Computing Device and Method for Selecting Display Regions Responsive to Non-Discrete Directional Input Actions and Intelligent Content Analysis

• US 20100169766A1
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Simon, Gregory, Raju, Renchi, Duarte, Matias, Shiplacoff, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 8,291,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/244
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A computing device includes a display surface, a human interface feature, and processing resources. The human interface features enables a user of the computing device to enter a non-discrete directional input action. The processing resources execute to: (i) provide content on the display surface; (ii) detect the user performing the input action; (ii) determine a vector from the input action; and (iv) select a region of the display surface based on the vector.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a display surface;

a human interface feature that enables a user of the computing device to enter a non-discrete directional input action;

processing resources that execute to;

provide content on the display surface;

detect the user performing the input action;

determine a vector from the input action; and

select a region of the display surface based on (i) the vector and (ii) one or more characteristics of the region that delineate the region from a surrounding portion of the content.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the processing resources execute to re-display the selected region of the display surface.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the processing resources execute to:

provide the content by displaying a plurality of display objects on the display surface;

select a region of the display surface by using the vector to select one of the plurality of display objects that is indicated by at least a direction of the vector.

4. The computing device of claim 3, wherein the processing resources execute to snap to the selected one of the plurality of display objects upon determining that the selected display object is indicated by the vector.

5. The computing device of claim 3, wherein the processing resources execute to alter the selected display object to enhance its viewing on the display surface.

6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the human interface feature includes one or more sensors that are positioned to detect a gesture made on a surface of the computing device as the input action.

7. The computing device of claim 5, wherein the human interface feature is combined with the display surface as part of a touch-sensitive display assembly.

8. The computing device of claim 5, wherein the human interface feature includes a roller ball.

9. The computing device of claim 5, wherein the processing resources execute to alter the selected object by enlarging at least a portion of selected object on the display surface.

10. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the processing resources execute to detect a velocity of the input action from which the vector is determined, and wherein the processing resources select the object using, in part, the velocity detected from the input action.

11. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the human interface feature is configured to detect the input action corresponding to one of (i) eye movement, (ii) voice input, or (iii) finger, hand or body movement.

12. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the processing resources are configured to execute a web browser in displaying a web content, the web content corresponding to the content that is provided on the display surface.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the processing resources select one of the plurality of display objects that are rendered as part of the web content by using document object model information that is provided as part of the web content to identify a boundary of at least the selected one of the plurality of display objects.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the human interface feature includes one or more sensors that are positioned to detect a gesture made on the display surface as the input action, the processing resources (i) determining the vector from the gesture, and (ii) selecting the one of the display objects, based on and in response to detecting the gesture.

15. The computing device of claim 3, further comprising a feedback mechanism that provides a haptic or audible feedback in response to the processor executing to snap to one of the selected display objects.

16. A computing device comprising:

a display region;

processing resources that are configured to;

present content on the display surface, including a plurality of selectable data items on a sub region of the display surface;

analyze at least a portion of a content on display that includes the plurality of selectable data items to determine a spacing between at least some of the plurality of data items;

responsive to determining that the spacing between the selectable data items is less than a pre-determined threshold, re-display at least a portion the content to enhance the user'"'"'s ability to select a desired data item and not inadvertently select an undesired data item.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the processing resources that are configured to determine a density of the plurality of selectable data items in determining the spacing between individual data items.

18. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the processing resources that are configured to determine, for individual selectable data items, a proximity of a nearest selectable data item in determining the spacing between individual data items.

19. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the selectable data items correspond to individual links.

20. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the processing resources make the determination using document object model information provided by a browser that runs on the computing device.