PRESSURE SENSITIVE USER INTERFACE FOR MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20110050576A1
• Filed: 08/31/2009
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: SAEED, Salman, FORUTANPOUR, Babak
• Granted Patent: US 8,390,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

Virtual keypads are provided which determine an intended user key entry based upon location of keystrokes as well as other keystroke characteristics such as keystroke shape and/or pressure. Virtual keypad layouts which include overlapping or multi-character keys may be used to reduce typing errors on small pressure sensing touch screens. Keystrokes on overlapping or multi-character keys may be disambiguated using measured pressures applied to the pressure sensing touch screen as well as other keystroke characteristics such as keystroke shape. Additional user interfaces are provided which exploit pressure sensing touch screen capable of discriminating magnitudes of pressure exerted upon the touch screen surface.

Claims

1. A method for disambiguating a keystroke on a virtual keypad, comprising:

detecting the keystroke on a pressure sensing touch screen displaying the virtual keypad;

measuring a pressure applied to the pressure sensing touch screen by the detected keystroke; and

disambiguating the keystroke based upon the measured pressure.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein disambiguating the keystroke based upon the measured pressure comprises:

determining possible intended keys by correlating a location of the detected keystroke with a key coordinate table;

determining an intended key value by correlating detected keystroke pressure with a pressure data table for the possible intended keys.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein disambiguating the keystroke based upon the measured pressure comprises:

determining whether the detected keystroke occurred in an overlap region;

determining current locations for all touches on the pressure sensing touch screen if the detected keystroke occurred in the overlap region;

determining which touch that has deviated from a baseline touch position; and

disambiguating the keystroke based upon the measured pressure based upon the detected keystroke location and the determined touch that has deviated from the baseline touch position

4. The method of claim 1, wherein disambiguating the keystroke based upon the measured pressure comprises:

determining whether the detected keystroke occurred in an overlap region;

determining an orientation of a touch shape of the detected keystroke in the overlap region;

determining which hand executed the detected keystroke based upon the determined orientation of the detected keystroke touch shape; and

assigning a character to the detected keystroke in the overlap region based upon the detected keystroke location and which hand executed the detected keystroke.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein disambiguating the keystroke based upon the measured pressure comprises:

determining whether the detected keystroke occurred in an overlap region;

comparing a shape of the detected keystroke in the overlap region to stored keystroke signature data to determine a matching touch shape; and

assigning to the detected keystroke in the overlap region a character corresponding to the matched touch shape.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein disambiguating the keystroke based upon the measured pressure comprises:

comparing the measured pressure of the detected keystroke in the overlap region to stored keystroke signature data to determine a matching pressure signature; and

assigning to the detected keystroke in the overlap region a character corresponding to the matched pressure signature.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein disambiguating the keystroke based upon the measured pressure comprises:

determining whether the keystroke can be disambiguated based upon comparisons of keystroke touch shape and measured pressure to keystroke signature data for the intended key value;

executing a predictive text routine to select between possible intended key values if the keystroke cannot be disambiguated based on keystroke touch shape and measured pressure; and

assigning to the detected keystroke in the overlap region a character identified by the predictive text routine.

8. A method for selecting a contact name and contact function to communicate with the contact name in a single keystroke, comprising:

detecting a keystroke on a pressure sensing touch screen displaying possible contact names;

measuring a pressure exerted on the pressure sensing touch screen by the keystroke;

selecting a contact record based upon the detected keystroke location on the pressure sensing touch screen;

selecting a contact function based on the measured keystroke pressure; and

initiating the selected contact function using data stored in the selected contact record.

9. A method for controlling audio volume, comprising:

measuring a pressure on a pressure sensing touch screen;

determining if the measured pressure exceeds a threshold value;

determining if an audio driver is in use if the measured pressure exceeds a threshold value; and

increasing the audio volume output if the audio driver is in use.

10. A method for controlling an image zoom function, comprising:

detecting a pinch gesture on a pressure sensing touch screen;

measuring a pressure applied in the detected pinch gesture;

selecting a magnification factor based on the measured pressure of the pinch gesture; and

generating a display in accordance with the selected magnification factor and movement of the pinch gesture.

11. A mobile device having a virtual keypad, comprising:

means for detecting a keystroke on a pressure sensing touch screen displaying the virtual keypad;

means for measuring a pressure applied to the pressure sensing touch screen by the detected keystroke; and

means for disambiguating the keystroke based upon the measured pressure.

12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the means for disambiguating the keystroke based upon the measured pressure comprises:

means for determining possible intended keys by correlating a location of the detected keystroke with a key coordinate table; and

means for determining an intended key value by correlating detected keystroke pressure with a pressure data table for the possible intended keys.

13. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the means for disambiguating the keystroke based upon the measured pressure comprises:

means for determining whether the detected keystroke occurred in an overlap region;

means for determining current locations for all touches on the pressure sensing touch screen if the detected keystroke occurred in the overlap region;

means for determining which touch that has deviated from a baseline touch position; and

means for disambiguating the keystroke based upon the measured pressure based upon the detected keystroke location and the determined touch that has deviated from the baseline touch position

14. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the means for disambiguating the keystroke based upon the measured pressure comprises:

means for determining whether the detected keystroke occurred in an overlap region;

means for determining an orientation of a touch shape of the detected keystroke in the overlap region;

means for determining which hand executed the detected keystroke based upon the determined orientation of the detected keystroke touch shape; and

means for assigning a character to the detected keystroke in the overlap region based upon the detected keystroke location and which hand executed the detected keystroke.

15. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the means for disambiguating the keystroke based upon the measured pressure comprises:

means for determining whether the detected keystroke occurred in an overlap region;

means for comparing a shape of the detected keystroke in the overlap region to stored keystroke signature data to determine a matching touch shape; and

means for assigning to the detected keystroke in the overlap region a character corresponding to the matched touch shape.

16. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the means for disambiguating the keystroke based upon the measured pressure comprises:

means for comparing the measured pressure of the detected keystroke in the overlap region to stored keystroke signature data to determine a matching pressure signature; and

means for assigning to the detected keystroke in the overlap region a character corresponding to the matched pressure signature.

17. The mobile device of claim 16, wherein the means for disambiguating the keystroke based upon the measured pressure comprises:

means for determining whether the keystroke can be disambiguated based upon comparisons of keystroke touch shape and measured pressure to keystroke signature data for an intended key value;

means for executing a predictive text routine to select between possible intended key values if the keystroke cannot be disambiguated based on keystroke touch shape and measured pressure; and

means for assigning to the detected keystroke in the overlap region a character identified by the predictive text routine.

18. A mobile device, comprising:

means for detecting a keystroke on a pressure sensing touch screen displaying possible contact names;

means for measuring a pressure exerted on the pressure sensing touch screen by the keystroke;

means for selecting a contact record based upon the detected keystroke location on the pressure sensing touch screen;

means for selecting a contact function based on the measured keystroke pressure; and

means for initiating the selected contact function using data stored in the selected contact record.

19. A mobile device, comprising:

means for measuring a pressure on a pressure sensing touch screen;

means for determining if the measured pressure exceeds a threshold value;

means for determining if an audio driver is in use if the measured pressure exceeds a threshold value; and

means for increasing the audio volume output if the audio driver is in use.

20. A mobile device, comprising:

means for detecting a pinch gesture on a pressure sensing touch screen;

means for measuring a pressure applied in the detected pinch gesture;

means for selecting a magnification factor based on the measured pressure of the pinch gesture; and

means for generating a display in accordance with the selected magnification factor and movement of the pinch gesture.

21. A mobile device, comprising:

a pressure sensing touch screen display;

a memory unit; and

a processor coupled to the memory unit and the pressure sensing touch screen display, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps comprising;

detecting a keystroke on a pressure sensing touch screen displaying a virtual keypad;

measuring a pressure applied to the pressure sensing touch screen by the detected keystroke; and

disambiguating the keystroke based upon the measured pressure.

22. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform further steps comprising:

determining possible intended keys by correlating a location of the detected keystroke with a key coordinate table; and

determining an intended key value by correlating detected keystroke pressure with a pressure data table for the possible intended keys.

23. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform further steps comprising:

determining whether the detected keystroke occurred in an overlap region;

determining current locations for all touches on the pressure sensing touch screen if the detected keystroke occurred in the overlap region;

determining which touch that has deviated from a baseline touch position; and

disambiguating the keystroke based upon the measured pressure based upon the detected keystroke location and the determined touch that has deviated from the baseline touch position

24. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform further steps comprising:

determining whether the detected keystroke occurred in an overlap region;

determining an orientation of a touch shape of the detected keystroke in the overlap region;

determining which hand executed the detected keystroke based upon the determined orientation of the detected keystroke touch shape; and

assigning a character to the detected keystroke in the overlap region based upon the detected keystroke location and which hand executed the detected keystroke.

25. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform further steps comprising:

determining whether the detected keystroke occurred in an overlap region;

comparing a shape of the detected keystroke in the overlap region to stored keystroke signature data to determine a matching touch shape; and

assigning to the detected keystroke in the overlap region a character corresponding to the matched touch shape.

26. The mobile device of claim 25, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform further steps comprising:

comparing the measured pressure of the detected keystroke in the overlap region to stored keystroke signature data to determine a matching pressure signature; and

assigning to the detected keystroke in the overlap region a character corresponding to the matched pressure signature.

27. The mobile device of claim 26, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform further steps comprising:

determining whether the keystroke can be disambiguated based upon comparisons of keystroke touch shape and measured pressure to keystroke signature data for an intended key value;

executing a predictive text routine to select between possible intended key values if the keystroke cannot be disambiguated based on keystroke touch shape and measured pressure; and

assigning to the detected keystroke in the overlap region a character identified by the predictive text routine.

