Blind Navigation for Touch Interfaces

• US 20120144299A1
• Filed: 09/29/2011
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Patel, Sneha, Crowe, Ian, Gervais, Steve
• Application Number:
  US13/248,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20120144299A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/702
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Systems and methods for enabling blind navigation of a control device having a touch interface include one or more steps of receiving an indication that the control device is to enable blind navigation, receiving an input via the touch interface, determining a command to which the received input corresponds, and executing or transmitting the command.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of enabling blind navigation of a control device having a touch display interface, the method comprising:

presenting a first user interface on the touch display interface, the first user interface including an icon selectable by touching a designated portion of the touch display interface;

receiving an indication that the control device is to enable a second user interface;

reconfiguring the touch display interface to receive a set of commands, corresponding to the second user interface, including one or more touch movements on the touch display interface;

receiving a touch movement input via the touch display interface;

determining a command, from among the set of commands, to which the received touch movement input corresponds; and

at least one of executing and transmitting the command.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the control device is at least one of a smartphone, tablet, touch enabled display device, and a remote control.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the command is transmitted by the control device to a separate appliance via at least one of an IR link, and RF link, and a network link.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the indication that the control device is to enable a second user interface is provided by an ambient source.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining a command to which the received touch movement input corresponds comprises comparing the received touch movement input to a plurality of pre-specified inputs, wherein each of the plurality of pre-specified inputs is mapped to a command.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the command is transmitted to an entertainment device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein reconfiguring the touch screen interface includes disabling the icon and enabling a touch movement command in the second user interface that corresponds to a command function of the icon.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving an indication that the control device is to enable the second user interface comprises receiving a predetermined input based on information from at least one of a tilt, motion and orientation of the control device.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing a user feedback based on the determining of the command to which the received touch movement input corresponds, wherein the user feedback includes at least one of a device vibration, an audio signal, and a visual signal.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein reconfiguring the touch screen interface includes enabling a portion of the touch display interface to respond to touch movement commands in the second user interface.

11. A control device comprising:

a touch display interface;

a microprocessor; and

computer-readable storage medium with program instructions executable by the microprocessor, which configure the microprocessor to;

present a first user interface on the touch display interface, the first user interface including an icon selectable by touching a designated portion of the touch display interface;

receive an indication that the control device is to enable a second user interface;

reconfigure the touch display interface to receive a set of commands, corresponding to the second user interface, including one or more touch movements on the touch display interface;

receive a touch movement input via the touch display interface;

determine a command, from among the set of commands, to which the received touch movement input corresponds; and

at least one of execute and transmit the command.

12. The control device of claim 11, wherein the control device is included in at least one of a smartphone or a tablet.

13. The control device of claim 11, wherein the device is configured to provide a user feedback based on the determining of the command to which the received touch movement input corresponds.

14. The control device of claim 13, wherein the user feedback indicates the determined command in a manner that is distinguishable from other possible commands.

15. A computer-implemented method of enabling blind navigation of a control device having a touch interface, and at least one of a tilt sensor, an orientation sensor, and a motion sensor, the method comprising:

enabling a first user interface on the control device, the first user interface including a first set of commands that can be activated by touching the touch interface;

receiving an indication via at least one of the tilt sensor, the orientation sensor and the motion sensor that the control device is to enable a second user interface wherein the second user interface includes a second set of commands configured to be receptive to at least one touch gesture on the touch interface;

enabling the second user interface;

receiving a touch gesture input via the touch interface;

determining a command, from among the second set of commands, to which the received touch gesture input corresponds; and

at least one of executing and transmitting the command.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the indication is received via a plurality of orientation sensors.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the indication is at least one of a gesture through which the control device is moved and a gesture detected by the motion detector.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the indication is a shake of the control device.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein a particular movement of the device that initiates the indication is set by a user.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the first user interface includes at least one of;

a command gesture that performs a selected function included in both of the first user interface and the second user interface, using a different gesture than the second user interface uses for the first selected function; and

a command gesture that performs a selected function of the first user interface, using a same gesture that is also used by the second user interface for a different function than the selected function.