MODAL TOUCH INPUT

• US 20120212421A1
• Filed: 02/18/2011
• Published: 08/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Honji, Scott Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,235,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• 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 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A data-holding subsystem holding instructions executable by a logic subsystem is provided. The instructions are configured to receive one or more touch-input messages reporting touch contacts recognized by a touch input device, if a touch contact reported by the one or more touch-input messages satisfies a first criterion, initiating a virtual mouse input mode, in the virtual mouse input mode, outputting a cursor position corresponding to a position of the touch contact that satisfies the first criterion, if no touch contacts reported by the one or more touch-input messages satisfy the first criterion, and one or more touch contacts reported by the one or more touch-input messages satisfies a second criterion, initiating a multi-touch input mode, and in the multi-touch input mode, outputting a multi-touch gesture command corresponding to the one or more touch contacts that satisfy the second criterion.

Claims

1. A data-holding subsystem holding instructions executable by a logic subsystem to:

receive one or more touch-input messages reporting touch contacts recognized by a touch input device;

if a touch contact reported by the one or more touch-input messages satisfies a first criterion, initiating a virtual mouse input mode;

in the virtual mouse input mode, outputting a cursor position corresponding to a position of the touch contact that satisfies the first criterion;

if no touch contacts reported by the one or more touch-input messages satisfy the first criterion, and one or more touch contacts reported by the one or more touch-input messages satisfies a second criterion, initiating a multi-touch input mode; and

in the multi-touch input mode, outputting a multi-touch gesture command corresponding to each of the one or more touch contacts that satisfy the second criterion.

2. The data-holding subsystem of claim 1, wherein the first criterion is satisfied if a size aspect of the touch contact is greater than a size threshold and/or a shape aspect of the touch contact matches a palm profile.

3. The data-holding subsystem of claim 1, further comprising if a stylus signal is received initiating a stylus input mode.

4. The data-holding subsystem of claim 1, further comprising if a touch contact reported by the one or more touch-input messages satisfies a third criterion initiating a stylus input mode.

5. The data-holding subsystem of claim 4, further comprising in the stylus input mode outputting a stylus command corresponding to one or more of the received touch-input messages.

6. The data-holding, subsystem of claim 4, wherein the third criterion is satisfied if a size aspect of the touch contact is smaller than a size threshold, a shape aspect of the touch contact is a focused point contact, and/or a shape aspect of the touch contact matches an ulnar profile.

7. The data-holding subsystem of claim 1, further comprising in the virtual mouse input mode, if a satellite touch input not including the touch contact that satisfies the first criterion is recognized at a control region, outputting a satellite mouse command corresponding to the satellite touch input.

8. The data-holding subsystem of claim 7, wherein the satellite mouse command is one of a left click command, a right click command, and an auxiliary button command.

9. The data-holding subsystem of claim 7, where the satellite mouse command is one of a vertical scrolling command, and object scaling command, and a horizontal scrolling command.

10. The data-holding subsystem of claim 7, wherein the satellite mouse command triggers engagement a user interface object presented on a display.

11. The data-holding subsystem of claim 10, wherein the engagement is sustained subsequent to removal of the touch contact reported by the one or more touch-input messages that satisfies the first criterion.

12. The data-holding subsystem of claim 1, further comprising in the virtual mouse input mode, if a satellite touch contact is recognized outside of a control region, ignoring the satellite touch contact.

13. The data-holding subsystem of claim 1, wherein the one or more touch-input messages are received from a peripheral touch device.

14. The data-holding subsystem of claim 1, wherein the one or more touch-input messages are received from a touch screen device.

15. The data-holding subsystem of claim 1, wherein in the virtual mouse input mode the cursor position is offset from a position of the touch contact that satisfies the first criterion.

16. The data-holding subsystem of claim 1, wherein outputting the cursor position output is sustained subsequent to cessation of the mouse input mode.

17. The data-holding subsystem of claim 1, wherein the multi-touch gesture command is at least one of an engage command, a disengage command, a pan command, a drag command, a zoom command, a rotate command, and a skew command.

18. A data-holding subsystem holding instructions executable by a logic subsystem to:

receive one or more touch-input messages reporting touch contacts recognized by a peripheral device;

if a touch contact reported by the one or more touch-input messages satisfies a first criterion, initiating a virtual mouse input mode;

in the virtual mouse input mode, outputting a cursor position corresponding to a position of the touch contact that satisfies the first criterion;

if no touch contacts reported by the one or more touch-input messages satisfy the first criterion, and one or more touch contacts reported by the one or more touch-input messages satisfies a second criterion, initiating a multi-touch input mode; and

in the multi-touch input mode, outputting a multi-touch gesture command corresponding to each of the one or more touch contacts that satisfy the second criterion.

19. The data-holding subsystem of claim 18, further comprising if a touch contact reported by the one or more touch-input messages satisfies a third criterion initiating a stylus input mode and in the stylus input mode outputting a stylus command corresponding to one or more of the received touch-input messages.

20. A method for initiating input modes in a computing system, the method comprising:

receiving one or more touch-input messages reporting touch contacts recognized by a touch screen device;

if a touch contact reported by the one or more touch-input messages satisfies a first criterion, initiating a virtual mouse input mode;

in the virtual mouse input mode, outputting a cursor position corresponding to a position of the touch contact that satisfies the first criterion;

if no touch contacts reported by the one or more touch-input messages satisfy the first criterion, and one or more touch contacts reported by the one or more touch-input messages satisfies a second criterion, initiating a multi-touch input mode;

in the multi-touch input mode, outputting a multi-touch gesture command corresponding to each of the one or more touch contacts that satisfy the second criterion; and

in the virtual mouse input mode, if a satellite touch input not including the touch contact that satisfies the first criterion is recognized at a control region, outputting a satellite mouse command corresponding to the satellite touch input.