METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL DATA INTERFACE

• US 20120271545A1
• Filed: 04/19/2011
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Cheng, Peng
• Granted Patent: US 10,969,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/431
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Various methods for providing a multi-dimensional data interface are provided. One example method may include receiving first data navigation instructions for navigating data in a first dimension or a second dimension via a first user interface device, causing a presentation of the data to be modified within the first dimension or the second dimension in response to at least receiving the first data navigation instructions, receiving second data navigation instructions for navigating the data in a third dimension via a second user interface device, and causing the presentation of the data to be modified within a third dimension in response to at least receiving the second data navigation instructions. Similar and related example methods, example apparatuses, and example computer program products are also provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving first data navigation instructions for navigating data in a first dimension or a second dimension via a first user interface device;

causing a presentation of the data to be modified within the first dimension or the second dimension in response to at least receiving the first data navigation instructions;

receiving second data navigation instructions for navigating the data in a third dimension via a second user interface device; and

causing the presentation of the data to be modified within a third dimension in response to at least receiving the second data navigation instructions;

wherein receiving the first data navigation instructions includes receiving the first user navigation instructions via the first user interface device in response to user interaction with the first user interface device in a first plane defined by a first surface of an electronic device; and

wherein receiving the second data navigation instructions includes receiving the second user navigation instructions via the second user interface device in response to user interaction with the second user interface device in a second plane, wherein the second plane is substantially orthogonal to the first plane, or the second plane is substantially parallel to the first plane and defined by a second surface of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second plane is substantially orthogonal to the first plane.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first data navigation instructions includes receiving the first user navigation instructions via the first user interface device, the first user interface device being a touch screen display disposed on a front surface of an electronic device;

and wherein receiving the second data navigation instructions includes receiving the second user navigation instructions via the second user interface device, the second user interface device being a touch sensitive stripe, a roller wheel, a trackball, optical trackpad, a two-way slider, or a rocker button disposed on a side edge surface of the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the presentation of the data to be modified within the third dimension includes causing the presentation of data to be digitally zoomed in or zoomed out in response to at least receipt of the second data navigation instructions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the presentation of the data to be modified within the third dimension includes causing the presentation of data to be modified with respect to time in response to at least receipt of the second data navigation instructions.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first data navigation instructions defines a data point with respect to the first and second dimensions;

and wherein receiving the second data navigation instructions defines the data point with respect to the third dimension;

and wherein the method further comprise causing the presentation of the data to be rotated about the data point or causing the presentation of the data to be manipulated at the data point, in response to at least receiving third data navigation instructions.

7. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory comprising computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

receive first data navigation instructions for navigating data in a first dimension or a second dimension via a first user interface device;

cause a presentation of the data to be modified within the first dimension or the second dimension in response to at least receiving the first data navigation instructions;

receive second data navigation instructions for navigating the data in a third dimension via a second user interface device; and

cause the presentation of the data to be modified within a third dimension in response to at least receiving the second data navigation instructions;

wherein being caused to receive the first data navigation instructions includes being caused to receive the first user navigation instructions via the first user interface device in response to user interaction with the first user interface device in a first plane defined by a first surface of an electronic device; and

wherein being caused to receive the second data navigation instructions includes being caused to receive the second user navigation instructions via the second user interface device in response to user interaction with the second user interface device in a second plane, wherein the second plane is substantially orthogonal to the first plane, or the second plane is substantially parallel to the first plane and defined by a second surface of the electronic device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second plane is substantially orthogonal to the first plane.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus caused to receive the first data navigation instructions includes being configured to receive the first user navigation instructions via the first user interface device, the first user interface device being a touch screen display disposed on a front surface of an electronic device;

and wherein the apparatus caused to receive the second data navigation instructions includes being caused to receive the second user navigation instructions via the second user interface device, the second user interface device being a touch sensitive stripe, a roller wheel, a trackball, optical trackpad, a two-way slider, or a rocker button disposed on a side edge surface of the electronic device.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus caused to present the data as modified within the third dimension includes being caused to present the data as being digitally zoomed in or zoomed out in response to at least receipt of the second data navigation instructions.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus caused to present the data as modified within the third dimension includes being caused to present the data as being modified with respect to time in response to at least receipt of the second data navigation instructions.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus caused to receive the first data navigation instructions defines a data point with respect to the first and second dimensions;

and wherein the apparatus caused to receive the second data navigation instructions defines the data point with respect to the third dimension; and

wherein the apparatus is further caused to present the data as rotated about the data point or causing the presentation of the data to be manipulated at the data point, in response to at least receiving third data navigation instructions.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile device.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus further comprises a touch sensitive stripe, a roller wheel, a trackball, optical trackpad, a two-way slider, or a rocker button as the second user interface device.

15. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer readable medium having program code stored thereon, wherein the program code, when executed by an apparatus, causes the apparatus at least to:

receive first data navigation instructions for navigating data in a first dimension or a second dimension via a first user interface device;

cause a presentation of the data to be modified within the first dimension or the second dimension in response to at least receiving the first data navigation instructions;

receive second data navigation instructions for navigating the data in a third dimension via a second user interface device; and

cause the presentation of the data to be modified within a third dimension in response to at least receiving the second data navigation instructions;

wherein causing the apparatus to receive the first data navigation instructions includes causing the apparatus to receive the first user navigation instructions via the first user interface device in response to user interaction with the first user interface device in a first plane defined by a first surface of an electronic device; and

wherein causing the apparatus to receive the second data navigation instructions includes causing the apparatus to receive the second user navigation instructions via the second user interface device in response to user interaction with the second user interface device in a second plane, wherein the second plane is substantially orthogonal to the first plane, or the second plane is substantially parallel to the first plane and defined by a second surface of the electronic device.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the second plane is substantially orthogonal to the first plane.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the program code that causes the apparatus to receive the first data navigation instructions also causes the apparatus to receive the first user navigation instructions via the first user interface device, the first user interface device being a touch screen display disposed on a front surface of an electronic device;

and wherein the program code that causes the apparatus to receive the second data navigation instructions also causes the apparatus to receive the second user navigation instructions via the second user interface device, the second user interface device being a touch sensitive stripe, a roller wheel, a trackball, optical trackpad, a two-way slider, or a rocker button disposed on a side edge surface of the electronic device.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the program code that causes the apparatus to present the data as modified within the third dimension also causes the apparatus to present the data as being digitally zoomed in or zoomed out in response to at least receipt of the second data navigation instructions.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the program code that causes the apparatus to present the data as modified within the third dimension also causes the apparatus to present the data as being modified with respect to time in response to at least receipt of the second data navigation instructions.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the program code that causes the apparatus to receive the first data navigation instructions also causes the apparatus to define a data point with respect to the first and second dimensions;

and wherein the program code that causes the apparatus to receive the second data navigation instructions also causes the apparatus to define the data point with respect to the third dimension; and

wherein the program code also causes the apparatus to present the data as rotated about the data point or causing the presentation of the data to be manipulated at the data point, in response to at least receiving third data navigation instructions.