Enhanced zooming functionality

• US 20100169819A1
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kraft, Christian Rossing, Bestle, Nikolaj Heiberg
• Granted Patent: US 8,839,154 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/773
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method includes detecting an image presented on a display area of a device; detecting a pointing device input on a touch sensitive area of a device; determining that the input includes at least one point of contact on the touch sensitive area; and activating a zoom functionality of the device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting an image presented on a display area of a device;

detecting a pointing device input on a touch sensitive area of a device;

determining that the input includes at least one point of contact on the touch sensitive area; and

activating a zoom functionality of the device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising detecting movement of the pointing device on the touch sensitive area and wherein a movement in a first direction activates a zoom out function with respect to an image presented on a display of the device and a movement in a second direction activates a zoom in function with respect to the image presented on the display of the device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising deactivating the zooming function when the pointing device is released from the touch sensitive area.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining that the input comprises two substantially simultaneous points of contact on the touch sensitive area.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising that the two substantially simultaneous points of contact on the touch sensitive area are two fingers of a user.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising detecting a movement of the two substantially simultaneous points of contact on the touch sensitive area, wherein a movement in a first direction activates a zoom out function with respect to an image presented on a display of the device and a movement in a second direction activates a zoom in function with respect to the image presented on the display of the device.

7. The method of claim 4 further comprising detecting that the two substantially simultaneous points of contact on the touch sensitive area are released and deactivating the zooming function of the device.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising removing and deactivating a keypad view and functionality from the touch sensitive area of the display.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising re-presenting the keypad view and functionality on the touch sensitive area of the display when the pointing device is removed from the touch sensitive area for at least a pre-determined period of time.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the display area is separate from the touch sensitive area.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising that the detected contact is a short press or a press and hold of the pointing device for a pre-determined period.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a notification when the zoom function is activated.

20. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium configured to execute the method according to claim 1.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a touch-sensitive display unit; and

at least one processor, the at least one processor configured to;

detect an image presented on a display area of a device;

detect a pointing device input on a touch sensitive area of a device;

determine that the input includes at least one point of contact on the touch sensitive area; and

activate a zoom functionality of the device.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the processor is further configured to detect movement of the pointing device on the touch sensitive area and wherein a movement in a first direction activates a zoom out function with respect to an image presented on a display of the device and a movement in a second direction activates a zoom in function with respect to the image presented on the display of the device.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to deactivate the zooming function when the pointing device is released from the touch sensitive area.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine that the input comprises two substantially simultaneous points of contact on the touch sensitive area.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to remove and deactivate a keypad view and functionality from the touch sensitive area of the display when the zoom function is activated.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to re-present and re-activate the keypad view and functionality on the touch sensitive area of the display when the pointing device is removed from the touch sensitive area for at least a pre-determined period of time.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising that a display area of the apparatus is separate from the touch sensitive area.