Detecting and Interpreting Real-World and Security Gestures on Touch and Hover Sensitive Devices

• US 20100211920A1
• Filed: 04/02/2010
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Myra Mary Haggerty, Wayne Carl Westerman
• Original Assignee: Myra Mary Haggerty, Wayne Carl Westerman
• Inventors: Haggerty, Myra Mary, Westerman, Wayne Carl
• Granted Patent: US 9,367,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• 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 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

“Real-world” gestures such as hand or finger movements/orientations that are generally recognized to mean certain things (e.g., an “OK” hand signal generally indicates an affirmative response) can be interpreted by a touch or hover sensitive device to more efficiently and accurately effect intended operations. These gestures can include, but are not limited to, “OK gestures,” “grasp everything gestures,” “stamp of approval gestures,” “circle select gestures,” “X to delete gestures,” “knock to inquire gestures,” “hitchhiker directional gestures,” and “shape gestures.” In addition, gestures can be used to provide identification and allow or deny access to applications, files, and the like.

Claims

1. A method for receiving an affirmative gesture formed on or about a sensor panel, comprising:

detecting one or more images at the sensor panel generated from a hand formed in a shape of an OK sign;

determining that the one or more images are arranged in a pattern corresponding to a predetermined OK gesture;

determining a centering parameter from the one or more images;

associating the OK gesture with a user interface (UI) element coincident with the centering parameter; and

performing an affirmative action in accordance with the UI element.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that the one or more images are arranged in a pattern corresponding to a predetermined OK gesture by:

identifying one or more palm edge and pinky features; and

identifying a thumb and finger feature.

3. A method for receiving an identification gesture formed on or about a sensor panel, comprising:

detecting one or more images at the sensor panel;

determining that the one or more images represent an attempted identification gesture;

associating the attempted identification gesture with a user interface (UI) element; and

determining whether the movement of the one or more images are arranged in space and time in a pattern and sequence corresponding to a user authorized to access the UI element; and

granting or denying access to the UI element in accordance with the determination of whether the attempted identification gesture corresponds to a user authorized to access the UI element.

4. A computer-readable medium comprising program code for receiving an affirmative gesture formed on or about a sensor panel, the program code for causing performance of a method comprising:

detecting one or more images at the sensor panel generated from a hand formed in a shape of an OK sign;

determining that the one or more images are arranged in a pattern corresponding to a predetermined OK gesture;

determining a centering parameter from the one or more images;

associating the OK gesture with a user interface (UI) element coincident with the centering parameter; and

performing an affirmative action in accordance with the UI element.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 4, the method further comprising determining that the one or more images are arranged in a pattern corresponding to a predetermined OK gesture by:

identifying one or more palm edge and pinky features; and

identifying a thumb and finger feature.

6. A computer-readable medium comprising program code for receiving a shape gesture formed on or about a sensor panel, the program code for causing performance of a method comprising:

detecting one or more images at the sensor panel generated from a hand formed in a particular shape;

determining that the one or more images are arranged in a pattern corresponding to a predetermined shape gesture;

associating the shape gesture with a user interface (UI) element; and

performing an action associated with the shape gesture upon the UI element.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the shape gesture is a triangle shape gesture.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the shape gesture is a V shape gesture.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the shape gesture is an inverted V shape gesture.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the shape gesture is a wing shape gesture.

11. A computer-readable medium comprising program code for receiving an identification gesture formed on or about a sensor panel, the program code for causing performance of a method comprising:

detecting one or more images at the sensor panel;

determining that the one or more images represent an attempted identification gesture;

associating the attempted identification gesture with a user interface (UI) element; and

determining whether the movement of the one or more images are arranged in space and time in a pattern and sequence corresponding to a user authorized to access the UI element; and

granting or denying access to the UI element in accordance with the determination of whether the attempted identification gesture corresponds to a user authorized to access the UI element.