USER INTERFACE METHODS FOR ENDING AN APPLICATION

• US 20110057953A1
• Filed: 09/07/2009
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: HORODEZKY, Samuel J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,413,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/647
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Methods and devices provide an efficient user interface for initiating a function by detecting an ellipsoidal continuous touch path on a touch surface of a computing device. In an embodiment the initiated function may end an application. A user may initiate the function operation by tracing an ellipsoidal shape (e.g., a circle) a touchscreen or touchpad. A display image may be contorted to inform the user about the progress towards accomplishing the function. The function operation of contorting the display image may begin at a minimum measure of the traced path and complete at a maximum measure of the traced path. In an embodiment, terminating an application and returning to the home display may be achieved in response to a clockwise path trace and minimizing of an application and returning to home display may be achieved in response to a counterclockwise path trace, or vice versa.

Claims

1. A method for initiating a function on a computing device, comprising:

detecting a path event on a touch sensitive input device;

determining whether the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape;

determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape; and

initiating an operation corresponding to the ellipsoid path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation; and

completing the operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the measure of the path is a length of the path.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the measure of the path is a rotational angle based upon a length of the path.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein completing the operation comprises terminating a present application and returning to a home display.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein completing the operation comprises performing a function selected from the group of minimizing an application, initiating a screen saver operating mode, initiating a battery saver mode, initiating a sleep mode, and suspending an application operation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying a contorted image comprises:

generating a display of the present application display that is contorted in the form of a swirl, wherein the degree of swirl depends upon the measure of the path.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining whether the direction of the path event is clockwise,

wherein initiating an operation further comprises:

terminating an application and returning to home display when the direction of the path event is determined to be clockwise; and

minimizing the application and returning to a home display when the direction of the path event is determined to be counterclockwise.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an ellipsoidal shaped visual aid on the display.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an ellipsoidal shaped visual aid on the display in response to determining that the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the path event traces a triangular shape;

determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces a triangular shape; and

initiating a second operation corresponding to the triangular path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation; and

completing the second operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the path event traces a square shape;

determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces a square shape; and

initiating a third operation corresponding to the square path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation; and

completing the third operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value.

12. A computing device, comprising:

a processor; and

a touchscreen display coupled to the processor,

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform steps comprising;

detecting a path event on a touch sensitive input device;

determining whether the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape;

determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape; and

initiating an operation corresponding to the ellipsoid path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation; and

completing the operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that the measure of the path is a length of the path.

14. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that the measure of the path is a rotational angle based upon a length of the path.

15. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that completing the operation comprises terminating a present application and returning to a home display.

16. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that completing the operation comprises performing a function selected from the group of minimizing an application, initiating a screen saver operating mode, initiating a battery saver mode, initiating a sleep mode, and suspending an application operation.

17. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that displaying a contorted image comprises:

generating a display of the present application display that is contorted in the form of a swirl, wherein the degree of swirl depends upon the measure of the path.

18. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform further steps comprising determining whether the direction of the path event is clockwise, and

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that initiating an operation further comprises:

terminating an application and returning to home display when the direction of the path event is determined to be clockwise; and

minimizing the application and returning to home display when the direction of the path event is determined to be counterclockwise.

19. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform further steps comprising:

displaying an ellipsoidal shaped visual aid on the display.

20. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform further steps comprising:

displaying an ellipsoidal shaped visual aid on the display in response to determining that the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape.

21. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform further steps comprising:

determining whether the path event traces a triangular shape;

determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces a triangular shape; and

initiating a second operation corresponding to the triangular path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation; and

completing the second operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value.

22. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform further steps comprising:

determining whether the path event traces a square shape;

determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces a square shape; and

initiating a third operation corresponding to the square path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation; and

completing the third operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value.

23. A computing device, comprising:

means for detecting a path event on a touch sensitive input device;

means for determining whether the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape;

means for determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape; and

means for initiating an operation corresponding to the ellipsoid path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

means for displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation; and

means for completing the operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value.

