiving a shape drawn on the touchsurface;

at least one instruction for storing the received shape in memory as the code shape; and

at least one instruction for linking an action to the stored code shape.

40. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for receiving a shape drawn on the touchsurface;

at least one instruction for determining parameters defining the received shape;

at least one instruction for storing the shape defining parameters in memory as the code shape; and

at least one instruction for linking an action to the stored code shape.

41. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for receiving a shape drawn on the touchsurface a plurality of times;

at least one instruction for determining parameters defining a nominal shape representative of the plurality of received shapes;

at least one instruction for determining a variability of the plurality of received shapes about the nominal shape;

at least one instruction for storing the nominal shape defining parameters and the determined variability in memory as the code shape; and

at least one instruction for linking an action to the stored code shape,

wherein the at least one instruction for comparing the received shape to a code shape stored in memory comprises at least one instruction for determining whether the received shape correlates to the nominal shape within the determined variability.

42. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for receiving a sequence of keystrokes, wherein the at least one instruction for linking an action to the stored code shape comprises at least one instruction for storing the received sequence of keystrokes in memory correlated to the code shape.

43. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for receiving identification of an application, wherein the linking an action to the stored code shape comprises at least one instruction for storing a link to the identified application in memory correlated to the code shape.

44. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein:

the code shape is stored in a data table; and

the at least one instruction for comparing the received shape to the code shape comprises at least one instruction for comparing the received shape to the data table.

45. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for receiving a code shape training request command while a file or application is open, wherein the linking an action to the stored code shape links an address for the open file or application to the stored code shape.

46. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for receiving a code shape training request command while a file or application is highlighted in a graphical user interface, wherein the linking an action to the stored code shape links an address for the highlighted file or application to the stored code shape.

47. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium, comprising;

at least one instruction for receiving in a first computing device a message from a second computing device including shape parameters of a shape drawing on a touchscreen of the second computing device;

at least one instruction for comparing the received shape parameters to shape parameters of a code shape stored in memory; and

at least one instruction for implementing an action linked to the stored code shape if the received shape correlates to the code shape.