28. A mobile device, comprising:

a pressure sensing touch screen display;

a memory unit; and

a processor coupled to the memory unit and the pressure sensing touch screen display, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps comprising;

detecting a keystroke on a pressure sensing touch screen displaying possible contact names;

measuring a pressure exerted on the pressure sensing touch screen by the keystroke;

selecting a contact record based upon the detected keystroke location on the pressure sensing touch screen;

selecting a contact function based on the measured keystroke pressure; and

initiating the selected contact function using data stored in the selected contact record.

29. A mobile device, comprising:

a pressure sensing touch screen display;

a memory unit; and

a processor coupled to the memory unit and the pressure sensing touch screen display, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps comprising;

measuring a pressure on a pressure sensing touch screen;

determining if the measured pressure exceeds a threshold value;

determining if an audio driver is in use if the measured pressure exceeds a threshold value; and

increasing the audio volume output if the audio driver is in use.

30. A mobile device, comprising:

a pressure sensing touch screen display;

a memory unit; and

a processor coupled to the memory unit and the pressure sensing touch screen display, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps comprising;

detecting a pinch gesture on a pressure sensing touch screen;

measuring a pressure applied in the detected pinch gesture;

selecting a magnification factor based on the measured pressure of the pinch gesture; and

generating a display in accordance with the selected magnification factor and movement of the pinch gesture.

31. A tangible storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform steps comprising:

detecting a keystroke on a pressure sensing touch screen displaying a virtual keypad;

measuring a pressure applied to the pressure sensing touch screen by the detected keystroke; and

disambiguating the keystroke based upon the measured pressure.

32. The tangible storage medium of claim 31, wherein the tangible storage medium has processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising:

determining possible intended keys by correlating a location of the detected keystroke with a key coordinate table; and

determining an intended key value by correlating detected keystroke pressure with a pressure data table for the possible intended keys.

33. The tangible storage medium of claim 31, wherein the tangible storage medium has processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising:

determining whether the detected keystroke occurred in an overlap region;

determining current locations for all touches on the pressure sensing touch screen if the detected keystroke occurred in the overlap region;

determining which touch that has deviated from a baseline touch position; and

disambiguating the keystroke based upon the measured pressure based upon the detected keystroke location and the determined touch that has deviated from the baseline touch position

34. The tangible storage medium of claim 31, wherein the tangible storage medium has processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising:

determining whether the detected keystroke occurred in an overlap region;

determining an orientation of a touch shape of the detected keystroke in the overlap region;

determining which hand executed the detected keystroke based upon the determined orientation of the detected keystroke touch shape; and

assigning a character to the detected keystroke in the overlap region based upon the detected keystroke location and which hand executed the detected keystroke.

35. The tangible storage medium of claim 31, wherein the tangible storage medium has processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising:

determining whether the detected keystroke occurred in an overlap region;

comparing a shape of the detected keystroke in the overlap region to stored keystroke signature data to determine a matching touch shape; and

assigning to the detected keystroke in the overlap region a character corresponding to the matched touch shape.

36. The tangible storage medium of claim 35, wherein the tangible storage medium has processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising:

comparing the measured pressure of the detected keystroke in the overlap region to stored keystroke signature data to determine a matching pressure signature; and

assigning to the detected keystroke in the overlap region a character corresponding to the matched pressure signature.

37. The tangible storage medium of claim 36, wherein the tangible storage medium has processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising:

determining whether the keystroke can be disambiguated based upon comparisons of keystroke touch shape and measured pressure to keystroke signature data for the intended key value;

executing a predictive text routine to select between possible intended key values if the keystroke cannot be disambiguated based on keystroke touch shape and measured pressure; and

assigning to the detected keystroke in the overlap region a character identified by the predictive text routine.

38. A tangible storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform steps comprising:

detecting a keystroke on a pressure sensing touch screen displaying possible contact names;

measuring a pressure exerted on the pressure sensing touch screen by the keystroke;

selecting a contact record based upon the detected keystroke location on the pressure sensing touch screen;

selecting a contact function based on the measured keystroke pressure; and

initiating the selected contact function using data stored in the selected contact record.

39. A tangible storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform steps comprising:

measuring a pressure on a pressure sensing touch screen;

determining if the measured pressure exceeds a threshold value;

determining if an audio driver is in use if the measured pressure exceeds a threshold value; and

increasing the audio volume output if the audio driver is in use.

40. A tangible storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform steps comprising:

detecting a pinch gesture on a pressure sensing touch screen;

measuring a pressure applied in the detected pinch gesture;

selecting a magnification factor based on the measured pressure of the pinch gesture; and

generating a display in accordance with the selected magnification factor and movement of the pinch gesture.