PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME

• US 20120256829A1
• Filed: 02/29/2012
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 2236008 Ontario Inc. (Blackberry Limited)
• Original Assignee: QNX Software Systems Limited (Canada) (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: DODGE, Danny Thomas
• Application Number:
  US13/408,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20120256829A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method of facilitating input at a portable electronic device having a touch-sensitive display includes: detecting a pointing device event; determining a location on the touch-sensitive display corresponding to the pointing device event; mapping the pointing device event and location to a touch; and performing a function associated with the touch.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating input at a portable electronic device having a touch-sensitive display, the method comprising:

detecting a pointing device event;

determining a location on the touch-sensitive display corresponding to the pointing device event;

mapping the pointing device event and location to a touch; and

performing a function associated with the touch.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pointing device event is generated by actuation of a right button of a pointing device.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch corresponds to a meta-navigation gesture.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the function is context sensitive.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pointing device event comprises click down or click up.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising determining two locations on the touch-sensitive display when the pointing device event comprises click down and click up, mapping the pointing device event and locations to a gesture and performing a function associated with the gesture.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the gesture comprises a starting point outside of a display area of the touch-sensitive display.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein performing the function associated with the touch comprises simulating inputs associated with the gesture on the touch-sensitive display.

9. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the gesture corresponds to a meta-navigation gesture.

10. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein determining two locations includes determining when the click down occurs within a defined area of the touch-sensitive display.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the function is one of:

displaying a menu, scrolling to a different application, and displaying a homescreen.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch comprises a starting point outside of a display area of the touch-sensitive display.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein performing the function associated with the touch comprises simulating inputs associated with the touch on the touch-sensitive display.

14. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising mapping the pointing device event and location to a touch associated with a defined area when the location is in the defined area.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein a tracker displayed on the touch-sensitive display to indicate a tracker location changes from a default tracker icon to a different tracker icon when the location is in the defined area.

16. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of the portable electronic device to perform the method of claim 1.

17. A portable electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display configured to display information; and

a processor connected to the touch-sensitive display to;

detect a pointing device event, determine a location on the touch-sensitive display corresponding to the pointing device event, communicate with a memory to map the pointing device event and location to a touch; and

perform a function associated with the touch.

18. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the touch comprises a starting point outside a display area of the touch-sensitive display.

19. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 18, the function performed includes simulation of inputs associated with the touch on the touch-sensitive display.

20. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the location is determined by determining when the pointing device event is associated with a defined area of the touch-sensitive display.