Touch-Sensitive Display Screen With Absolute And Relative Input Modes

• US 20100156813A1
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shiplacoff, Daniel Marc Gatan, Duarte, Matias Gonzalo, Lyon, Jeremy Godfrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,451,236 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

A touch-sensitive display screen has at least two input modes for touch input. In an absolute input mode, positional information is interpreted in an absolute sense: an on-screen object or cursor can be moved, selected or activated by tapping or touching the screen at the location of the object itself or at a desired location for the object. In a relative input mode, touch input provided on the display screen is interpreted in a manner similar to a virtual joystick or a virtual touchpad. In the virtual joystick relative mode, input is interpreted relative to a reference point on the screen. In the virtual touchpad relative mode, input is interpreted according to a direction of motion of a contact point.

Claims

1. In a device having a touch-sensitive display screen, a method for interpreting user input, comprising:

receiving user input corresponding to a location on a touch-sensitive display screen of a device, the display screen being adapted to display content and to detect contact by the user;

responsive to the device being in an absolute input mode;

determining an absolute location for the user input; and

performing a first action based on the absolute location of the user input;

p1 responsive to the device being in a relative input mode;

establishing a reference point at a location on the display screen;

comparing the indicated location on the display screen with the location of the reference point; and

performing a second action based on the indicated location on the display screen relative to the location of the reference point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input comprises user contact with the touch-sensitive display screen at a contact point.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising, responsive to the device being in a relative input mode:

receiving additional user input indicating the user maintaining contact with the touch-sensitive display screen at the contact point; and

responsive to the received additional user input, continuing to perform the second action based on the indicated location on the display screen relative to the location of the reference point.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising, responsive to the device being in a relative input mode:

receiving additional user input indicating the user moving the contact point; and

responsive to the received additional user input, continuing to perform the second action in a modified form based on the location indicated by the moved contact point relative to the location of the reference point.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input comprises user input proximate to the touch-sensitive display screen.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein performing a first action based on the absolute location of the user input comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

moving an object to the determined absolute location on the display screen;

moving a cursor to the determined absolute location on the display screen;

activating an object substantially located at the determined absolute location on the display screen; and

selecting an object substantially located at the determined absolute location on the display screen.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein performing a second action based on the indicated location on the display screen relative to the location of the reference point comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

moving an object;

moving a cursor; and

scrolling content in at least a portion of the display screen.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, responsive to the device being in a relative input mode and subsequent to establishing a reference point at a location on the display screen, displaying an indication of the location of the reference point.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein performing a second action based on the indicated location on the display screen relative to the location of the reference point comprises performing an action having a speed responsive to the distance between the indicated location on the display screen and the location of the reference point.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

comparing the indicated location on the display screen with the location of the reference point comprises constructing a vector based on the indicated location on the display screen relative to the location of the reference point; and

performing a second action based on the indicated location on the display screen relative to the location of the reference point comprises performing the second action based on the direction of the constructed vector.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

comparing the indicated location on the display screen with the location of the reference point comprises constructing a vector based on the indicated location on the display screen relative to the location of the reference point; and

performing a second action based on the indicated location on the display screen relative to the location of the reference point comprises performing the second action based on the direction and magnitude of the constructed vector.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a telephone;

a smartphone;

a personal digital assistant;

a computer;

a handheld computer;

a kiosk;

an input terminal; and

a remote control.

13. In a device having a touch-sensitive display screen, a method for interpreting user input, comprising:

receiving user input corresponding to a location on a touch-sensitive display screen of a device, the display screen being adapted to display content and to detect contact by the user;

responsive to the device being in an absolute input mode;

determining an absolute location for the user input; and

performing a first action based on the absolute location of the user input; and

responsive to the device being in a relative input mode;

receiving drag input on the display screen of the device, the drag input having a direction and magnitude;

performing a second action based on at least the direction of the drag input.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein performing a second action based on at least the direction of the drag input comprises performing a second action based on at least the direction and magnitude of the drag input.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein performing a second action based on at least the direction of the drag input comprises performing a second action based on at least the direction and speed of the drag input.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving drag input comprises receiving input generated by the user initiating contact with the display screen at a contact point and moving the contact point while maintaining contact with the display screen.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein performing a first action based on the absolute location of the user input comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

moving an object to the determined absolute location on the display screen;

moving a cursor to the determined absolute location on the display screen;

activating an object substantially located at the determined absolute location on the display screen; and

selecting an object substantially located at the determined absolute location on the display screen.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein based on at least the direction of the drag input comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

moving an object;

moving a cursor; and

scrolling content in at least a portion of the display screen.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the device comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a telephone;

a smartphone;

a personal digital assistant;

a computer;

a handheld computer;

a kiosk;

an input terminal; and

a remote control.

20. In a device having a touch-sensitive display screen, a method for interpreting user input, comprising:

receiving user input comprising contact with a location on a touch-sensitive display screen of a device, the display screen being adapted to display content;

responsive to a determination that the user input represents a tap;

performing an action based on the absolute location of the tap;

responsive to a determination that the user input represents a touch-hold-drag having an initial location of contact and a subsequent location of contact; and

responsive to the initial location of contact corresponding to an absolute location of an on-screen object, moving the on-screen object to the subsequent location of contact;

responsive to the initial location of contact not corresponding to an absolute location of an on-screen object;

establishing a reference point at a location on the display screen;

comparing the subsequent location of contact with the location of the reference point; and

performing a second action based on the subsequent location of contact relative to the location of the reference point.