24. The computing device of claim 23, wherein the measure of the path is a length of the path.

25. The computing device of claim 23, wherein the measure of the path is a rotational angle based upon a length of the path.

26. The computing device of claim 23, wherein means for completing the operation comprises means for terminating a present application and returning to a home display.

27. The computing device of claim 23, wherein means for completing the operation comprises means for performing a function selected from the group of minimizing an application, initiating a screen saver operating mode, initiating a battery saver mode, initiating a sleep mode, and suspending an application operation.

28. The computing device of claim 23, wherein means for displaying a contorted image comprises:

means for generating a display of the present application display that is contorted in the form of a swirl, wherein the degree of swirl depends upon the measure of the path.

29. The computing device of claim 25, further comprising means for determining whether the direction of the path event is clockwise,

wherein means for initiating an operation further comprises:

means for terminating an application and returning to home display when the direction of the path event is clockwise; and

means for minimizing the application and returning to home display when the direction of the path event is counterclockwise initiating an operation further comprises.

30. The computing device of claim 23, further comprising:

means for displaying an ellipsoidal shaped visual aid on the display.

31. The computing device of claim 23, further comprising:

means for displaying an ellipsoidal shaped visual aid on the display in response to determining that the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape.

32. The computing device of claim 23, further comprising:

means for determining whether the path event traces a triangular shape;

means for determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces a triangular shape; and

means for initiating a second operation corresponding to the triangular path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

means for displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation; and

means for completing the second operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value.

33. The computing device of claim 23, further comprising:

means for determining whether the path event traces a square shape;

means for determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces a square shape; and

means for initiating a third operation corresponding to the square path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

means for displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation; and

means for completing the third operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value.

34. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium comprising;

at least one instruction for detecting a path event on a touch sensitive input device;

at least one instruction for determining whether the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape;

at least one instruction for determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape; and

at least one instruction for initiating an operation corresponding to the ellipsoid path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

at least one instruction for displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation; and

at least one instruction for completing the operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value.

35. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the measure of the path is a length of the path.

36. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the measure of the path is a rotational angle based upon a length of the path.

37. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the at least one instruction for completing the operation comprises terminating a present application and returning to a home display.

38. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the at least one instruction for completing the operation comprises at least one instruction for performing a function selected from the group of minimizing an application, initiating a screen saver operating mode, initiating a battery saver mode, initiating a sleep mode, and suspending an application operation.

39. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the at least one instruction for displaying a contorted image comprises:

at least one instruction for generating a display of the present application display that is contorted in the form of a swirl, wherein the degree of swirl depends upon the measure of the path.

40. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein computer-readable storage medium further comprises at least one instruction for determining whether the direction of the path event is clockwise,

wherein the at least one instruction for initiating an operation comprises:

at least one instruction for terminating an application and returning to a home display when the direction of the path event is determined to be clockwise, and

at least one instruction for minimizing the application and returning to home display when the direction of the path event is counterclockwise.

41. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein computer-readable storage medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for displaying an ellipsoidal shaped visual aid on the display.

42. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein computer-readable storage medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for displaying an ellipsoidal shaped visual aid on the display in response to determining that the path event traces an ellipsoidal shape.

43. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein computer-readable storage medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for determining whether the path event traces a triangular shape;

at least one instruction for determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces a triangular shape; and

at least one instruction for initiating a second operation corresponding to the triangular path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

at least one instruction for displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation; and

at least one instruction for completing the second operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value.

44. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein computer-readable storage medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for determining whether the path event traces a square shape;

at least one instruction for determining a measure of the path event when the path event traces a square shape; and

at least one instruction for initiating a third operation corresponding to the square path event when the determined measure of the path exceeds a first threshold value;

at least one instruction for displaying a contorted image as part the initiated operation; and

at least one instruction for completing the third operation when the determined measure of the path exceeds a second threshold value.