SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING DIRECT AND INDIRECT NAVIGATION MODES FOR TOUCHSCREEN DEVICES

• US 20110105186A1
• Filed: 10/29/2009
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: REEVE, Scott David, GRIFFIN, Jason Tyler
• Application Number:
  US12/608,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20110105186A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• 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 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

The described embodiments relate generally to systems and methods for providing direct and indirect navigation modes on mobile devices comprising a touch screen display based on a determined characteristic of the mobile device. In example embodiments, upon detecting a first characteristic, touch screen input is interpreted as direct navigation input. Upon detecting that the characteristic of the mobile device has changed, touch screen input may be interpreted as indirect navigation input. The touch screen display of the mobile device may also be reconfigured as a result of determining the change in the characteristic of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

(a) a touch screen display; and

,

(b) a detector configured to detect a characteristic of the mobile device,

wherein the mobile device is operable to;

(c) in response to the detector detecting a first characteristic, providing a first direct navigation mode, and

(d) in response to the detector detecting a second characteristic, providing a second indirect navigation mode.

2. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein in the second indirect navigation mode, input from the touch screen display is interpreted as indirect navigation input.

3. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the detector is an orientation sensor.

4. The mobile device of claim 3 wherein the second characteristic of the mobile device corresponds to the touch screen display being substantially in a portrait orientation.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, where in the characteristic is selected from the group consisting of:

i. a configuration; and

ii. an orientation.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is operable to:

(e) configure a first area of the touch screen display to receive indirect navigation input; and

(f) configure a second area of the touch screen display to display content.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the detector is an orientation sensor.

8. A method for providing one of a plurality of user interface navigation modes on a mobile device, the mobile device comprising:

(a) a touch screen display; and

(b) a detector operative to detect a characteristic of the mobile device,

wherein the mobile device is configured to operate in a first direct navigation mode and in a second indirect navigation mode,

the method comprising;

(c) upon detecting a first characteristic of the mobile device, providing the first direct navigation mode; and

(d) upon detecting a second characteristic of the mobile device, providing the second indirect navigation mode.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein in the second indirect navigation mode, input from the touch screen display is interpreted as indirect navigation input.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the detector is an orientation sensor.

11. The method claim 10 wherein the first direct navigation mode is provided when the touch screen display is substantially in a landscape orientation.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein providing the second indirect navigation mode further comprises:

(e) configuring a first area of the touch screen display to receive indirect navigation input; and

,

(f) configuring a second area of the touch screen display to display content.

13. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable on a processor of the mobile device for implementing the method of claim 8.